A Room Without a View at Football: The Dark Side of Stadium Hotels
As I settled into my "Superior Room with Pitch View" at the Blackpool Football Club Stadium hotel, excitement washed over me. I was ready to immerse myself in the electric atmosphere of a live match, surrounded by the 12th man cheering on their team. But as soon as the whistle blew and play resumed, it became painfully clear: my room was designed for watching football – not participating.
The EFL's rules prohibit anyone in view of the pitch from opening the curtains during a match, with severe penalties for non-compliance. My hotel had unwittingly booked me into this absurd situation, citing "EFL rules and regulations." The irony was not lost on me as I reluctantly pulled down the heavy drapes, shutting out the vibrant scene outside my panoramic window.
I spent the first half of the game sitting in a windowless room, listening to the roar of the crowd through the closed curtains. My excitement slowly deflated as I realized this wasn't the immersive experience I had anticipated. The free Wi-Fi, usually a silver lining, was now just a reminder that I was missing out on the live action.
But it wasn't all bad – my hotel room did offer some comforts, like complimentary soaps and tea. Yet, even these small pleasures felt tainted by the EFL's restrictive rules. Why must we be denied an enjoyable match-day experience? What's the logic behind such a blanket ban?
The answer lies in outdated legislation from the 1980s, aimed at curbing hooliganism in football. However, with modern stadiums and security measures in place, this rule seems disproportionate to the threat it aims to address. Many argue that it unfairly restricts supporters' freedoms.
Perhaps there's room for reform? The Football Supporters' Association welcomes discussions about lifting these rules, and even a trial period could be a step towards progress. Until then, I was stuck in my windowless world, with only Escape to the Country on TV to keep me company.
As I lay my head down for the night, it's hard not to feel like I've missed out on an event that should have been shared with me – even if only through a curtain of darkness. Blackpool may have its stadium hotel woes, but in this writer's opinion, it's time for a change.
As I settled into my "Superior Room with Pitch View" at the Blackpool Football Club Stadium hotel, excitement washed over me. I was ready to immerse myself in the electric atmosphere of a live match, surrounded by the 12th man cheering on their team. But as soon as the whistle blew and play resumed, it became painfully clear: my room was designed for watching football – not participating.
The EFL's rules prohibit anyone in view of the pitch from opening the curtains during a match, with severe penalties for non-compliance. My hotel had unwittingly booked me into this absurd situation, citing "EFL rules and regulations." The irony was not lost on me as I reluctantly pulled down the heavy drapes, shutting out the vibrant scene outside my panoramic window.
I spent the first half of the game sitting in a windowless room, listening to the roar of the crowd through the closed curtains. My excitement slowly deflated as I realized this wasn't the immersive experience I had anticipated. The free Wi-Fi, usually a silver lining, was now just a reminder that I was missing out on the live action.
But it wasn't all bad – my hotel room did offer some comforts, like complimentary soaps and tea. Yet, even these small pleasures felt tainted by the EFL's restrictive rules. Why must we be denied an enjoyable match-day experience? What's the logic behind such a blanket ban?
The answer lies in outdated legislation from the 1980s, aimed at curbing hooliganism in football. However, with modern stadiums and security measures in place, this rule seems disproportionate to the threat it aims to address. Many argue that it unfairly restricts supporters' freedoms.
Perhaps there's room for reform? The Football Supporters' Association welcomes discussions about lifting these rules, and even a trial period could be a step towards progress. Until then, I was stuck in my windowless world, with only Escape to the Country on TV to keep me company.
As I lay my head down for the night, it's hard not to feel like I've missed out on an event that should have been shared with me – even if only through a curtain of darkness. Blackpool may have its stadium hotel woes, but in this writer's opinion, it's time for a change.
! They literally have rules that mean you can't look out the window during a match 
... like what's next, not being able to breathe in? 
The EFL is all about safety and security, but this rule just feels super outdated... I mean who needs a panoramic view of the pitch when you can just tune into TV instead? 
But on a more serious note, it's kinda wild that they're still enforcing this rule even with modern stadiums and security measures in place. Maybe it's time for some reforms and we can get back to enjoying our match-day experiences without being locked out like I was 
.
"The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams." I truly believe that sports events should be about sharing an experience with others, not just watching from behind closed curtains. It's like they say, "A picture is worth a thousand words" – how can we enjoy the atmosphere and emotions of a match without seeing it? 
. Its like they forgot its the fans who pay to watch the game! And whats with the penalty for not closing the curtains? Like youd just leave all day while the match is on? 
. The EFL should be open to changing these rules, its just common sense now.
Stadium hotels are taking over the football experience and it's just not right! 
.
. Hotels should just be able to accommodate their guests w/o restrictions, its not like they're gonna let anyone in w/ bad intentions 
. I mean, imo stadiums can have better security measures in place & still allow ppl to enjoy the match day experience 
.
.