To not want to live next to a football stadium?

[Nataliaa]

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?

I lived up until March a stones throw away from a football teams ground that has recently been both championship and premier league. It didn’t bother me in the slightest. Yes it can be busy on match days but you soon get used to it and I didn’t find any issues

Only for one season, I suspect.

So think why it might be the price it is...

I live a 20min walk/5min drive from Old Trafford and it’s not a huge issue.

My boyfriend always marks match days in our shared calendar app, with the time, so we can plan around it if necessary, but often we don’t need to. Matches tend to be 8pm weeknights, we’re usually just at home then anyway, and if we are out we just know to organise our timings around match traffic. There’s been a few times I’ve got stuck in it and got frustrated but it’s so few and far between. Fans on foot don’t cause any issues. I love my home and it wouldn’t have put me off living here, it’s not that big of an impact.

As someone who has been to a lot of concerts in sports stadiums, there is always an issue with people using other peoples drives/front gardens as a toilet even with police around. If you're in any way on the walk from the stadium to where people might park then I wouldn't, and that's nothing to do with millwall. I also couldn't cope with the noise, but I live in a small town where I mostly hear birdsong and other people pottering about when I go in my garden

I'd talk to neighbors on both sides of you and ask them what it is like living there with stadium 5 minutes walk away.

Not every weekend, "only" every other weekend!! I would not want to do this.

I won’t live anywhere urban so wouldn’t have looked at it in the first place. But if I were happy to live somewhere built up I would go for it. Provided I had parking and there were parking restrictions in place for games.

Only you know if it's a deal breaker. A quick Google search their highest attendance was 18,000 last season and the capacity is only 20,000. I live about 5 mins ftom a stadium with over 50,000 capacity most streets right outside are permit parking it might get a bit busy before and after a game but that's it.
A team like millwall will have 23 home league games a season (plus odd cup game/friendly) bear in mind some of these will be midweek nights I don't think it would be enough disruption to put me off an otherwise dream house

Absolutely no way. It is cheap for a reason.

I'd try to see if you can ask any of the neighbours what their experiences have been. I'm guessing there will be a large police presence around the ground on match days to prevent trouble. Also I'm assuming the house has all of its windows and isn't covered on graffiti so has survived previously. Getting out might be a hassle on match days, but if you love the house and you can cope with that during match season (remember that some matches will be midweek evenings and Saturday matches could have early kick off so definitely write the home fixtures on your calendar) then I wouldn't necessarily rule it out. But definitely ask the neighbours

rent your driveway on match days?

I live within half a mile of a football stadium (Celtic, up in Glasgow) and can honestly say it’s a pain in the backside at times! Match days 3pm kick off need to be out the house for probably 1/1.30pm and can’t get anywhere near home until at least 7pm, midweek games even worse! Might not bother some people but at times it more or less decides our weekend plans which can be annoying

I've only got experience of Millwall fans from when they are away to my home team. From what I've seen at these games I think their reputation is still very much deserved. Probably the only Championship team I wouldn't live close to.

I lived near a football stadium, on match days (every other weekend in the season) you either went out for the whole day or not at all, because of parking. I'd only live near one again if I had a drive. But probably not even then because you know you're going to be blocked in. Or out. Big match days meant lots of coaches and congestion. Loved the house, don't miss it.

I think i would go for it!

Not read the full thread as the pages are taking ages to load.

I have visited Millwall twice as an away supported over the last 2 seasons. I was warned and was very nervous! I had no need to be though, fans were typical as everywhere else, football banter etc.

The worst part was parking and traffic. Millwall don’t have parking for away fans, maybe not even home fans, so cars are parked lining the streets where possible. We took a wrong turning and it took us 90 mins to get back to where we needed to be, less than a mile stretch of road, as it was just chaos. If you need to be going past the ground 2 hours either side of the match, forget it.

I live right next to a local football stadium.
Parking can be annoying in the mornings on wknds and sometimes in the evening HOWEVER we have drive ways so isn’t too bad.
the only annoyance for us is that the road isn’t very wide so emergency services would have a bother but other than that it doesn’t affect us.
Sometimes we hear the chants and drums but it’s not intrusive and only if the windows are open and wind in right direction!
Schools use it for sports day in July too

Flipside - we get wicked firework displays, the clubhouse has local bands, they have fayres and stuff.
The stadium lights (face away) give us some light in eve and I’m across the road from the stadium but in the same street.

Really didn’t put me off buying and I didn’t even consider it when buying my house. Been here 5 years.

Why are people still suggesting OP goes there on a match day? It’s been suggested many many times and also THE SEASON HAS FINISHED!

I couldn't live there either, traffic and noise. The only noise I want to hear is inside my house. It would drive me nuts with the game or concerts going on when I am trying to watch TV or listening to music.

Indeed! It's fairly obvious that the timing onto the market is pretty tactical on the sellers' part, surely?!

Could you ask any of the neighbours what the street is like during match days? I presume the owner doesn't want to offer opinions either way?

If you value peace and quiet then it is probably a no. If there is a decent clubhouse and outside decking area then consider how the club is using it on non match day weekends - do they hire out for gigs, birthday parties, weddings, summer fun days etc. There could be potential parking issues and rubbish etc chucked in your front garden. Has it only just gone on the market as it’s end of main football season and therefore you can’t drive past to check it out on match day?

Have lived a 10 minute walk from Wembley Stadium all my life and love it. We have a drive way and of course parking is permit holder only on event days but it’s London so parking is always shit everywhere anyway 😂 I remember when I was little being on my dads shoulders in our garden when Michael Jackson was performing and having our own little concert out there. One of my favourite memories.

I have lived close to two major football grounds.
On match days we couldn't leave home for some hours - think surging crowds plus police horses marshalling them.
Sheer number of fans on the way to and from the ground, even buses were halted and delayed.
Coming home might be delayed too.

The two grounds were Millwall and Tottenham.