Looking forward to Blackpool

Blackpool
Ground Name: Bloomfield Road
Capacity: 9,000 (all seated)
Address:
Seasiders Way, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 6JJ
Main Telephone No: 0870-443-1953
Fax No: 01253-405-011
Pitch Size: 112 x 74 yards
Team Nickname: Seasiders
Year Ground Opened: 1899
Shirt Sponsors: Pointbetgames.com
Home Kit Colours: Tangerine & White
Away Kit Colours: White & Orange
Kit Manufacturers: Uhlsport
Bloomfield road is a bit of a mesh mash of building work and construction since in an ambitious move, the Club announced in 2000 their intention to redevelop Bloomfield Road, resulting in a new 16,000 all seated stadium. Phase one of the project was completed in February 2002, with the opening of the new North & West Stands. Phase two, the rebuilding of the South & East Stands, yet to commence.

The single tiered West & North Stands are located at one side and at one end of the ground. They are impressive looking and the North West corner between them has also been filled with seating, so that this area of the ground is enclosed. At the back of the West Stand is a row of executive boxes. Naming the West Stand, ‘The Pricebusters Matthews Stand’ rather than just ‘The Sir Stanley Matthews Stand’, seems disrespectful. Both the other sides of the ground have now been demolished. On the East side of the ground an open temporary ‘golf style’ seated stand has been erected to house away supporters, whilst at the South end of the ground still awaits a new stand to be constructed. Outside the North Stand of the ground is a statue of the former Blackpool legend Stan Mortensen.

After demolishing the old South Stand in 2003, the Club have yet to embark upon the building of its replacement. The stand would be similar to the North Stand and linked to the West Stand, it was intended to be open for the 2004/05 season, but for various reasons works are yet to commence. It is intended that once the South Stand has been completed then work would begin on the construction of a new East Stand. It is possible that work will begin on it sometime in 2006.

With delays to the building of the new South Stand, away fans will once again for this season find themselves being housed in a temporary stand on the Eastern side of the ground. The stand is more reminiscent of the type found at the 18th hole of the British Open Golf Championships, rather than at a football ground and has a capacity of 1,700. As you would expect from a temporary stand the facilities are basic and the stand has no roof, leaving fans exposed to the elements.Of course whats the weather forecast….rain. So we can’t even have a morning on the beach, to the pub it is then