Rugby Park/The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park (Kilmarnock)

Rugby Park, also known as The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park for sponsorship reasons, is a football stadium situated in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock. It is the home of Kilmarnock F.C. Rugby Park has also been used for concerts, with Elton John playing to 15,000 in a first for the venue. In 2002, the club constructed the Park Hotel, a 4-star hotel complex next to the ground. As well as football matches, Rugby Park  hosts rugby matches and international football matches for the Scotland national football team.

General information

Arena capacity: 17,889 spectators

Address: Rugby Park, Rugby Rd, Kilmarnock KA1 2DP, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 55°36′15.21″N 4°30′29.24″W

Field: artificial – field turf lawn with dimensions of 102 m × 68 m

Seating plan of Rugby Park

Chadwick Stand

The Chadwick Stand is divided into two tiers of dark blue seating that you can easily get between.

The walkway between the tiers acts as a flat platform for disabled supporters to use, but down at the very front, next to the stadium’s northwest corner, is an additional enclosure for disabled supporters to use. A large electronic screen is attached to the roof, which can best be seen by those at the opposite end of the stadium.

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

Large windshields at either end protect all of the upper tier rows, but only the back rows of the lower tier. There are small walls in place to offer protection for the front rows of the lower tier.

East Stand

The East Stand consists of two tiers of dark blue seating that you can easily get between.

Because of the stand’s shape, the upper tier blocks by the stadium’s northeast corner are triangular in shape rather than quadrilateral. It also does not run along the full length of the pitch, with the space by the open northeast corner often taken up by flags. The area holding the matchday camera can be found up behind the back row of the upper tier, and the walkway between the two tiers acts as a flat platform for disabled supporters to use.

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

A large windshield by the stadium’s southeast corner protects all of the upper tier rows, but only the back rows of the lower tier. There is a small wall in place here to offer protection for the front rows of the lower tier. The other end of the East Stand however does not have a windshield and is left much more open and exposed. There is a small wall in place alongside the rows of seating, but it doesn’t offer anywhere near the protection that a windshield would.

The Stadium Control Box is in the southeast corner between the East Stand and Moffat Stand.

Moffat Stand

The Moffat Stand is a near carbon-copy of the Chadwick Stand.

It consists of two tiers of dark blue seating that you can freely get between. The walkway between the tiers acts as a flat platform for disabled supporters to use, but down at the very front, next to the stadium’s southwest corner, is an additional enclosure for disabled supporters to use. A large electronic screen is attached to the roof, which can best be seen by those at the opposite end of the stadium.

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

Large windshields at either end protect all of the upper tier rows, but only the back rows of the lower tier. There are small walls in place to offer protection for the front rows of the lower tier.

Frank Beattie Stand

The Frank Beattie Stand is split into two tiers that you can freely get between. The larger upper tier is additionally split into two similarly sized levels.

Most of the seats inside this stand are coloured blue, but two of the blocks in the middle section are darker in colour instead. The very central blocks in this stand are for the directors, with the dugouts down in front of here and the tunnel to one side. The changing rooms are located inside this stand. The end by the stadium’s northwest corner does not have as many seating blocks in place as there is a brick building right down at the front.

Supporting pillars come down at regular intervals towards the front of the Frank Beattie Stand, and this means that most of the seats in the upper tier will have restricted views as a result. These pillars will not get in your way at all if you are sat down at the front of the lower tier. There’s a good chance that some of the seats at either end of the stand could also have unrestricted views of the pitch.

Windshields are in place at either end, but they do not cover the seating blocks in the lower tier.

Away Fans

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

Smaller away crowds are kept up towards the back of the stand, with any disabled supporters housed in the flat platforms along the walkway between the two tiers.

Larger away crowds will take up the lower tier as well, and down at the front is an enclosure that can also be used by disabled supporters.

Away fans are treated to a perfectly clear view of the action from anywhere within this stand.

Windshields at either cover the whole of the upper tier but only the back rows of the lower tier, with just small walls in place to protect the rows further forwards.

The Chadwick Stand’s turnstiles are on a perimeter wall a little away from the stand itself, and the area immediately behind it is treated as the outer concourse. The turnstiles can be found off Rugby Road on the northern side of the ground. It will be the first side of Rugby Park most fans reach if they are coming from Kilmarnock Station and Kilmarnock Town Centre.

Where to buy tickets?

The cheapest way to get tickets is to buy them in advance and online, but the other things that will alter the price you’ll pay for your ticket are your age and where in the ground you’d like to go.

You can get your Kilmarnock F.C. tickets online, over the phone, from the club shop or from the stadium itself.

How to get there?

Rugby Park is surrounded by residential streets on all sides and located around one mile southwest of the Centre of Kilmarnock. The River Irvine is roughly 0.6 miles away to the south, southeast and east, Ayrshire College is 0.7 miles away to the northeast and Howard Park is roughly 0.2 miles away to the east.

Rugby Park has car parking spaces around its vicinity, but these are for permit holders only.

It should be no great issue finding free parking with close distance though, with residential streets surrounding the ground on all four sides. Ensure that you are legally allowed to park where you find and do not block the drives of any residents.

Kilmarnock Station, served by ScotRail, is on a route that comes from Glasgow and is the closest train station to Rugby Park. Located near the Town Centre, it can take between 15 and 20 minutes to walk from the station to the stadium.

Where to eat and sleep?

There is the Sports Bar underneath the Frank Beattie Stand, which welcomes away fans (although children are not admitted) as does the nearby Park Hotel. There is also the Howard Arms, in Glencairn Square, which is only a few minutes walk away from the ground. Otherwise, Rugby Park is under a 10-minute walk from the town centre where there are plenty of bars to be found and including the football friendly Portmann Hotel bar and the Brass & Granite on Grange Street. There is a Wetherspoons pub on Portland Street called the Wheatsheaf Inn.

Facilities

Discover an unrivalled experience of a Kilmarnock Football Club match-day with the range of hospitality suites and packages available at Rugby Park.

From the classic 1869 Suite package to the contemporary Champions Lounge, they offer a range of packages to suit all tastes and budgets.

Whether you’re looking to enjoy with friends or impress clients, experience a warm welcome offering fine dining and refreshments before, during and after the match. Celebrate the heritage of one of Scotland’s oldest professional football clubs and discover the premium options that Rugby Park has to offer.

1869 Suite

The largest and busiest lounge, the 1869 Suite package gives you a flavour of the history and tradition of Scotland’s oldest professional football club.

Soak up the match day atmosphere with the match day host and enjoy a delicious three-course meal, prepared by some of Ayrshire’s finest chefs alongside a fantastic complimentary drinks service.

Legends’ Lounge

The ground also includes the premium indoor hospitality offering, the Legends’ Lounge.

Whether you are entertaining clients, treating staff or celebrating a special occasion, the Legends’ Lounge is the perfect venue. Ideal for bookings small or large as well as private parties, the suite gives you a unique view of the match and will provide an occasion you’ll never forget.

Champions’ Lounge

Enjoy a more intimate and informal hospitality with the Champions’ Lounge.

Perfect for a couple or group of friends, you’ll enjoy being surrounded by the clubs champion winning memories and the replica trophy cabinet.

Killie Club

Kick back and enjoy reminiscing in some of the clubs finest memories in the Killie Club, home to the Killie Forever exhibition and the Hall of Fame.

Experience an exclusive setting within the refurbished Museum space, the ideal package for fans looking to make their day at Rugby Park even more memorable.

Accessibility

All parking for supporters is provided via the DLO and allocated appropriately.

Home supporters may apply for membership of the KFCDSA, which provides season tickets and single match tickets for a predetermined area within the Frank Beattie stand and all home wheelchair areas at a reduced price. Eligibility is based on a number of categories.

Tickets will be sent to the away team for all matches at Rugby Park for both wheelchair and ambulant supporters and are distributed in accordance with the away teams procedures. Supporters may access via turnstiles at rear of Chadwick stand or in the case of additional support through the Chadwick Stand gates.

Additional stewards are placed in areas where extra support may be required for supporters in the event of an emergency and we attempt to retain the same staff in the same areas for ease.

An additional rail has been added at the left hand side of gate 1 on the Frank Beattie Stand to assist trackside access to the allocated area.

Catering access is provided at ground level in the Moffat, East and Chadwick Stands. Catering assistance is provided via carers to the Frank Beattie stand and additional assistance is available through direct contact with representatives of the KFCDSA.

Disabled toilets in the Moffat, East and Chadwick stands are accessed with a radar key. Frank Beattie stand disabled toilets are available within the Sports Bar accessed via the service tunnel or via contact with G4S or KFCDSA representatives.

Audio commentary for the visually impaired is available in all stands and is distributed per match by the KFCDSA with the Club ably assisted by volunteers to provide the commentary.

Architectural Aspects

Despite becoming a modern, all-seater stadium, a number of features in the design of the stands give it a unique look. All stands bar the West Stand have very little beneath them, as the tea bars and toilets are located under the lowest possible point towards the pitch. The rest of the area underneath is open tarmac, with the steel framework fully exposed.

Moreover, the turnstiles for the three newer stands are built into a perimeter wall rather than the stadium itself, and there are very large open air spaces before the stands themselves. Other stadiums have a similar design – for example Tynecastle’s Roseburn Stand, although there is considerably less space there. One advantage is that since the public smoking ban has come into force it has been possible for fans to stand in the open areas at half-time for a cigarette.

The East Stand is distinctive in appearance, as it does not cover the full length of the pitch, tapering before ending around 15yds before the extremity of the pitch. This is because the ground behind the stand is residential, and can not be built on. However, the gap is not as large as a similar truncation at Fir Park, for example, and is filled by flags.

Disabled supporters are accommodated in enclosures at the front of both end stands.

History

The site of Rugby Park dates back to the 1870s, though it wasn’t based at the precise location it currently is. Kilmarnock moved here in 1877 having previously been at The Grange, Holm Quarry and Ward’s Park. The ground at the time was shared by cricket and rugby teams, which is where the Rugby Park name originates from. The pitch moved southwest to its current location in the 1890s, with the ground around it largely rebuilt by 1899. Kilmarnock’s first game at the modern Rugby Park site was against Celtic on 26th August 1899.

What initially had a running track around its edge has grown into an all-seater venue. The move to being fully seated came as part of the Taylor Report in 1990, which recommended that leading British stadiums become all-seater. A new Kilmarnock board, which had been appointed at the time wanted to initially move the club to a completely new stadium, but Rugby Park was instead redeveloped when the plans weren’t approved. Work began in mid-1994 and was completed within a year, reopening on 6th August 1995 as Kilmarnock played a friendly against English club Blackburn Rovers.