Stadium/Tickets

Stadium Name: Ashton Gate

Stadium Name: Ashton Gate

Stadium Address

Ashton Road

Bristol

Avon

BS3 2EJ

Ground Information

Former stands

Wedlock "East End" Stand

The old East End was demolished during the summer of 2014 and has been completely rebuilt to modern standards. It was built as a covered terrace in 1928, converted to seats in the 1990s and was the traditional home fans' end until 1994.

Williams Stand

The Williams Stand was on the southwest side, which included the directors' box and press box, and was built in 1958. The lower part of the stand was a terrace known as the Grand Enclosure until it was converted to seating in the 1990s. This stand was also named after a former chairman Des Williams. Demolition of this stand occurred in June 2015 in preparation for rebuilding to modern standards over the course of the next year.

Current stands

Dolman Stand

The Dolman Stand', which lies opposite what was the Williams Stand, was built in 1970. At that time it was built it had a small, flat Family Enclosure in front of it, which was later built up and converted to seating. In the summer of 2007, the original wooden seats in the upper area were replaced by modern plastic seats. It is named after the former club chairman and president Harry Dolman. This stand was redeveloped over the summer of 2015 as part of the redevelopment of Ashton Gate.

Atyeo Stand

The Atyeo stand was built in 1994 to replace an open terrace, and contains new dressing rooms and a large gymnasium. It is named after Bristol City legend John Atyeo, who played 645 times for City and scored 351 goals, making him the club's top goal scorer ever. He died in 1993, a year before the new stand opened. After the demolition of the Wedlock Stand, the north-east section of this stand is used to house the away fans. Once the construction of the new West Stand is completed, away fans will be situated in the Western three-quarters of the Atyeo Stand.

The South Stand was completed just after the end of the 2014-15 season as part of the redevelopment of Ashton Gate. It has a capacity of 6,071 and is all-seater. Unlike the other two stands at Ashton Gate, it is not named after a person who had strong ties with the club. The stand is linked to the neighbouring Dolman Stand via a concourse, and will eventually also be linked with the new West Stand.

Redevelopment of Ashton Gate

Following extensive planning and the failed bid to develop a new ground at Ashton Vale, and criticism of the failure of so many major leisure and sporting projects in Bristol, Bristol City finally decided to press ahead with a major redevelopment of the current site at Ashton Gate. This was approved in late 2013, with final clearance given in spring 2014, and work started in May 2014, following the final home fixture of the 2013-14 season.

The plans for redevelopment were as follows:

• Demolition of the existing Williams and Wedlock (East End) stands, to be replaced by new, larger stands, with executive boxes.
• Extension of the existing Dolman stand
• Shifting of the current pitch by 5 metres to enable the Dolman extension, and a new pitch laid to enable shared use with the rugby club
• Other works to the ground to bring it in line with modern stadia, with capacity of around 27,000

The works are planned to be completed by the start of the 2016-17 season.

So far, the phases completed are the demolition of the Wedlock Stand, the building of the new South Stand in place of the old Wedlock Stand, the extension of the existing Dolman stand, a newly-laid pitch and the demolition of the former Williams Stand. The only phase that is yet to be completed is the construction of a new stand in place of where the old Williams Stand once stood, which will be completed over the course of the 2015-16 season. It is anticipated that once the construction of the new West Stand is completed, away fans will be situated in the entirety of the Atyeo Stand.

Bristol Rugby may have moved in only in August 2014, but they have played at the ground in the past, as recently as 2006/07, when the club was in the Premiership.

Several rugby internationals have been held at Ashton Gate, most recently during the 1999 World Cup when the All Blacks took on Tonga.

Tickets:

The ticket office is open three hours before kick-off.

To purchase tickets prior to match day call 0117 963 0600

Or buy online: www.bristolrugby.co.uk/tickets

Disabled Facilities

N.B This is for Bristol City matches, so may differ for Bristol Rugby

Club / stadium contact for disabled supporters

Name

Nick Lloyd (DLO)

Telephone no.

0117 963 0609

E-mail address

nick.lloyd@bristol-sport.co.uk

Website address

http://www.bcfc.co.uk/fans/disabledpolicy/

Disabled Supporters Association

Name

Mr Rob Wood

Telephone

0117 902 3850

Email

rswwood@blueyonder.co.uk

Getting There & Parking

The club have a limited number of 17 parking places which are allocated disabled home fans. These places can be purchased on a seasonal basis for home fans at a concessionary rate. Applications can be made to the ticket office. Seasonal passes will be issued depending on availability. Occasionally additional bays are available on a match by match basis and these can be purchased at £10 per game. (Subject to availability)

In addition, the club provides 2 disabled parking bays for away disabled supporters and these are available on request on a first-come, first-served basis as a cost of £10 per bay.

The club will also try and accommodate additional parking requests from away disabled supporters and have up to a 100 extra spaces prioritised for disabled supporters.

The club has created a Drop off/ set down point at the rear of the Hirerite Building where disabled or elderly supporters will find seating provided for their convenience whilst their driver parks their vehicle away from the stadium. To avoid congestion this facility can only be used up until 45minutes before kick-off.

Spectator viewing areas

Home supporters have 82 spaces for wheelchair users available to them, and these can be found at pitchside and on an elevated platform in the Williams stand. 17 spaces for wheelchair users can be found on a slightly raised area in the away section for away supporters.

*Due to stadium developments the number of wheelchair user spaces has decreased for the 2015/16 season to 58 (48 home, 10 away). The total amount of wheelchair user spaces when the stadium expansion is completed is planned to be 118*

Accessible amenities

There are 7 accessible toilets, 2 in the Atyeo stand and 5 in the Dolman stand which are all accessible from the shared concourse. The club shop is accessible for all fans and does not have a low level serving counter. Catering kiosks in the home and away sections do not have low level serving counters and so are not fully accessible.

A Changing Places toilet facility is planned as part of the ongoing stadium development and is due in Summer 2016.

Accessible services & information

The club does not have a hearing loop. Match commentaries are available via 12 headsets available by booking prior to the game at the ticket office. Match commentary is provided via the local hospital radio service. The supporters must ensure that adequate insurance cover is in place for the headset. Facilities for assistance dogs are available. Rest points are available on the concourses inside the stadium. The club also has 2 wheelchairs which can be used by fans free of charge.

The club provides matchday ambassadors with wheelchairs to assist people from the gates, as required to their seats.

 Stadium developments

The ground is currently undergoing a huge redevelopment, the Wedlock stand was demolished and the new south stand is opening this season to replace it. The grandstand is currently being demolished and will be rebuilt this season. It is due to open for the season 2016/17 and will feature the bulk of our home disabled facilities, including raised wheelchair platforms and lifts for fans to access the second tier as well as a other accessible facilities.

Updated July 2016

Copyright Miles & Miles Publishing 2016