New Ground For Toon Fans!
Last updated : 25 June 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor
After 84 years of playing football at their old Belle Vue ground, Doncaster Rovers have now moved to a new purpose built stadium, which was opened on January 1st 2007.
The Keepmoat stadium cost £21m to build and is also home to Doncaster Lakers Rugby League team as well as ladies football team Doncaster Belles.
The stadium complex was built by, and is owned by, Doncaster Council. To be honest the Keepmoat Stadium, in common with a number of new stadiums, looks far more interesting from the outside that it does on the inside.
The stadium is situated next to a lake (which I believe makes Doncaster the only league ground to do so) and looks smart with four interesting looking floodlights, protruding at an angle from the stadium roof.
However, on the inside the stadium is rather non-descript.
On one side is the West Stand, containing the teams' dressing rooms and tunnel, from which the teams emerge onto the pitch. The primary television gantry is also housed on this side, along with press facilities, as well as the main areas that house disabled supporters. Opposite is the East Stand which contains a row of 16 executive boxes, outside which patrons can sit. Both ends are identical, with the North End of the ground being allocated to away fans.
Away fans are located in the North Stand at one end of the stadium, where around 3,344 fans can be accommodated. The view of the playing action, leg room, and facilities in this stand are all good, although fans are set well back from the pitch as there is a substantial tarmac looking track which surrounds it.
The concourses are a good size and there are a number of televisions on view to keep supporters entertained. Burgers and Hot Dogs are also available as well as alcohol.
Where To Drink?
The Stadium has its own Sports bar on the outside of the West Stand. Away fans are admitted to the bar (unless there is an objection to this for some games by the local Police), however the bar soon fills up prior to the match and so can be difficult to get in. Inside the stadium John Smith's bitter and Fosters lager are available at a cost of £2.70 a pint.
There is a bar in the bowling alley next to the Vue Cinema, which is situated on the other side of the lake'.
Otherwise there is not much near to the stadium (the nearest pub that I could find the Lakeside, Beefeater outlet near Stadium Way is for home fans only), so it may be best to stop for a drink on the way.
How To Get There And Where To Park
From the A1(M) join M18 Eastbound at Junction 35 (signposted Hull) or from the M1 and join the M18 Eastbound at Junction 32.
Once on the M18, leave at Junction 3 and take the A6182 towards Doncaster (the stadium is well signposted from Junction 3 and is about one and a half miles away). You will pass a retail park on your left and then at the next island (which has the Lakeside Pub visible behind it) turn left onto White Rose Way. The Lakeside Shopping Centre is now on your right (the stadium is located directly behind the shopping centre). At the next island turn right onto the industrial estate and after passing the Tesco distribution centre on your right, turn right at the bottom of the road and the stadium is further down on your left.
There are just 1,000 car parking spaces at the stadium, which will mean that for the bigger games, parking will be at a premium. There are 60 parking spaces reserved for disabled fans, which must be booked prior to matchday. The stadium management are also giving preference for parking to those cars carrying more than one passenger, but apparently this won't be enforced. The cost of parking at the stadium is £5. A number of firms on the nearby industrial park, offer matchday parking at around £3-£4 per vehicle. If you happen to arrive a couple of hours before kick off then there is also some free street parking to be had in this area.
There is no coach parking available at the stadium. Visiting supporters' coaches drop fans off at the stadium and park off site.
By Train
Doncaster Station is around two miles away so you are probably best taking a taxi to the ground. If you do have time on your hands and you fancy the long walk (around 25-30 minutes) then the route from the railway station is as follows:
On coming out of the railway station, walk to the dual carriageway across the car parking area and turn to face to your right (i.e. away from the road tunnel under the Frenchgate shopping centre). You are now looking down a more or less straight line to the stadium. Provided you then use the appropriate places to cross roads as necessary you just follow the line of the dual carriageway to the roundabout adjacent to Vardy's Renault dealership. Then turn left into Middle Bank and follow the road round to the stadium.Thanks to John Molloy for providing the train information.
Colin Barrett informs me; 'The bus service has been improved for matchdays. From around two hours before kick off there is a dedicated shuttle service from the Doncaster Interchange bus station, which is adjacent the train station and under the Frenchgate Shopping Centre. This is Route 75X and runs every 10 minutes direct to the Stadium. It leaves Stand C6 and the journey takes less than 10 minutes depending on traffic. The bus stops in a lay-by at the Ground close to the Ticket Office and after the match leaves for Doncaster Interchange from the same place. Cost is presently £1.10 each way'.
NUFC PRE-SEASON FIXTURES
JULY
19 Hartlepool United (a) 3pm
26 Doncaster Rovers (a) 3pm
AUGUST
1 Hertha Berlin (a) 8pm * to be played at the ONO Estadi, Mallorca
3 Real Mallorca (a) 10pm * to be played at the ONO Estadi, Mallorca
5/6 TBC
9 Valencia (h) kick off TBC