The 6 scruffiest EFL Championship stadiums to visit named and ranked by AI | OneFootball

ChatGPT ranks the six scruffiest stadiums to visit in the EFL Championship.

England's second tier is home to some of the pyramid's most iconic, historic, and atmospheric stadia; however, not every ground in the division shines for the right reasons.

The league boasts a collection of sleek arenas fit for the modern football landscape, and grounds steeped in tradition - though there are often scars of age, patchy maintenance, and simply outdated facilities.

For travelling supporters, these grounds can be as frustrating as they are charming, offering raw and authentic football experiences in an environment that can feel a little rough around the edges.

With the current crop of Championship sides in mind, FLW turned to AI chatbot, ChatGPT, to crunch through the respective quirks of each club's home ground to rank the six scruffiest stadiums to visit in the EFL Championship.

6 The Valley - Charlton Athletic

With a capacity of just under 27,000, The Valley sits at the midway point when it comes to capacity in the second tier. And similar to other clubs in the area, Charlton's home can seem tired to many of its Championship counterparts.

ChatGPT cited: "Patchy maintenance, empty seats dampening the atmosphere, and outdated facilities give it a scruffy edge."

The Addicks do boast a loyal fan base, though, which is even more impressive given the club's fortunes in recent years compared to others on their doorstep. Their recent ascent from League One will give further hope of an improved atmosphere, and potential facility upgrades should the club settle into the second tier after a five-year absence.

Potentially a controversial decision from ChatGPT when Birmingham's ambitious ownership and heavy investment are considered. However, there is a reason why those higher up at the club are so keen to get moving with the club's plans for a brand-new sports quarter and home for the club.

Despite carrying serious character and atmosphere, St Andrew's is tired. However, the argument is there to be made that there are not many worse places to play at as a visiting player. The home of the Blues is tight, intimidating, and carries an immense atmosphere.

While a potential move will finally be for a facilities overhaul, Blues fans will want to take the character of St Andrew's with them, along with what is looking to be an ambitious project.

Similar to the opening two stadiums on this list, The Den can often look tired and unpolished in comparison to the rest of the division. However, Millwall supporters will tell you that this is precisely what makes the club.

The atmosphere at The Den has quietened in recent years. However, it absolutely still gets going on big nights. The more functional than comfortable design puts it towards the bottom of bucket lists, though the history associated with The Den - both new and old - makes it a place that any fan in the Championship has to visit at some point.

3 Fratton Park - Portsmouth

Following the common theme of ChatGPT's selections thus far, Fratton Park is steeped in tradition and carries a genuine old-school feel, providing a welcome contrast to the modernised bowl-type grounds commonly seen in English football.

Fans are close to the pitch, and there is a well-worked mixture of older and newer structures. But alongside this come tightly packed concourses and outdated seating that make Fratton Park not the easiest to get around as a supporter, and a look that isn't the easiest on the eye for supporters used to top-notch facilities.

That being said, Fratton Park is a staple of English football and, as mentioned, provides a soulful throwback after visiting the more modernised grounds in the division.

2 Kassam Stadium - Oxford United

Oxford's Kassam Stadium is the smallest in the Championship, with a capacity of just over 12,000, and it doesn't feel unreasonable to say that this choice was always expected in this list.

ChatGPT mentioned that: "The Kassam often feels incomplete," referring to the ground having just three stands. "Basic facilities and a lack of atmosphere outside big games make it one of the rougher away days."

Oxford were promoted to the Championship in 2024 and were able to secure their status once again under Gary Rowett, though they have got off to a poor start this season. The club are, of course, punching above their weight by being in the second tier in the first place, and their home is an obvious sign of precisely that.

Rectangular stands make it almost identical to a lot of stadiums in England's lower leagues, and the fact that there are only three often leaves it feeling "incomplete", as mentioned by ChatGPT.

Steeped in character and soul, QPR's Loftus Road is a staple of the Championship and was even showcased in the Premier League throughout the early 2010s.

R's fans are in your face, with the stadium tightly packed, and the end containing away supporters behind the goal often looks too small to contain the number of people that it does. It is a real throwback stadium, and it matches the club very well, with QPR being the plucky underdogs in comparison to fellow West London outfits Chelsea, Fulham, and now Brentford - with the latter moving out of Griffin Park in 2020 for their brand-new Gtech Community Stadium.

With all the character Loftus Road carries, it is, of course, dated, with restricted views being one of its drawbacks.