From an article in the Guardian:
Seems perfectly reasonable that anyone booking a “Superior Room with Pitch View” at the Blackpool Football Club Stadium hotel, located inside the Bloomfield Road Stadium, would expect a hotel room with a view of the pitch. And that is exactly the case – except, bizarrely, when Blackpool are actually playing, with some hotel guests scuppered recently by the smallest of fine print when booking: “Due to the EFL rules and regulations, bedroom curtains have to be kept drawn throughout a match.” Failure to do so could result in a £2,500 fine. Ouch.
The English Football League rules state that everyone in view of a pitch must have a ticket, even if you’re not in the stadium. WTF?!? Obviously the rooftop seats across the street from Wrigley Field would be frowned upon.
Another surprise further down:
Possibly the bigger problem is alcohol. The Sporting Events Act 1985 prevents the consumption of alcohol within view of the pitch in the Premier League, Football League and National League. My minbar has been removed but Blackpool have decided there is no way of stopping people from circumventing that rule by bringing booze into a hotel room.
I understand the paranoia brought on by British hooliganism which led to English football teams being banned from European competitions, but this does seem extreme.
Image Credits
- “Photo” by Auz is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
