Comments for The Stadium Guide http://www.stadiumguide.com The Guide to the World's Football Stadiums Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:47:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on The Kassam Stadium by Nodgeoufc http://www.stadiumguide.com/kassam/#comment-768 Nodgeoufc Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:47:06 +0000 http://www.stadiumguide.com/?p=3476#comment-768 Probably the greatest stadium in the UK! Well sadly not. Although as a place to watch football, it is markedly better than the quirky old Manor Ground. The 3 stands are really standard modern fare with no outstanding features. Despite being open at one end it is possible to generate a pretty decent atmosphere when you get 8000+ in there. All stands provide good views of the game in reasonably spacious seats. Best views are from the upper tier of the South Stand. The East stand is the noisiest by far - not a place for young kids as the amount of swearing is akin to that experienced in the 80's and before. It feels, and literally is miles from the world-renowned seat of learning. There's no sense of punting, college balls and dreaming spires out here The North Stand can get lively if there are many away fans. Personally as an Oxford fan, I don't rate the Kassam Stadium much - all a bit soulless; and frankly an embarrassment that it's only got 3 sides. However, despite that it remains easily one of the better grounds in League 2. Oxford is a good place for a day or weekend out, but be warned the ground is over 4 miles from the City Centre. Probably the greatest stadium in the UK! Well sadly not. Although as a place to watch football, it is markedly better than the quirky old Manor Ground.

The 3 stands are really standard modern fare with no outstanding features. Despite being open at one end it is possible to generate a pretty decent atmosphere when you get 8000+ in there. All stands provide good views of the game in reasonably spacious seats. Best views are from the upper tier of the South Stand. The East stand is the noisiest by far – not a place for young kids as the amount of swearing is akin to that experienced in the 80′s and before. It feels, and literally is miles from the world-renowned seat of learning. There’s no sense of punting, college balls and dreaming spires out here

The North Stand can get lively if there are many away fans. Personally as an Oxford fan, I don’t rate the Kassam Stadium much – all a bit soulless; and frankly an embarrassment that it’s only got 3 sides. However, despite that it remains easily one of the better grounds in League 2. Oxford is a good place for a day or weekend out, but be warned the ground is over 4 miles from the City Centre.

]]> Comment on Craven Cottage by Nodgeoufc http://www.stadiumguide.com/cravencottage/#comment-767 Nodgeoufc Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:28:32 +0000 http://www.stadiumguide.nl/?p=43#comment-767 A genuine ground that transcends the old and modern era's of English stadia. Modern stands at either end with the famous old Stevenage Road Stand - now rightly called the Johnny Haynes stand. This still has lots of pillars and wooden seats - you can smell the history in there. Next to that is the old Cottage in the corner. Home to the dressing rooms, with a quirky balcony - good for spotting visiting managers doing their scouting and non-playing players. The final stand is the Riverside stand which does as it says on the tin - i.e. backs right onto the River Thames Not the noisiest stadium by a long way, Craven Cottage has a unique atmosphere, especially for evening games. The place is really, really friendly right from the fans through to the staff - even the ones who search you as you come in. The really unique thing at this ground is that the Putney End houses supporters of both teams without segregation. Usually half of it is allocated to away fans, and the other half is described as "neutral" where supporters of both teams sit happily side by side proudly supporting their teams and wearing their colours. Usually mixed in amongst the people there are a large number of "football tourists" - people from all over the world adding to atmosphere. It being the easiest premier League ground in London to get tickets at. Hats off to Fulham for doing this - people are trusted to behave sensibly, and from what I've seen they respond to that opportunity. I've sat there several times and never seen and bother. Only complaint is the over-priced and average food inside the ground, and the hugely expensive tickets for Category A games (ie Man U, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and any other London PL team - ie QPR currently and West Ham last season). It's great place to watch football - the antedote to so many concrete soul-less, pre-fab stadia that now grace so much of the UK A genuine ground that transcends the old and modern era’s of English stadia. Modern stands at either end with the famous old Stevenage Road Stand – now rightly called the Johnny Haynes stand. This still has lots of pillars and wooden seats – you can smell the history in there. Next to that is the old Cottage in the corner. Home to the dressing rooms, with a quirky balcony – good for spotting visiting managers doing their scouting and non-playing players. The final stand is the Riverside stand which does as it says on the tin – i.e. backs right onto the River Thames

Not the noisiest stadium by a long way, Craven Cottage has a unique atmosphere, especially for evening games. The place is really, really friendly right from the fans through to the staff – even the ones who search you as you come in.

The really unique thing at this ground is that the Putney End houses supporters of both teams without segregation. Usually half of it is allocated to away fans, and the other half is described as “neutral” where supporters of both teams sit happily side by side proudly supporting their teams and wearing their colours. Usually mixed in amongst the people there are a large number of “football tourists” – people from all over the world adding to atmosphere. It being the easiest premier League ground in London to get tickets at. Hats off to Fulham for doing this – people are trusted to behave sensibly, and from what I’ve seen they respond to that opportunity. I’ve sat there several times and never seen and bother. Only complaint is the over-priced and average food inside the ground, and the hugely expensive tickets for Category A games (ie Man U, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and any other London PL team – ie QPR currently and West Ham last season).

It’s great place to watch football – the antedote to so many concrete soul-less, pre-fab stadia that now grace so much of the UK

]]> Comment on Estadio Santiago Bernabéu by Tony Slade http://www.stadiumguide.com/bernabeu/#comment-528 Tony Slade Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:25:31 +0000 http://www.stadiumguide.nl/?p=560#comment-528 Very pleasant tour but if you don't have a guide, there is no-one you can ask questions to. You do not go into the home team changing room. You go up the tunnel to get there and so do not have the experience of going down the tunnel to enter the stadium in the style of the players. Also, you cannot sit on the Real Madrid manager's seat. In these respects, the tour at Manchester United is much better. I had an excellent tour guide, Marianne. Very pleasant tour but if you don’t have a guide, there is no-one you can ask questions to.
You do not go into the home team changing room. You go up the tunnel to get there and so do not have the experience of going down the tunnel to enter the stadium in the style of the players.
Also, you cannot sit on the Real Madrid manager’s seat. In these respects, the tour at Manchester United is much better.
I had an excellent tour guide, Marianne.

]]> Comment on St James’ Park (Sports Direct Arena) by The Growlerr http://www.stadiumguide.com/stjamespark/#comment-202 The Growlerr Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:03:00 +0000 http://www.stadiumguide.nl/?p=520#comment-202 The Sports Direct Arena is a challenge. The two big stands are very impressive and extremely spaceish, however getting up there is a nightmare and I am an athlete!!! The designers done really well to get the old smaller stand to fit and create the bowl effect. The view from the gods I honestly thought wasn't as bad as people made out until we scored and you could not tell at all who got it??? The atmosphere in here was nuts as it was derby day and the passion in the north east is second to none in English football. This ground is good, though with Mike Ashley and his Sports Direct brand the stadium is being tarnished. The Sports Direct Arena is a challenge. The two big stands are very impressive and extremely spaceish, however getting up there is a nightmare and I am an athlete!!! The designers done really well to get the old smaller stand to fit and create the bowl effect. The view from the gods I honestly thought wasn’t as bad as people made out until we scored and you could not tell at all who got it??? The atmosphere in here was nuts as it was derby day and the passion in the north east is second to none in English football. This ground is good, though with Mike Ashley and his Sports Direct brand the stadium is being tarnished.

]]> Comment on Molineux Stadium by The Growlerr http://www.stadiumguide.com/molineux/#comment-201 The Growlerr Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:56:25 +0000 http://www.stadiumguide.nl/?p=1888#comment-201 Love this ground. Of all the new grounds I like how Molineux has four stands and doesn't have the bowl effect like most grounds (not yet anyway). With the golden orange yellow whatever colour its quite a distinctive ground that is not too big or too small. My view was low to pitch but felt real close to the action. A nice tidy ground which I hope they don't ruin. Love this ground. Of all the new grounds I like how Molineux has four stands and doesn’t have the bowl effect like most grounds (not yet anyway). With the golden orange yellow whatever colour its quite a distinctive ground that is not too big or too small. My view was low to pitch but felt real close to the action. A nice tidy ground which I hope they don’t ruin.

]]> Comment on Goodison Park by The Growlerr http://www.stadiumguide.com/goodison/#comment-200 The Growlerr Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:53:01 +0000 http://www.stadiumguide.nl/?p=1318#comment-200 I will never go back to this ground. I did like the mixture of new and old stands at Goodison. The big main stand has to be one of the oddest stands I have seen. The stand I was in though was frustrating as I had a restricted view. The reason I won't return though is that my team was walloped!!!! I will never go back to this ground. I did like the mixture of new and old stands at Goodison. The big main stand has to be one of the oddest stands I have seen. The stand I was in though was frustrating as I had a restricted view. The reason I won’t return though is that my team was walloped!!!!

]]> Comment on Craven Cottage by The Growlerr http://www.stadiumguide.com/cravencottage/#comment-199 The Growlerr Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:49:26 +0000 http://www.stadiumguide.nl/?p=43#comment-199 The last ground I ever stood at, and it was a pleasure, the terrace didn't seem level? The stands behind the goals were old and tatty but that what made my visit great. It still had its history, pretty sure it still had wooden seats as well? The cottage is unique and to me very strange to see at a football ground, but this what makes grounds special, love the old school stand I stood in with its brick work on the outside, no new metal plastic stuff they use now. The last ground I ever stood at, and it was a pleasure, the terrace didn’t seem level? The stands behind the goals were old and tatty but that what made my visit great. It still had its history, pretty sure it still had wooden seats as well? The cottage is unique and to me very strange to see at a football ground, but this what makes grounds special, love the old school stand I stood in with its brick work on the outside, no new metal plastic stuff they use now.

]]> Comment on City Ground by The Growlerr http://www.stadiumguide.com/cityground/#comment-198 The Growlerr Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:42:32 +0000 http://www.stadiumguide.nl/?p=454#comment-198 Quite impressed with this ground, around the ground seemed real nice. The ground itself lacked atmosphere probably due to Forest position at the time. But the Brian Clough stand is iconic, the away end seems well designed and I like how it lowers to fit in with the other side of ground. All in all a great ground, disappointed though on a boiling hot day someone turned the water off in the ground??? Quite impressed with this ground, around the ground seemed real nice. The ground itself lacked atmosphere probably due to Forest position at the time. But the Brian Clough stand is iconic, the away end seems well designed and I like how it lowers to fit in with the other side of ground. All in all a great ground, disappointed though on a boiling hot day someone turned the water off in the ground???

]]> Comment on Anfield by The Growlerr http://www.stadiumguide.com/anfield/#comment-197 The Growlerr Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:35:49 +0000 http://www.stadiumguide.nl/?p=644#comment-197 My one and only visit to Anfield and it was a throw back, around outside was a dump and very crammed. However once inside this ground still has the magic of football of old, the Kop is an impressive stand considering how modern stands are, I think they done well to keep it as original as possible. The stand the players come out though was more impressive as it just has that 80s Liverpool greatness about it??? My one and only visit to Anfield and it was a throw back, around outside was a dump and very crammed. However once inside this ground still has the magic of football of old, the Kop is an impressive stand considering how modern stands are, I think they done well to keep it as original as possible. The stand the players come out though was more impressive as it just has that 80s Liverpool greatness about it???

]]> Comment on Estadio Cuauhtémoc by The Stadium Guide Official Review http://www.stadiumguide.com/cuauhtemoc/#comment-6 The Stadium Guide Official Review Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:20:11 +0000 http://www.stadiumguide.nl/?p=272#comment-6 Date visited: 6 November 2011 Match visited: Puebla – Tigres 0-1 We went to see the stadium in November 2011, attending a match between Puebla and Tigres from Monterrey. It was the last game of the regular season and both teams needed a win in order to qualify for the playoffs. The match was played on a Sunday at noon. We reached the stadium by taxi from the CAPU bus terminal, where the buses from Mexico City arrive. The taxi cost us app. 6 USD, and the ride took about 10 minutes. At the stadium we quickly found our ways to the ticket booths (taquillas), and waited for about half an hour to make it to the front of the line. Conveniently we could get tickets for any section at that ticket window, and we were kindly explained the options. We chose a section high up in the stadium, in the long end, mainly because the roof would protect us against the blistering sun. The tickets cost us around 5 USD, and after eating some quesadillas at one of the many food stands we entered the stadium. The stadium looks quite impressive from the inside (as well as the outside) with its high ramps. Seating was free, which meant we could choose any seat in the upper long end stand. Our section was nicely filled with Puebla fans, though enough free seats remained throughout the match. The fanatic fans of Puebla sat (or more often stood) behind the goal at one of the short ends, whereas the visiting Tigres fans were in a corner at the opposite end. Quite a few Tigres fans had made the away trip and the atmosphere was nice from both sides. The stadium was about two-thirds filled. Beers and snacks were sold by the typical vendors walking around the stands, so we did not even have to get up to get a beer. The match was rather uneventful, and won by Tigres which somewhat dampened the atmosphere in the home stands. After the match the stadium emptied quickly and the fans of both sides mixed up peacefully on the outside. After a bit of a search, and climbing over a freeway, we found an empty taxi which brought us back to the bus terminal (we already knew the city, but would definitely recommend a visit to the historic city centre). Date visited: 6 November 2011
Match visited: Puebla – Tigres 0-1

We went to see the stadium in November 2011, attending a match between Puebla and Tigres from Monterrey. It was the last game of the regular season and both teams needed a win in order to qualify for the playoffs. The match was played on a Sunday at noon.

We reached the stadium by taxi from the CAPU bus terminal, where the buses from Mexico City arrive. The taxi cost us app. 6 USD, and the ride took about 10 minutes.

At the stadium we quickly found our ways to the ticket booths (taquillas), and waited for about half an hour to make it to the front of the line. Conveniently we could get tickets for any section at that ticket window, and we were kindly explained the options. We chose a section high up in the stadium, in the long end, mainly because the roof would protect us against the blistering sun. The tickets cost us around 5 USD, and after eating some quesadillas at one of the many food stands we entered the stadium.

The stadium looks quite impressive from the inside (as well as the outside) with its high ramps. Seating was free, which meant we could choose any seat in the upper long end stand. Our section was nicely filled with Puebla fans, though enough free seats remained throughout the match. The fanatic fans of Puebla sat (or more often stood) behind the goal at one of the short ends, whereas the visiting Tigres fans were in a corner at the opposite end. Quite a few Tigres fans had made the away trip and the atmosphere was nice from both sides. The stadium was about two-thirds filled.

Beers and snacks were sold by the typical vendors walking around the stands, so we did not even have to get up to get a beer. The match was rather uneventful, and won by Tigres which somewhat dampened the atmosphere in the home stands.

After the match the stadium emptied quickly and the fans of both sides mixed up peacefully on the outside. After a bit of a search, and climbing over a freeway, we found an empty taxi which brought us back to the bus terminal (we already knew the city, but would definitely recommend a visit to the historic city centre).

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