Villa Park

Aston Villa have called Villa Park home since 1897, though to begin with it was actually known as Aston Lower Grounds. At the time it was a sport ground that was situated in a Victorian amusement park in the grounds of Aston Hall. Aston Hall was a Jacobean stately home and, though current Villa fans might suggest that their future looks like it will resemble a Jacobean tragedy, the stadium has a storied history.

Up until the start of the First World War the perimeter of the pitch at Villa Park was surrounded by a cycling track and was the location for numerous cycling meetings and athletic events. The now defunct UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup saw its last ever final played at Villa Park in 1999, whilst the ground is also the only one in the country to host international football in three different sports.

General information

Arena capacity: 42,682 spectators

Address: Trinity Rd, Birmingham B6 6HE, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 52.5091° N, 1.8848° W

Year of construction: 1897

Construction cost: £16,733 (£25 mil)

Field: Desso GrassMaster with dimensions of 105 × 68 metres (344 × 226 feet)

Seating plan of the Villa Park Stadium

Although the stadium has been completely rebuilt since the late 1970’s, it has some individuality, as the four stands, each have their own design, making it one of the more interesting in the League. At one end is the Holte End. This is a large two-tiered structure which replaced one of the largest covered terraces in the country. Opened in the 1994/95 season it has a capacity of 13,500 seated supporters.

At the other end is the North Stand, which is older (being built in the late 1970’s), but still modern looking. This is two-tiered, with a double row of executive boxes running across the middle. On one side of the pitch is the Doug Ellis Stand, which again is two-tiered and is roughly the same height as the other two stands. This stand was opened prior to the 1996 European Championships, for which Villa Park was a host venue. Opposite is the latest edition, the impressive looking Trinity Road Stand.

Opened in 2001 it is three-tiered, with a small tier at the front and then two larger tiers above, which are separated by a row of executive boxes. Although at the time many fans were disappointed to see the old Trinity Road Stand demolished, its replacement gives the ground a more overall balanced look, because the new stand, although the largest at Villa Park, has roughly the same roof level as the other three sides. There are also two large video screens installed in opposite corners of the ground.

An unusual feature is that between the Trinity Road & Holte End Stands is a pavilion type structure that was built at the same time as the Trinity Road. This three-tiered building is used for corporate hospitality. On the other side of the Holte End is another similar looking structure that is used for police control. The only disappointment with Villa Park is that the corners of the ground are open, however, there are plans to fill in the corners at some point, at the North Stand end of the ground.

Away fans

Away supporters are located on one side of the Doug Ellis Stand, towards the North end of the stadium. Up to 2,972 fans can be accommodated in this area, split between both the upper and lower tiers of the stand. If only a small away following is expected then just the upper tier is allocated. The concourse at the back of the upper tier is particularly tight and easily becomes crowded, whereas there is more space behind the lower section.

Food on offer includes a selection of Pukka Pies; Chicken Balti, Steak, Chicken & Mushroom, Cheese & Onion (all £3.60), Sausage Rolls (£3), Cheeseburgers (£4.20), Hot Dogs (£4) and Chips (£2.80). There are wide screen televisions on the concourse, showing past encounters between the teams before kick off. There is also betting facilities available in the form of a BetBright outlet in the lower tier. Entrance to the stand is gained by entering your match ticket into an electronic reader.

Villa Park is generally quite popular with away fans. In fact, it was voted as one of the best away grounds to visit in a recent survey held on this website. Fans like the traditional feel of the ground, the good atmosphere, friendly stewarding and ease of accessibility in getting to it.

Where to buy tickets?

Like most top clubs, Aston Villa operate a tiered system for their games. Matches are broken down into categories depending on the team that Villa will be hosting. Category A matches tend to be the top teams and also includes Villa’s rivals like Birmingham City.

Category B matches are usually the mid-table teams, whilst category C games will be against the newly promoted or less successful teams. The prices within the categories are then broken down further depending on where in the ground you’re sitting. You can also get cheaper tickets by taking advantage of the ‘Earlybird’ deals.

Here we’ll give you the most expensive & cheapest tickets for adults and concessions in each category.

Home Fans

1. Trinity Road Stand (Outer Centre): Adults £30, No Concessions.
2. Trinity Road Stand (Lower Tier): Adults £30, Concessions £20, Under 21’s £17, Under 16’s £10.
3. Trinity Road Stand (Wing Holte End Side): Adults £30, Concessions £20, Under 21’s £17, Under 16’s £10.
4. Trinity Road Stand (Wing North Stand Side): Adults £30, Concessions £20, Under 21’s £17, Under 16’s £10.
5. Trinity Road (Lower Outer Wing Towards Holte End): Adults £20, Concessions £15, Under 21’s £10, Under 16’s £5, Family Ticket £45.
6. Doug Ellis Stand (Upper Tier Centre): Adults £30, No Concessions.
7. Doug Ellis Stand (Upper Tier Outer Centre & Wing): Adults £30, Concessions £20, Under 21’s £17, Under 16’s £10.
• Take a look at the freebets offered by the bookmaker.
8. Doug Ellis Stand (Lower Tier): Adults £30, Concessions £20, Under 21’s £17, Under 16’s £10.
9. Holte End (Upper Centre): Adults £30, Concessions £20, Under 21’s £17, Under 16’s £10.
10. Holte End (Upper Wings): Adults £27, Concessions £20, Under 21’s £17, Under 16’s £10.
11. Holte End (Upper Outer Wings): Adults £20, Concessions £15, Under 21’s £10, Under 16’s £5, Family Ticket £45.
12. Holte End (Lower Centre): Adults £27, Concessions £20, Under 21’s £17, Under 16’s £10.
13. Holte End (Lower Wings): Adults £25, Concessions £20, Under 21’s £17, Under 16’s £10, Family Ticket £55.
14. Holte End (Lower Outer Wings & Front Rows): Adults £20, Concessions £15, Under 21’s £10, Under 16’s £5, Family Ticket £45.
15. North Stand (Upper Tier): Adults £25, Concessions £20, Under 21’s £17, Under 16’s £10, Family Ticket £55.
16. North Stand (Upper Tier Back Rows): Adults £20, Concessions £15, Under 21’s £10, Under 16’s £5, Family Ticket £45.
17. North Stand (Lower Tier): Adults £23, Concessions £20, Under 21’s £15, Under 16’s £10.

Away Fans (Doug Ellis Stand):

• Adults £30;
• Concessions £20;
• Under 21’s £17;
• Under 16’s £10.

Concessions apply to Over 65’s, Under 21’s. Full Time Students and Members of the Armed Forces.

The quickest and best way to get tickets is to visit Villa’s dedicated ticketing website at https://www.eticketing.co.uk/avfc/default.aspx. If you would rather speak to someone on the phone or are making group bookings, however, then it’s worth calling the ticket office on 0333 323 1874 or 0333 323 1982 if you’re after hospitality tickets. You may find people outside of the ground offering tickets, but these people are to be avoided.

How to get there?

Villa Park can be seen from the M6 if you are coming from the North side of Birmingham. Leave the M6 at Junction 6 and take the slip road signposted Birmingham (NE). At the roundabout below the motorway, turn right (the fourth exit), towards City Centre/Aston/Star City, Villa Park is well signposted from here. However to be on the safe side, turn right along Lichfield Road, at the second set of traffic lights on to Aston Hall Road. This road will take you down to the ground.

Car Parking

Mostly street parking (don’t be surprised though if you are approached by kids wanting to ‘mind your car’), although this is not as plentiful as it once was due to a local residents only parking scheme now in place in the streets around the Witton roundabout area. Street parking is also available in streets around Aston Railway Station (which you will pass if you continue along Lichfield Road towards the City Centre).

Alternatively, free parking is available, but around 1.5 miles away (or a 30 minute walk) at the Star City leisure complex which is also well signposted, on leaving the M6. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near Villa Park via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.

Post Code for SAT NAV: B6 6HE

By train

Take the short train journey from Birmingham New Street (around 10-15 minutes) to either Aston or Witton station. Witton Railway Station is nearer to the away section and is only a few minutes walk from the ground. Turn left out of the station exit and continue down to a roundabout. Turn left at the roundabout into Witton Lane and the entrance to the away section is down this road on the right. Aston station is about a ten minute walk away from Villa Park. Extra trains are laid on to the ground on matchdays.

Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the Trainline website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets.

By bus

The number 7 and 11 buses both stop really near to Villa Park, whilst the 65 and 67 buses both stop within walking distance of the stadium.There are also Villa Special Bus Services operated by the club.

By taxi

A taxi from Birmingham Airport to Villa Park will take between 20-30 minutes and prices will vary depending on the company you use and the time of day you’re travelling. From New Street Station it will cost £8ish and take around 10 minutes, traffic depending.

Facilities

Just as you’d imagine for a top end football ground, Villa Park has plenty of excellent facilities off the pitch for the match going supporter. You can expect quick service from the bars and kiosks in the concourse areas and you can be assured a friendly, exciting atmosphere.

Hospitality

Given the amount of executive boxes that Aston Villa have around the ground, it’s no surprise that the hospitality options are numerous. The club offers a host of packages targeted at pretty much every budget. You can take them up on a personal celebratory event or an exclusive corporate hospitality deal.

You can sponsor the match ball and be rewarded with inclusive hospitality for sixteen guests, including one guest handing the ball to the referee. If you’d rather go for a restaurant package then the 1874 Premier one will see you get a guided tour of Villa Park and a champagne reception as well as dining and a seat on a private balcony to watch the match.

You can hire executive boxes on a match by match basis for parties of 6-20, enjoying hospitality and a private view of the pitch. There’s also the Sky Lounge, which is Villa’s more informal match going hospitality experience. This is located in The Trinity Road Stand, so you’ll have a cracking view of the entirety of Villa Park from there.

Private hire

Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and retirements, Villa Park has seen them all. The caterers have won awards and there is ample free parking near to the ground. The club can cater for parties of various sizes and you’ll also have a dedicated event co-ordinator for you to deal with directly.

Villa Park prides itself on being one of the most unique venues around for Asian Weddings as well as being a generally spectacular venue for all weddings. They also offer Christmas Party deals. There are numerous banqueting options available, too.

Pubs & Bars Near

Normally the main pub for away fans is the Witton Arms on Witton Lane (near the roundabout), which is only a few minutes walk from the visitors’ turnstiles and which you will walk past if arriving at Witton Railway Station. The pub is split between home and away supporters who are kept separate inside and has different entrances. It does though charge £2 per person to enter. However when visiting teams are expected to bring a small following, then the whole pub reverts to being one for home fans only.

There is a pub approximately 15 minutes walk from the ground where away fans are made welcome. It is called the Yew Tree. Although they don’t serve real ale, they have a good range of beers and Magner’s on draught. It is on the same road as the Witton Arms, but with this pub on your left carry straight on up the road, passing Witton Railway Station on your right. After about half a mile you will see the pub on the right hand side. Also around a 15 minute walk away near Birmingham City University is the ‘Hare of the Dog’ pub.

If you arrive a bit earlier then you may wish to visit the historic Bartons Arms, located about a 15 minute walk away on High Street Aston (A34). This Grade II listed building, is one of Birmingham’s finest pubs, with a superb Victorian decor, serving Oakham ales and Thai food is also on offer. It is a regular entry in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.

You can park at an entertainment complex called Star City. It is just off Junction 6 of the M6, going towards Villa Park. Huge free car park, plus plenty of food and drink outlets. It is then about a mile and a half walk to the ground. Alcohol is normally available to away supporters but only in the lower tier of the Doug Ellis Stand. This is in the form of Carlsberg (£3.80 a pint) and Somersby Cider (£3.70 500ml bottle), Greene King IPA (£4 bottle). However, for some high profile games, the Club decides not to sell alcohol to away fans.

If arriving by train into New Street Station then there are plenty of pubs to be found in the City Centre. Just outside the main entrance to the station, is the Shakespeare pub, which is popular with away fans, normally with the local Police keeping a watchful eye over proceedings.

On Bennetts Hill, which is only a few minutes further walk away (pass the Shakespeare on your left, turn left at Tescos, then take the next right hand turn by Ask Italia onto Bennetts Hill) are a number of pubs including the ‘Sun On The Hill’ pub, which also shows televised sports and a Wetherspoons pub called the Briar Rose (although colours are not allowed). A little further up the hill is the Wellington pub which is a mecca for real ale drinkers.

The Wellington does not provide food but has no objections to you bringing in your own. There are a couple of taxi ranks nearby that you can use if you wish to get you to Villa Park or hop back on the train.

Hotels

Villa Park is around 10 minutes drive from the centre of Birmingham, so your hotel options are plentiful. You can stay in any city centre hotel and be able to get to the ground easily enough, but we’ve picked 3 for you here depending on your circumstances.

1. Hotel Campanile, Birmingham – £40+. Address: Chester Street Aston Lock, Aston, B6 4BE. The budget French hotel is located about 1 mile from the ground and offers free parking, a restaurant and lounge and a rooftop terrace.
• No questions? Place a bet now.
2. Hampton By Hilton, Birmingham City North – £75+. Address: 104 Constitution Hill, Birmingham, B19 3JT. Hilton Hotels are very well-known, so you know what you’re getting. The hotel has a bar and lounge as well as a fitness centre. It is located around 1.6 miles from Villa Park.
3. Staying Cool At The Rotunda – £167+. Address: Rotunda, 150 New Street, Birmingham, B2 4PA. The Rotunda is one of Birmingham’s stand out hotels and is located smack bang in the city centre. It is an upscale apartment with its own kitchen rather than a hotel and comes with Wi-Fi, a continental breakfast and parking.
• Follow the link and get your prediction before the match starts.

History

Villa Park lays claim to numerous boasts, not least of which is the fact that it has hosted more FA Cup semi-finals than any other stadium – 55 matches in all. Aston Villa moved to the stadium from Wellington Road in 1897 and as well as football the ground has also hosted boxing matches, international rugby league and rugby union matches and the 2012 Community Shield match between Chelsea and Manchester City.

There is also something of a Royal connection at Villa Park. In 1924 George VI, then The Duke Of York, officially opened The Trinity Road Stand at Villa Park. 77 years later and his grandson, HRH The Prince of Wales, opened the newly renovated Trinity Road Stand. The Prince of Wales’ son, Prince William, is also one of Aston Villa’s most famous supporters.