8th Worst Stadium in the Country (1 Viewer)

JimmyHillsbeard · Apr 9, 2025

Bad Boy said:
Car park C is located on the site of what was Three Spires Junction railway sidings, I think it's unlikely that piece of land is contaminated.

The stadium is sited on what was contaminated land, it took an immense amount of money and time to clean it up before construction began. I seem to recall most of the finance came from the football club for that part of the project??

Something I’ve NEVER understood about the discusssions about our ground is that the general legal principle that the responsibility for decontamination of land lies with the previous owner (original contaminator) of the land seems to be routinely ignored.

When Ford closed their Leamington plant, they had to pay to get it decontaminated before it was sold to another party. Had to. Not chose to. I have never understood why British Gas - or whoever- weren’t required to do the same for the ground around the Arena.

fernandopartridge · Apr 9, 2025

pusbccfc said:
Putting Millwall as the worst because they banned the Daily Mail Utter rag.

Should be no 1. Hard to know what his criteria is really as in fairness to the Den, it's got a lot of soul

pusbccfc · Apr 9, 2025

fernandopartridge said:
Should be no 1. Hard to know what his criteria is really as in fairness to the Den, it's got a lot of soul

I think it's definitely in the top 20.

Although it should be top 5 because they ban newspapers who have a pop.

Sky Blue Wozza · Apr 9, 2025

The West Stand is what marks it out as different to other bowls (Leicester/ Derby Soton). Without that it would be a tad soulless . But please give some of the panels a clean!
The “Fan Village” and Dhillons/ Anecdote have vastly improved things over the past few years..but it would be nice to have some more traditional-style pubs around the site.

pusbccfc · May 29, 2025

A much more reasonable position from Daniel Storey of The I. He's visited all 92 this season. He's put us rightfully above the other bowl stadiums.

My ranking of all 92 football league stadiums - after visiting them in one season

Four Premier League grounds make the top 10, while the best view from a stadium in English football helps one Lancashire side place seventh

inews.co.uk

63) Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry
There’s no escaping that it’s the same functional design as Derby, Leicester and Southampton, and the fact that it has a casino literally built into the stadium should grind my gears even further. But the CBS is always close to full capacity for league games and the noise does roll around it nicely. Maybe I’m being too generous here.

PUSB-We_are_going_up · May 29, 2025

The CBS is shit but its our shit and is starting to get better, a lot more personality on the inside now and its feeling like home now, just needs a clean and maybe a few more bits and pieces done to it on the outside maybe to get rid of the ‘basic’ aesthetic

play_in_skyblue_stripes · May 29, 2025

pusbccfc said:
A much more reasonable position from Daniel Storey of The I. He's visited all 92 this season. He's put us rightfully above the other bowl stadiums.

My ranking of all 92 football league stadiums - after visiting them in one season

Four Premier League grounds make the top 10, while the best view from a stadium in English football helps one Lancashire side place seventh

inews.co.uk

63) Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry
There’s no escaping that it’s the same functional design as Derby, Leicester and Southampton, and the fact that it has a casino literally built into the stadium should grind my gears even further. But the CBS is always close to full capacity for league games and the noise does roll around it nicely. Maybe I’m being too generous here.

Sorry to disagree, I thought his ratings were for a significant chunk of stadiums in total contrast to my experiences. Very odd in my opinion.

Irish Sky Blue · May 29, 2025

If you are talking about atmosphere I don’t think there would be many better stadiums than the CBS.
Those of us 30 and older will have a lot of great memories of Highfield Road (I was at the Wolves match in 1967 for example) but I don’t think the noise we have consistently at the CBS ever happened at the old ground.
This guy puts stadiums like Bournemouth’s above ours and has Grimsby Town as his number one so his criteria is certainly ‘different’.
He has Kenilworth Road above the CBS (how?). Perhaps he didn’t sample the delightful sights and smells of the away end toilets? As a place for watching football Kenilworth Road is crap. Cramped seating/safe standing, obstructed views and the joy of being spat at by the home fans as you try and leave. I also wonder how they get a safety certificate as evacuating that end in an emergency would be difficult.

AOM · May 29, 2025

play_in_skyblue_stripes said:
Sorry to disagree, I thought his ratings were for a significant chunk of stadiums in total contrast to my experiences. Very odd in my opinion.

It is an interesting article, and has already made me want to visit quite a few from the list that I've not already, but yeah it is a subject everyone is likely to disagree on.

Bramall Lane at #9 for example whenever I've been has been awful atmosphere-wise, and the away section is really poor - much prefer Hillsborough even if it's really getting dated now.
Swansea and Wycombe are both ranked relatively low, and I think are actually pretty good away days.

Hincha · May 29, 2025

Depends what you're basing it on really

The atmosphere generated is one of the best in the league no question

That doesn't take away from the fact that the ground is far away with shit connections (also impossible to get out of after the game), is a very generic stadium in style, and has an exhibition centre/hotel - these are the things neutrals care about

Grendel · May 29, 2025

Irish Sky Blue said:
If you are talking about atmosphere I don’t think there would be many better stadiums than the CBS.
Those of us 30 and older will have a lot of great memories of Highfield Road (I was at the Wolves match in 1967 for example) but I don’t think the noise we have consistently at the CBS ever happened at the old ground.
This guy puts stadiums like Bournemouth’s above ours and has Grimsby Town as his number one so his criteria is certainly ‘different’.
He has Kenilworth Road above the CBS (how?). Perhaps he didn’t sample the delightful sights and smells of the away end toilets? As a place for watching football Kenilworth Road is crap. Cramped seating/safe standing, obstructed views and the joy of being spat at by the home fans as you try and leave. I also wonder how they get a safety certificate as evacuating that end in an emergency would be difficult.

He is a genuine Stockport fan and likes old stadiums

pusbccfc · May 29, 2025

Hincha said:
Depends what you're basing it on really

The atmosphere generated is one of the best in the league no question

That doesn't take away from the fact that the ground is far away with shit connections (also impossible to get out of after the game), is a very generic stadium in style, and has an exhibition centre/hotel - these are the things neutrals care about

Exactly. Based on everything, we're about midway.

Some of the older grounds are full of character but a dreadful place to view a game, go to the toilet, have a pint etc.

I agree fully with a lot of what he said about the likes of Shrewsbury and Colchester. They are the true shite grounds in this country. They have all the bad characteristics of the bowl stadiums but with a poor atmosphere and dreadful locations.

Gynnsthetonic · May 29, 2025

If this was written 10 years ago he may have a point. Certainly isn't the case now

Moff · May 29, 2025

Its not the best ground in the country, but definitely not the eighth worst, and far more worthy of a higher rating.

A bit rich coming from a rag that is in the shittest 1% of UK papers

Broken Hearted Sky Blue · May 29, 2025

PUSB-We_are_going_up said:
The CBS is shit but its our shit and is starting to get better, a lot more personality on the inside now and its feeling like home now, just needs a clean and maybe a few more bits and pieces done to it on the outside maybe to get rid of the ‘basic’ aesthetic

Why would it need a clean surely you’d want it to become a shit hole like the older grounds that s lot of people revere.

Hutch11 · May 29, 2025

pusbccfc said:
Putting Millwall as the worst because they banned the Daily Mail Utter rag.

Gint11 · May 29, 2025

napolimp said:
CBS is a great modern ground, with a brilliant atmosphere, it's just in a s**t location. Nothing beats walking up to a stadium from town with the masses.

Businesses in far gosford street were probably delighted we moved tbf

PUSB-We_are_going_up · May 29, 2025

Broken Hearted Sky Blue said:
Why would it need a clean surely you’d want it to become a shit hole like the older grounds that s lot of people revere.

Because its not an older ground and it would be better presentation and it looks shit especially with the wasps badge outlined by dirt and the white turning green

wingy · May 29, 2025

PUSB-We_are_going_up said:
Because its not an older ground and it would be better presentation and it looks shit especially with the wasps badge outlined by dirt and the white turning green

It must be on the maintenance schedule to sort all the paintwork out, not something they can really ignore!

AngryAnt · May 29, 2025

TomRad85 said:
Agreed, ours is a more impressive structure than all 3 of those you mention and while i get the appeal of the old grounds, for every Villa Park there are multiple shit pits (St Andrews.)
Ultimately stadium experiences live and die by their atmosphere, its why many hated our stadium as we basically moved into it at a time our fan base was depressed and it was only getting worse. Atm its far from that and one of the best grounds and also match day experiences in the league

Exactly, we moved in when we were on the decline and our fan base was never going to hit 25k+ a week, after 17? at highfield road, coupled with a terrible 10 or so years on pitch and thats why it felt lifeless.
The last three or four seasons have really changed that, especially with the fan zone area and a DJ/singer outside the ground. There could be alot more done around it, but that isn't the clubs fault.

I was talking to some Ipswich fans two seasons ago and they said it was the best vibe they'd been to for an away game. I even had a sunderland fan begrudginly say it was a great atmosphere around the place.
Also for me, the fact it's near the M6 is a dream, I can get on my way home much easier than driving through the city since I have a 2 and a half hour trip to face each way.

alexccfc99 · May 30, 2025

I personally couldn't give a toss if away supporters enjoy coming to our ground or not, I personally and I am sure most would agree with me enjoy going to The CBS these days and that is all that matters to me

The days where clubs come to our ground, get to bring 6000 fans and come away more often than not with a win are long gone

Hope they have a shit day with no pubs and get beat

stevefloyd · May 30, 2025

napolimp said:
CBS is a great modern ground, with a brilliant atmosphere, it's just in a s**t location. Nothing beats walking up to a stadium from town with the masses.

Its like a sponsored walk now walking from the city

Alkhen · May 30, 2025

pusbccfc said:
A much more reasonable position from Daniel Storey of The I. He's visited all 92 this season. He's put us rightfully above the other bowl stadiums.

My ranking of all 92 football league stadiums - after visiting them in one season

Four Premier League grounds make the top 10, while the best view from a stadium in English football helps one Lancashire side place seventh

inews.co.uk

63) Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry
There’s no escaping that it’s the same functional design as Derby, Leicester and Southampton, and the fact that it has a casino literally built into the stadium should grind my gears even further. But the CBS is always close to full capacity for league games and the noise does roll around it nicely. Maybe I’m being too generous here.

Daniel Storey was on the radio earlier and when asked if he'd kept an eye out for the results of any of the teams visited he mentioned Cov along with Harrogate Town. Must have made some impression!

To be fair I think he's pretty bang on, there was a raft of out of town functional bowls built in the early to mid 2000s. They serve a purpose but don't have much heart out the box, it really helps if the team is doing well. We had years of shite from the council and Wasps but thankfully has finally started to feel like home. I honestly think the atmosphere is the best I've experienced since starting watching in the mid 90s.

pusbccfc · May 31, 2025

Alkhen said:
Daniel Storey was on the radio earlier and when asked if he'd kept an eye out for the results of any of the teams visited he mentioned Cov along with Harrogate Town. Must have made some impression!

To be fair I think he's pretty bang on, there was a raft of out of town functional bowls built in the early to mid 2000s. They serve a purpose but don't have much heart out the box, it really helps if the team is doing well. We had years of shite from the council and Wasps but thankfully has finally started to feel like home. I honestly think the atmosphere is the best I've experienced since starting watching in the mid 90s.

Yeah he did a podcast about the trip and was full of praise.

eyesee · Jun 1, 2025

Bad Boy said:
Car park C is located on the site of what was Three Spires Junction railway sidings, I think it's unlikely that piece of land is contaminated.

The stadium is sited on what was contaminated land, it took an immense amount of money and time to clean it up before construction began. I seem to recall most of the finance came from the football club for that part of the project??

Sky Blue Goblin said:
Yeah that’s why the club ran out of funding but could be wrong

i'm pretty sure tesco paid (or significantly contributed) to have the land the stadium is built on cleaned up. i can't remember the name of the scheme, but it's basically along the lines of them being allowed to build they store if they provide money to help improve another area. in this case it happened to be the area next door.

bigfatronssba · Jun 1, 2025

napolimp said:
CBS is a great modern ground, with a brilliant atmosphere, it's just in a s**t location. Nothing beats walking up to a stadium from town with the masses.

Just a reflection of how the city has grown

Highfield Road was on the boundary of farmland when it opened

napolimp · Jun 2, 2025

bigfatronssba said:
Just a reflection of how the city has grown

Highfield Road was on the boundary of farmland when it opened

View attachment 43425

Oh yeah, I remember playing in that sand pit when I was kid.

Razzle Dazzle Dean Gordon · Jun 2, 2025

Alkhen said:
Daniel Storey was on the radio earlier and when asked if he'd kept an eye out for the results of any of the teams visited he mentioned Cov along with Harrogate Town. Must have made some impression!

To be fair I think he's pretty bang on, there was a raft of out of town functional bowls built in the early to mid 2000s. They serve a purpose but don't have much heart out the box, it really helps if the team is doing well. We had years of shite from the council and Wasps but thankfully has finally started to feel like home. I honestly think the atmosphere is the best I've experienced since starting watching in the mid 90s.

It's the best i remember over the same period. For years it felt soulless but i dont suppose that's a surprise considering the downward trajectory of the club, low attendances and off-field nonsense we had to contend with. The atmosphere will/would drop off a bit if we start to falter on the pitch (as with just about anywhwre else) but hopefully that isn't happening any season soon!

Sky_Blue_Dreamer · Jun 2, 2025

bigfatronssba said:
Just a reflection of how the city has grown

Highfield Road was on the boundary of farmland when it opened

View attachment 43425

All I noticed was the massive Stoke Knob...

wingy · Jun 3, 2025

eyesee said:
i'm pretty sure tesco paid (or significantly contributed) to have the land the stadium is built on cleaned up. i can't remember the name of the scheme, but it's basically along the lines of them being allowed to build they store if they provide money to help improve another area. in this case it happened to be the area next door.

Wasn't it a European Grant?

eyesee · Jun 3, 2025

Sky_Blue_Dreamer said:
All I noticed was the massive Stoke Knob...

...you rang?

SBT · Jun 3, 2025

Sky_Blue_Dreamer said:
All I noticed was the massive Stoke Knob...

8th Worst Stadium in the Country (1 Viewer)

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