IPSWICH Town fans are heading down to Brighton en masse tomorrow – and they are sure to enjoy a warm welcome at the south coast club’s new Amex Stadium.

Blues fans snapped up their maximum ticket allocation – close to 2,500 – for tomorrow’s game weeks in advance, a combination of improved form and the chance to visit a new stadium proving a draw.

The Seagulls moved into their purpose built 22,374 capacity Amex Stadium at the start of this season following 12 years of ‘temporary’ residence at The Withdean Stadium.

With the latter built primarily for athletics events, supporters found themselves seated a long way from the action – none more so than away fans, many of whom took binoculars to watch the action. Indeed, The Observer newspaper once voted it the fourth worst stadium in the UK.

However, making up for lost time, the south coast club have gone out of their way to accommodate visiting fans at their new home.

The away concourse is lit up in the colours of the opposition, a beer local to the visitors is made available at the bar and away fans are encouraged to mingle with their Brighton counterparts long after the game.

By no means complete, parts of the stadium – particularly the corners – still look bare, while the roads leading towards the ground can become congested at peak times. The design makes for good acoustics though, while it is easy walking distance from Falmer train station.

– For full match preview, see tomorrow’s EADT.