Inside EFL stadium where fans have been watching games for FREE for 30 years thanks to Government decision
ONE stadium in the EFL has a unique 30-year history, with fans being able to watch games for FREE.
Northampton‘s Sixfields Stadium celebrated its anniversary of hosting its first ever game on October 15.
The ground’s first game took place on the date back in 1994, and it ended in a 1-1 draw between Northampton and Barnet.
The 7,798-capacity stadium became home to the Cobblers after they left their ground share at the County Ground with Northamptonshire County Cricket Club.
The ground has a unique placement next to a hill which overlooks half of the pitch.
This has allowed fans to watch matches for free during the club’s 30-year stay at Sixfields.
It has not been just Northampton supporters who have benefitted from the quirk.
Coventry City fans would also visit the ground to watch games while their club during a year-long groundshare.
The Sky Blues played their games at the stadium between 2013 and 2014 during their exile from the Ricoh Arena.
However, the opportunity for free games almost never came about as there were plans for a bowl-shaped stadium to be built.
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It depended on out-of-town retail and other developments that the government wanted to discourage and, therefore, rejected the application.
Despite the ground reaching its 30th year, it is still not complete.
The East Stand has not been finished since construction on it ground to a halt in 2014 because of a contractual dispute.
The club’s previous ownership saw the work stall due to building contractors not being paid.
There is still an ongoing police inquiry over a £10.25million loan to the club.
Work restarted on the stand earlier this year, and the club is hopeful that it will be completed next year.
The stadium’s next match will be Saturday’s League One fixture between Northampton and Leyton Orient.