|
|
| |
|
| ||
|
Ground Name: Keepmoat Stadium |
 | |
| Contents | |
| What's The Ground Like? External View (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Where To Drink? Looking Towards The North Stand (photo) How To Get There And Where To Park By Train Polypipe South Stand (photo) Admission Prices Programme Price West Stand (photo) Local Rivals Disabled Facilities Fixtures 2009-2010 Ground Layout Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return To The Main Menu |
|
| What's The Ground Like? | |
| After 84 years of playing football at their old Belle Vue ground, the
Club 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. Yes it looks tidy, the stadium is completely enclosed, and all the stands, which are of the same height and all seated are covered. But it lacks character and it is rather similar to other new stadiums that have been built, except that it is on a smaller scale. 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. Unusually the stadium has large access points in 3 corners of the ground, which can be used if need be, by emergency services. There are two small electric scoreboards situated in the North East & South West corners of the stadium. | |
|
| |
| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? | |
| Away fans are located in the North Stand at one end of
the stadium, where around 3,344 fans can be accommodated. Clubs with
a smaller following will be allocated around a third to two thirds
of that number meaning that on those occasions the end is shared
with home supporters. 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. Food includes pies (including the Chicken Balti pie), pasties and vegetarian 'Pizza Pods are supplied by Shire Foods and cost £2.30 each. Burgers and Hot Dogs are also available. I found the stadium to be more atmospheric than the Belle Vue ground which was largely open to the elements. This is a bit unusual as most clubs that move to new grounds usually complain that the atmosphere suffers in the new arena, however at the Keepmoat this is not the case. The stewarding was relaxed on my visit and no problems were experienced. The pitch also looked in top condition, although you could still see the lines of a previous rugby league game. The club have their own troupe of cheerleaders called the Vikettes, who provide entertainment before the game and half time. Mark Chatterton a visiting Southend United supporter adds; 'It poured down with rain at our last match and it was noticeable around the stadium that those people sitting in the front rows of the stands, got particularly wet'. Please note that cash is not accepted at the turnstiles, they are ticket only. Tickets can be purchased from the South Stand ticket office. | |
| Where To Drink? | |
|
As the stadium is on the outskirts of town, then there is not much choice in the way of pubs. There is though the Lakeside, a Beefeater outlet near Stadium Way (you should catch sight of it, if you drive towards the stadium from Junction 3 of the M18). Chris Parkes a visiting Nottingham Forest supporter informs me; 'I had no problems with getting a drink in the Lakeside Beefeater, in fact there were more Forest fans in there than home fans before the game. We were also allowed in after the game for a pint or two while the traffic cleared.' The pub also has a separate restaurant section. Whilst David Rose informs me; 'There is a bar in the bowling alley next to the Vue Cinema, which is situated on the other side of the lake'. Dave a Norwich City fan tells me; 'There is a bar at the stadium itself, which we were allowed to go into. It does get very busy in the hour up to kick off but if you get in early, as we did, you should be okay. The bar has plenty of seating, as well as an organised queuing system to avoid the normal bustle at the bar. There was no food available though.' A lcohol is also available inside the stadium. | |
|
Thanks to Owen Pavey for supplying the photos for this page. | |
| 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. Alan Wilson adds; 'Having parked at the stadium it
took me nearly an hour to get out of the car and back onto the main
road after the game had ended'. Alternatively, 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. For a map showing the location of the
ground click here (to take you to
the Street Map website). | |
| By Train | |
| Doncaster Station is just under
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 as you come out of the station turn right and
then keep straight on this road (the A 6182 Trafford Way) and you
will eventually reach the stadium complex on your
left.
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'. | |
|
| |
| Admission Prices | |
|
Like a number a
clubs Doncaster categorise matches (A & B) whereby the more
popular matches cost more to watch. Category B prices are shown
below in brackets: Concessions apply to Over 60's, Full time students (with valid ID) and the disabled (ambulant/wheelchair). | |
| Programme Price | |
| Official Programme £3. | |
|
| |
| Local Rivals | |
| Rotherham, Barnsley, Scunthorpe United & Hull City. | |
| Disabled Facilities | |
| For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. | |
| Fixtures 2009-2010 | |
| For the Doncaster fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website) | |
|
| |
| Record & Average Attendance | |
| Record
Attendance: At the Keepmoat Stadium: 15,001 v Leeds United League One, April 1st 2008 At Belle Vue: 37,149 v Hull City Third Division North, October 2nd 1948 Average Attendance: At the Keepmoat: 2009-2010: 10,992 (Championship League) 2008-2009: 11,964 (Championship League) 2007-2008: 7,978 (League One) | |
| Fans Reviews Of The Keepmoat Stadium | |
| Thomas Barks (Doncaster
Rovers) 20/10/09 Tim Key (Norwich City) 30/01/09 Stuart Ottery (Cardiff City) 22/08/08 Dave Beal (Neutral) 27/01/07 | |
| Hotel Accommodation | |
| If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Doncaster page click here. | |
| Feedback | |
| If anything is
incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail
me and I'll update the guide. | |
