The worst experience I've ever had going to an organised event…read more Unfortunately I have to carry epi pens and other such items in a back pack for my health which I was told to ditch or throw away by the head of security after my bag was checked three times by other security and a drug/bomb dog. Had life saving medication on and the guy didn't care, I either threw my bag away (£70) as he wasn't letting me in with it. It could have been rolled up and put into the black bag I was given by one of his subordinates after he stormed off like a child. He also said that women were allowed in with theirs as their bags are "fashionable" accessories. I'm sorry but mine saves my life!!! I went to see a comedy show, this wasn't the start I wanted and hated my experience/night that I paid good money for. I lost my £70 bag as it wasn't there when I came out. Head of security needs some more training

No more trekking over to Manchester to see anyone remotely decent is the hope…read more I'd had my reservations going in, from the outside I think it looks somewhat like a little bit of a monstrosity, but once inside that's forgotten - the First Direct Leeds Arena has arrived, and it's goooood. So very very goooood. The build quality and the finish on the place is fantastic and when you couple that with the really helpful staff they've managed to find somewhere, my feeling is that the Arena is brilliant. I was lucky enough to be the guest (albeit paid) of Gaucho and in their box, and again much like the whole of the Arena, the finish quality is fantastic, kitted out with fridges, sofas, comfy chairs and then a bank of arena seating for when the acts come on. The Cadbury chocolate which was branded for the act was a nice touch too. Holding only 13,000 people it's apparently a 'small' arena, and that's a good thing for me because as someone who loves going to gigs but really cant abide standing 800 metres away from who you're watching, the idea of the arena held thoughts of being too far away to see the act. This isn't the case, and with 13,000 people it still almost feels intimate. I can honestly say that I'm really looking forward to seeing who it attracts, because it really is top notch, it really should bring Leeds some great, really big acts. And yes, I'm really looking forward to not having to trek over to Manchester too. Also, Elton John totally rocked on the official opening night.

Elland DeGeneres built this stadium. Hopefully soon the listing will be changed to reflect the name…read moreof the stadium instead of one of the teams that plays here, because all the reviews are for the stadium not the team. First-Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium - I've been to Elland Road only 3 times, amazingly. Once to watch a game (which was an amazing atmosphere for sure), and twice just as a tourist, including just a few months ago in late 2014 when I was stuck in the UK. It's a fabulous, big, impressive, intense hulk of a stadium. It just really needs some renovation, so that Leeds can have a palace like a lot of other clubs of similar size do. I'm sure it will be renovated but probably not until Leeds get back in the big time. My fave thing about coming here was the banter and the intensity. Sometimes the home fans are a little too aggressive though and things can get violent. Especially when they're facing United. I've never seen Leeds v United at this ground but the game I did see, I could see the extra aggression and intensity and it did scare me. Leeds won, though... so there was no rioting. I've been to most UK & US stadiums, due to lifelong obsessions with travel, sport & especially footy (soccer to Americans). Born & raised in England, I followed Oxford United (hometown team) to stadia all over the country at away games, and later Liverpool (fave team) around. Every stadium review - like all my reviews - are from first-hand personal experience, usually from several visits. In 2011, I was on music tour in the UK, and visited most stadiums for fun in my spare time. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was "stuck" in UK for 3 months, I went to hundreds yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at most, which I'll post later. Also, when back in UK I'll take more pix, and add more stadia! *** return to regular review *** It's one of the most famous grounds in football, home to the team that has fallen perhaps the hardest, one of the true greats and giants of football but hasn't been in the top flight for what seems like decades. It's not quite even, one stand is enormous, the other three are medium sized, so for that reason and for seeming so lopsided, it only scores 4 despite an amazing amount of crowd support here. It's an intimidating place to play or see an away game. It used to be called the Old Peacock Ground, and with 38k people squeezing into it, is one of the largest stadiums in the country, especially for non-Prem grounds. It was built in 1897 and renovated many times. It has hosted Euro 96 tournament games, England games, and FA Cup Semi Finals, plus performances from rock bands Queen, U2, Happy Mondays and more recently, the Kaiser Chiefs and Rod Stewart. But the show must go on, so in the name of love, understand that this is how it feels to be lonely, if you don't understand then I predict a riot, and Maggie May start it.

Ok maybe the team isn't worth 5 stars, but when you've been going as long as I have (over 35 years)…read moreyou have to give them all you've got. I've watched through thick and thin - from incredible nights against Barcelona in 1975 and the Champions League run a few years ago to the misery the club has been in since the Ridsdale disaster.. Don't get too settled on us being in the doledrums - we'll be back one day!

All stadiums are at odds with someone, which is why this stadium is named Oddsall, but Odd is…read moredefinitely right, it's an unusual stadium for sure. It's in Bradford, a wonderful city in Yorks. First-Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium - I came here because it's a part of history. It's where Bradford moved after their horrible fire. It's build into the mountain (although not really a mountain) and it's both odd and impressive. It's a little small and run down though, so I can't possibly give it more than a 3 star rating. I was last here in 2011, although I've been to Bradford since then but it wasn't a place I needed to come and see again. I haven't ever seen a sports game here, but I've toured the facilities of course. I've been to most UK & US stadiums, due to lifelong obsessions with travel, sport & especially footy (soccer to Americans). Born & raised in England, I followed Oxford United (hometown team) to stadia all over the country at away games, and later Liverpool (fave team) around. Every stadium review - like all my reviews - are from first-hand personal experience, usually from several visits. In 2011, I was on music tour in the UK, and visited most stadiums for fun in my spare time. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was "stuck" in UK for 3 months, I went to hundreds yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at most, which I'll post later. Also, when back in UK I'll take more pix, and add more stadia! *** return to regular review *** Bradford City once played here during their dark days after the fire. It can fit 27k into it and opened in 1933. Since no soccer is actually played here though I'll reduce it to an average 3.

As a big fan of Rugby League I've spent a fair bit of time here as it is the home of the Bradford…read moreBulls, who are my team, so I can't offer you an entirely un-biased review but here goes. Odsal stadium (or the Grattan Stadium as I think it is currently named ) is a really unusual ground. It is build in to the hillside in a big bowl shape, there is one main grandstand offering seating and the coral stand which is for executive seating and which offers conference/banquetting facilities, the rest of the ground is open to the elements which is the stadiums down side when it's raining, or cold. I've spent many a saturday in pouring/driving rain watching my team and can't say it was comfortable but the ground has real atmosphere. It's much better for fans now that the Bulls play summer rugby as you can imagine. On a sunny afternoon the terraces are the place to be! As for facilities, there are adequate bars scattered round, plenty of snack stops (burgers, icecream and the usual game day food), toilet facilities and of course a gift shop! But of course the Rugby or other sporting event is the main attraction. They also do speedway meets here for any fans of motor sport. For those of you who are season ticket holders or executive seat holders the Coral Stadium offer an excellent 3 course meal pre-match, and you can watch the game from the outside seating or from the bar in the warm through the glass fronted bars. I've had the pleasure of this experience recently as I'm a classical singer and have sang there as part of the pre-match entertainment several times. The staff are very welcoming/helpful and friendly. The entertainments team make sure that there is a full programme to keep people entertained before, during and after the matches. It's a really great family day out!

Coral Windows sounds like a porn star. In real life, nobody that knew Coral would call her that…read more Only her "fans" would. Well, nobody calls this stadium Coral Windows either. Only technically... to everyone else... This place is actually called "Valley Parade" so here are some jokes for that. Who doesn't like a Valley Parade? That's sort of what happens at strip clubs in Van Nuys, CA ins't it? In more ways than one? I'd like to parade my gf's valley in front of the whole world, it's just that pretty. First-Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium - it was burned down in a fire and rebuilt and I'm glad I went there after the rebuild. I've seen games here in both 2007 and 2014 and each time I had a great time and the crowd was brilliant. They'll be even better, and bigger, when they finally get back to the Prem someday. A long way away from that now though. The main problem of this stadium is that it needs more renovations. One of these days. Really great crowd though, and a wonderful hulk of a facility. I've been to most UK & US stadiums, due to lifelong obsessions with travel, sport & especially footy (soccer to Americans). Born & raised in England, I followed Oxford United (hometown team) to stadia all over the country at away games, and later Liverpool (fave team) around. Every stadium review - like all my reviews - are from first-hand personal experience, usually from several visits. In 2011, I was on music tour in the UK, and visited most stadiums for fun in my spare time. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was "stuck" in UK for 3 months, I went to hundreds yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at most, which I'll post later. Also, when back in UK I'll take more pix, and add more stadia! *** return to regular review *** This stadium holds one of my fave teams, the underrated and cute Bradford City, but the stadium is more famous for a horrible fire 30 years ago in which a lot of people died. It is now emerging that the fire may have possibly been arson, so it is being investigated. Let's hope that's not the case, because to think that the then-owner could have murdered so many of his own fans, is absolutely appalling. I'd like to believe it wouldn't happen. It's currently known as the Coral Windows Stadium, seats 25k and has all the cute colours than the team do. The stadium was built in 1886. It's a massive, impressive cauldron of a stadium, a real behemoth in a town like Bradford that deserves it, and it's right in the middle of a bunch of houses which is lovely. If it just does a bit more work to close in the edges it can easily be a 5 star stadium.