I got super into stadium tours lately after watching that documentary on football grounds. So when my mate mentioned Reebok Stadium does public tours now, I immediately jumped online looking for tickets. Honestly their official site was a mess – couldn’t find booking info anywhere. Wasted like two hours clicking dead links before I just said screw it and called their main office number.
The Phone Call Chaos
Got passed between three different people before some bloke named Dave finally helped me out. Turned out you can’t book online at all now – gotta show up at the ticket window Saturday mornings. Dave warned me they only take cash payments and max 15 people per group. Crazy how old school this all felt.
Game Day Experience
Arrived last Saturday freezing my ass off at 8:30am thinking I’d be first in line. Nope – already 10 people ahead of me! While queueing, some local regulars told me to skip the first tour group because they rush you through. Waited for the second batch instead.
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Highlight spots:
- Players’ tunnel entrance where they’ve got framed jerseys
- The “behind goal” camera platform that gives killer view of pitch
- Home team changing rooms still smelling vaguely of Deep Heat
Pro Tips From Doing It
Tour guide got chatty after I tipped him a fiver. Gave me these golden rules:
- Always check weather before going – they cancel tours if it’s pissing rain
- Wear grippy shoes because stadium steps get slippery as hell
- Bring exact cash (£15) since ticket office never has change
The Icing On The Cake
Right at the end while others were leaving, the maintenance guy was unlocking the managers’ box. Chatted him up about Bolton’s glory days and he unexpectedly gave me five minutes inside! Sat right in Big Sam’s old seat looking over the whole pitch – absolutely chuffed.
Walked out realizing you gotta be flexible with these old grounds. No fancy booking apps or VIP packages like new stadiums – just roll up early, talk to locals, and take whatever random opportunities come your way. Proper grassroots football experience that.