I've just been on a Stag Weekend in York, and one of our activities was some indoor karting at the York MotorSports Village. What should be right next door but the new ground for York City FC and York City Knights Rugby League Club.
I've not been to Boston for 17 months, so have not seen our new place since it was just a shell - but I have to say, compared to the videos etc of our new ground, York's new ground is another pretty soulless looking ground in an out-of-town shopping/leisure complex. It is in Huntington, about 3 miles from York city centre.
We had a walk around the outside of the stadium, and along one side it has a cinema & bowling alley built ('attached') onto it. With some shops and fast-food outlets, the complex does look smart and clean, but you do feel as if you are entering a shopping mall car park as you leave the main road and doesn't have any real 'feeling' of it being York City's home. One of the guys on the weekend said it reminded him of a university campus.
Even the signage is for 'York Stadium Leisure Complex' and the logos of the two clubs are 'lost' amongst the logos of all the other occupants of the complex on the directory and complex plan signs.
I'm sure the complex is great for the people of York to have - but what a contrast to Bootham Crescent. As old and decrepit it had become it was their York Street, and many of York's fans will probably find the new place very 'unfootball' like and akin to a neutral venue for a while. No one is going to have that feeling arriving at the Jakemans Community Stadium that's for sure.