Tuesday 14 November 2006

Stadium Review #4 - Walkers Stadium

Ground Information: Walkers Stadium (Leicester City FC) Capacity 32,500

Appearance: A very new stadium (2002), this is an all round good ground, though parts of the concourse looked shabby. The concourse was ample, and seemed to go on forever, but the stairway access to the stands was quite narrow. Gets extra points for being off Raw Dykes Lane! 8/10

View: Superb. Being located in a corner, you can be quite far from the pitch, but pick your spot carefully and it doesn't really matter. 7/10

Getting there: All of Leicester's sports grounds are located within the same area and next to the A594, so it should be easy to find; however miss your turning on the M6 and you'll end up going the long way round. There was very little parking in the immediate area and very long queues leaving Leicester. 5/10

Facilities (toilets, TVs etc): As mentioned, the concourse was rather ample, and even had an extra bit round the corner. There were two bars open - one selling alcohol and one not, meaning the usual queues but nothing overtly major. The usual TVs were there and a more than adequate number of lavatorial facilities. 8/10

Food and Drink: Reasonable priced, was amused at having to have my Pepsi poured into a paper cup after being used to bottles at Argyle. The chicken and mushroom pie was alright, but as they were served in a polystyrene container with a spork, you knew something wasn't right. After the first bite, the top came off, the bottom folded in half and the filling fell out. A much more intricate review of Leicester's pies can be found on PASOTI. 5/10

Stewarding/Police: Can't really comment as I had no dealings with them. Please note that the Walkers Stadium is a non smoking ground, however the stewards can't be bothered to enforce the rule.
Leicester's police have been known to be heavy handed but we avoided them by the clever 'missing your motorway turn off and coming in he back way' plan. 8/10

Surrounding area (what's there to do outside the ground): Shop at Morrisons or get drunk in the pub. 5/10

Home fans (their contribution to the atmosphere etc): Home fans? Were there any there? Oh yes, sorry, they woke up after they scored, fell asleep after the equaliser, work up again after they went 2-1 up and then left 10 minutes before full time. 4/10

Total score: 50/80

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