Stadiums that you were surprised weren't **** holes?

There is a fine line between character and dilapidated.

 

So basically you like your stadiums to be falling down? I don't get all this bullshit about new stadiums having no soul. The Britannia is an excellent experience because the Stoke fans are top notch and give it a 'soul'. Places like Loftus road, Craven cottage may make you feel a bit of nostalgia but ultimately they are dumps. Fans make a stadium.

 

I don't think any of the grounds he mentioned are dilapidated. St James' Park has character and is nowhere near dilapidated. There's not necessarily a fine line.

A stadium would be useless if it were falling down. I like them to be unique, have good acoustics and stands which are near the pitch and are either terraced or contain seats which are tightly packed in rather than huge and spaced out like the Emirates. That's what I'd say makes a stadium a memorable and atmospheric one. The Britannia might be a good experience like you say, but it's a crap and boring stadium. The day all English clubs play in places like that is a sad one. Hopefully it will never happen.

 

Excuse me? ... our stadium is one of the oldest in the country and the atmosphere is a rival to any ground in the world!

However, I do agree about new stadiums. This is mainly because to the fans it doesn't feel like home because like most clubs they've played in their ground from their formation. If we were to leave St. James' Park for a new build 65,000 seater with generic curvy architecture on some old waste land, I'd be gutted. Long live SJP, nothing beats the in-city stadiums, simple!!

 

I know. That's why I said "tend to like", because all those which he listed except St James' are ****. I like your stadium as I've already said on this thread.

I agree. At Leeds, we're in the fortunate position of Elland Road having plenty of land around it onto which it could be extended to pretty much any capacity. I'd hate to see us at an Emirates Stadium type place and I'm glad Peter Ridsdale's plan to do exactly that was scrapped, even if it was coincidental with our downfall.

 

I abhor people who say they hate 'dumps' like Craven Cottage and Loftus Road. My favourite grounds are actually Fratton Park and your very own Sid James' Park. The latter is unusual for me, as although you are on the same site as you were in the late-1800's, it is a modern stadium whether you like it or not (think of it as being a bit like Trigger's broom in Only Fools...).

 

Lol..We've had this stadium for 119 years, it's had 8 new stands, 2 extentions and 3 new roofs ....

 

Would much rather have a modern stadium. Good fans will make any stadium special.