- Date: 31 July 2024
- Category: Small Business Guidance
The Premier League season is just around the corner, with fans up and down the country champing at the bit to return to stadiums. But which grounds offer the best experience for supporters? That’s what we’re about to find out.
We’ve scored clubs on fan-favourite topics, like food and drink and disabled access. Health and safety should always be a priority at games, so we’ve also analysed defibrillator access. Finally, we’ve calculated overall scores to crown a Premier League champion based on averages from every topic.
Let’s reveal our winners and losers.
Which Stadium is Safest if you Suffer a Cardiac Arrest?
The footballing world stood still when Christian Eriksen collapsed in the 43rd minute of Euros 2020. During a group game against Finland, the Danish star was without a heartbeat for four to five minutes. But thanks to the rapid response of the medical team, Eriksen was resuscitated with intense CPR and a single shock from a defibrillator.
It was a huge moment in football, not just because of the shock it brought to fans but also because it highlighted the importance of defibrillators. As a result, the Premier League pledged to fund the provision of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at grassroots football clubs and facilities around the UK[1].
Four years on, how do the defib resources around the PL stadiums measure up? To determine which stadiums are safest to visit, we scored each club based on the distance to the nearest defibrillators, their 24/7 access, and public availability.
Leicester leads with a score of 79, thanks to 80% of defibrillators near the King Power Stadium being publicly available and accessible around the clock. Newcastle follows with a score of 68.4 due to a close 0.38km distance from St. James’ Park to the nearest defib.
Aston Villa comes bottom with a score of 26.3, as only 30% of defibrillators near Villa Park are available around the clock. Arsenal and Fulham aren’t far behind, with scores of 28.1 and 29.8, respectively, due to only 20% of their defibrillators being accessible 24/7.
Which Stadiums are Most Accessible for Disabled Supporters?
According to building regulations, stadiums should reserve at least 6% of their seats for disabled fans. Although Premier League clubs aren’t hitting the mark currently, some clubs are doing better than others. To see how clubs match up, we rated each stadium based on the number of wheelchair seats and what percentage they make up of the total seating.
Bournemouth is first with a score of 100, offering 2.53% of its seats as wheelchair-accessible. Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool follow, each scoring 71.1, with 0.69% and 0.48% of their seats set aside for wheelchair users, respectively.
West Ham United and Leicester City follow closely behind, scoring 65.8 and 63.2. They offer 0.44% and 0.61% of their seats for disabled fans.
At the other end of the table, Fulham, Ipswich Town, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest are falling short, with scores between 2.7 and 15.8. These grounds offer less than 0.40% of their seats for wheelchair users, with Forest’s City Ground offering just 77 seats (out of 30,445) for its disabled supporters. These results show a real need to improve accessibility at every Premier League stadium.
How Does Food and Drink Stack up at Each Stadium?
Tucking into a hearty pie or nipping for a half-time pint is a matchday ritual for many football supporters. To see which clubs serve up the best food and drink, we calculated scores based on the prices of tea, pints, and pies and analysed average ratings.
Newcastle United leads again with a top score of 98.7. With tea at £2, beer at £2.50, and pies at £3, they offer fantastic value for their loyal faithful—well below Premier League averages of £2.23 for tea, £4.76 for beer, and £4.36 for pies.
Manchester United follow with a solid score of 81.6. Fans can enjoy a pint for just £3 at Old Trafford, while a cup of tea costs £2. Wolves take third spot with a solid score of 75.7.
Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium is most likely to leave a bad taste in your mouth. The Premier League champions have the lowest score (47.7), with pies costing £4.70 and a pint putting you out £4.60. Elsewhere, Leicester isn’t far behind, with a score of 48.1. The King Power has the priciest pints in the league, setting you back £5.80.
Who Takes Home the Crown?
The fans have spoken. So, which stadium comes out on top for matchday experiences? We rounded up the data on the topics below and then calculated a total score to find out.
- Nearest defibrillator, a percentage with 24/7 access, a publicly available percentage
- Number of seats allocated for wheelchairs
- TripAdvisor reviews on toilets
- Cost of items in the stadium, including tea, beer, and pie
- Food and drink rating
- Overall facilities rating
Newcastle United’s iconic St. James’ Park takes the Premier League trophy, scoring an impressive 68.6. This 52,000-capacity stadium combines great value food and drink with fan-friendly amenities. The South Coast clubs Bournemouth and Brighton are hot on their heels, scoring 66.6 and 60.8, respectively.
The league’s bottom clubs—West Ham United, Fulham, and Aston Villa—have room for improvement. Despite its sleek design and huge capacity of 60,000, West Ham’s London Stadium struggles with a low score of 38.1. Fulham’s Craven Cottage isn’t faring much better, with a score of 36.5. Aston Villa’s disappointing 34.8 is mainly due to their poor scores with defib access and disabled supporters’ resources.
Final Whistle
Interestingly, none of last season’s top four scoring clubs make our top four, showing that success on the field doesn’t always match up with matchday experience. In fact, it was last season’s fourth-placed club, Aston Villa, who finished last.
Our disabled supporter analysis showed that every club has room for improvement, though. After all, improving safety and accessibility boosts the fan experience and promotes a more inclusive and supportive environment.
If you’re a club or business looking to improve its safety facilities, contact Direct 365 for defibrillator products and disability risk assessments. You can also get in touch for any advice.
Sources
[1] Premier League fund for AED’s