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| Contents | |||
| What's The
Ground Like? Future Ground Developments Main Entrance (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? The Showgrounds (photo) Where To Drink? Main Stand (photo) How To Get There And Where To Park Warden Street Stand (photo) By Train South (Town Centre) End (photo) Local Rivals Ground Map Admission Prices Programme Price Fixtures 2013-2014 Hotel Accommodation Showgrounds Location Map
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| What's The Ground Like? | |||
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Located at the northern end of Ballymena town centre, at the end of a residential street, the Showgrounds complex is regarded as one of the finest sports facilities in Northern Ireland. The main entrance is at the end of Warden Street where an impressive curved turnstile block, complete with ticket office, gable and six flagpoles greet the visitor. Back onto this entrance is the impressive new Warden Street stand, new for season 2010/2011. This single tiered 2,500 seat cantilever structure, cost £3m to build and is split jointly between home and away fans. It replaced the 23 year old concrete structure in the same location, known as the Clock Stand, which was demolished in 2009. The playing surface at the Showgrounds is surrounded by a wide oval tarmac running track, luckily with the new Warden Street Stand there is no longer any fencing blocking the view of the pitch. Adjoining the stand is a control tower which replaced a low covered terrace a few years ago. Looking to the far left and right behind both goals there is currently no spectator facilities,although a panoramic view is offered of the countryside of County Antrim, plus a good number of floodlit training pitches in the foreground. Looking directly across the pitch centre line the Main Stand takes pride of place with its modern seating deck of 1,836 sky blue plastic seats beneath a high cantilever roof. The stand also has executive facilities at the rear and doubles up as a community facility during weekdays. Although the lowest seats in this stand start at pitch level there is no fencing in front of the stand to obstruct the view. The Showgrounds tall modern corner floodlights, which stand far apart because of the size of the running track, are nevertheless amongst the best in Northern Ireland. The stadium also plays host to stock car racing. |
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| Future Ground Developments | |||
| Following the completion of the new Warden Street Stand, the Showgrounds now has a seated capacity in excess of 4,000,which is more than sufficient for Premier League football, however there are long term plans to install seating at both open ends of the ground, it is uncertain at this stage whether these will be temporary or permanent structures and whether they will be located in front or behind the cycle track. | |||
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| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? | |||
| Away fans enter the ground at the main Warden Street turnstile block and are allocated a section of the new Warden Street Stand. The stand offers one of the best facilities in the country, with an excellent unobstructed view of the pitch. The roof is deep enough to ensure fans stay dry in a downpour and with home fans at the far end of the stand as well there is plenty of opportunity to get a good atmosphere going. | |||
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| Where To Drink? | |||
| Your best bet is to use the pubs and restaurants in the town centre. Follow the turnstile entrance to the end of Warden Street, turn left and the town centre is five minutes walk. | |||
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| How To Get There And Where To Park | |||
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Coleraine & Limavady: Take the A26/M2 Bypass road to the junction of Ballymena North, follow the road into the town centre. Before the M42 junction take a left turn into Parkway, at the second roundabout take the forth exit into Warden Street. The ground is at the end of the street. From Antrim & Belfast: Take the A26/M2 Bypass road towards Ballymena South and turn left at the A26 Larne Road Link. Continue past the town centre, then once in North Road take a right turn into Parkway. At the second roundabout take the forth exit into Warden Street, the ground is at the end of the street. From Maghear & the West: Take the A42 Galgorn Road towards Ballymena town centre. At the A26 junction turn left into North Street, then a right turn into Parkway. At the second roundabout take the forth exit into Warden Street, the ground is at the end of the street. From Larne & the East: Take the A36 road towards Ballymena town centre. continue over the M2 bypass road,and into the A26 Larne Road Link. Continue past the town centre, then once in North Road take a right turn into Parkway. At the second roundabout take the forth exit into Warden Street, the ground is at the end of the street. Car Parking There is a number of parking spaces situated alongside the training pitches close to the ground however being as the ground has only one entrance and exit getting away after the game could prove time consuming, there are however plenty of multi storey car parks in Ballymena town centre, five minutes from the ground. For a map showing the location of the ground see the Google map below, at the bottom of this page. |
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| Warden
Street Stand |
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| By Train | |||
| Ballymena
Railway Station has a regular service on the Belfast
to Londonderry line. The adjacent Bus Station also has
a regular service by Goldline buses 212 Belfast Europa
Bus Station to Londonderry and 218 Belfast Europa Bus
Station to Portrush. There is a taxi rank outside the
station for those in a hurry.
Directions from the
Bus/Train station: |
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| Local Rivals | |||
| Coleraine is the traditional rival. Closer to home, Ballymoney, Antrim Club Chimney Corner and Ballyclare Comrades. | |||
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| Admission Prices | |||
| Adults £9 OAP/Under 18s £6 Children £5 |
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| Programme | |||
| Official Programme £2 | |||
| Fixtures 2013-2014 | |||
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Northern Ireland Premier league fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website). |
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| Hotel Accomodation | |||
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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 Ballymena Hotels and Guest Houses page. Remember that you can use the above link or panel below to book any other hotels that you may need for business or leisure, either in the UK or abroad.
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| Google Area Map | |||
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| 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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