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| The Fan Zone at Crystal Palace's ground has provided the blueprint for the Blundell Park project |
THE recently-devised Fan Zone at Grimsby Town’s Blundell Park home is based on a similar venture at the ground of South London Premier League side Crystal Palace.
In the design statement included in the planning application, there is a link to the Palace scheme. This includes an array of colourful artist’s impressions. https://selhurst-park.co.uk/our-events/spaces/the-fanzone
Blundell Park and Palace’s ground, Selhurst Park, are similar in having early 20th Century heritage and being located in the heart of residential areas.
This is by contrast with many other clubs which have relocated to expansive and modern out of town sites - an aspiration long cherished by former club owner John Fenty who, alas, found himself constantly thwarted by planning objections.
Time was when football fans used to do most of their eating and drinking either within the stadium and/or in nearby pubs and eateries pre- and post- match.
But clubs have cottoned on to the revenue-generating potential of encouraging their supporters (and staff) to tarry awhile to sup ale or fine wines, to munch Pukka pies (and to rail against the decisions of the match referee).
A giant outdoor screen allows them to catch up with the latest sporting action and news from elsewhere.
Fan Zones have a potential for nearby pubs and other catering outlets who risk missing out on trade.
Some residents, wo live near grounds, may also be inconvenienced by fans' cars being parked outside their homes for longer than they might like.
On the plus side, a slower dispersing crowd will ease traffic congestion and pressure on bus services after the match.
The operating times for the Blundell Park Fan Zone will be:
Saturdays: 12-7pm
Tuesdays: 6-9:30pm
Town’s application - submitted retrospectively because much of the infrastructure is already in place - did not go before North East Lincolnshire Council's planning committee but was determined under delegated powers by case officer Owen Toop.
In his report, he writes: "The Fan Zone will provide pre-match and post-match entertainment to the fans, both children and adults.
Its location is in the south-east corner of the stadium in between the sponsor stand and the Osmond Stand.
"Food and alcohol will be served.
"Covered canopy areas will create a children's zone and sheltered seating.
"This zone will provide entertainment for children with a penalty shoot-out area and football tables.
"A stage will also be created as part of the proposals in order to hold entertainment acts.
"Portaloos, including those for disabled persons, will be provided in this area of the stadium.
"No landscaping is proposed.
"The Fan Zone will not be dominant in the wider street scene and so will present no no harm or visual intrusion.
"The stadium has been in situ for a long time and is well established.
"The proposals align with the existing usage of the football stadium.
"The application contains lighting, but this is fixed on a high wall and screened from neighbouring properties in Neville Street and Constitution Avenue by existing structures within the stadium."
Grimsby Town FC has no special links with Crystal Palace FC though players, past and present, who have represented both clubs include Fred Kurtz, Danny Butterfield, John Oster, Sean Scannell and Dean Henderson.
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| The South London club has its own beer brewed by a company co-founded by Palace fan and actor Neil Morrissey of Men Behaving Badly fame |
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