Gilliver's Travels
Peripatetic
When you look at the stadium's roof panels now, it's hard to recall that, six years ago, they were a shiny, bright blue. But once the canopies had begun their slow fade to grey, the overall effect began looking disappointingly dismal, cheap even.
Now that has changed yet again. The present colour, perhaps best described as a greenish khaki, surely looks entirely appropriate and settled, blending gently as it does with the surrounding downland landscape. It's almost as if this had been the plan all along. (Except that I have it on very good authority that the club are appalled at the colour degradation, and are taking the matter up with the suppliers.)
Given that one early design had all of the stadium's roofs planted with grass [ the so-called 'bunds']. the present appearance offers a fair approximation of that original, naturalistic effect - one that is all of a piece with Brighton's impeeccably Green credentials.
So, crunch question. Are we happy now with the Amex's unexpectedly rustic roofs? Are we liking the lichen? Or do we want only to bring back the blue?
Now that has changed yet again. The present colour, perhaps best described as a greenish khaki, surely looks entirely appropriate and settled, blending gently as it does with the surrounding downland landscape. It's almost as if this had been the plan all along. (Except that I have it on very good authority that the club are appalled at the colour degradation, and are taking the matter up with the suppliers.)
Given that one early design had all of the stadium's roofs planted with grass [ the so-called 'bunds']. the present appearance offers a fair approximation of that original, naturalistic effect - one that is all of a piece with Brighton's impeeccably Green credentials.
So, crunch question. Are we happy now with the Amex's unexpectedly rustic roofs? Are we liking the lichen? Or do we want only to bring back the blue?