Football Ground Guide: Stadium:mk, Milton Keynes Dons FC

Contents
What's The Ground Like? Future Developments External View (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Looking Towards The South Stand (photo) Where To Drink? West Stand (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park By Train The North & East Stands (photo) Admission Prices Programme Local Rivals Ground Layout Disabled Facilities Fixtures 2009-2010 Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return To The Main Menu
What's The Ground Like?
After four years at the National Hockey Stadium, the Club have now moved to a new purpose built stadium on the outskirts of Milton Keynes. At a cost of around Ł50m, the 22,000 all seated stadium, certainly looks a quality one and one that does look a bit different to other new stadiums that have been built. It was designed by HOK, the same firm of architects responsible for the Emirates & Wembley stadiums. From the outside it has a modern look, with good use of silver coloured cladding and a large amount of glass on view. The most striking feature of the stadium is its roof, which sits high up above the football ground with a large gap between in and the back roof of seating. This allows more natural light to reach the pitch. The stadium is totally enclosed and has a bowl like design. It is two tiered, with on three sides having a large lower tier being over hung by a smaller upper tier. The West side of the stadium is slightly different, with the seating areas in the upper tier being replaced by the Director's Box and executive and corporate hospitality areas. Unusually the concourse areas at the back of the lower tier see directly into the stadium, so there is what seems a noticeable gap between the lower and upper tiers, where the concourse is located. Top Of Page
Future Developments
At some point the upper tier of seating will be installed, which will raise the capacity to 30,000 and should have a big postive impact on the overall look of the stadium. In addition, stadium:mk has been chosen as a host stadium as part of England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup finals. If England win the bid, then this will mean that the capacity will be further increased to 43,044 seats by adding a third tier of seating to the stadium. Top Of Page
stadium:mk
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What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away supporters are located in the North East corner of the stadium where around 3,000 fans can be accommodated. On the plus side the stadium is a quality one i.e. it has not been built on the cheap. So the facilities are first class. The stadium has such creature comforts as big 'Emirates Style' comfy seats and the ability to continue to watch the game in progress, whilst eating a burger on the concourse. The view of the playing action and leg room are both good and the atmosphere not bad. The concourses are spacious and offer a good range of food including; Cheeseburgers (Ł3), Rollover Hotdogs (Ł2.90), Shire Foods Pies (Chicken & Mushroom, Steak & Kidney, Meat & Potato, Chicken Balti all Ł2.40 each), Cornish Pasty (Ł2.40), Mega Sausage Roll (Ł2.40), Pizza Pod (Ł2.40) and Spicy Potato Wedges (Ł2). However, with only the lower tier of seating so far being installed and with work still to be done to the West Stand, then it may well have an odd unfinished look. Like a number of new stadiums though, its main drawback is location, It is located adjacent to the A5, but well away from the centre of Milton Keynes, so there is little on offer in the way of pubs. Very nearby though are KFC & McDonalds outlets, plus a cafe in the Asda next door! The stadium also has electronic turnstiles, so no paying at the gate here! Instead you gain entrance by putting your tickets into a bar code reader to gain entrance. Alan Burgess a visiting Sheffield Wednesday fan adds; 'the seating is marvellous both for comfort and leg room, the concourses very impressive and the sight lines fantastic. The food was the standard football ground offering but at least the serving areas were plentiful and well organised; there wasn't a bad atmosphere either from a crowd of 6,500 (though the PA system is deafening) and I can't end without a tribute to the bogs - separate, wide entrances and exits, plenty of space, soap and hot running water - luxury!. A cut above almost all of the modern football stadiums'. James Brook informs me; 'Away fans can buy tickets on the day by gates 3 and 4. All fans are searched on entering the stadium and flags are not allowed in unless they come with their fire certificate! The Club operate automatic turnstiles, where you have to put your ticket (which has a bar code on it) into a slot reader and a green light will signify that one can enter. This should be done speedily as the revolving turnstile will then come up behind you and whack you on the backside, which has left some fans rather bemused. Programmes are bought outside the stadium.' In keeping with the infamous concrete cows of Milton Keynes, the Club have a mascot called Mooie, whilst the South Stand is called the 'cowshed'. No wonder that the locals have christened the new stadium 'The MooCamp!' Top Of Page
Looking Towards The South Stand
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Where To Drink?
The nearest pub to the ground is the Beacon which is around a 10 minute walk away, in the nearby Mount Farm area. With the stadium entrance in front of you and Asda over to the right, then the pub is located on an industrial estate behind the stadium. From the back of the the stadium cross over the road and go down Dawson Road which is in front of you. At the bottom of Dawson Road turn right into Bond Street and the pub is down on the right, situated next to a small lake. Alan Burgess a visiting Sheffield Wednesday fan adds; 'Miss it' would definitely be my recommendation for The Beacon - the staff were very friendly and its modern, but totally devoid of character, beer in plastic glasses and a limited selection of plain food. If I ever drive to Milton Keynes I'll take my chances somewhere else.' Ian Townsend informs me; 'A hotel has also recently been built at the stadium, of which some of the rooms have views of the pitch. But more importantly it also has the Red Dot Bar, into which away fans are usually welcomed provided any colours are kept reasonably discrete. This bar also shows Sky Sports.' About a 15 minute walk away towards Bletchley is the Enigma Tavern on Saxon Street. This pub also offers food, has a large beer garden and is child friendly. To find this pub, just follow the signs for Bletchley by Asda and you will reach the pub on your left. Guy Plumb adds; 'There is also Fenny Stratford which is located a mile south of the stadium along Watling Street. Fenny has seven pubs within a five minute walk of each other plus a fish and chip shop'. Caroline Charlesworth a visiting Leicester fan tells me; 'Many Leicester fans headed to Fenny Startford, as it is about a 20 minute walk from the ground and seems to be the better bet of all the areas round the ground after speaking to others who went elsewhere. We actually caught the train and got off at Fenny Stratford. There are a number of pubs but there are two in particular worth an extra mention. ‘The Swan Hotel’ is on the junction of Watling Street, Aylesbury Road and Simpson Road. It has a basic range of beers but they serve good value food on a match day. The menu is the usual Pub stuff of sandwiches and main meals and they also serve a fantastic Breakfast until 1.30pm. I also recommend ‘The Red Lion’ which is on Simpson Road. This is a lovely setting right on the Lock – be nice for those early and end of season days out as they have a decent size garden and plenty of room to stand around outside. To get to both pubs from Fenny Stratford station you need to turn left as you step off the train. Walk down to the level crossing and turn right for The Swan Hotel and left for The Red Lion. Both pubs are just a couple of minutes from the level crossing'. Alternatively, it may be an idea instead to drink on the way or in Milton Keynes itself. There are a number of bars located adjacent to the main shopping centre, or in walking distance of Milton Keynes Central station. If coming out of the station you go straight up Midsummer Boulevard in front of you, then after around five minutes walk you will find a Wetherspoons outlet located on the left. Further up Midsummer Boulevard on the right is another Wetherspoons outlet called the 'Secklow Hundred', plus a 'Bar Med' and 'All Bar One'. These latter three pubs are about a ten minute walk away. Wayne Bowen a visiting Southend United fans adds; 'Alcohol was available to away fans, but a bit pricey at Ł3.20 for a bottle of Carlsberg and Ł3.20 for a can of Tetley. However, there were long queues at half time.' Top Of Page
West Stand
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How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
The stadium is situated at Denbigh North, just off the A5, south of Central Milton Keynes and just north of Bletchley. It is adjacent to a Retail Park with ASDA and IKEA, so expect some traffic congestion. For those familiar with MK’s grid road system the ground is on V6 Grafton Street on the junction with H9 Groveway Official Club Route (this is signposted from Junction 14 of the M1): Leave the M1 at Junction 14 and head towards Milton Keynes. Go straight over the first roundabout and at the next (where there is a Total Garage on the corner) turn left onto the V11 Tongwell Street. Proceed across one roundabout and at the next turn right onto the H8 Standing Way (A421). Continue alone the Standing Way going across a number of roundabouts. On reaching the Bleak Hall Roundabout turn left into the V6 Grafton Street. At the next roundabout, turn right and the stadium entrance is further down on the left. Potential alternative/quicker routes From the North: Leave the M1 at Junction 15 and turn right on to the A508 signposted Stony Stratford, follow this road for 14 miles, until you come to a roundabout at the A5, take the left turn heading south. After a few miles leave the A5 at the junction of the A421, as signposted by the AA stadium:mk signs. Or if you prefer more motorway driving, then continue South on the M1 to junction 14: Take the A509 towards Milton Keynes. The stadium is signposted from the first roundabout that you come to, however, I got lost on my visit following these signs. Here is an alternative route; At the first roundabout take the third exit on to Portway (signposted A509 (A5) Central Milton Keynes). Keep straight on this road crossing nine roundabouts. You will see the Hockey Stadium over on your left and will pass a McDonalds outlet. At the next roundabout, turn left onto the A5 (signposted Dunstable/London). Leave the A5 at the junction of the A421, as signposted by the AA stadium:mk signs. From the South: Leave the M1 at junction 13 and take the second exit (A421) which runs parallel with the M1 for a mile before bending left. After 3 miles as you approach a roundabout on the edge of the city take the second exit, this is called H9 Groveway, stay on this road going straight over 4 roundabouts, you will now approach the roundabout over the A5, and the stadium is in front of you slightly to the left, take the second exit. The entrance to the stadium is first left at the traffic lights. If you are approaching the stadium from the South along the A5, then leave the A5 at the junction of the A421 and you then really can't miss it. Please note that the stadium is no where near the centre of Milton Keynes. If you do get lost follow directions to Bletchley and/or IKEA. Alternative Parking There are 2,000 car parking spaces at the stadium, which costs Ł5 per vehicle. Otherwise you can park in the Denbigh West industrial estate. After passing the stadium entrance on your left, turn right at the next roundabout, called Granby roundabout, and then take the next turn left, and immediately left again onto the industrial estate called Denbigh West. Pedestrian crossings towards ASDA will allow access back towards the ground. Thanks to Matthew Day for providing the above directions. For a map showing the location of the stadium click here (to take you to the Street Map website). To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here. Top Of Page
By Train
The nearest station is Bletchley which is around about two miles away from the stadium. The Club operate a bus service from the station, commencing at 1pm for 3pm kick offs and 5.30pm for 7.45pm kick offs. The cost is Ł1 each way. Otherwise there is a taxi rank outside the station, or you can embark on the 35-40 minute walk to the stadium. The station is served by trains from London Euston & Birmingham New Street. Turn left immediately you come out of the station building and continue to and down the steps. At the bottom of the steps turn left go under the railway bridge. At the roundabout by the Park pub turn left onto Saxon Street. Keep straight on this road and you will eventually reach the stadium. However you will need to cross over to the other side, as there is only one path beside it. You will pass Bletchley Bus Station on your right and then the Enigma Pub. Go straight across the double mini roundabout following signs for the A5 and you will see the stadium over on your left. Beware though that the walk might not be best made for night games, as there are a number of underpasses enroute. More likely though you will end up at Milton Keynes Central which is around four miles away. There is a taxi rank outside the station, or there is a direct bus service to the Stadium, which is operated by the Club, commencing at 1pm for 3pm kick offs and 5.30pm for 7.45pm kick offs. The cost is Ł1 each way. You can also of course get a train to Bletchley! Also from Central Milton Keynes Railway Station, there is a regular Bus Service No.7 going towards Fenny Stratford, Lakes Estate or Newton Longville will operate every 20 mins (Mon - Sat Daytime) and Service 7E towards Bletchley/Fenny Stratford will run Hourly (Mon - Sat evenings) direct to Stadium MK, stopping adjacent to the stadium entrance. Journey time approx 20 - 25 mins. Also bus number 32 also operates hourly from the Central Milton Keynes Station to the Stadium (Saxon Street/Dawson Road) but in one direction only (i.e you cant get the 32 back to the Station). Top Of Page
The North & East Stands
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Admission Prices
Like a number of Clubs, MK Dons operate a match category policy (A, B & C) whereby the ticket prices cost more for the most popular games. Category B & C prices are shown below in brackets: Home Fans: West & East Stands (Centre): Adults Ł28 (B Ł26) (C Ł16), Over 60's Ł20 (B Ł18) (C Ł12), Under 16's Ł15 (B Ł14) (C Ł8) West & East Stands (Wings): Adults Ł26 (B Ł21) (C Ł12), Over 60's Ł19 (B Ł10) (C Ł12), Under 16's Ł13 (B Ł11) (C Ł8), Under 12's Ł13 (B Ł9) (C Ł1) Cowshed South Stand: Adults Ł24 (B Ł19) (C Ł10), Over 60's Ł19 (B Ł14) (C Ł8), Under 16's Ł11 (B Ł9) (C Ł5), Under 12's Ł11 (B Ł9) (C Ł1) Stadium Corners: Adults Ł22 (B Ł18) (C Ł10), Over 60's Ł15 (B Ł13) (C Ł8), Under 16's Ł9 (B Ł7) (C Ł3), Under 12's Ł9 (B Ł7) (C Ł1) West Stand Family Wing: Adults Ł24 (B Ł19) (C Ł10), Over 60's Ł16 (B Ł14) (C Ł8), Under 16's Ł9 (B Ł7) (C Ł3), Under 12's Ł5 (B Ł5) (C Ł3) Family Corner: Adults Ł22 (B Ł18) (C Ł10), Over 60's Ł15 (B Ł13) (C Ł8), Under 16's Ł8 (B Ł5) (C Ł3), Under 12's Ł5 (B Ł5) (C Ł3) Away Fans: North Stand: Adults Ł22 (B Ł18) (C Ł10), Over 60's Ł15 (B Ł13) (C Ł8), Under 16's Ł9 (B Ł7) (C Ł3), Under 12's Ł9 (B Ł7) (C Ł1) Under 7's will be admitted free* to all areas of the stadium (apart from the corporate executive areas) as long as they are accompanied by an adult and proof of age can be shown. Maximum of two Under 7's per adult. * Supporters who are also club members can qualify for a discount on the Adult and Over 60's ticket prices. Top Of Page
Programme
Official Programme Ł2.50 Top Of Page
Local Rivals
Northampton Town & Wycombe Wanderers. Top Of Page
Ground Layout
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Disabled Facilities
For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. Top Of Page
Fixtures 2009-2010
For the MK Dons fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website) Top Of Page
Record & Average Attendance
Record Attendance: 20,222 England U21 v Bulgaria U21 16 November 2007 For an MK Dons game: 17,717 v Leicester City League One, February 28th 2009 Average Attendance: At stadium:mk: 2008-2009: 10,551 (League One) 2007-2008: 9,456 (League Two) At the National Hockey Stadium: 2006-2007: 6,034 (League Two) Top Of Page
Fans Reviews
David Prior (Colchester United) 22/8/09 Gavin Hugill (Leicester City) 28/2/09 Ryan Godwin (Cheltenham Town) 25/10/08 Glyn Berrington (TNS) 7/9/07 Top Of Page
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 Milton Keynes page click here. Top Of Page
Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me and I'll update the guide.

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Official Club Route (this is signposted from Junction 14 of the M1):

Potential alternative/quicker routes