Everything we know about new Brighton Fan Zone The Terrace
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past six months, you will be aware of the new fan zone named The Terrace which Brighton have built next to the Amex Stadium
Costing many millions of pounds, the Terrace has an indoors capacity of 1,000. When the weather allows, another 2,000 supporters can be welcomed outside on a matchday. Making it the biggest fan zone in the Premier League.
The facility includes wraparound screens displaying information about the game and televisions for live sport.
It will open all week round as a bar and food facility for the community, as well as showing beam backs of Albion away games not broadcast on television.
All tickets have already gone for Seagulls supporters wanting to watch the Saturday 3pm matches at Crystal Palace and Brentford with fellow fans.
With plenty of information about the Terrace and the Heineken Fan Zone spread to different corners of the internet by Brighton, we thought it might be a good idea to pool stuff together in one place.
So from pre and post-match entertainment to remortgaging your home to afford a doughnut, here is everything you need to know ahead of the grand opening at the FA Cup quarter final against Nottingham Forest.
The Heineken Fan Zone at The Terrace
First things first, let us try and get the name right for sponsorship reasons. The building itself is called The Terrace.
Quite a few fans have wondered why it could not be given a name connected to Albion history. Something Goldstone Ground related, for example.
On a matchday, the fan zone is sponsored by Heineken. So it becomes the Heineken Fan Zone at The Terrace. Easy enough.
It will be open for a long time before kick off and a long time afterwards. The aim being to encourage fans to arrive earlier and leave later.
Thus reducing train and bus queues by staggering the number of people arriving or leaving at once. But whilst is is likely to have an impact for weekend matches, how many will want to stay behind for a drink on a Tuesday night when a game finishes at 10pm?
We will not have long to find out. Aston Villa visit the Amex in midweek following the Forest match.
Matchdays at the Heineken Fan Zone
The Terrace is free to enter and split over two levels. Admissions is on a first-come-first-served basis. Given how busy the grand opening against Forest is likely to be, you will probably need to be there very early to get a seat.
On a matchday, the upper level is for American Express cardholders and up to three guests. Down below are the servants quarters, where any Albion fans not connected to an Amex holder can mingle.
Screens inside The Terrace will show the early and late Premier League matches, along with other sporting events such as the Six Nations.
There will be live bands, musicians, DJ sets and special guests to keep supporters entertained. Fingers crossed the Great Mark McGhee is on that list. As a special guest. Rather than playing a harmonica.
Food and drink at the Terrace
Food and drink at the Henineken Fan Zone at The Terrace will be ordered via digital screens or the Brighton & Hove Albion app.
The beer offering is your standard Heineken fare; Heineken, Cruzcampo, etc. Harvey’s will also be available and Guinness Zero. Prices look to be the same as they are inside the stadium concourse.
Most excitingly for those of us who enjoy a famous German spirit, Jagermeister is also on the menu. One shot is £4.60.
Great news if you don’t think the Albion will win on a particular day and so want to get pissed beforehand to turn it into a hazy blur.
Or for drowning sorrows and trying to forget afterwards should a horror defeat have just taken place.
In terms of eating, The Terrace has four different street food options. Burgers and hotdogs from the bloke who won Masterchef: The Professionals.
Lost Boys Chicken is, erm, presumably chicken. Zen is selling Asian stuff. A penny for the thoughts of any Mitoma Fanatics from Japan who end up sampling that.
And Melts is doing toasties, snacks and an item described as not your ordinary doughnut. With said doughnut costing £6 (six pounds), the not-ordinary thing about it is presumably it contains nuggets of actual gold.
Other items on offer include a £10 (ten pounds) bowl of chips. £4 for a pot of coleslaw (four pounds). A hotdog for £13 (thirteen pounds) and £16 for a beefburger (sixteen pounds).
Non matchdays at the The Terrace
As already mentioned, Albion away games are going to be shown live at The Terrace. Providing an alternative to watching Brighton for any dodgy firestick owners out there.
This is one of the most exciting aspects of the new facility. Couldn’t get a ticket for Brentford because of the small away allocation? Or don’t fancy a Sunday lunchtime kick off at Newcastle? Pop along and watch it at the Terrace instead.
Melts will also be open from 9am to 2pm on weekdays for visitors to the Amex. The club are hoping to attract passing trade and capitalise on the number of university students in the Falmer area on a daily basis.
Although if the current crop of Sussex and Brighton Uni attendees are anything like I was, they won’t be waking up until 3pm with a raging hangover. And only then to catch up on the previous day’s Home & Away.
Other events set to take place at The Terrace in the coming months include an ‘Easter Sunday Extravaganza’ (rumours are with a £120 easter egg for sale).
A Family Silent Disco, an Adult Silent Disco, a Father’s Day Party and perhaps best of all… a Eurovision Party.
With Eurovision this year being held the same day as the FA Cup final, what a super Saturday that could be for Brighton fans.
See the Albion win the first major trophy in their history at Wembley before popping back to The Terrace to watch a Moldovan girl band dressed as pineapples performing a dance-inspired pop song about climate change.
