| Contents |
What's
Stadium:mk Like?
Future Developments
External View (photo)
What
Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
The
North & East Stands (photo)
Where
To Drink?
West Stand
(photo)
How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
Looking
Towards The South Stand (photo)
By Train
Admission
Prices
Programme
Local Rivals
Ground Layout
Disabled Facilities
Fixtures 2011-2012
Record
&
Average Attendance
Fans Ground Reviews
Hotel Accommodation
stadium:mk Location Map
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| What's Stadium:mk
Like? |
The Club moved to the new
stadium in 2007. At a cost of around £50m, 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.
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| Future Developments |
| The Club have announced
that they are to increase the capacity of
stadium:mk to 32,000, for the start of the
2012/13 season. This will be achieved by
installing seats in the upper tier, which has
been largely left empty since the stadium was
originally built in 2007. This should have a big
postive impact on the overall look of the
ground. The stadium has also been built in such
a way that an additional third tier of
seating could be added to the stadium, further
increasing capacity to over 40,000.
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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 (£3), Rollover Hotdogs (£2.90),
Shire Foods Pies (Chicken & Mushroom,
Steak & Kidney, Meat & Potato, Chicken Balti all £2.40 each), Cornish Pasty (£2.40),
Mega Sausage Roll (£2.40), Pizza Pod (£2.40)
and Spicy Potato Wedges (£2). 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!'
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The
North & East Stands
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| Where To Drink? |
The nearest pub to the
ground is the 'Inn on the Lake' (previously called
the Beacon) which is around a 10 minute walk away,
in the nearby Mount Farm area. This pub offers
food and has recently been refurbished. 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, next to a
small lake. 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 Avenue and the pub is down on
the right.
Ian Townsend informs me; 'There is a
hotel connected to 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' 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 £3.20 for a bottle of Carlsberg
and £3.20 for a can of Tetley. However,
there were long queues at half time.'
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West Stand
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| How
To Get There By Car & Where To Park |
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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 cost £7
per vehicle. Otherwise you can street 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.
Don't be tempted to park at the adjacent Asda Store
as it is patrolled on matchdays and you may end up
with a parking ticket for your trouble.
Thanks to Matthew Day for
providing the above directions.
Map
showing the location of stadium:mk (at the
bottom of this page).
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Looking
Towards The South Stand
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| By Train |
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The
nearest station is Fenny Stratford which is just
over a mile away from the stadium. As you exit the
station turn right and at the top of the road turn
right onto the main Watling Street. Just go
straight along this road and you will see the
stadium over on your right.
There
is also Bletchley which is around about two miles
away from the stadium. Bill's Minibuses runs
a bus a service from Bletchley and
Milton Keynes Central Stations to the football
stadium every 30 minutes on the run up to
kick off on matchdays. A one way ticket costs
£1 and the minibuses go from just outside
the station entrances. Surprisingly taxis are
scarce outside Bletchley station so best to
pre-book one in advance (Skyline
01908 222111 are a local taxi firm).
Otherwise 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 (Cost about £10
to the stadium), or there is the nearby Bus
Station. There is Bill's Minibuses as
mentioned above which provide transport to the
ground. The minibuses also pick
up from Wetherspoons on Midsummer
Boulevard (at 10 minutes to and at 20 minutes
past the hour). Or there is a regular Bus Service as Peter Durrant a visiting Plymouth
Argyle supporter adds; 'There is the Arriva
Service No 1, which runs every 30 minutes at
5 minutes and 35 minutes past the hour from Milton
Keynes Central Rail station. The journey takes about time is 10
minutes (and is via the city centre, Oldbrook and
the Hospital) to the bus stop of Grafton Street,
adjacent to the stadium entrance. The return journey from the Granby,
Grafton Street bus stop leaves at 15 and 45
minutes past the hour to MK Central Rail station'.
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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 Stand
(Centre):
Adults £34
(B £30) (C £20), Over 60's
£25 (B £23) (C £15), Under 18's
£18 (B £16) (C £5)
East Stand (Centre):
Adults
£29 (B £25) (C £20), Over 60's
£20 (B £18) (C
£15), Under 18's £15 (B £14) (C
£5)
West & East Stands
(Wings): Adults £26 (B £22) (C
£10), Over 60's £18 (B £15) (C £10),
Under 18's £12 (B £11) (C £1)
Cowshed South Stand: Adults £25 (B £20)
(C £10), Over 60's £16 (B £13) (C £10),
Under 18's £11 (B £9) (C £1)
Family Area: Adults £25 (B £20) (C
£10), Over 60's £16 (B £13) (C £10), Under
18's £6 (B £6) (C £1),
Under 16's £4 (B £4) (C £1), 2 Adults &
2 Under 16's £52 (B £40) (C £22),
1 Adult & 1 Under 16's £27 (B
£21.99) (C £12)
Away
Fans:
North Stand: Adults £25 (B
£20) (C £10), Over 60's £16 (B £13) (C £10),
Under 18's £11 (B £9) (C £1)
Under
7's will be admitted free in some of the
home areas of the stadium as long as they are a
member of the Club and accompanied by an
adult. 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.
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| Programme |
| Official
Programme £3
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| Local Rivals |
| Northampton Town & Wycombe
Wanderers.
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Ground
Layout
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| Disabled
Facilities |
| For
details of disabled facilities and club contact at the
ground please visit the relevant page on the Level
Playing
Field website.
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| Fixtures 2011-2012 |
| MK Dons fixture list (takes
you to the BBC Sports
Website)
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| Record
& Average Attendance |
Record
Attendance:
21,309 Northampton Saints v Ulster
Heineken Cup Quarter Final, April 10th 2011
For an MK Dons game:
19,506 v
Queens Park Rangers
FA Cup 3rd Round, January
7th 2012
Average Attendance:
At stadium:mk:
2010-2011: 8,512 (League One)
2009-2010: 10,290 (League One)
2008-2009: 10,551 (League One)
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| Fans Reviews |
Kristian
Ramsingh (Tottenham Hotspur) 26/7/11
Richard Furse
(Plymouth Argyle) 18/1/11
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
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| Hotel
Accommodation |
| If you require hotel
accommodation in the area then first try a hotel
booking service provided by Late Rooms. They offer all
types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets
from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast
establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced
Apartments. Plus their booking system is
straightforward and easy to use. 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. Access their Milton
Keynes
Hotels and Guest Houses page.
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| Location
Map Of stadium:mk Railway Stations & Listed Pubs |
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Instructions for using
the map:
- Use the bar on the left of the map to zoom in /
out using the + / - keys.
- Click and drag an area of the map to move around
or use the up/down, left/right arrows
- Click the Satellite button to see aerial view
photograph.
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| Feedback |
If anything is incorrect or you have
something to add, please e-mail me duncan@footballgrounds.net
and I'll update the guide.
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