For most football enthusiasts, attending a live match is a dream come true. The electrifying atmosphere, passionate fans, and the thrill of seeing your favourite players in action make it an unforgettable experience. Football fans eagerly invest their hard-earned money in witnessing their favourite teams in action, either at home or in distant stadiums, all in pursuit of the best possible view of the game.
However, a myriad of problems can overshadow the sheer joy of supporting your team, ranging from arduous journeys to witnessing your beloved side endure a crushing defeat. Yet, amidst these challenges, one of the most exasperating experiences is arriving at the stadium only to realise that the view of the pitch from your seat is severely restricted.
In this blog post, we delve into the darker aspects of live football — the tickets that can transform the beautiful game into a bitter disappointment. By sharing information about the worst seats in live football, Ticket Compare aims to assist people in avoiding these seats when attending football games on various grounds.
The top 5 worst seats to watch live football
Despite the soaring costs associated with football matches, some stadiums still manage to disappoint fans with obstructed views, shattering the dreams of enthusiastic spectators. By delving into football fan experiences at stadiums across England, we’ve identified the grounds with the most obstructed views, hindering spectators from seeing the entire pitch during a game.
1. Loftus Road - Queens Park
We begin with a restricted ticket at Loftus Road which offers an incredibly obstructed view, leaving spectators fortunate to catch even a third of the football pitch. This dismal view is marred by a TV studio that blocks nearly the entire field, earning its reputation as the worst football ticket in our selection. This seat tops the list as the worst one, because of its poor visibility over the entire football pitch.
A disappointed fan shared their ordeal on Tripadvisor, recounting: “I was informed that the tickets I had purchased provided a Restricted View. A pillar to peer past, a fence to squint through? Oh, that would have been a luxury. Instead, I found myself attempting to look through a TV studio suspended from the adjacent stand's already low roof, drastically limiting my view of the pitch to approximately 35%. Not a single blade of grass in the opposite half was visible.” They went on to express their immense disappointment, stating that they would have given this experience zero stars if it were possible.
Source: Twitter user @dpm_79
2. Anfield - Liverpool Football Club
Moving on, we have Anfield, the iconic home ground of England's renowned Liverpool Football Club. Despite its global fame, Anfield doesn't guarantee fans a satisfying match-watching experience, illustrating that even in one of the world’s most celebrated stadiums, disappointment can still prevail.
For away fans positioned in the upper corner of the lower section of the Anfield Road stand, trying to glimpse the far end of the pitch becomes challenging, especially when the spectators in front are standing. Many football enthusiasts who have experienced an away day trip to Anfield overwhelmingly agree, labelling these seats as among the worst for viewing a match.
Source: Twitter user @SeanKeyes
3. Blundell Park - Grimsby Town
Claiming the third position on our roster of the most disappointing football seats is Blundell Park, the home ground of Grimsby Town (competing in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system).
The obstruction arises from the gantry, which once again interferes with the view of the far touchline. Supporters at the back of the stand might have to lower themselves slightly to catch sight of players at the distant end.
While snagging a front-row seat might seem like a way to bypass the overhanging gantry, it only produces a different problem — one of the pillars becomes a nuisance for those in its line of sight, obscuring a portion of the pitch for fans.
Source: Twitter user @BoonyCarlsberg1
4. Selhurst Park - Crystal Palace
Moving on to our next venue, we have Selhurst Park, home to Crystal Palace in the Premier League. A notable issue within Selhurst Park is the presence of a metal roof directly above your head, obstructing your view. If the fans in front of you choose to stand, attempting to see the opposite end of the pitch becomes a formidable task!
The back section of the Arthur Wait stand, designated for up to 3,000 away supporters during Premier League matches, necessitates that fans travelling to away games to support their teams should consider the view they might have when seated there.
This is how the view appears from this tweet from @CF3Loyal, who said that he had ticked off the worst seat inside Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park.
Source: Twitter user @CF3Loyal
5. Goodison Park - Everton Football Club
The seats at Goodison Park, the stadium that houses Everton, are infamous for their obstructed views due to imposing pillars. A devoted Everton fan recently shared a picture from a match they attended, illustrating the extent of the problem.
This image is a stark reminder of the restricted line of sight faced by fans in various stadiums nationwide. While spectators in such seats might catch glimpses of both goals, the unfortunate reality is that a significant portion of the match, particularly in one far section, remains obscured. To compensate, fans often find themselves straining to peer around these obstructive pillars, hoping not to miss crucial moments.
Source: Twitter user @BadFootballView
In the realm of live football, where dreams meet reality on the hallowed grounds of stadiums worldwide, the worst tickets can turn what should be a euphoric experience into a nightmare. From Loftus Road to Anfield, Blundell Park to Selhurst Park, and even the revered Goodison Park, these stadiums, despite their historical significance and renowned teams, house seats are plagued by limited obstructed views and frustrating obstacles.
To prevent seating issues, most stadiums implement restrictions when selling tickets. At Loftus Road, specific seats come with a warning about limited visibility, offering only around 35% view of the pitch. At Anfield and Selhurst Park, it's advisable to avoid seats at the back of the stands, as they hinder a clear view of the entire pitch. In Blundell Park, avoiding the back row prevents obstruction from the gantry above, ensuring a better view of the opposite end of the pitch. While Everton's view is relatively better, one should still hope not to end up behind a pillar.
