Crystal Palace scoops ‘dirty crown’ in Premier League ratings

A new study has named Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park stadium as the filthiest in the Premier League, beating the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United for the title.

The ‘Filthy Football League’ rankings by Victor Floorcare used data from visitor reviews and food hygiene ratings to find out which current Premier League club has the most pristine stadium. Using this data, the cleanliness experts have created an index which ranks the stadiums from ‘most pristine’ to ‘needs a clean’, with surprising results that include some of the country’s most popular stadiums.

Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park stadium has topped the ranks as the alleged dirtiest club in the Premier League with a score of 30.97 out of 40. The 25,400 capacity stadium ranked the highest for reviews containing negative keywords including ‘dirty’, ‘filthy’, ‘unhygienic’ and ‘disgusting’ – with many disappointed visitors commenting on the toilet facilities and the overall cleanliness of the stadium.

Selhurst Park also had an average score of three for food hygiene, meaning that there is also room for improvement when it comes to the cleanliness of its catering facilities.

Coming in second for the title of ‘dirtiest stadium’ is Luton Town’s Kenilworth Road stadium. Officially opened in 1905, the stadium was originally constructed with earth banking and wooden terraces where spectators could sit. Whilst the stadium has come a long way since then, its cleanliness still leaves much to be desired according to visitors and, since getting promoted last year, its even more important that the stadium is spick and span.

Burnley’s Turf Moor, Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium also made the top five for ‘dirtiest stadiums’.

The top 10 ‘dirtiest’ stadiums’*:

Liverpool’s Anfield stadium took the crown for being the most pristine place to watch a game of premier league football. Anfield has a seating capacity of over 60,000 and its state-of-the-art facilities have led to it being dubbed as the most iconic football stadium in the UK. The bars and restaurants at Anfield have an average food hygiene rating of five – the highest you can score.

Coming in second is Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium which had very few negative reviews around cleanliness and had a food hygiene rating of five across all of its vendors.

The top 10 ‘cleanest’ stadiums’*:

Edward Blackledge, MD at Victor Floorcare, commented on the findings, saying: “In places like football stadiums that have thousands of visitors every weekend, cleanliness levels can sometimes slip if the right processes aren’t adhered to. 

“A clean stadium can help to enhance the overall fan experience for those visiting the stadium. Clean facilities, including toilets and concession areas, contribute to a positive atmosphere for everyone – whether they’re season ticket holders or just visiting for the day!

“Areas within the stadium that have a particularly high footfall like bars and toilets would benefit from an industrial floor cleaner to really make sure that the dirt and grime is being removed and the area is being left spotless and sanitary ready for the next match.”

To view the full report, visit: https://www.victorfloorcare.com/2024/05/10/pristine-premier-league-the-dirtiest-clubs-in-the-uk-revealed/

* All data correct as of April 2024