A journalist who spent a night in one of Blackpool FC’s hotel rooms claimed he was told there would be a fine a jaw-dropping sum if he opened the curtains during one key moment
A man was warned he could be fined £2.5 for opening hotel curtains (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
A man who spent £137 on a hotel room was shocked to discover that he might be fined £2,500 if he simply opened the curtains.
Said hotel room is inside Blackpool FC’s Bloomfield Road ground and sits behind one of the goals at either side of the team’s pitch.
However, the individual staying in the room, journalist Ben East, was warned that if he opened the curtains during a match, he could be fined £2,500.
Baffled by the instruction, Ben said he checked the rules with members of staff downstairs, who said they didn’t police it as a hotel, but that ‘apparently’ guests could be fined if they are caught opening the curtains.
Commenting on the matter for the Telegraph, Ben remarked that keeping the curtains shut during a match rather ruined the experience, especially during Blackpool’s game against Bradford.
He said: “All of which slightly ruins the executive pitch-view selling point, of course – it’s now just an incredibly beige room with a hint of maroon.
“I then hear about Swan’s finish on BBC Radio’s 5 Live Sport, minutes after hearing the roars from outside. It was deft, sure, but it wasn’t worth £2,500 to see in the flesh.
“To threaten people with this sort of penalty for peering out of the window of a room that has been converted from an executive box sounds absurd – or at least conceptually flawed.”
Furthermore, Ben added that other stadiums don’t have the rule, such as Bolton Wanderers, who he said didn’t require the curtains to be closed in their stadium rooms.
A spokesperson for Blackpool FC said: “Whilst the hotel and football club understand any frustrations this may cause, all EFL and FA regulations must be observed. This includes limitations on the consumption of alcohol within sight of the pitch whilst a match is in play.”
Ben’s comments about Blackpool FC’s hotel room came months after data showed the city of Blackpool received a boost in tourism numbers.
The annual STEAM report, that independent measures tourism indicators, shows that visitors to the area were on the rise, with the city attracting 21.5m tourists in 2023, six percent up on 2022 figures.
When the figures were released in March last year, Blackpool Council leader councillor Lynn Williams MBE said: “Blackpool welcomed large crowds thanks to a diverse programme of major events, the launch of new attractions, a two-month extension of the autumn Illuminations season, and the expansion of the hugely successful Christmas By The Sea village.
“All of these factors, combined with strong partnerships and impactful marketing, reinforce our commitment to keeping Blackpool as the UK’s most visited seaside resort and firmly establishing it as a thriving year-round destination.”