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Away fans are housed on one side of the North Stand, towards the open end of the ground. This stand may be shared with home supporters, or as was the case on my visit, the whole stand was given to the away support. There is little around the ground in terms of pubs and eating establishments, so you may have to find such comforts within the ground itself. The refreshments on offer are okay, with a range of rollover hot dogs and pies on offer, including the Chicken Balti Pie. Bottles of Carlsberg Lager are also available at �2.20. However, I have had a number of reports that it still takes an eternity to get served in the refreshment area and/or that they have run out of hot food/drinks. One visiting supporter even suggested taking a flask and a packed lunch.
The Kassam is light years away from the old Manor Ground. The facilities within and pitch view are excellent, and there is also good leg room. The atmosphere within the ground is not bad, with the Oxford fans in the Oxford Mail Stand doing their best to raise it. Although I did notice that they hadn't quite got used to their new home, still chanting the London Road End chant from the Manor Ground. With one end of the ground being open, there is always the remark 'of watch my car' as another wayward shot flies into the car park behind. On the whole I found the Kassam Stadium to be an enjoyable and a largely friendly day out.
Derek Fennel a visiting Blackburn supporter adds; 'the stewards at the Kassam seemed very helpful and accommodating which led to a feeling of watching the game in relaxed frame of mind. There was great vocal support from the home supporters in the North Stand who really got behind their team'.
| Where To Drink? |
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The nearest Public House is 'The Priory' which is just behind the car park at the open end of the ground and is quite an historic looking building. On my visit the pub seemed fine for away fans, but can get quite crowded. It boasts a large screen for SKY TV and also offered food, in the form of a wide range of pies and filled rolls. In the weather is good then the pub also do a barbecue prior to the match. Andy Wraight adds, 'There is now a Holiday Inn Express Hotel on the corner behind the Oxford Mail and South Stand, which has a fair sized bar. The bar welcomes football supporters and has Sky Television. Kim Rockall informs me; 'A new cinema and bowling alley complex was recently opened adjacent to the stadium, called Ozone. Inside the bowling alley there is a bar, which also has SKY TV and a fast food outlet'. There is also on the complex a Chinese buffet restaurant called Oxy Oriental. Alcohol is served within the ground (�2.80 for a bottle of Carlsberg).
| How To Get There By Car & Where To Park |
The stadium is quite well signposted from the main routes into Oxford, with brown football signs pointing the way.The stadium can be found in between the Oxford Science Park & Blackbird Leys Estate. From the A423 Ring Road, take the A4074 towards Reading. After the roundabout with Sainsbury's on one corner, take the left turning sign posted Cowley/Wallington/Oxford Science Park and you eventually come to the ground on your left.
For a map showing the location of the ground click here(to take you to the Street Map website).
Parking
There are 1,600 car parking spaces at the stadium itself, which are free. However, the car parks tend to fill up fast, so try and arrive early if you can (at least 75 minutes before kick off). An additional 400 car parking spaces are now available at the Ozone cinema and bowling alley complex adjacent to the stadium, which are also free to use. John Attwood a visiting Gillingham supporter adds; 'when arriving at the stadium, ignore the first stadium car park entrance that you come to and go up to the second entrance as the first will have you parking at the "open" end. There is a roundabout by the second entrance, which will take you back to the first entrance if the other half is full. I was also heavily delayed in trying to leave the car park after the game as there was only two exits available'. If you do end up arriving late at the stadium and find that the stadium car parks are full, then don't get tempted to park on a grass verge as you may well end up with a parking ticket for your trouble.
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| By Train |
Oxford railway station is over four miles from the ground and it is really not advisable to try to walk it.
You can get the Oxford Bus Company Service, Number 5, from Oxford Railway Station (use bus stop R2) via the city centre to Knights Road in Blackbird Leys, which is a short walk away from the ground. On Saturday afternoons the bus runs every five minutes and on midweek evenings every 8-10 minutes. Journey time to the stadium is around 25 minutes. For more information visit the Oxford Bus Company website. Alternatively a taxi will cost you in the region of �10, from the station to the stadium. |
| Admission Prices |
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Home Fans*:
South Stand (Upper Tier): Adults £18.50, Students £14, Over 65's/Under 16's £12, Under 7's Free**
South Stand (Lower Tier): Adults £17, Students £13.50, Over 65's/Under 16's £10.50, Under 7's Free**
South Stand (Family Area):
Adults £17, Students £13.50, Over 65's £10.50, Under 16's £4, Under 7's Free**
North Stand: Adults £16, Students £12.50, Over 65's/Under 16's £9.50, Under 7's Free**
Oxford Mail (East) Stand: Adults £15, Students £12, Over 65's/Under 16's £8, Under 7's Free**
Away Fans*:
North Stand: Adults £16, Over 65's/Under 16's £9.50, Under 7's Free**
* These prices are for tickets purchased prior to matchday. Tickets purchased on matchday can cost up to �2.50 more per adult ticket, £2 students, £1.50 other concessions.
** Free under 7's tickets must be booked prior to matchday. Under 7's must be accompanied by a paying adult (maximum two under 7's per adult). Otherwise Under 7's admitted on matchday will have to pay the appropriate concession price, apart from the family area where the cost is £5.50. | | |
