I haven't yet visited the Emirates as I have had no reason to do so. But I did love the old Highbury Stadium it just felt right and it had the feel of the era when I was a school boy and so for me it was always a nostalgic trip. I just loved the place. Having said that the worst stadium I ever visited was the old Bristol Rovers ground in the mid seventies which seemed just to be a collection of old tin sheds. Has anyone else got thoughts on their best and worst stadium visited.
Not the best, by a long shot....but I must say I was surprised at MK last season - really liked the open concourse areas around the edges. Soulless place though as they cant get near filling it.
Big problem with MK and many other new builds is that they are miles away from the City Centre thus tricky to get too. Much more fun if you can have a few beers and walk around te town before the game. Reading do the decent thing and lay on a decent bus service.
Worst ground for me by far was Plough Lane...........i remember standing in some toilet/hut and was still able to watch the game through the broken window...... Best ground( apart from St Marys) was Maine Road ..
Having been in league one for two seasons it has given us a shed load (literally) of poor grounds. My worst would have to be between Carlisle, Peterborough, and Brighton (withdean). Have been to Emirates and Wembley however both seem to far away from the pitch and lacking atmosphere. Don't yet really have a favourite however best day out would be Bournemouth, so far.
I liked the Ricoh arena as a stadium, Worst ground must be Gillingham. Or perhaps it was just the weather that day...
Wembley was incredible, Exeter this year was a different level of carp!!! (although my trip through luton a couple of years back through a shanti town, and even the concourse looked into someones house and garden where people had thrown stuff everywhere - that was also very bad) best away day this year was plymouth without a doubt. wish i was old enough during the prem years to have gone to the big places, hence when the PL returns i will be going with bells on.
Best stadium Wembley, just the occasion and seeing all those saints fans in one place was magical, hope for more of those days in the future. worst, the withdean what a....well anyone who`s been there will tell you
You talk about old grounds.......I have lost count of the open grounds that we used to go to. Stood there in the freezing driving rain, sleet , snow, thunder and lightening or alternatively getting cooked by sunlight. Yet I still think those were the days'. The atmosphere despite the conditions was always superb and if you came away with the points it was a bonus. If it was a draw you always felt that it was points lost not gained. The type of atmosphere I am talking about is just not there in these new stadiums. Whether it is the lack of terracing or the "plastic design of the stadiums" or perhaps maybe because I'm older I don't know but it isn't the same today. The atmosphere has been good at times this year at St Mary's but sorry to say has not yet matched.....for me at least.......the atmosphere of yesteryear.
I know the Health and safety police will have a fit, but you couldn't beat the feeling in a crowded milton road end, under the upper tier, when the crowd surged forwards for a goal. it also added to the atmosphere when the opposition fans were also in the home end, and i don't mean because there was a fight - there very rarely was (more likely at the train station in those days). it was just the banter!!
I thought for all the money they spent on Wembley, that it was pretty crap. Fratton without a doubt is the worst ground, for as many reasons as you could ever think of. It's just a ****hole (and I'd say the same if I wasn't a Saints fan). Manor Ground at Oxford was pretty dire. The away end was terrible with an open air toilet. Was always disappointed with Anfield. Hype over substance I think.
You'll never get the old atmosphere back. All seater stadia have put paid to that for a variety of reasons.
I agree about anfield..... So disappointing. I always enjoyed trips to carrow road; funny old ground bit cracking atmosphere for a small place. Millennium and wembley were great Can't agree about highbury after being there for the 84 cup semi!! Scared ****less that day!
I must admit I am surprised how many people like the New Wembley. I mean, it is ok, however considering the money invested in it then it is just a massive money making centre which is difficult to make a good atmosphere in. I always liked the old Highbury and can remember watching some amazing games there, such as our 6-2 defeat in a strange game just before we met in the FA Cup final. Pennant scored a hat-trick and Luzhny and Stephanovs had good games for once, whilst we played Chris Baird in midfield for 32 minutes before substituting him. I have to say that my worst experience was White Hart Lane as the surrounds were extremely run down, sporting racist logos, and was quite intimidated by people throwing rocks.
Too young for aways in the prem so best has gotta be wembley and the worst probably gillingham (although would be alright if it didn't lack a decent away end! Can't wait for some away days this season!
Worst - Loftus Road - 1 exit/entrance. Poor view. Couldn't see the goal from the second teir. Best - Atmosphere Goodison Park but surrounding area was ****e. For feel it has to be Villa Park for me. I love that ground.
Ibrox has to be pretty amazing coupled with the raw passion in and around the ground, its pretty spectacular i think. And as a southern softy me and my mates were made very welcome. The poorest ground has to be Fratton Park, i know it's easy for a saints fan to say but with the money that has passed through their grubby mits and what debt they had written off, they should have pumped some funds into the ground at least.
