Guests booking a “Superior Room with Pitch View” at the hotel inside Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road stadium might anticipate watching the action unfold below. However, a specific league regulation transforms that premium feature into a blackout zone on game days.
The rule, enforced by the English Football League (EFL), mandates that curtains in any room overlooking the pitch must remain closed throughout a match. The policy is tied to long-standing regulations requiring anyone in view of the field to hold a match ticket and prohibiting the consumption of alcohol within sight of the play.
The result is an unusual scenario where visitors pay for a stadium view they are expressly forbidden from using during the main event. During a recent League One fixture, the audible atmosphere from the stands—the crowd noise, goal celebrations, and halftime announcements—contrasted sharply with the darkened, silent room.
While the regulation aims to maintain ticketing integrity and address historical concerns over alcohol-related disorder, critics argue the blanket approach feels outdated. Some point to other stadium hotels that offer integrated matchday packages, suggesting workarounds are possible. There have been recent discussions in political and supporter circles about reviewing the decades-old legislation, with the EFL reportedly open to dialogue on potential pilot schemes.
For now, the rule stands. So, while the hotel offers standard amenities like complimentary toiletries and television, the promised pitch view becomes a literal blind spot on matchdays—a unique twist for travelers seeking a football-themed stay.