"An under-rated venue"

Still a comparatively new ground, the Reebok Stadium has won over the majority of Bolton Wanderers fans who were unhappy at moving from their beloved Burnden Park. The official capacity of just under 30,000 seems likely to be more than adequate for the foreseeable future, however the design of the stadium leaves no real possibility of expansion if it were required. Any increase in capacity would have to be done by a complete redesign of the whole ground, which would be to the detriment of the aesthetically pleasing architecture. The stadium suits its main purpose and its club perfectly and this, coupled with its striking appearance, makes the Reebok Stadium one of the best designed stadiums in the country. Building costs were originally thought to be around £40mn but despite being the most expensive new stadium in the country when it opened, it actually managed to come in well within budget. There are lessons there not heeded by other more recent projects!

Location

For visiting supporters, the location cannot be faulted in any way. Easy access to the motorway network and a railway station opposite the ground with direct trains to Manchester, Bolton and Preston mean that the Reebok is easy to get to. Drivers should be aware that the main car park does take time to empty after the game, so it is wise to allow extra time for getting away after full time.

The only drawback comes for home supporters, many of whom feel that the location (6 miles out of the town centre) makes a trip to the ground feel like an away game.

View

As a new stadium, the Reebok has no pillars to hold up the roof, and the rake of the seating has been designed to provide optimum viewing conditions. Legroom is generous compared to older grounds (and some newer ones!), though not so much that supporters feel too distant from their fellow supporters. As the ground is 13 years old now, some of the seats are starting to look a little weather-beaten, but they are perfectly functional. From a comfort point of view, it is advisable to have warm waterproof clothing. Contrary to popular belief, the roof does cover all seats within the stadium, however in there is often a swirling wind in the ground thanks to its exposed location. This means that the wind can blow the rain straight at the unfortunates at the bottom of the lower tier.

Facilities

Toilet facilities are more than adequate for the capacity and cleanliness is above average for a football ground.

Food & Drink

The Reebok has an efficient queuing system which, when implemented, ensures everyone who needs serving is served at half time. The system is not always implemented properly though, so best to have just one person from your party join the queue. A range of pies is served along with popular beers. There are beer tokens available to help cut queuing time, and the beers themselves don't seem as watery as at other venues. A little pricey compared to the local pie shop and pub, but cheap for a Premier League football ground.

Police & Stewards

The stewards at the Reebok have always received a bad press. This is hardly fair as the lack of trouble seems to prove that they do their job rather well. The one gripe is that they will not tolerate standing, but supporters who insist on standing do pose a safety issue (spoiling peoples views behind causes those behind to move or stand which creates a safety concern without crush barriers) and are usually warned before ejection.

Atmosphere

The fact that the Reebok is a modern all-seater stadium means that the atmosphere will never match that of the old Burnden Park. That said, a good vocal away support can be the catalyst for a really good atmosphere at the ground. Night games at the Reebok are more atmospheric and you even get the classic four-shadow effect normally associated with older grounds which add something in their own right.

Write your own review of Toughsheet Community Stadium

Have you been to Toughsheet Community Stadium? Write a review!