When a “Pitch View” Room Comes With Closed Curtains: A Matchday Absurdity at Blackpool

Booking a “Superior Room with Pitch View” at a hotel located inside a football stadium sounds like a dream for any football fan. At Blackpool FC’s stadium hotel in Bloomfield Road, the promise seems straightforward: a comfortable room and a clear view of the pitch. What could possibly go wrong?

Quite a lot, it turns out — especially on matchday.

Guests who recently booked these rooms discovered an unexpected twist hidden in the fine print. During live matches, hotel room curtains must remain fully closed. The reason? English Football League regulations state that anyone with a direct view of the pitch must hold a valid match ticket. Failure to comply could reportedly result in fines of up to £2,500. A steep price for peeking through the curtains.

So there I was, moments before kick-off in Blackpool’s League One clash with Northampton, standing in a room designed for panoramic views — and pulling heavy blackout curtains shut like I was sealing myself into a bunker. Outside, I could hear supporters streaming into the stadium, the buzz growing louder by the minute. Inside, daylight was officially cancelled.

From behind the curtain, the match became an audio-only experience. The referee’s whistle, a sudden roar from the stands, and moments later another eruption that clearly signaled a goal. Thankfully, free Wi-Fi filled the visual gap — a quick check confirmed Zac Ashworth had scored for Blackpool.

Listening from the shadows had its odd charms. The local radio commentary offered passionate, and not entirely flattering, assessments of the referee. Away fans could be heard chanting sarcastically, and halftime announcements — birthday wishes and raffle winners — echoed through the walls like distorted entertainment.

There were, admittedly, some advantages to my position. Unlike the fans in the stands, I had access to an en-suite bathroom, complimentary toiletries, a kettle, and a large television. Escape to the Country filled the screen while a professional football match unfolded just meters away — unseen.

As the second half progressed, the novelty wore off. What initially felt amusing began to resemble an experiment in sensory deprivation. Was that a penalty shout? A near miss? I could only guess. Briefly, I considered abandoning the assignment and buying a ticket like everyone else. But no — the curtains stayed closed.

This strange situation feels entirely avoidable. EFL regulations require tickets for anyone viewing the pitch, which is reasonable. But why not offer matchday packages that include both a room and a ticket? Other stadium hotels manage this without issue.

Alcohol regulations appear to be another sticking point. The Sporting Events Act 1985 bans alcohol consumption within view of the pitch. Blackpool’s solution seems to be an all-or-nothing approach, assuming hotel guests cannot be monitored. Elsewhere, stewards simply apply the same checks used in hospitality areas.

With growing calls to modernise football’s alcohol laws — many of which date back to the hooliganism era of the 1980s — this feels like a problem waiting for reform. Even the EFL has reportedly shown openness to discussion.

Until then, however, the rule remains simple: pay extra for a pitch view, then draw the curtains and listen from the dark.

After the final whistle confirmed a 2–0 win for Blackpool, the result felt almost irrelevant. My matchday experience had already been decided. At least I had one thing going for me — a quiet, dark room to lie down in. And on this occasion, that felt strangely appropriate.