Both football teams and organizers of sports trips are happy to advertise stadium tours. Are you wondering what these are really about and whether it makes sense to spend time and money on them? Here you get a brief insight into what you can actually experience behind the facade of a football stadium.
As a sworn football enthusiast, you are probably convinced that it is on the lawn itself that the actual entertainment takes place. That’s right, but a huge apparatus is needed to prepare and manage what’s going on out there. Much of it takes place inside the stadium building itself. There are changing rooms for both away and home teams, massage rooms and often gyms. There are offices for coaches and administration, accreditation rooms and workrooms for journalists and photographers.
Also, of course, the player tunnel, where the teams come out of the stadium, is a symbol-heavy place, and an angle you will never get to see the stadium from unless you go on a tour. In addition to showing you everything you do not normally see, Stadium tours are also about everything you do not know. For example, there are often many stories associated with the design of the grandstands, not least with the location of the supporters of the away team. At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s home ground, for example, these were moved from one short side to the south side of the stadium. Instead, families with children were placed on the short side, in the hope that it would raise team morale.
Many stadiums house a museum, which gives you the story both to and about the team. Good and knowledgeable guides take you through both the buildings and the stories, and many clubs arrange special tours where you are guided by a well-known profile from the club, such as a former player or coach. A stadium tour is not just about getting into the stadium building, but about getting under the skin of your team, in a whole new way. for example, these were moved from one short side to the south side of the stadium. Instead, families with children were placed on the short side, in the hope that it would raise team morale. Many stadiums house a museum, which gives you the story both to and about the team.
Good and knowledgeable guides take you through both the buildings and the stories, and many clubs arrange special tours where you are guided by a well-known profile from the club, such as a former player or coach. A stadium tour is not just about getting into the stadium building, but about getting under the skin of your team, in a whole new way. for example, these were moved from one short side to the south side of the stadium. Instead, families with children were placed on the short side, in the hope that it would raise team morale. Many stadiums house a museum, which gives you the story both to and about the team. Good and knowledgeable guides take you through both the buildings and the stories, and many clubs arrange special tours where you are guided by a well-known profile from the club, such as a former player or coach. A stadium tour is not just about getting into the stadium building, but about getting under the skin of your team, in a whole new way.