On Saturday, Antoni Sarcevic scored a 96th minute winner for Bradford City to secure the club automatic promotion back to League One, where they have not been for six years.
The impact of their promotion will not only benefit the club, but it will also have a great impact on the local community and surround areas. Firstly, the club have recently sold over 14,000 season tickets ahead of next season, with the figure being released before their promotion had even been confirmed. No doubt the number will only rise following the promotion confirmation.
But local shops and businesses will also see the positives of promotion. When you look at the size of clubs in League One next season such as Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, Bolton Wanderers and many more well supported clubs, businesses will thrive.
Through even larger crowds going to games, businesses will have more demand from supporters when it comes to food, drinks, memorabilia and other services in and around the community.
Close to Valley Parade are plenty of restaurants that match going fans visit for food and drink before a game, which means those businesses could see a spike in customers when bigger attendances are in town.
The spending of the club in the summer could also have a huge impact on the surrounding areas near the stadium with the playing squad going to change, more money coming into the club through TV rights and promotion bonuses will mean the team can spend more.
From improving stadium facilities to making more fan zones, the whole feel to a matchday at Bradford could be improving for the better. Fan zones have become extremely popular over recent years, giving supporters of both home and away sides a hub to drink, meet and eat before a game.
An increase in supporters will be a huge possibility, with people from the local community wanting to see how City get on in a new division and if they can build on this season’s success. Being able to watch cheaper more affordable football will stand out
to fans and to be able to watch a successful team will be an even bigger eye-catcher for people tempted to go to the matches.
Transport links will be used even more, especially with larger away followings coming into the city to watch the football, from buses to train services, the demand will only get higher.
Financially for the football club, being one of the biggest stadiums in the third tier and having upwards of 20,000 people at home matches towards the end of the season, if they can carry on attendances like this then the club will only make more money. We have seen investments into the playing surface at the ground over this season, which has paid off, and more money into the club could help develop certain parts of the ground to enhance the matchday feel.
Hotels located near the ground could see an increase in visitors and when there are teams in the division such as Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City, staying in a hotel could appeal to away supporters who will be making a long journey up from the South of the country.
Overall, only positive things will come from Bradford’s promotion back to the third tier. With more tourism to the city and an increase in money being spent on the area, it is an
