New welcome for AFC Bournemouth away fans in transformed stand!
AFC Bournemouth’s away stand at Vitality Stadium has received a Premier League makeover, thanks to local artist Miroslav Lucan, Bournemouth Coastal Business Improvement District (BID) and Bournemouth Council.
Over 25,000 visiting away fans pass through the stand each year in order to access pitch side seating. The indoor stand area has received its transformation after the Coastal BID and Bournemouth Council used a local artist, Miroslav Lucan and digitalised some of his artwork to showcase all that Bournemouth has to offer to away fans in eye catching, innovative artwork which now adorns the walls.
The art work tells the story of Bournemouth’s assets including its stunning coastline, Victorian gardens, the Air Festival, the two piers, beach activities and the balloon in the gardens. It also includes and hints at the businesses in the area including the two universities, hotels and Russell Coates Museum.
Miroslav commented, “It was great to create yet another piece of art relating to Bournemouth, the place I have called home for over a decade now, it’s very close to my heart. The artwork reflects my passion for the area and I thoroughly enjoyed creating this special piece which shows all the different activities happening in this eventful town,”
Coastal BID Chairman, Paul Clarke advised, “We are delighted at the impact that been made to the stand. Most football fans only come to Bournemouth as day visitors in order to watch the Premier League football matches. We were really keen to engage with the fans and showcase, in the football environment, what Bournemouth has to offer and entice them to return to the town on another occasion.”
AFC Bournemouth Chairman, Jeff Mostyn enthused, “This is a brilliant opportunity for us to showcase Bournemouth to the Premier League audience that regularly visit Vitality Stadium. It’s important to us that Bournemouth as a town can see the benefit of our success on the pitch, and hopefully this will go some way to encouraging people to make the most of everything we have to offer.”
Cllr Lawrence Williams, Cabinet Member for Tourism, Leisure and the Arts added, “The installation looks fantastic and has totally changed the appearance and feel of this area. Miroslav has created a lively piece of art using the strong colours associated with the AFC Bournemouth brand. We hope that visiting fans will take note of the images and be tempted to come and visit our beautiful town which most certainly deserves its reputation as a world class resort.”
Photograph by Hattie Miles … 19.04.2016 … Artist Miroslav Lucan with his work under the ‘away stand’ at AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium … Jeff Mostyn, chairman of AFC Bournemouth, cuts the ribbon to mark the official opening of the newly decorated away stand area. l-r, Stefan Kraus, Coastal BID manager, Jeff Mostyn, artist Miroslav Lucan and Paul Clarke, Coastal BID chairman.