Portsmouth FC’s Championship fixture against Millwall. At Fratton Park was postponed due to a power cut on Wednesday, 27 November 2024. The match, which will kick off at 7:45 PM, was already delayed after the stadium’s floodlights went out a few moments before kick-off. Fans were kept in darkness for almost an hour before the official announcement of the postponement for safety reasons.
About the Power Outage
One section of the seat was blacked out due to a powercut affecting the entire 21,000-capacity stadium. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) engineers were quick to respond and had restored power in under an hour. “We were made aware of a power cut to Fratton Park stadium at 7.50PM on Wednesday evening,” a SSEN spokesperson said. “Our rapid response team arrived within minutes, and supplies were replenished at the stadium by 8.50 PM.” This occurred shortly before the rescheduled match against Millwall.
Portsmouth FC: Owners and the Club’s Financial Existence
They are owned by the previous CEO of The Walt Disney Company. Michael Eisner, an American businessman, who owns Portsmouth FC. Eisner’s investment firm, The Tornante Company, purchased the club in 2017 for £5.67 million. In 2021, Forbes estimated Eisner’s net worth to be $1.1 billion.
Portsmouth has also received considerable funds since Eisner’s takeover. Having seen £12 million spent on renovating Fratton Park and the purchase of the club’s training complex. Roko, allowing it to become the first club in its history to own its training ground.
Recent Performance and Outlook
Club are operating amidst difficulty in the Championship, sitting in 23rd with two wins from 15. The club has shown resilience during this challenging period, hoping to bounce back and finish in a better league position. Their upcoming game against Millwall is seen as crucial to this effort.
Community and Fan Responses
The power blackout sparked frustration in the fans. With some taking to social media to criticize police for allegedly using excessive force during the chaos. “We’d like to remind fans who may have had a troubling experience to report it so steps can be taken.” Said the Pompey Supporters Trust in their statement.
Overall, although Portsmouth FC investment in infrastructure and sport improvement are all well and good, recent incidents point towards off-pitch difficulties as well. The match against Millwall and resolving these incidents might help in smoothing out the off-pitch concerns.
