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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to live next to a football stadium?

445 replies

Nataliaa · 25/05/2025 22:40

We’ve found a house that in all ways is perfect for us. In terms of price, close to work, size, minimal work needed - we could happily live with the interior, as it is- so no rush to put our stamp on it. No renovations needed. However, it is very close to a football stadium. My DH is saying if I let that one negative sway my decision, we would be turning down our dream family home and as we have been house hunting for 6 months and have not come close to finding any house that ticks so many of our wants, we would regret not going for this one.
My DH says that whilst there may be some disruption on match days, it’s not going to be every single weekend, and therefore minimal.
Am I really being picky, or would this be an issue for others?? Would you happily live near a football stadium?

OP posts:
Gay2 · 27/05/2025 17:56

We live VERY close to the stadium, they do match days where parking is an issue so just keep the match timings in your calendar. However when they do concerts, it’s a free concert in the back garden - perfect time to invite others over too. Such a fab atmosphere. Highly recommended!!!

Beautifulweeds · 27/05/2025 17:56

We moved to near a similar sized one, plus a cricket ground the other way, bit further away though, about 10 minute walk.

Best to go and visit during match times to see, also for parking issues. Tbh we occasionally hear the noise when it's particularly loud but not often, from the garden. Xx

Americano75 · 27/05/2025 18:03

Totally guessed Milwall too. 😆

Is it worth asking some of your potential neighbours?

M2B19 · 27/05/2025 18:04

We live opposite a football stadium. It is a small town football team with an average attendance of around 3000. It’s no bother to us tbh and actually forms quite a nice sense of community. It sounds like the football stadium your house is near to is slightly larger but it depends on how you feel about the house. Much like you we loved ours and so we took a chance. We’ve lived there very happily for 11 years now.

CMZ2018 · 27/05/2025 18:05

A lot of home and away fans will travel by public transport to the new den. So unless it’s between south Bermondsey station and the ground ie on Illderton rd you should be ok especially with a driveway.

Frillysweetpea · 27/05/2025 18:05

We have no personal knowledge of Millwall but my hubby saw a TV programme less than 2 years ago that said this was a great place to buy in London - pleasant and relatively cheap. Also, he said if the team is promoted, policing of the fans will increase. He thinks you should go for it!

independentfriend · 27/05/2025 18:05

This sounds like a reasonable trade off - some days in the year when you'll either want to be elsewhere or very much in and not needing to go out in exchange for being near work etc.

You can think about the front garden, if there is one, making sure there's nothing loose that someone could easily pick up and throw / steal.

Could also add extra soundproofing to the house and consider net curtains/ blinds for privacy from people walking past.

Worth checking for road/ tube station closures on match days and whether any of the local shops / pubs close at particular times around the matches.

CMZ2018 · 27/05/2025 18:05

Nataliaa · 25/05/2025 23:34

The only people in my life that actually go to Millwall are the colleagues that said there is rarely any trouble these days and the reputation is outdated. Does anyone on here have any actual experience of Millwall home games now? I don’t follow football at all really, but recall lots of coverage over the years of hooliganism / violence at Millwall. That’s my biggest concern, the next would be anti social behaviour, like pp’s have mentioned. I imagine the fans walking to the ground would be fine, the noise of the actual games wouldn’t bother me (I don’t think so anyway) but after the game is my concern. The fans having consumed a lot of alcohol…. Colleague said the millwall fans and their opposing team fans are kept apart and not able to mix. I have absolutely no idea how they manage that!! I guess a LOT of police!

There’s a walkway for away fans from the station

caznjoe53 · 27/05/2025 18:07

Pistachiocake · 25/05/2025 23:21

I once lived near Ibrox, and once near Blackpool. Different time periods (which is very relevant, think parking, behaviour etc). My advice would be to go on match days and ask as many people you can, if you need to move before you'll have a chance to do this. To me, it wasn't an issue, but I wasn't the one buying the house on either occasion, so it needs to be your decision.

I used to live on Paisley Rd West at Ibrox, never any real issues. I now live next to Hampden so events there aren't as often

minnienono · 27/05/2025 18:08

I lived 2 miles from the football and just over a mile from the rugby on the main approach road. The only disruption was heavy vehicles traffic for the 30 minutes after games finished then a few minutes later foot traffic, more noisy if they won!

I suspect the house may be slightly more affordable because of location hence finding it in your price bracket?

Pomegranatecarnage · 27/05/2025 18:09

Hello-I live about a mile from a football stadium. It was Premiership, and has just been demoted from championship. I wouldn’t give up a dream house because of it. There is some disruption every other weekend in season, but it’s not awful. I rarely think about it to be honest!
edited to add-I also live a mile from the rugby stadium where bands play too!

Speckly · 27/05/2025 18:10

Go there on a match day and see what’s it’s like. I’d suggest going around 90 mins before and sitting for an hour or so and come back as the match is finishing. It’s the only way to know what it will really be like. Then you can make an informed decision.

glammymommy · 27/05/2025 18:11

We live within 10 minutes walk of white Hart Lane stadium. It's fine here. But go look at the house on an event day

Survivor2020 · 27/05/2025 18:13

YANBU 100% the biggest inconvenience. We live 400 meters from a 50,000 premiership club capacity stadium and it impacts our lives. We have to plan our days according to match days and times and don’t get me started on premiership season. The crowds are very disruptive, rude and inconsiderate. We can't leave or enter our area during matches and its just a nightmare. The only time we had any peace was during covid.
If you can avoid it and have an alternative then definitely do.

NowWhatUsernameShallIHave · 27/05/2025 18:14

Bit difficult now as seasons over but I would go there when a match is on

Or speak to a few neighbours

Nikki7506 · 27/05/2025 18:16

I would love to live next door to a stadium!
Definitely rent out any drive space you have spare🤣
You'll find there is a large police presence on a match day so any trouble will move further afield.
I was thinking Millwall too🤣🤣🤣

Xmasbaby11 · 27/05/2025 18:16

I live about 2 miles from a large football stadium and on match days, the cars and crowds really spread - not as far as my house, but much further than you'd think in every direction with people parking further away, getting there early, going to pubs or just standing around on the streets. Big crowds moving around, chanting, not necessarily aggressive but it's not an atmosphere I like. Also road closures. Passing through the area is possible but annoying with the diversions.

So it would definitely annoy me being near for all the crowds walking by .. but as pp say, you have to weigh it up and it's probably a bargain because a lot of people would reject it. You have to decide what you can live with. My friend bought a house with its bathroom downstairs through the kitchen - a no-no for many, but she got used to it and meant they were able to afford an otherwise lovely house.

TaliaTalia · 27/05/2025 18:17

I live walking distance to a large national stadium and it’s never been an issue. The roads surrounding it are closed for parking on match days unless you’re a resident, I think it’s probably more of a pain living a bit further away as there are shuttle busses so it’s the housing estates about a mile away that get rammed with cars. Apparently at times there has been some antisocial behaviour after matches but I’ve never noticed anything, the most I’ve ever heard is a bit of drunken singing.

Whyherewego · 27/05/2025 18:19

I live near a big premiership stadium, just a couple of roads away. It's a bit irritating on match days if I want to get into the tube and thousands of people are leaving but generally crowds are well controlled and we'll behaved. Even when it's a London Derby it's fine. The club are well organised and have a special resident distribution list and inform us of any matches in advance and parking restrictions etc. Traffic is definitely busier on a match day and parking can be a pain due to all the blue card holders !

I have zero interest in football! I just liked the house ! All in all it's been fine to be honest

Kibble19 · 27/05/2025 18:21

Knew it would be Millwall. Second worst set of fans in the UK IMO. Their reputation isn’t for nothing.

Seelybee · 27/05/2025 18:21

Having grown up in a house on the road parallel to a football stadium, yes there will be traffic disruption on match days, parking chaos and heavy footfall. However, from what you describe this is your dream house that you thought you wouldn't be able to afford so presumably the price reflects the potential location issues. It seems to tick many very important boxes so overall I'm with your DH. The many positives seem worth the negatives for relatively few days of the year.

Sallywag134 · 27/05/2025 18:22

Not being unreasonable at all but how big is the club? Like is there going to be tens of thousands on match days or a few hundred if they’re lucky? I live near a rugby ground and it is so organised on match days that there is no disruption to residents, even with parking. However I have been with my husband to Goodison Park and the way the stadium is in the middle of rows of terraced houses with narrow footpaths with narrow streets and there are tens of thousands of fans around, it’s just madness. I’d hate to live there.

sunnyandrainy · 27/05/2025 18:24

Honestly you are mad if you don’t go for it! I live near a premier league team and it’s so little issue. Don’t lose your dream home over it or waiting to see a game. Games are in the day times or done by 10pm. Fans go in, they leave and go home. I get it / I was nervous before I moved but honestly it’s a non issue and all the huge positives about the house you talk about way way way offset the fans. Do check re the use of stadium for concerts - they are way worse then a football match.

ThisCraftySeal · 27/05/2025 18:24

I live about 5 mins away from a championship side and apart from doing what we need to do such as shopping earlier in the day, it doesn’t effect us

Izyboo · 27/05/2025 18:26

I'd jump at the chance to live near a football stadium, but then I live football. Rest of the family, not so much!