Quote Originally Posted by edyzmedieval View Post
Long gone, indeed, but look at a lot of stadiums that are around for quite a long period of time. (Anfield, Highbury before it was replaced, Boleyn Ground...)

Along with the extensive security improvements that were made after those horrific tragedies (Hillsborough, Valley Park Fire...), they withstood the test of time as buildings without any real damage or danger (the danger being the layout of the stadiums, the exits... rather than the stability and strength of the construction in itself - with exceptions of course) hence why my proposal of repairing and maintaining the current Athenian stadiums should be looked at by the Olympic Committee. They are modern stadiums, built in 2002-2003-2004.
For over half a century, Carrow Road (Norwich City) was the last new ground built by a Football League club, opening in 1935. I've been to the centrepiece of Empire, Wembley stadium, before it was rebuilt. While it looked impressive from a distance, inside it was a dump. And pre-Hillsborough, which changed everything, Wembley was one of the last major football stadiums built in the UK, dating back to the 1920s.

And mea culpa, I meant Valley Parade, not Valley Park. I had Upton Park on my mind when I wrote that. Now that was an example of the old football grounds: existing with as few updates as possible except to keep them standing and not collapsing, whilst taking in all the attendance money. The inquest was scathing about football stadiums in general. And even that was glossed over until Hillsborough made the issue unavoidable.