Is the pitch an illusion?

[moggy]

If you stand on the west side at pitch level, the pitch seems to be concave.
Definitely looks if there's a rise in the middle as you look across to the east side.
If you go higher up in the west, it doesn't notice, you have to be at pitch level
Bugger this! I'm off to specsavers !!!!

 

[magoo]

Make your mind up. Concave would be to dip wouldn't it? Anyway, it's just the curvature of the Earth.

 

[Bozza]

It definitely has a hump. Which is not the same as having the hump*.

(* see - disabled fans, kids wanting some Dick's action, front row 1901ers/WSUers, those who object to queuing for 3 hours to get a pint etc)

 

[Gazwag]

It was designed that way to aid drainage and possibly (not sure about this one) to get the ball pushed easier to the wings as requested by Gus

 

[Sussex Nomad]

Was explained to me it was to help drainage... I'm not convinced.

 

[Triggaaar]

Er, why is it not level?

EDIT - Just seen the reasons above:
drainage? Don't be daft, it's a brand new system, drainage should be a breeze.
passing the ball around? - that also sounds strange, would it not be more likely to run away when spread wide? It's not like it's difficult to pass the ball from the centre to the side.

 

[MrShaun15]

yea all the newer pitches have that to help with the drainage so the water runs off as apposed to you getting puddles in the pitch

 

[Everest]

Because it's meant to be that way.

 

[somerset]

Convex you mean...

 

[magoo]

Probably another psychological illusion to make the opposition think they are always running up hill chasing the ball while we have possession.

 

[8ace]

yea all the newer pitches have that to help with the drainage so the water runs off as apposed to you getting puddles in the pitch

It's not a particularly new thing either.

 

[Albumen]

It helps players fall over more easily.

 

[Curly5194]

That's why if you sit in the first row your actually looking slightly up at the players.

 

[Lankyseagull]

It's so that when games get called off in the snow the players can break the sledges out.

 

[Sergei's Celebration]

I thought it was to make KLL look even smaller than he is to the ref, hence more sympathy!

 

[trueblue]

All top pitches are like that. Ask any cameraman who's had to work pitchside... if the camera has to be keep too low down, it can be a struggle to see the players' feet when they're on the other side of the field.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

It is a crown, as in crown bowling. It is the correct way of laying a pitch, the highest point being the centre spot unlike Portsmouths which appears to rise up at the goal mouths. Newcastle's is easily the worst in the top 2 divs, it slopes end to end by 8 foot

 

[Nottseagull]

It's an improvement on the original plan.

 

[Art Vs Science]

It is designed that was so that when Lumping great football fans try and invade the pitch, it is too much of an incline for them to get to the middle before having to stop for a packet of Monster Munch

 

[Nottseagull]

This is just brilliant, with the bonus of a parody of Malcolm Allison!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctaGEpEpNNE