Championship Grounds

Football stadiums are often just as famous as the teams that play in them. The game’s best-known venues were all built or extended in the 20th century to accommodate the ever-increasing crowds. As the century progressed, stadiums became larger and better equipped. Floodlighting was installed, along with covered terraces and improved facilities. By the end of the century, many stadiums had become like mini-towns with bars, restaurants, offices, press rooms, boardrooms, VIP suites as well as changing rooms.

As stadiums got larger, so crowd safety became more important, particularly after horrific disasters such as that at Hillsborough stadium in 1989 when 96 Liverpool fans died. One of the most important ways of improving safety was to replace standing terraces with seats. Fire exits and access routes were also improved.

While some may argue that atmospheres are not quite what they used to be at football grounds, I can assure you that fan’s are as passionate as ever. With chants reverberating off specially designed roofs, i would say that the atmospheres are as good as ever.

The English Championship boasts several impressive grounds and I will endeavour to give you a little bit of information about each one.

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BARNSLEY
Oakwell
Capacity: 23,000
Opened: 1887
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BLACKPOOL
Bloomfield Road
Capacity: 9,788
Opened: 1900
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BRISTOL CITY
Ashton Gate
Capacity: 21,497
Opened: 1904
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CARDIFF CITY
Ninian Park
Capacity: 20,376
Opened: 1910
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CHARLTON ATHLETIC
The Valley
Capacity: 27,111
Opened: 1919
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COLCHESTER UNITED
Layer Road
Capacity: 6,340
Opened: 1907
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COVENTRY CITY
Ricoh Arena
Capacity: 32,609
Opened: 2005
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CRYSTAL PALACE
Selhurst Park
Capacity: 26,306
Opened: 1924
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HULL CITY
The Kingston Communications Stadium
Capacity: 25,000
Opened: 2002
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IPSWICH TOWN
Portman Road
Capacity: 30,311
Opened: 1884
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LEICESTER CITY
Walkers Stadium
Capacity: 32,500
Opened: 2002
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NORWICH CITY
Carrow Road
Capacity: 26,034
Opened: 1935
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PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
Home Park
Capacity: 19,500
Opened: 1893
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PRESTON NORTH END
Deepdale
Capacity: 22,222
Opened: 1878
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QPR
Loftus Road
Capacity: 19,148
Opened: 1896
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SCUNTHORPE
Glanford Park
Capacity: 9,088
Opened: 1988
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SHEFFIELD UNITED
Bramall Lane
Capacity: 32,609
Opened: 1855
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SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Hillsborough
Capacity: 39,814
Opened: 1899
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SOUTHAMPTON
St. Mary’s Stadium
Capacity: 32,689
Opened: 2000
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STOKE CITY
The Britannia
Capacity: 28,384
Opened: 1997
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WATFORD
Vicarage Road
Capacity: 19,920
Opened: 1922
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WEST BROMICH ALBION
The Hawthorns
Capacity: 28,003
Opened: 1900
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WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Molineux
Capacity: 28,525
Opened: 1889
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