Oxford United
Kassam Stadium

Capacity: 12,500 (all seated)
Address:
Grenoble Road, Oxford, OX4 4XP
Main Telephone No: 01865 337 500
Fax No: 01865 337501
Ticket Office: 01865 337 533
Team Nickname: The U's
Year Ground Opened: 2001
Pitch Size: 112 x 78 yards
Home Kit Colours: Yellow & Blue
Away Kit Colours: Navy Blue And White
Shirt Sponsors: Bridle
Kit Manufacturers: Nike
Official Web Site:
www.oufc.co.uk
Unofficial Web Sites:
OUExiles
Rage Online

Contents
What's The Kassam Stadium Like? Future Ground Developments The South & Oxford Mail Stands (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? North Stand (photo) Where To Drink? Looking Towards The West End (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park By Train A Closer Look At The Oxford Mail Stand (photo) Local Rivals Admission Prices Programme Ground Layout Disabled Facilities Fixtures 2012-2013 Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Kassam Stadium Location Map

What's The Kassam Stadium Like?
The club moved to the Kassam Stadium in 2001, after leaving the Manor Ground, which had been its home for 76 years. The stadium is named after the former Club Chairman Firoz Kassam. It was built at a cost of around £15m and is located on the outskirts of Oxford. It has only three sides, with one end remaining unused. Each of the stands are of a good size, are all seated, covered and are roughly of the same height. The South Stand on one side of the pitch, is a two-tiered stand with a row of executive boxes. This is a particularly impressive looking stand with police control and press boxes situated at the back. Opposite is the single tiered North Stand, primarily given to away supporters. This has a number of strange looking floodlights protruding from its roof. At the one end is the Oxford Mail Stand, which is also single tiered. There is a special type of pitch, one of the first to have artificial grass woven into the live turf. One disappointment is the large gaps in the corners, which sets the stands back from the playing surface and means cold winds whistling through in winter. Outside the stadium at the West End, there is a statue of an Ox. Top Of Page
Future Ground Developments
Foundations have been put in place for the future construction of a fourth stand, at the West End of the stadium. However it is unlikely that this will be built until as and when the Club progress up through the leagues. Top Of Page
The South & Oxford Mail Stands
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What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away fans are normally housed on one side of the North Stand, towards the open end of the ground. This stand may be shared with home supporters, or if demand requires it, then the whole of this stand can be allocated providing just over 5,000 seats in total. The facilities within and the views of the playing action are excellent, and there is also good leg room. The atmosphere within the ground is not bad, with the home fans in the Oxford Mail Stand doing their best to raise it. There is not much around the ground in terms of pubs and eating establishments, although refreshments inside the stadium are okay, although if there is a large away support, then it can take quite a while to get served. Refreshments on offer include: Cheeseburgers (£3.80), Burgers (£3.40), Hot Dogs (£3) and a selection of Wrights Pies (£3). With one end of the ground being open, there is always the remark 'of watch my car' as another wayward shot flies into the car park behind. On the whole I found the Kassam Stadium to be an enjoyable and a largely friendly day out. Derek Fennel a visiting Blackburn supporter adds; 'the stewards at the Kassam seemed very helpful and accommodating which led to a feeling of watching the game in relaxed frame of mind. There was great vocal support from the home supporters who really got behind their team'. Top Of Page
North Stand
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Where To Drink?
The nearest Public House is 'The Priory' which is just behind the car park at the open end of the ground. This pub is quite historic looking from the outside and is generally fine for away fans, but as you would expect, it can get quite crowded. It boasts a large screen for SKY TV and also offered food, in the form of a wide range of pies and filled rolls. In the weather is good then the pub also do a barbecue prior to the match. Andy Wraight adds, 'There is the Holiday Inn Express Hotel on the corner behind the Oxford Mail and South Stand, which has a fair sized bar. The bar welcomes football supporters and has Sky Television. Kim Rockall informs me; 'There is a cinema and bowling alley complex located adjacent to the stadium, called Ozone. Inside the bowling alley there is a bar, which also has SKY TV and a fast food outlet'. There is also on the complex a Chinese buffet restaurant called Oxy Oriental. Alcohol is also served within the ground in the form of: Carlsberg (500ml Can £3.90), Brains SA Smooth (Pint £3.80), Cider (500ml Can £3.80) and Wine (minature bottles £4). Top Of Page
Looking Towards The West End
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How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
The stadium is quite well signposted from the main routes into Oxford, with brown football signs pointing the way. The stadium can be found in between the Oxford Science Park & Blackbird Leys Estate. From the A423 Ring Road, take the A4074 towards Reading. After the roundabout with Sainsbury's on one corner, take the left turning sign posted Cowley/Wallington/Oxford Science Park and you eventually come to the ground on your left. Map showing the location of the Kassam Stadium (at the bottom of this page). Parking There are 1,600 car parking spaces at the stadium itself, which are free. However, the car parks tend to fill up fast, so try and arrive early if you can (at least 75 minutes before kick off). An additional 400 car parking spaces are now available at the Ozone cinema and bowling alley complex adjacent to the stadium, which are also free to use. John Attwood a visiting Gillingham supporter adds; 'when arriving at the stadium, ignore the first stadium car park entrance that you come to and go up to the second entrance as the first will have you parking at the "open" end. There is a roundabout by the second entrance, which will take you back to the first entrance if the other half is full. I was also heavily delayed in trying to leave the car park after the game as there was only two exits available'. If you do end up arriving late at the stadium and find that the stadium car parks are full, then don't get tempted to park on a grass verge as you may well end up with a parking ticket for your trouble. Top Of Page
By Train
Oxford railway station is over four miles from the ground and it is really not advisable to try to walk it. You can get the Oxford Bus Company Service, Number 5, from Oxford Railway Station (use bus stop R2) via the city centre to Knights Road in Blackbird Leys, which is a short walk away from the ground. On Saturday afternoons the bus runs every five minutes and on midweek evenings every 8-10 minutes. Journey time to the stadium is around 30 minutes. For more information visit the Oxford Bus Company website. Ed Murray adds; 'I visited the Kassam Stadium for a Tuesday evening game, I took the number 5 bus from the station just before 7pm and, even though the traffic was fairly light, I didn't arrive at the ground until 7:50pm. Coming back after the game, it still took more than half an hour. So it may be an idea to allow yourself plenty of time if you are going to travel in this way.' Tim Rigby informs me; 'The 106 bus from Thames Travel departs the station forecourt (just to the left of the main entrance) at 12:30pm and winds its way through town and down to the ground for 12:55pm, and again at 1:30pm. It drops you off right outside the Main Stand, and picks up again from the same stop at 5pm and 6pm. I got the 1:30pm one down there and the 5pm back, and it was surprisingly unused, but for £2 return (£1.30 single) you can't moan' Coming back was a bit slow with the traffic, so I wouldn't book any trains before 5:45pm'. Alternatively a taxi will cost you in the region of £10, from the station to the stadium. Top Of Page
A Closer Look At The Oxford Mail Stand
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Local Rivals
Swindon Town & Reading. Top Of Page
Admission Prices
Home Fans: South Stand (Upper Tier): Adults £22, Students £17, Over 65's/Under 16's £14, Under 7's Free* South Stand (Lower Tier): Adults £20.50, Students £16.50, Over 65's/Under 16's £12, Under 7's Free South Stand (Family Area): Adults £20.50, Students £16.50, Over 65's £12, Under 16's £6, Under 7's Free North Stand: Adults £20.50, Students £16.50, Over 65's/Under 16's £12, Under 7's Free Oxford Mail (East) Stand: Adults £18.50, Students £15, Over 65's/Under 16's £9.50, Under 7's Free Away Fans: North Stand: Adults £20.50, Students £16.50, Over 65's/Under 16's £12, Under 7's Free* * These prices are for tickets purchased prior to matchday. Tickets purchased on matchday can cost up to £2.50 more per adult ticket, £2 students, £1.50 other concessions. ** Free under 7's tickets must be booked prior to matchday. Under 7's must be accompanied by a paying adult (maximum two under 7's per adult). Otherwise Under 7's admitted on matchday will have to pay the appropriate concession price, apart from the family area where the cost is £6. Top Of Page
Programme
Official Programme £3 Top Of Page
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. Top Of Page
Fixtures 2012-2013
Oxford United FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website) Top Of Page
Record & Average Attendance
At The Kassam Stadium: 12,243 v Leyton Orient, League Two, May 6th 2006. At The Manor Ground: 22,750 v Preston North End, FA Cup 6th Round, February 29th, 1964. Average Attendance: 2011-2012: 5,986 (League Two) 2010-2011: 7,277 (League Two) 2009-2010: 5,966 (Blue Square Premier) Top Of Page
Fans Reviews Of The Kassam Stadium
Myles Munsey (Torquay United) 10/11/12 John Spooner (Southend United) 28/4/12 Kevin Hulbert (Port Vale) 29/10/11 Paul Dickinson (Doing The 92) 8/10/11 Top Of Page
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. The Hotels listing also includes details of how far away the accommodation is located from the Kassam Stadium. Access their Oxford 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. Top Of Page
Map showing the location of the Kassam Stadium and listed pubs
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. Top Of Page
Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail duncan@footballgrounds.net and I'll update the guide.

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Oxford United Kassam Stadium

Oxford United
Kassam Stadium