Globe Arena (football stadium)

Globe Arena

The Peter McGuigan Stand
Globe Arena Location in Morecambe
Location	Westgate, Morecambe
Coordinates
Capacity	6,476
Surface	Grass
Construction
Broke ground	2009
Opened	August 2010
Architect	Croft Goode
Project manager	Red House Group Ltd
Main contractors	Globe Construction
Tenants
Morecambe FC
Website
www.morecambestadium.co.uk

The Globe Arena is a football stadium in Morecambe, Lancashire, England, which is used by Morecambe F.C. It is named after Globe Construction, the company that built the stadium. The stadium holds up to 6,476 supporters, with 2,173 seats available in the Main Stand, which runs the length of one side of the pitch. Opposite the Main Stand is an uncovered terrace with a capacity of 606, giving a similar feel to the ground as that at Christie Park. At either ends of the pitch are the home and away stands, with the home end holding a maximum of 2,234 supporters and the away end having a capacity of 1,389. In the north east corner of the stadium is the community block, which is split between two floors. The building also houses a gym and a ticket office for visiting fans. The stadium replaced the old Morecambe F.C. stadium, Christie Park, which was Morecambe's home since 1921.

History

Work officially started on clearing the site of trees on 9 May 2009, and work above ground started in early September 2009. By the middle of September the first main structure of the Main Stand was visible, and in early 2010 the other three stands were being developed. In late May the pitch was seeded.

It was originally planned that the stadium would be ready for the 2009-10 season, but delays meant that it would not be ready until the 2010-11 season.

Globe Arena's opening game ought to have been a friendly against Bolton Wanderers on 28 July 2010, with the official opening of the stadium due to be marked by a local derby against rivals Preston North End on 31 July. However all three planned home pre-season friendly fixtures were cancelled because of site delays. The stadium's opening game was instead against Coventry City for Morecambe's League Cup first round tie on 10 August, in which Morecambe marked the occasion with beating their Championship opponents 2–0, with Andy Fleming scoring the first two goals at the stadium. The first league game at the Globe Arena was a 0-0 draw with Rotherham United. Their first league win came against Shrewsbury Town, with a 1-0 victory. The Shrimps biggest victory on the ground was a 6-0 demolition of Crawley Town, beating the previous record, 5-0 at home to Stockport County, with striker Phil Jevons becoming the first player to score a hat-trick on the ground. A record of 5,375 was set on 28 August 2013 when Morecambe hosted Newcastle United in the 2nd Round of the League Cup with Newcastle emerging 2-0 winners.

Stands

The Peter McGuigan Stand

The Peter McGuigan stand with the West stand to the right

The stand is named after chairman, Peter McGuigan, to celebrate his 10 years in charge of the club. The stand can also be known as the Main Stand and runs along the side of the pitch. Within the stand, there are facilities on three floors including, on the ground floor, advanced changing, first aid, home, away and officials dressing rooms, gym and office facilities for players and management; and, on the public side, a bar, club shop and reception area. On the first floor there is a 387m sq hospitality suite for matchday use. This large room can be sub-divided into three separate areas for smaller functions and private parties. This area will be available throughout the year for non-matchday functions. It will also be available for conferencing use, for up to 360 people. On the second floor are five private boxes, which will each accommodate 10 people, a sponsors' lounge for 24 people, and the directors' lounge. All have private catering facilities and their own 'bird's eye' view of the pitch.

Peter McGuigan Stand

The Omega Holidays Stand

The Morecambe Bay Wines Stand is named after the local wine business, and can also be known as the West Stand. It accommodates 2,234 standing home spectators and is located to the left end goal mouth. This would be where most of the atmosphere would come from on a match day. The stand has a bar and catering outlets to the rear of the stand. For the 2013-14 season, the stand was renamed due to Omega Holidays becoming new sponsors.

The Bay Radio Stand

The Bay Radio Stand is named after the local radio station, The Bay, can also be known as the East Stand and is located to the right end goalmouth. The Stand accommodates 1,389 standing visiting spectators and as The Morecambe Bay Wines Stand, has a bar and catering outlets.

Open Terrace

The Open Terrace is an uncovered standing terrace that, like The Peter McGuigan, runs along the side of the pitch. It accommodates 606 home spectators and has catering facilities available. At the end of the stand is the Community Block. The Open Terrace was not open to supporters for the League Cup match against Coventry because not everything was completed but it was opened at the next game against Rotherham. The stand also houses the ground's scoreboard.