Blackpool's Stadium Hotel: A Room with No View - The Harsh Reality of Being a Football Fan
Imagine paying top dollar for a "Superior Room with Pitch View" at Blackpool FC's stadium hotel, only to find out that you're not allowed to open the curtains during matches due to obscure EFL rules. This was my experience at the Bloomfield Road Stadium hotel, where I was booked into a room with no view of the pitch - a bizarre situation made even more frustrating by the fact that I couldn't enjoy the match or even a glass of wine.
The problem lies in an outdated 40-year-old law that prohibits drinking alcohol within view of the pitch. This rule was put in place to combat hooliganism, but it now seems disproportionate and unnecessarily restrictive, especially for lower-risk matches like Blackpool's League One games. The hotel management has thrown its hands up at this restriction, with no apparent plan to circumvent it.
As I sat in my windowless room, unable to see or listen to the match unfolding below, I couldn't help but feel defeated. The irony was not lost on me - I had paid good money for a "Superior Room" that turned out to be anything but superior when it came to enjoying the game. While other Radisson hotels within football stadiums have found ways to accommodate fans' needs, Blackpool's hotel seems determined to stick with its restrictive policy.
The issue has sparked calls for reform, with some arguing that the blanket ban on alcohol is unnecessary and disproportionate. The Football Supporters' Association welcomes the idea of a trial period or pilot scheme that could lift these rules, making it easier for fans like me to enjoy the match without being penalized.
For now, I'm stuck in my darkened room, dreaming of what it would be like to watch the Blackpool team take on their opponents while sipping a pint. While this experience was certainly an eye-opener, I hope that one day fans will no longer be forced to choose between enjoying the game and being confined to a windowless room - a small price to pay for the privilege of watching sports, if you ask me.
Imagine paying top dollar for a "Superior Room with Pitch View" at Blackpool FC's stadium hotel, only to find out that you're not allowed to open the curtains during matches due to obscure EFL rules. This was my experience at the Bloomfield Road Stadium hotel, where I was booked into a room with no view of the pitch - a bizarre situation made even more frustrating by the fact that I couldn't enjoy the match or even a glass of wine.
The problem lies in an outdated 40-year-old law that prohibits drinking alcohol within view of the pitch. This rule was put in place to combat hooliganism, but it now seems disproportionate and unnecessarily restrictive, especially for lower-risk matches like Blackpool's League One games. The hotel management has thrown its hands up at this restriction, with no apparent plan to circumvent it.
As I sat in my windowless room, unable to see or listen to the match unfolding below, I couldn't help but feel defeated. The irony was not lost on me - I had paid good money for a "Superior Room" that turned out to be anything but superior when it came to enjoying the game. While other Radisson hotels within football stadiums have found ways to accommodate fans' needs, Blackpool's hotel seems determined to stick with its restrictive policy.
The issue has sparked calls for reform, with some arguing that the blanket ban on alcohol is unnecessary and disproportionate. The Football Supporters' Association welcomes the idea of a trial period or pilot scheme that could lift these rules, making it easier for fans like me to enjoy the match without being penalized.
For now, I'm stuck in my darkened room, dreaming of what it would be like to watch the Blackpool team take on their opponents while sipping a pint. While this experience was certainly an eye-opener, I hope that one day fans will no longer be forced to choose between enjoying the game and being confined to a windowless room - a small price to pay for the privilege of watching sports, if you ask me.
40 yrs old rule is outdated btw they should just make an exception for their paying customers lol i mean what's next no food or drink in the room because ur not good enough? 
come on blakpool stadium hotel theyre making a fortune off us fans and yet we cant even get a decent view of the pitch 
lol what kinda football fan doesnt wanna see their team play? its 2025 and still stuck in those old rules 
the football supporters association is right, why not just have a trial period or something? i mean who really gets drunk watching blackpool fc anyway 
Ugh, can't believe they do this to us fans! I mean, I get that they wanna keep things safe, but come on, 40 years old?! That's just crazy talk 
It's not like it's gonna encourage hooliganism or anything... and what about those of us who just wanna relax and watch the game?! I've stayed at other stadium hotels and they're always super chill about it, no problem. Blackpool's gotta rethink this one, imo 
especially when other hotels r doing it differently. i get dis rule was meant 2 prevent hooliganism but now its just frustrating n restrictive. fans shud be able 2 enjoy match wit out being penalized 
It's like paying extra for a room with no view...literally! And to make matters worse, some random old law from 40 years ago is stopping them from opening up the curtains. I get that they want to prevent hooliganism, but it seems kinda harsh. 
Some people might see it as an outdated rule, especially for lower-risk matches like League One games.
i mean, you pay good money for a "superior room" and the view is literally the only thing missing... would be super cool if they just got an update on this policy 
just read about how some hotel at Blackpool Stadium has rooms with NO VIEW OF THE PITCH due to an outdated rule that prohibits drinking in view... like what even is the point of booking a "Superior Room" if I'm just gonna be stuck in the dark? 
and on top of that, they can't even open the curtains so I can listen to the game... that's just cruel. 
, let's make it easier for us to enjoy the match without being penalized. I'm still dreaming of sipping a pint while watching the Blackpool team take on their opponents 
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i get it ban hooliganism is cool but not having wine in ur room is harsh 
hotels got 2 find better ways 2 accommodate fans like me 
. Fingers crossed someone gets this sorted out soon 
banning selfies at matches? 
fan experience shud b 2 prioritise, not held hostage by archaic laws 
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. Not exactly the ultimate match-day experience 
. I mean, what's next? No social media posts during the match because you'll be too distracted by the actual action on the pitch 
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. I'm all for giving the fans more flexibility, but we shouldn't just start throwing out old laws willy-nilly without thinking things through