Globe Arena – Morecambe

After 89 years at Christie Park the Club have moved to a new purpose-built stadium. At a cost of around £12m, the Globe Arena (which is named after the company Globe Construction that built the stadium) was opened in 2010. The stadium is dominated by the Peter McGuigan Stand on one side. This stand which is named after the current Club Chairman has a capacity of just under 2,200 seats. This all seated, covered stand, has a box-like feel, with a corporate glassed area to the rear. It is free of supporting pillars and has windshields to either side, essential for a football ground located near the coast.

Opposite is the North Terrace, which is a very small open terrace that is only a few steps high. The terrace is split into two separate parts, with a large gap between them located around the halfway line. Behind this gap in the terrace is a service entrance, whilst above is perched a television gantry. Although reminiscent of the Car Wash Terrace at Christie Park, it does detract from the overall look and feel of the stadium. Both ends are covered terraces. The West Terrace is for home supporters and houses 2,234 fans, whilst the East Terrace is substantially smaller and is for the away support. In the North East corner of the stadium, adjacent to the away terrace is a Police Control Box. Also located in this area, attached to a wall beside the Control Box is a small electronic scoreboard.

Away fans are mostly housed in the beyondradio terraced stand at one end of the ground, where just under 1,400 supporters can be accommodated. In addition, the Club also makes around 300 seats available in the Peter McGuigan Stand, which is shared with home fans. As you would expect with a new stadium the view of the playing action is good. However the facilities are not that great, more to do with lack of space at the back of the terraced stand, more than anything. They also have separate queues at the refreshment hatch for food and alcohol, which is not great when you want something to eat with your drink and vice versa. However, if you get a chance then try one of the Club’s pies (£3.50), which are highly acclaimed and have won a number of awards. They also serve hot dogs which cost £2.

Rob Parker adds; ‘I sat with the Rotherham fans in the Peter McGuigan Stand. To gain entrance I had to edge through the tightest turnstile block I’ve ever known, and then proceed down a narrow four-foot wide open alleyway into the stand, passing the entrance to the toilets and the refreshments kiosk, where there was a small scrum of fans around the serving window, which is built into the back of the stand.

One thing of note was the apparent lack of segregation of home and away fans in the Peter McGuigan Stand – despite being sat in adjacent blocks there were no barriers, netting, or even any stewards between the two groups, even the facilities below the stand were shared. The beyondradio stand end is large enough for most League Two sides and is happily free of pillars, while the low roof makes it easy to make a decent atmosphere. It is actually raised above pitch level, so you have to walk up some steps to get to it, unlike the slightly larger home end. The overriding impression of the ground is that it’s a modern remake of Christie Park, complete with two covered terraced ends, the larger given to home fans, the open tiny terrace along one side, with the Main Stand dominating the ground. If Morecambe can develop the North Terrace, currently roofless and very open, this will probably be one of the better grounds in the division. Whether they do so remains to be seen.’

On the seafront, around a ten minute walk away from the stadium is a dedicated away fans bar called The Boardwalk. There is a BBQ and a rooftop terrace open exclusively for away fans with big screens showing the early kick offs and entertainment before and after the matches. Beer is reasonably priced at Carlsberg (£2.40) Tetleys (£2.20) Carling (£3) Double Smirnoff + Mixer (£3), plus 4 pint pitchers available too. Tea, coffee and soft drinks are also available as it’s completely family-friendly. There is also a bus stop located conveniently outside the bar which drops off outside the ground. The final bus before the match is at 14.35. For anyone making a weekend of it, there is music on the Friday night starting at 8.30pm and entertainment after the match. Plus the Boardwalk also has a number of hotel rooms available for £40 per night B&B if you want to make the trip to Morecambe. Call 07891813640 for more information. If arriving at the ground then with the entrance to the stadium behind you turn right and it is then a straight road up to the promenade. On reaching the seafront (where there are some great views across Morecambe Bay) turn right and walk along the front for about another five minutes you will reach the Boardwalk.

Just outside the stadium entrance is a modern Marston’s pub called the Hurley Flyer. Family-friendly and offering food too, it has its own car park which costs £10 before the game, but this can be refunded against a food purchase. Otherwise, the closest bar that admits away supporters is on the Regent Leisure Holiday Park. This is situated just a few minutes walk away from the stadium along Westgate (with the stadium entrance behind you, turn right, cross over to the other side of the road and the Regent Park entrance is down on the left). David Foster a visiting Chesterfield fan adds; ‘I had a drink across at the Regent Caravan Park. This was fully accessible, offered a decent pint and food, plus had Sky television on a big screen and generally had a good atmosphere.’  You can also park at the Caravan Park at a cost of £3 per vehicle.

Otherwise, if you turn left out of the stadium entrance then around a ten minute walk away (located opposite a Lidl supermarket on Westgate) is the William Mitchell pub, which also shows Sky Sports. If driving to the stadium from the direction of Lancaster you will pass a Toby carvery which offers reasonably priced food.

If arriving by train then you may care to try a Wetherspoon outlet in the town centre, called the Eric Bartholomew on Euston Road or on the sea front the Station Promenade pub, which also has a Wacky Warehouse for the young children. Anthony Yellop a visiting AFC Wimbledon supporter adds; ‘We stumbled upon the Kings Arms which is located right opposite the Eric Morecambe statue. The upstairs has 4 pool tables, 2 darts boards, 3 massive televisions and a table football game. It did a really nice breakfast and had great staff. It was only a £5 cab ride to the ground, a brilliant base camp for larger groups’.

Near to the old Christie Park is the York Hotel, which was popular with away fans visiting the old ground. It lays on a double-decker bus in matchdays to take fans to the new stadium from the hotel. Daniel Pemberton a visiting Lincoln City fan adds; ‘I parked at the York Hotel, it was very friendly and did a nice meal. The Hotel lays on a bus (Cost £1) to take you to the ground, however I walked it and only took 10 minutes. Come out the main entrance to the hotel, turn right then immediately right again and follow the road down, you come to a sports and social club “Trimpell” on your left, continue on down past some stables on your right.  The alleyway brings you out right by the ground’.

Otherwise, alcohol is served inside the stadium in the form of 500ml plastic bottles of Carlsberg Lager, Tetley’s Bitter and Strongbow Cider (all £3.20).

After winning promotion into League One, Morecambe have set about improving their match day experience through changes to the concourses and other areas around their stadium. The club have spoken about their intention to keep enhancing the stadium but without detailing their exact plan.

Morecambe spent their inaugural year as a football club sharing Woodhill Lane with the local cricket team. Despite poor form, the crowds flocked to watch them play and a stadium move was on the cards almost instantly. They moved to Roseberry Park where they would remain until 2010; Roseberry Park was renamed long before that though to Christie Park. The name was taken from the former club president JB Christie. Plans for the new stadium were announced 14 years ago (2007) with the new Morecambe ground opening in 2010.

At long last the Lancaster Bypass is now open, so getting stuck in traffic going through Lancaster City Centre is a thing of the past.

Exit the M6 at junction 34 and follow the signs for Morecambe. After around five miles you will reach a crossroads (with a McDonalds over on the right) where you turn right onto the Morecambe Road. You will then reach a roundabout, (where there is a Toby Carvery) where you take the first exit into Westgate Road (signposted West Promenade, Sandylands). Continue along this road for about one mile and you will reach the stadium on your right.

Car Parking

Parking at the stadium is for permit holders only so it is a case of finding street parking. If you continue along Westgate passing the stadium on your right, then on the other side of the railway bridge there is plenty of street parking to be had in the side roads on either side.

Post Code for Sat Nav: LA4 4TB

Morecambe Railway Station is around a 25-30 minute walk away from the Globe Arena. As you come out of the railway station turn left down Central Drive past Frankie and Benny’s, a Morrisons superstore and a KFC outlet and you will reach the sea front. Turn left along the promenade passing the Ranch House pub on your left and then take the 5th left into Regent Road. Proceed straight up Regent Road and continue along into Westgate. You will reach the stadium on your left hand side, just over the railway bridge. Morecambe is served by trains from Lancaster.

David Foster adds; ‘From near Morecambe train station you can get a bus number 6 or 6A, from the bus stop located opposite Frankie & Benny’s or from the nearby Bus Station. This drops you right outside the stadium and takes about ten minutes. Coming back there is a bus stop outside the ground, the bus then goes into town along the seafront and then onto the railway station.’ A timetable for 6/6A can be viewed on the Stagecoach website (PDF file). Paul Legon adds; ‘It is also possible to catch a bus from Lancaster to the stadium. Lancaster Bus Station is around a seven minute walk away from Lancaster Railway Station. You can either get the 6A (half-hourly service) straight to the ground or a number 2X to the Battery on Morecambe promenade. Ask the driver to be dropped off at the end of Regent Road on the Promenade and then this is a ten minute walk away from the Globe Arena. Bus number 1 going to Heysham will also take you to Regent Road and is more frequent but is much slower. To get back to Lancaster after the game, either get a 6A  (not 6) or retrace your steps to the promenade and catch bus number 2X or 1. (Cross over the prom to get the 1)  To return to Morecambe Station you can get a 6 or 6A in the opposite direction (i.e. crossing the road) but trains from Morecambe to Lancaster are never more than hourly at match times and most terminate at Lancaster so you have to change there to get any further.’

Home Fans
Peter McGuigan Main Stand (Centre Premium*):
Adults £26, No Concessions Peter McGuigan Main Stand (Centre): Adults £24, Concessions £20, Under 19’s £11
Peter McGuigan Main Stand (Wings): Adults £21, Concessions £17, Under 19’s £8
Peter McGuigan Main Stand (Family Area): Adults £21, Concessions £17, Under 18’s £6, Under 14’s Free**
West Terrace: Adults £17, Concessions £14, Under 18’s £5, Under 14’s Free**
North Terrace: Adults £16, Concessions £13, Under 18’s £5, Under 14’s Free**

Away Fans
Main Stand: Adults £21, Concessions £17, Under 19’s £6
Beyond Radio (East) Terrace: Adults £17, Concessions £14, Under 18’s £5, Under 14’s Free**

Concessions apply to Over 65’s and Students (in full time education, proof of student status must be produced).

* Premium seats allow you access to a lounge with bar facilities.

** When accompanied by a paying adult.

Official Programme £3

Morecambe vs Accrington Stanley rivalry: Morecambe and Accrington are pretty closely situated with just 40 miles between them. On top of the close proximity, the two have faced off many times over the years. Morecambe’s hatred boiled up after their promotion to the Football League; eight years without beating your rivals will do that to you.

Morecambe vs Fleetwood Town rivalry: These two north west seaside destinations are closer together than Morecambe and Accrington; it’s not quite as intense though. That’s because the teams haven’t locked horns as much over the years. They duo still aren’t keen on one another though.

Morecambe FC fixture list (Takes you to the BBC Sports Website)

For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the  Level Playing Field website.

Regent Holiday Park
If you need comfortable accommodation in the local area, then look no further than Regent Leisure Park. Regent Leisure Park is just a few minutes from Morecambe promenade and beach. Whatever the season, on a clear day there can be no finer view in the whole of the country than that enjoyed from Morecambe Promenade looking out over The Bay to the Lakeland Hills beyond.
The holiday accommodation at Regent Leisure Park features a range of holiday homes to suit all the family. They have fantastic facilities which include our spectacular indoor swimming pool and sauna, outdoor sports arena, indoor children’s play area, bar and eatery.

Reggie the Regent Mascot is sure to be a hit with our younger guests! Regent’s entertainment complex offers a newly refurbished cabaret Hollywood themed lounge bar and separate sports bar showing all the latest sporting events. Rest assured there will always be something to keep you entertained.

Regent offer fantastic offers and deals on our holiday accommodation, visit the Regent Holiday Park website for more details.

The Berkeley Guest House welcomes travelling football fans to Morecambe FC. Situated on the promenade, it is only a five minute walk away from the Globe Arena. In fact in terms of distance it is the closest Guest House to the stadium.

Fans can claim a 10% discount off our normal room tariff, if  booking over the telephone by calling 01524 418201. This discount is not available if the booking is made online.

Enjoying fine views across Morecambe Bay, this Guest House is well recommended by previous guests on trip advisor. Visit the Berkeley Guest House website for more information. We look forward to welcoming you soon!

Record Attendance

5,003 v Burnley
League Cup 2nd Round, 24th August 2010

At Christie Park
9,234 v Weymouth
FA Cup 3rd Round, 1962.

Average Attendance

2019-2020: 2,264 (League Two)
2018-2019: 3,134 (League Two)
2017-2018: 1,492 (League Two)

Official Web Sites:
www.morecambefc.com
www.globearena.co.uk

Unofficial Web Sites:
Supporters Club
Shrimps Voices Message Board

If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.