General Ground Information

In an ambitious move, the Club announced in 2000 their intention to redevelop Bloomfield Road, which will eventually result in a 16,000 all-seater stadium. Phase one of the project was completed in February 2002, at a cost of around £7 million, with the opening of the new North & West Stands.

The single tiered West & North Stands are located at one side and at one end of the ground. They are impressive looking and the North West corner between them has also been filled with seating, so that this area of the ground is enclosed. At the back of the West Stand is a row of executive boxes. The North Stand is known as The Stanley Mortensen Stand, in memory of the service Stan gave to Blackpool and his goal scoring feats, including to date the only hat trick to be scored in a Wembley FA Cup Final (1953).

The West Stand is named after Blackpool's other famous Stanley - Sir Stanley Matthews.

On the East side of the ground an open temporary 'golf style' seated stand has been erected to house away supporters. The South end of the ground still awaits a new stand to be constructed.

Supporters are anxiously waiting for construction work to commence on a new South Stand, which will be named after their long-serving fullback, Jimmy Armfield. At present this area of the ground is basically 'a desolate waste ground' following the demolition of the old South Stand about three years ago. Work is due to start on the South West Stand corner in 2006, and hopefully, following contractual agreements with tenants for floor space in the new South Stand, construction work on this part of the ground will start soon. Once built, it is intended that the new South Stand will house visiting supporters.

Eventually, depending on team progress, it is hoped that a new East Stand will also be built, but this is some way off in the future.

In the ground as it currently stands, there are no girders or posts to obstruct the view. However, until the club builds the South Stand, the south end of the ground looks desolate, with a six foot high steel fence running the width of the pitch, behind which is a wasteland awaiting development. The result is a lack of atmosphere at the south end of the ground.

There is no big screen at Bloomfield Road - although there is a large digital clock situated behind the away supporters which counts down from 45 minutes each half - if they remember to switch it on!

Tours of the stadium can be arranged any day except match days and other BFC event days and are subject availability. Tours include the Board Room, Director's Box, changing rooms, referee's room, try out the manager's seat in the dug outs, pitch side, etc. Prices vary depending on group size - £4 per person for small groups (minimum of five); £3 per person for larger groups (minimum 20 people); and £2.50 per person for youth, community or charity groups (minimum 25 people).

Just behind the North Stand - named after Stan Mortensen - is a bronze statue of the great man himself. Stan was a great servant to The Seasiders, playing 354 games and scoring 222 goals between 1946-1956, including a hat-trick in probably the most famous FA Cup Final of all time - the 1953 Blackpool v Bolton Cup Final. To date, Stan is the only player to score a hat-trick in a Wembley Cup Final.

In front of the club shop, outside the ground is a supporters' walkway - engraved bricks purchased by supporters.