Caledonian Stadium (Inverness)

Caledonian Stadium is a football ground in the Longman area of Inverness, Scotland, near the banks of the Moray Firth. It hosts home matches of Scottish Professional Football League club Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

General information

Arena capacity: 7,512 spectators

Address: Stadium Road, Inverness, IV1 1FF, Scotland

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 57°29′41″N 4°13′03″W

Year of construction: 1996

Field: grass lawn with dimensions of 115 x 75 yards

Seating plan of Caledonian Stadium

Jock McDonald Stand

The Jock McDonald Stand can be divided into two tiers that you can freely get between.

The lower tier is much wider than the upper tier and given that the stand’s roof only covers the upper tier blocks, it means that either end of the lower tier is left open and exposed.

The lower tier blocks are predominantly coloured blue, although its central block is red in colour instead. You can find the letters ICTFC spelt out in white across the blue blocks, which are protected by the roof. The upper tier has blue outer blocks, red inner blocks, and a small central black block, which is normally for executive use. Rows of executive boxes and an executive lounge are stacked on top of each other behind the very back row, and this means that the stand’s roof hangs high up overhead.

The Caledonian Stadium’s dugouts and tunnel are housed down at the front of the lower tier, with the changing rooms located inside the stand.

Your view from anywhere inside the Jock McDonald Stand is perfectly clear because of the cantilever roof above.

Overhead protection of course will only come for the more central blocks, with the two blocks at either end of the lower tier being left open and exposed from all sides. Windshields at either end of the upper tier provide full protection to the rows inside.

It is safe to say that the best place to be in the Jock McDonald Stand is the upper tier, which is well protected from above and from the sides.

Given how close the Caledonian Stadium is to Moray Firth, you can find the ground being hit by bitterly cold winds at times. You will certainly be feeling those winds more than most if you are sat in the exposed ends of the lower tier.

South Stand

The South Stand consists of a single tier of seating.

Its smallest blocks at either end are coloured red, with the rest of the seating blocks coloured blue and having the letters INVERNESS spelt out in white across them. You can also find some flat platforms with white seating down at the very front, which are available for disabled supporters to use.

Your view from anywhere inside the South Stand is perfectly clear as there are no supporting pillars coming down from the roof above.

Large windshields are in place at either end, which fully protect every row inside.

West Stand

The West Stand contains a section of uncovered blue seating that is located near to the ground’s northwest corner.

This seating area offers clear views of the pitch in front, but its only protection comes from the back wall behind.

The centre of the stadium’s western side houses an elevated television gantry and commentary box, with some refreshment facilities also available here.

It is the most exposed side of the Caledonian Stadium, and the clear smallest with room for only 400 fans on a matchday.

Bridge End

The Bridge End is a near carbon-copy of the South Stand opposite, consisting of a single tier of seating.

Its smallest blocks at either end are coloured red, with the rest of the seating blocks coloured blue and having the letters INVERNESS spelt out in white across them. You can also find some flat platforms with white seating down at the very front, which are available for disabled supporters to use.

Your view from anywhere inside the Bridge End is perfectly clear as there are no supporting pillars coming down from the roof above.

Large windshields are in place at either end, which fully protect every row inside.

Away Fans

Away fans are housed behind the goal in the South Stand.

This is a single tier of seating, which has clear views from every seat, windshields at either end that provide full protection, and flat platforms down at the front for disabled supporters to use.

The stand is of very good quality overall, but like the rest of the stadium can be hit hard by those bitterly cold winds from Moray Firth to the east. It’s better to bring a coat to for an Inverness Caledonian Thistle game, regardless of where in the stadium you are going to be based.

The turnstiles for the away stand can be found in a separate block next to the South Stand’s exterior. They are in line with the stadium’s southeast corner and easily reachable from off Stadium Road to the east.

Where to buy tickets?

There are two things that will decide how much your ticket to see Inverness CT will cost – your age and where in the ground you would like to sit. The main stand is the more expensive area, with tickets for the North and South stand being a little cheaper.

Tickets are available through Inverness CT’s official website, over the phone or by calling into the stadium ticket office in person. For most of the games, you’ll be able to pick up a ticket on the gate, too. Transaction charges apply at £1.50, and there’s a cheeky 70p charge if you want your tickets posted to you.

How to get there?

Inverness is in the Scottish Highlands, so it’s unlikely that you’ll happen to stumble across the place on your travels. That said, it isn’t exactly a faraway and distant land, so you’ll still be able to make it there using one of these routes.

Train

A train from London King’s Cross to Inverness will take about eight hours with a change in Edinburgh.

Inverness Railway Station, is about a mile away from the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, which is about a 20-25 minute walk away. On leaving Inverness station, follow the signs for the car park and bus station (going along Railway Terrace). Cross through the car park, keeping the bus station on your left and on your right, you can see a bridge crossing the railway line. Go across the bridge and then continue straight ahead along Longman Road. Eventually, you will reach the stadium on your left.

Bus

A match day special runs from Farraline Park Bus Station to the ground every time there’s a game, which is very handy indeed.

Car

From South:

• From Perth head north on the A9 until you reach Inverness.
• At the Longman Roundabout before the Kessock Bridge, take the right lane as you approach the traffic lights. Then take third exit and carry on along Stadium Road until you come to the Stadium and away car park.
• We make dozens of free sports predictions every day.

Note: Be prepared for delays of up to 15mins on the A9 Northbound approaching the bridge roundabout at busy times.

From East:

• Head west on the A96 as far as Inverness.
• On the outskirts of Inverness, take the second exit from the roundabout (the retail park/Tesco’s) towards Inverness. Go under fly-over and take third exit towards A9 North / Wick.
• Find the best odds for sports betting.
• At the Longman Roundabout before Kessock Bridge, take the right lane as you approach the traffic lights, then take the third exit and carry on along Stadium Road until you come to the Stadium and away car park.

Note: Be prepared for delays of up to 15mins on the A9 Northbound approaching the bridge roundabout.

From North:

• Head south on the A9 as far as Inverness.
• Cross the Kessock Bridge and take the first exit from the roundabout and carry on round until you come to the Stadium and away car park.
• New predictions for soccer, tennis, hockey, basketball, etc. are created every hour.

Taxi

A taxi from the train station to the ground will take just under ten minutes and will cost about £5.

Parking

There is a decent sized car park at each end of the ground, meaning that parking should be easy enough as long as it’s not one of the Category A matches that you’re going to. If it is then you might be better off having a look to see if there’s any on-street parking available nearby.

Where to eat and sleep?

Inverness is a lovely part of Scotland, but not necessarily one of the most commonly visited. There are still plenty of hotels to look at, though, starting with these:

1. Kingsmills Hotel. The great thing about far away towns is you can get more for less. This 4 star hotel has got all the basics like free Wi-Fi, breakfast, a bar and restaurant, but also a spa, hot tub and swimming pool for a very modest price. Luxury at a reasonable price – brilliant.
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2. Mercure Inverness Hotel. This member of the Mercure chain of hotels is about ten minutes away from the ground and offers a restaurant, a bar, a fitness centre, a business centre, meeting rooms, self-parking and there’s free Wi-Fi available too.
3. Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa. This riverfront hotel is the furtherest from the stadium, but it’s still only a twenty minute walk away. It’s also worth the travel as it has a restaurant, a bar, a full-service spa including an indoor pool, a fitness centre, meeting rooms and free Wi-Fi.
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Inverness is at the top end of Loch Ness, so expect many monster themed bars and apocryphal (google it) tales from the locals. Here are some of our favourite watering holes.

1. Blackfriars Highland Pub. Built in 1793, this traditional pub boasts a beautiful mahogany bar and plenty of hand-pulled ales. There’s also some tasty original Scottish food for your consideration.
• Follow the link and get your prediction before the match starts.
2. The Kings Highway. Some people really enjoy soaking up local traditions and atmospheres. Others prefer the tried and the tested, and that’s who The Kings Highway is for. It’s a Wetherspoon establishment, so you’ll get all of the cheap drinks, cheap food and eclectic clientele that you’d find in one of these anywhere else in the UK.
3. Johnny Foxes. This traditional style pub and restaurant has a nice outside area, a decent menu and plenty of real ales. It also has a sister wine bar and nightclub located not far away, should that be the sort of thing you enjoy.
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Facilities

There are plenty of places to buy food and drink and the view is decent from pretty much everywhere, though The West Stand is not exactly flush with top-notch facilities. Or even a roof.

The main hospitality option at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium will see you enjoy fine dining through a hot buffet, seating in The Jock McDonald Main Stand, a complimentary bar, half-time refreshments, a talk from the manager and an opportunity to meet the Man Of The Match after the game. This is available on a match-by-match basis so is a good option for birthdays and celebrations – only if you are a fan obviously, otherwise it would be a bit of an odd choice.

There are a range of function suites at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium that are available for hire depending on your event. Whether you’re hoping to host a banquet, a dinner, a conference, a party or a business meeting, there are plenty of different options at the home of Inverness Caledonian Thistle. There are three rooms available, with the biggest able to host up to 180 people.

Accessibility

Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club (“The Club”) is committed to the principle of equal opportunities and opposes all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination on the grounds of disability. The Club is committed to ensuring that all visitors to the Stadium have, as far as practicable, unrestricted access to the services and facilities provided.

The Club will ensure that all persons falling within the scope of the Equality Act 2010, are treated equally and fairly. The Club, its employees and stewards will not discriminate between people with differing impairments and this policy applies equally to all staff, contractors, spectators, and guests of the Club.

Staff, stewards and all matchday personnel are trained to treat all customers with due patience, politeness, and courtesy and to offer practical assistance where necessary.

As part of the compliance with the Equality Act 2010, the ground has made the following specific provisions for disabled customers.

Spectator Seating:

• 26 wheelchair places with adjacent carer seats in both the North & South Stands.
• 14 wheelchair places with adjacent carer seats in the Main Stand.
• Wheelchair shelters in North Stand and beside Main Stand.
• 3 wheelchair places with adjacent carer seats in the West Stand.
• Accessible seats available in all stands for ambulant disabled.

Parking:

Reserved car parking bays in Directors, North and South Car parks. The car parking bays are situated in close proximity to the various points of entry to the stadium.

Accessibility:

All entrances to the Stadium are step-free and direct wheelchair access is available to most public areas of the premises.

Admission charges:

Disabled customers who are accompanied by a carer will pay no more in total for admission than an unaccompanied disabled customer.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club is aware that any incidents of discrimination under the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 are serious matters, which could lead to appropriate disciplinary action being initiated. Any complaint relating to the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 or treatment of disabled persons will be dealt with expediently by the Stadium management team.

Audio commentary:

Inverness Caledonian Thistle offers Live Audio Commentary to supporters with visual impairments. Handsets are available, subject to availability, from reception.

History

When the two clubs formed to create Caledonian Thistle they originally played their games at Telford Street Park, the home of Caledonian. Part of the agreement to allow them into the Football League, however, entailed the building of a new stadium by 1995. This took longer than expected, not opening until Albion Rovers arrived to play Inverness Caledonian Thistle in November of 1996.

Celebrations when the club won the Scottish First Division in 2004 were muted when it was realized that the stadium didn’t meet the requirements necessary to allow the club to play in the Scottish Premier League. The league’s stadium criteria insisted that grounds have 10,000 seats, and Caledonian Park only had 2,280. The club played their games at the home of Aberdeen while changes were made to the ground, bringing it up to scratch and allowing Inverness CT to compete in the Scottish top-flight from a home of their own.