Gilliver's Travels
Peripatetic
Locals who get the chance to see our new stadium every day cannot realise just how lucky they are. Those of us living further away, and having to content ourselves with a webcam that shrinks and distorts everything, and Jack Straw's albeit totally excellent photography, will never be able to fully appreciate the reality of the Amex. Not until they see it for themselves -- as I was able to a couple of weeks ago.
The best approach route by far is the one from Woodingdean. As you begin to descend the final hill towards the village, that first glimpse is extraordinary, demanding a double-take. It's as if some giant, silver and blue spaceship has just landed. And as you get closer, the sheer scale of the thing really hits you. If you only ever saw the original muddy farmer's field, you knew this was never going to be enough for a football stadium. But to the surprise of many, the Brighton university land-grab has made it plenty big enough.
As you enter Village Way, the West stand roof presents a magnificently wide, gracefully curving blue slope that sweeps down invitingly towards you, before disappearing out of sight beneath the fence. That sexy, blue slope can so easily fool the eye: you wouldn't be surprised to see a knot of speed-skiers suddenly appearing up over the curve before racing on downwards. Then, there's another, very different impression: the whole stadium structure, with its soaring and dipping arch steelwork and roof-edge railings suddenly begins to look a giant, totally fantastic and futuristic rollercoaster.
It's a ride anyone would want to take.
Enough already. Get over and see it for yourselves.
The best approach route by far is the one from Woodingdean. As you begin to descend the final hill towards the village, that first glimpse is extraordinary, demanding a double-take. It's as if some giant, silver and blue spaceship has just landed. And as you get closer, the sheer scale of the thing really hits you. If you only ever saw the original muddy farmer's field, you knew this was never going to be enough for a football stadium. But to the surprise of many, the Brighton university land-grab has made it plenty big enough.
As you enter Village Way, the West stand roof presents a magnificently wide, gracefully curving blue slope that sweeps down invitingly towards you, before disappearing out of sight beneath the fence. That sexy, blue slope can so easily fool the eye: you wouldn't be surprised to see a knot of speed-skiers suddenly appearing up over the curve before racing on downwards. Then, there's another, very different impression: the whole stadium structure, with its soaring and dipping arch steelwork and roof-edge railings suddenly begins to look a giant, totally fantastic and futuristic rollercoaster.
It's a ride anyone would want to take.
Enough already. Get over and see it for yourselves.
