Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Perhaps the best thing about today’s connected world is that football fandom has no borders. This means that a football lover doesn’t have to be in England to be a fan of Arsenal – pretty much anyone from any corner of the globe can be Gunner. This, in turn, also means that the chances of a Gooner from a far-off land seeing his or her favourite team live in person are pretty slim. But they can travel to their favourite teams’ hometown and take the guided tour of their stadiums. It may not be the most adventurous getaway for a football fan but it’s clearly a trip every real supporter has to take.
Gunners coming to see Arsenal can take such a tour at the Emirates Stadium. Those visiting the stadium can take a self-guided tour to the Directors Box, see the Players Entrance, visit the Home Changing Room, sit in the Dugout, and many more things, all this while listening to the narrative of Bob Wilson in their headsets. Those with deeper pockets can even book a VIP tour hosted by legendary players like Lee Dixon, Martin Keown, Ray Parlour or David Seaman, and Arsenal pitch side commentator Nigel Mitchell.
Outside the UK, players can take similar touts of their favourite football teams’ stadiums. One of the best is considered to be the one of Camp Nou, the home of Barcelona. Barça fans can enter the field through the players’ tunnel, see five European Cups exposed among the many other trophies won by the club, visit the area dedicated to Barça star Leo Messi, and immerse themselves in the history of the club. Barça’s Camp Nou stadium hosts perhaps the most visited museum tour in Europe.
To conclude, let’s hop across the ocean and take a look at a stadium that has nothing to do with football but everything to do with reverence and tourism: Wrigley Field, home of the legendary baseball team Chicago Cubs. The non-gameday guided tour of the stadium takes up to 90 minutes and includes visits to the press box, the seating bowl, the team’s dugout, and the field itself. There is a VIP tour available, too, that involves a personal tour guide, as well as something called a “Private Living Legend Tour” that involves a former Cubs player guiding the visitors and spicing up the tour with personal stories shared about his time with the team.
Yes, stadium tourism is indeed a thing – it allows fans to develop a deeper, more personal relationship with their favourite sports team, and provides the teams with a way to embrace their fans who live a little further afield. A win-win, don’t you think?
