| Stadium 22:18 - Sep 30 with 12704 views | BecclesITFC |
After the emotion of Sundays game, I did have a good look at our stadium. I am a bit of a stadium geek. I’m also very old school, in as far as, I don’t usually like new stadiums, as clean and bright as they might look on TV and in vlogs etc.
I’ve got to say, our stadium does look really sharp. All the corners now look really neat, the wendy house now looks much less like a wendy house (never liked it).
Liverpool, Fulham & now Villa vloggers mostly commented on how cool it looks.
I’m quite well traveled around English stadiums, completing nearly 75% of the 92. I’ve got to say, our ground is definitely up there now with the best (old school) grounds in England of its size.
Considering how bad it was 5 years ago, it’s remarkable what has happened to it.
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| In what way has.... on 10:15 - Oct 1 with 2054 views | Bloots |
| Great thread… stadium bowl is looking great, blacked out… BUT on 09:48 - Oct 1 by unstableblue |
Portman Road is looking fantastic this season. All centred on the new pitch which is now in top condition.
I like all the blacking out of walls, block entrances, and I think the new advertising screens on the upper sections of the North and Sir Alf improve the look of the stands.
The new exec boxes and the press box have improved the look of the Pioneer stand no end… but there are a lot of tired blue seats that need changing - I’m sure this will happen. These improvements build on the new dug outs which were a game changer.
The way they’ve done the new press box is clever, as they discussed on TWTV it’s very blacked out in that corner now and it is like a sci-fi pod that seems to have landed in there.
The new lower screen added to the main stadium screen has improved the screen estate they’ve got.
BUT, I think a big issue remains the physicality of the Cobbold and Pioneer stands. First the legroom is poor in the Pioneer and worse in the Cobbold - if you switch to the North Stand the difference is incredible. The toilets and catering in the Pioneer lower areas needs attention - why not configure the fan zone so some of it can be used at half time?! Seems crazy this isn’t done.
As for the Cobbold it’s so old now. And the desperate clamour for tickets mean we need the capacity of a rebuild. Am sure the club will wait till we are settled in the Premier League. But I think we can fill a 40k stadium in the Championship. As Crystal Palace have planned you could build most of the new stand structure around the current Cobbold, thus not losing capacity for too long.
But overall Portman Road is already transformed and well done to Ashton and his team for driving this. And as fans of other clubs point out - we’re a classic ground style right in the Town. |
....the press box "improved the look of the Pioneer Stand no end" ?!
It's looks terrible and is far too obtrusive. |  |
| "He's been a really positive influence on my life, I think he's a great man" - TWTD User (May 2025) |
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| Stadium on 10:17 - Oct 1 with 2049 views | unstableblue |
| Stadium on 09:55 - Oct 1 by hoppy |
We were potentially right behind you on Sunday then, as we were in the new executive lounge at the end. Where we were sitting, in the balcony bit, I don’t see that anyone in front would be a problem if they were standing, as it seemed high enough to not be an issue - unless you’re really tall, are you?! |
Hoppy - is it one lounge that serves the seats along that new area? Or two?
What’s the interior and catering like? |  |
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| Stadium on 10:19 - Oct 1 with 2021 views | SitfcB |
| Stadium on 08:31 - Oct 1 by The_Flashing_Smile |
Sorry, what do you two mean by "The Wendy House"?! I've been going to PR for more than 30 years and have no idea what you're talking about! |
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| In what way has.... on 10:23 - Oct 1 with 2009 views | unstableblue |
| In what way has.... on 10:15 - Oct 1 by Bloots |
....the press box "improved the look of the Pioneer Stand no end" ?!
It's looks terrible and is far too obtrusive. |
Hey Bloots, bit of a selective cut and paste there…. The EXECUTIVE BOXES/LOUNGES and the press box have improved the look
But it’s a fair point on the press box… I was thinking the blacked out nature of it, how new and shiny it looks and the Ipswich Town sign on the gantry made the stand look more modern. But agree there’s a lot going on there visually and banks of blue seats probably looks better.
But those massively increased journo numbers had to go somewhere… and the old area was restricted view - which now town fans have to endure!!! | |
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| Stadium on 11:07 - Oct 1 with 1933 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
Yes really! I've never heard it called that, none of my ITFC mates have called it that, I don't have daughters, we're not in the 80s and I'm not a 5 year old girl!
Why on earth would I even have wendy houses in my frame of reference?! |  |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| Stadium on 11:10 - Oct 1 with 1926 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| Stadium on 09:16 - Oct 1 by Fixed_It |
Even if you don't know, surely it's not difficult to work out?! |
Jesus, is there anything on this website people won't have a pop about?!
It could have been anything around the ground, or in a part of the ground I don't visit. | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| Stadium on 11:30 - Oct 1 with 1869 views | hoppy |
| Stadium on 10:17 - Oct 1 by unstableblue |
Hoppy - is it one lounge that serves the seats along that new area? Or two?
What’s the interior and catering like? |
There's two separate lounges - both very different. The S&P Lounge, where we were, is more restaurant-like in its setup, whereas the Level Head Lounge, is more like a bar, being Greene King sponsored. Both very nicely done - albeit not completely finished, as a few last touches to be done, but an amazing job to get them ready for opening them on Sunday, and I think will be very nice.
There was a bit of mixup somewhere along the line with the seating for the game, as they're not in sections and someone was in our seats, so we just had to sit where we could. Nice comfortable padded seats! |  |
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| Stadium on 11:37 - Oct 1 with 1834 views | bluefunk |
| Stadium on 09:55 - Oct 1 by hoppy |
We were potentially right behind you on Sunday then, as we were in the new executive lounge at the end. Where we were sitting, in the balcony bit, I don’t see that anyone in front would be a problem if they were standing, as it seemed high enough to not be an issue - unless you’re really tall, are you?! |
I query re that lounge, are they selling seats as individuals, or is the lounge booked as a whole?? |  | | |
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| Stadium on 11:38 - Oct 1 with 1829 views | bluefunk |
| Stadium on 09:26 - Oct 1 by artsbossbeard |
We now have an exec box behind us in the West Stand, which was open for the 1st time on Sunday.
Had quite the fallout with the Stand Manager and a somewhat aggressive steward at the Fulham game , where we were ordered to sit down and we point blank refused. We've been standing for 3yr and a bit years and never been asked prior but, as promised to the Stand Manager on the day, we obliged with their request now that the exec box is operational.
There's an outside balcony area right behind us, which gives a concern as I'm sure that if you were a company paying 6k a game for this box, you'll def have a West Ham, Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea fan in attendance and a potential for some aggression in the event of some cockerney style mouthy-ness.
I might write to the club*
* I won't. |
Email them, that’s the future
And they might repair the seats | | | |
| Stadium on 11:42 - Oct 1 with 1806 views | artsbossbeard |
| Stadium on 11:38 - Oct 1 by bluefunk |
Email them, that’s the future
And they might repair the seats |
good point re: the seats!
I will email them. |  |
| Please note: prior to hitting the post button, I've double checked for anything that could be construed as "Anti Semitic" and to the best of my knowledge it isn't. Anything deemed to be of a Xenophobic nature is therefore purely accidental or down to your own misconstruing. | | Poll: | Raining in IP8 - shall I get the washing in? |
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| Stadium on 11:43 - Oct 1 with 1798 views | hoppy |
| Stadium on 10:09 - Oct 1 by Churchman |
I thought you sat in the stalls with the dregs like me? Bit of an upgrade isn’t it? I presume you are taking on airs and graces and chucking cake crumbs at the plebs below 😀 |
We are usually in the stalls, of course. On this occasion, we were indeed chucking cake crumbs and caviar at those below us...
Very nice lounge, with the match view from the seats we were in...
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| Stadium on 11:47 - Oct 1 with 1760 views | hoppy |
| Stadium on 11:37 - Oct 1 by bluefunk |
I query re that lounge, are they selling seats as individuals, or is the lounge booked as a whole?? |
I'm not sure - we were there as guests, so don't actually know how bookings are done for them whether they're already block booked, or available. | |
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| Stadium on 11:55 - Oct 1 with 1719 views | bournemouthblue |
| Stadium on 06:47 - Oct 1 by LA_Tractor_Boy |
My brother commented how good the stadium looks on TV.
IMO the club have done an amazing job tarting up the areas that the camera can see.
But there are now more RV seats than ever and the kiosks/toilets are very tired.
Rome wasn't built in a day and all that, but the club desperately need to do something about the West Stand roof, so that fans in the back 6 rows (including premium Y block seats) get unrestricted views. |
When I did the stadium tour an age back now, the guy seemed to think we had plans in the Prem to put a lightweight roof on it, last time around, so whether that ever comes back on the cards, we will see.
I have no idea whether that would remove existing pillars or not. |  |
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| Stadium on 11:56 - Oct 1 with 1712 views | witchdoctor |
| Stadium on 11:07 - Oct 1 by The_Flashing_Smile |
Yes really! I've never heard it called that, none of my ITFC mates have called it that, I don't have daughters, we're not in the 80s and I'm not a 5 year old girl!
Why on earth would I even have wendy houses in my frame of reference?! |
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| Stadium on 11:58 - Oct 1 with 1702 views | witchdoctor |
| Stadium on 11:10 - Oct 1 by The_Flashing_Smile |
Jesus, is there anything on this website people won't have a pop about?!
It could have been anything around the ground, or in a part of the ground I don't visit. |
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| Stadium on 12:15 - Oct 1 with 1674 views | Churchman |
| Stadium on 11:43 - Oct 1 by hoppy |
We are usually in the stalls, of course. On this occasion, we were indeed chucking cake crumbs and caviar at those below us...
Very nice lounge, with the match view from the seats we were in...
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Excellent! It looks nicely done. You got a good view of Delap’s second from there too. |  | | |
| Stadium on 12:17 - Oct 1 with 1658 views | hoppy |
| Stadium on 12:15 - Oct 1 by Churchman |
Excellent! It looks nicely done. You got a good view of Delap’s second from there too. |
Absolutely. Great angle to have seen that from, as was Burns' goal against Coventry last season from our usual seats! | |
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| Stadium on 12:23 - Oct 1 with 1627 views | LA_Tractor_Boy |
| Stadium on 11:37 - Oct 1 by bluefunk |
I query re that lounge, are they selling seats as individuals, or is the lounge booked as a whole?? |
No idea if this is true or not, but when ST holders were moved in the summer, someone commented that displaced Cobbold Block D ST holders would get an opportunity to purchase tickets in these new West Stand lounges. |  | | |
| Stadium on 12:24 - Oct 1 with 1611 views | Churchman |
| Stadium on 12:17 - Oct 1 by hoppy |
Absolutely. Great angle to have seen that from, as was Burns' goal against Coventry last season from our usual seats! |
Sadly, I had to miss the Coventry game but yes, the Burns goal would have been a good view from your normal spot - as indeed Phillips’ effort was Saturday. God he hit that hard. | | | |
| Stadium on 12:29 - Oct 1 with 1597 views | MattinLondon |
| Stadium on 09:11 - Oct 1 by The_Flashing_Smile |
One thing we probably take for granted is how perfectly located it is.
If coming by train you can literally see it as you come out of the station and it's a less than 10 minute walk.
If driving, like any ground it's a bit of a bun fight to get out, but it's pretty close to the A12.
And if going into town for beers/food, that's not far either. |
Plus we also have the fan zone right next to it as well. Not that many stadiums have the luxury of having a well sized green space right next to it.
But I think we do take the location for granted.
The older stands do need to be replaced and I’ll be surprised if behind the scenes preliminary plans haven’t already been drawn up.
Has staples been demolished? |  | | |
| Stadium on 12:35 - Oct 1 with 1560 views | Ryorry |
| Stadium on 22:37 - Sep 30 by Churchman |
Given how tired, unloved and shabby it looked just a few years ago, the transformation has been remarkable and the work put into it phenomenal. It looks and feels clean, smart and has a unique, historical (in a good way) feel to it.
It’s still an old stadium with all the issues that brings and the capacity now appears inadequate. Facilities like toilets still need improving and there’s lots to improve on. I’d love to see the Cobbold rebuilt or replaced one day, but we are years from that. In the meantime, if the money is available there’s plenty they can do.
The Wendy house? I never liked that either. My dad and I laughed at it when we first clapped eyes on it all those years ago (90s??). The replacement looks like a 70s tv has been slapped on it, but looking at it Sunday it fits rather well.
Overall, thank you to the owners, CEO and all who have done so much to do so much with the ground in such a short space of time. |
I'm right with you in the 'not a fan of the Wendy House' club - I think we may be in a minority though, as I got several downvotes when I mentioned it a couple of years or so ago! |  |
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| Stadium on 12:42 - Oct 1 with 1528 views | mellowblue |
| Stadium on 07:20 - Oct 1 by Churchman |
I’ve only ever sat that far back in the West Stand a couple of times many years ago now, but do remember how intrusive the roof is.
I’d be interested to know from any engineers here how easy it’d be to replace it with something better and in keeping with NS/Churchmans? Is it do-able? Certainly looking at it from underneath it looks its age. |
Tell me about, Sitting in the west stand 5 rows from the back (having been re-sited because of the press box) I groaned as O'Shea to my mind knocked it needlessly out for a throw in, only for Omari to suddenly emerge with the ball. You can lose an entire (smallish) player in that overhang. It is not the roof overhang , but the seated area taking out the near touch line that is the main issue. | | | |
| Stadium on 12:59 - Oct 1 with 1487 views | PioneerBlue |
PR is the place we all love and it’s been really transformed, there is only so much more they can do within the limits of our PL status and aging side stands. A big reason people love it is the proximity to pitch, that’s more difficult the bigger the ground and in the modern grounds only relatively few fans seem to get close to the pitch or a player. I know all the focus has been on the Portman Stand but the Pioneer offers opportunities for improved facilities and scale but we’d probably need to be in the PL for 10 plus years for that to come into the discussion. | |
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| True that on 13:23 - Oct 1 with 1388 views | Dyland |
| Stadium on 09:11 - Oct 1 by The_Flashing_Smile |
One thing we probably take for granted is how perfectly located it is.
If coming by train you can literally see it as you come out of the station and it's a less than 10 minute walk.
If driving, like any ground it's a bit of a bun fight to get out, but it's pretty close to the A12.
And if going into town for beers/food, that's not far either. |
I never take it for granted though. Spent a few seasons sometimes getting the Lowestoft branch train into Ipswich and seeing PR always made me smile. Indeed, even now on the rare occassions I find myself on a train in or out of town on that line it doesn't need to be a match day to give me a warm glow seeing the stadium. Loads of other clubs' fans comment on this too. |  |
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| Arf on 13:26 - Oct 1 with 1381 views | Dyland |
| Stadium on 11:07 - Oct 1 by The_Flashing_Smile |
Yes really! I've never heard it called that, none of my ITFC mates have called it that, I don't have daughters, we're not in the 80s and I'm not a 5 year old girl!
Why on earth would I even have wendy houses in my frame of reference?! |
"Why on earth would I even have wendy houses in my frame of reference?!"
Even for you, that's a belter ;) | |
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