Blackpool FC working with town council to deliver new East Stand at Bloomfield Road stadium

Blackpool Football Club is working with the town’s council to help deliver a new East Stand at Bloomfield Road.

Blackpool Council has today issued details of ‘Town Deal’ proposals for new facilities surrounding the football club’s stadium.

This includes the creation of community football pitches, business and commercial facilities and plans to regenerate the Revoe area.

But the project, entitled Southern Quarter/Revoe Community Sports Village, also includes plans for a new East Stand at Bloomfield Road.

“'Revitalising Revoe', a masterplan for the area developed with the community, was published in June 2020,” the council said in a statement.

“Funding will help to kickstart the plans by helping to transform the neighbourhood through refurbishment of existing facilities and building new facilities working closely with residents.

“It will provide new sports facilities that will help the local community to stay active, improving physical and mental well being. New business and community premises will also provide new job opportunities within the Revoe area.

“The funding will be put towards a larger pot, with existing funding being secured from other partners including Blackpool FC, Sport England, the Football Foundation and the National Lottery Community Fund, as well as other private sponsors.”

The council believes the project will “improve perceptions” of the Revoe area.

Initially built as a temporary facility following Blackpool’s promotion to the Premier League in 2010, the East Stand remains in place 11 years later.

In recent years, it has been mainly used by visiting supporters, while the press box is also housed in this area of the stadium.

Speaking previously about the club’s plans for the East Stand, chief executive Ben Mansford told The Gazette: “I think we see in certain areas of the club are struggling from under-investment, or no investment, over the last few years.

“Simon (Sadler) has been very passionate about making some quick decisions.

“The East Stand got to a place where it’s operational, but the long term vision for the club has to be carefully thought out.

“In terms of the infrastructure here and the blueprint of Bloomfield Road, we’ve probably got to come up with a bigger vision - maybe a masterplan for this site and some of the surrounding areas.

“That’s not to take a step back, but just to breath and make sure the vision for this site is something that might take us to another level if we take a sensible amount of time to think about it.

“But finishing the stadium and investing in infrastructure, creating a site that can help us with our aspirations to punch above our weight, is really important and I see it as a big part of what I’ll be doing over the next few months.”

Blackpool FC have been contacted for comment.

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