Photos by Google
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57
bet365 Stadium Stanley Matthews Way Stoke-on-Trent, England ST4 4EG United Kingdom
Year Opened: 1997 Capacity: 28,383
Make Your Best Bet
Bet365 Stadium is home to English Premier League Stoke City and was opened in 1997 following the club’s relocation from its historic Victoria Ground less than a mile away. The stadium’s name is taken from its sponsors and has an all-seated capacity of 27,598. The venue is a multi-purpose arena with banqueting suites and Delilah’s bar. It has hosted the likes of Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, and Elton John concerts.
The stadium consists of four cantilever stands with the L-shaped Boothen and East stands being of a separate structure from the rest of the stadium. The main West stand, consisting of two tiers, houses the club's corporate and media facilities. The legendary Sir Stanley Mathews who officially opened the stadium had his ashes buried under the stadium’s centre circle following his death in 2000. Statues outside the stadium show his career at different stages.
Food & Beverage 4
If you are feeling peckish on your approach to the stadium, the extra ten-minute wait until you are inside will be worth it. Sports stadium food in Britain often leaves a lot to be desired. This is not the case at the Britannia. The club now offers alternatives to the traditional food on offer within its new food courts.
Separate kiosks are selling different ranges of burgers, hot dogs, pie, mash, peas and gravy, and curry and rice pots in addition to the normal range of food. These are all reasonably priced with meal deals on offer at £6.50 with a soft drink or £8.50 with a pint of beer or cider. The food is piping hot and of good quality.
Atmosphere 4
The atmosphere generated at the Britannia is renowned for being one of the best in England’s top flight and has often been the 13th man when Stoke has beaten some of the country’s biggest clubs at the stadium.
Neighborhood 3
Made up of six separate towns, Stoke on Trent is the home of the Pottery Industry and the area is commonly known as the Potteries. There are many museums to mark the city’s pottery and coal mining industry.
Festival Park houses the water park and Trentham Gardens with its Monkey World and is a mere five minutes drive from the stadium.
The Potteries Shopping Centre in Hanley has all the major stores with a good selection of Theatres and Cinemas also near. The Alton Towers Theme Park Resort is the area’s best-known attraction and this is a thirty-minute drive away near the town of Uttoxeter. Port Vale is the city’s other football team located in Burslem and plays in League Two of the English Football League. Although there is a Holiday Inn and Harvester by the ground there is little to do in the vicinity of the stadium.
Fans 4
The club is once again established in the top flight of English football. Stoke has hard-core support and gates held at 15,000 even when the club sunk to the third tier of English football. Stoke supporters have been officially recognized by the football authorities as the noisiest supporters in the Premier League.
Access 3
The stadium is located at the Junction of the A500 and A50 which is within a five-minute drive of the M6 Junction 15. Stoke-on-Trent railway station is also well-served by trains between London and Manchester. There is plenty of parking on adjacent roads and the stadium also has plenty of parking, although delays after the game are commonplace. Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham airports are all within a one-hour drive of the city.
Return on Investment 3
Like all Premiership clubs, ticket prices are high and range between £35 and £45 for league games with discounts for children and O.A.P.
F.A. Cup, League Cup, and Europa League games are often cheaper depending on the opposition. Big games tend to sell out early but, if planned, getting into the stadium should not be a problem.
Extras 4
There is a club superstore next to the ticket office selling a wide range of merchandise. Betting Shops are also located on the stadium concourse in the vicinity of the fast food outlets. Stadium tours are available on request and programmes and fanzines are printed for each game.