London Irish - Which is the home stand?

[anonymous-user]

Hi all.

Despite having watched 10 or so matches at the Mad Stad in the last couple of seasons, I've no idea which stand I've sat in at any point...

I'm now booking tickets online for the first time and I'm not sure which stand I should be booking in... I've got a feeling that the West Stand is the home stand, but can someone out there please confirm?

Thanks in advance

[CocoPops]

I don't it actually matters for rugby,

Football, the only away stand is great South stand.

[anonymous-user]

There is definitely a difference between the 2 stands. One is largely home (with the chaps with the drums etc) and one is largely away.

I cant for the life of me remember which is which though

[prand]

Nyphur said:

There is definitely a difference between the 2 stands. One is largely home (with the chaps with the drums etc) and one is largely away.

I cant for the life of me remember which is which though

I'd say there isn't really a home or away stand. The East side is where the drums sit, there are a lot of home season tickets sold for the stand, particularly in the center, but it's often where away fans sit as well at the more southerly end of the stand. As mentioned above, away fans mingle with the home fans so no issue where you sit really - it's usually wherever you can book a free seat.

I'm going to the Northampton game on Saturday and there will usually be a large contingent of Saints fans in the East Stand making a big noise.

The West side is also where there's a lot of season ticket holders too, possibly less away fans (although anyone can buy tickets), and probably due to it being on the Hotel and the Executive Box side is considered the side for the more "priviledged" fans!

South Stand, when it is open, which is for most games now, away fans are usually mixed in here too. This on is considered the family stand where there's a lot of kids, you can often get cheap kids concessions though so although worth it for a family trip, there's generally a fair bit of getting up and walking around, cheering at odd moments, and perhaps not for the purist fan who likes silence during kicks etc.

North stand is rarely open except for the big games at Christmas or St Patricks day, but they do usually have a live band before and after playing which is usually a good laugh.

[Kinky]

The West Stand is the best stand

It's the busiest (great atmosphere); No sun in your eyes (although probably not currently an issue); and quickest side to exit from.

[prand]

Kinky said:

The West Stand is the best stand

It's the busiest (great atmosphere); No sun in your eyes (although probably not currently an issue); and quickest side to exit from.

Ha ha, I could counter every one of those points with the opposite, it always looks cold, dark and empty from my seat over in the East, plus you lot always seem to leave 10 mins before the end of a game so no wonder you get home early!

On a slightly different note, I wonder if LI crowds will benefit from Wasps heading off 80 miles up the M40 from their playing ground in High Wycombe, there is a reasonable fan base of rugby lovers in the area who may now go to Reading instead. Certainly Wasps' local club community involvement will disappear which Irish ought to step in to fill the void. As it is I'm sad to see our local rivals go, and I'm not sure the East Mids is the best place for another Premiership club.