Brighton and Hove Albion will be competing against some of the leading sports teams in Italy, the USA and China at a prestigious design award ceremony.

The club’s American Express Community Stadium has been nominated for four different categories in the stadium business awards.

The £100 million ground has been named one of the world’s best new sporting venues alongside the new home of Italian football giants Juventus and the National Stadium in Poland, which will host the opening game of this year’s Euro 2012 championships.

The stadium is also up against the £400 million Mercedes-Benz Arena in China and the Forsyth Barr Stadium in New Zealand, the host of four matches at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, in the venue of the year award.

The club’s executive director Martin Perry is also in the running for an award after being shortlisted for executive of the year while the club will also be competing with the world’s best in customer experience and sponsorship, sales and marketing awards.

The club entered the awards at the start of the year and learned over the weekend it was in the running for five when the ceremony is held on May 15 in Italy.

Albion CEO Derek Chapman, who was construction director on the stadium project, said he was delighted, adding: “It is fantastic for the club that the stadium and Martin’s efforts have been recognised on an international level.

“We are all extremely proud of the Amex, but this underlines every-one’s hard work to make the experi-ence one of the best in the world.”