Question about taking a 5 year old to AMEX

JCL - the new kid in town · Feb 12, 2014

Hi, i want to take my 5 year old nephew to the football for the Hull game. I was going to go for the east stand lower but my question was whether it mattered which row/stand i should go for. Would the front row be sensible or would the wall obstruct a little ones view so should aim for a few rows further back? Any advice appreciated. Thanks

Machiavelli · Feb 12, 2014

Front row is a good idea, as when the crowd gets up on their feet (which is at important moments), young children can't see what's going on on the pitch.
Also 90 minutes (even two blocks of 45 minutes) is a long time for a five-year-old. I managed to get my one to focus by bribing him with snacks, saying if you concentrate on the game for the next five minutes, then you can have this. He's six now, a season ticket holder, and is really up for it.
One final and obvious point: it'll be a late evening for him.

hans kraay fan club · Feb 12, 2014

Consider the weather. Only the back 5 or six rows of ESL are guaranteed to not get wet.

Goldstone1976 · Feb 12, 2014

While I agree with everything that Machiavelli says, if it rains, he'll get soaked in the front row of ESL. I took mine to Withdean for three games, they got soaked and were utterly miserable and didn't want to go back. First row ESU, perhaps might be better, if you can get tickets??

Luke93 · Feb 12, 2014

hans kraay fan club said:
Consider the weather. Only the back 5 or six rows of ESL are guaranteed to not get wet.

I sit in row T, I'm usually just after those getting wet

JCL666 · Feb 12, 2014

From my experience (I have two sons), at 5 years old he won't be that interested in having a decent view (as in all of the pitch), it's more about the experience and bribery.

I would suggest getting a seat as close to the pitch as possible. Also try west lower towards the North. He'll see the players warming up, be near the North Stand so there should be a lot of noise, plus he won't get as wet as he would in the East!

Finally go to your local corner shop and stock up on haribo and stuff like that, maybe even take a flask of hot chocolate. Otherwise you'll hemorrhage money on sweets and drinks.

Green Cross Code Man · Feb 12, 2014

JCL666 said:
From my experience (I have two sons), at 5 years old he won't be that interested in having a decent view (as in all of the pitch), it's more about the experience and bribery.

I would suggest getting a seat as close to the pitch as possible. Also try west lower towards the North. He'll see the players warming up, be near the North Stand so there should be a lot of noise, plus he won't get as wet as he would in the East!

Finally go to your local corner shop and stock up on haribo and stuff like that, maybe even take a flask of hot chocolate. Otherwise you'll hemorrhage money on sweets and drinks.

I know people at the front of the wsl who have often got a real soaking whilst i haven't about 15 rows back in the east. I don't know why you think otherwise.

sully · Feb 12, 2014

If it's not windy, we generally stay dry in row P of East Lower.

I took my kids when they were very young (first games when they were 4), and got very adept at sweeping them up every time I stood, to ensure that they could still see! However, this didn't happen so often in those Withdean years, so you might get knackered by the end of the game nowadays.

Bozza · Feb 12, 2014

Go for an upper tier, as close to the front as you can. Swap off-centre, if you can be closer to the front, than centre but further back.

John Bumlick · Feb 12, 2014

Bozza said:
Swap off-centre, if you can be closer to the front, than centre but further back.

What the eff does that mean? Lel

Goldstone1976 · Feb 12, 2014

John Bumlick said:
What the eff does that mean? Lel

I think it means "get as close to the front as you can, even if that means that you're not near the centre line"; an opinion with which I'd concur.

tinycowboy · Feb 12, 2014

hans kraay fan club said:
Consider the weather. Only the back 5 or six rows of ESL are guaranteed to not get wet.

Agree with this - it's exposed to the elements, but great ground level view of the action. Take sweets and waterproof clothing and wear something noticeable so you can easily identify yourself on TV.

dazzer6666 · Feb 12, 2014

JCL666 said:
From my experience (I have two sons), at 5 years old he won't be that interested in having a decent view (as in all of the pitch), it's more about the experience and bribery.

I would suggest getting a seat as close to the pitch as possible. Also try west lower towards the North. He'll see the players warming up, be near the North Stand so there should be a lot of noise, plus he won't get as wet as he would in the East!

Finally go to your local corner shop and stock up on haribo and stuff like that, maybe even take a flask of hot chocolate. Otherwise you'll hemorrhage money on sweets and drinks.

Thought this was a good shout. Front 15 rows or so WSL can get wet but if wind is westerly (as it seems to be most of the time at the moment - about 80mph worth now anyway) it's mostly dry.

Machiavelli · Feb 12, 2014

Goldstone1976 said:
While I agree with everything that Machiavelli says, if it rains, he'll get soaked in the front row of ESL. I took mine to Withdean for three games, they got soaked and were utterly miserable and didn't want to go back. First row ESU, perhaps might be better, if you can get tickets??

You're right Goldstone, I hadn't paid any attention to ESL/ESU. I've sat in the first row of ESU before, and can recommend it, we had a great time, Blackpool 6-1. Where to sit is even more pertinent as current forecasts are grim for Monday: inevitably more rain, wind, and colder too.

JCL666 · Feb 12, 2014

Green Cross Code Man said:
I know people at the front of the wsl who have often got a real soaking whilst i haven't about 15 rows back in the east. I don't know why you think otherwise.

Because I've sat in both when it's been raining. East is worst for getting soaked in my experience.

emphyrian · Feb 12, 2014

also take a DS or something similar, otherwise it'll be about ten trips to the toilet for you as they get bored quickly and thats what they seem to need, at least ten times a match. I have taken both my kids to the matches when they were 4 and as long as you have a bag full of crisps, chic, drinks, biscuits and entertainment you will be fine

dougdeep · Feb 12, 2014

It won't rain.

Trelford Mills Guide Dog · Feb 12, 2014

emphyrian said:
also take a DS or something similar, otherwise it'll be about ten trips to the toilet for you as they get bored quickly and thats what they seem to need, at least ten times a match. I have taken both my kids to the matches when they were 4 and as long as you have a bag full of crisps, chic, drinks, biscuits and entertainment you will be fine

DS (or similar) definitely required. They do get bored pretty quickly, plus if the game is dull you can have a go too.

Herr Tubthumper · Feb 12, 2014

I go with a big group of 5 year olds. I'll ask their opinion.

Green Cross Code Man · Feb 12, 2014

JCL666 said:
Because I've sat in both when it's been raining. East is worst for getting soaked in my experience.

I suppose that makes sense as the prevailing weather usually comes from the west although as the stands are named a little inaccurately, shouldn't the east actually be the north?

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