All you need to know about our trip to Milton Keynes
MILTON KEYNES DONS v PORT VALE
December 2013stSaturday 21
Kick Off: 3.00pm
CAPACITY:www.mkdons.co.ukOFFICIAL WEB SITE:
All White
HOME KIT COLOURS:
115 x 74 yards
PITCH SIZE:
The Dons
NICKNAME:TEAM
01908 622 900
TICKET OFFICE:
No: 01908 622 922
TELEPHONEMAIN
Denbigh, Milton Keynes, MK1 1ST
ADDRESS:
22,000 (all seated)
TICKET INFORMATION:
Adults: £20.00
Senior: £15.00
Under 18: £5.00
COACH TRAVEL INFORMATION:
Departure Time: 10.45am
Adults: £14.50
Concessions: £13.00
DIRECTIONS:
Leave the M1 at Junction 15 and take the A508 towards Milton Keynes and keep going until you reach the A5 roundabout. Take the first exit onto the A5 (direction London). Turn off at the third junction (signposted A421), take the fourth exit at the roundabout onto the V6 Grafton Street (towards Bletchley) and the ground is on the left.
WHERE TO PARK:
left, and immediately left again onto the Denbigh West Industrial Estate.. Don't park at the Asda Store as it is patrolled on matchdays. There are 2,000 car parking spaces at the ground (£7). Or you can street park in the Denbigh West industrial estate. Pass the stadium on the left, turn right at the next roundabout, called Granby roundabout, and then take the next
OVERVIEW OF THE STADIUM:
The Club moved to the new £50 million 22,000 all seated stadium in 2007.It was designed by HOK, the same firm of architects responsible for the Emirates & Wembley stadiums. On the outside it uses look, silver coloured cladding and a large amount of glass. The roof has a large gap at the back of the seating. This allows more natural light to reach the pitch. The stadium is totally enclosed and has a bowl like design. It is two tiered, with on three sides having a large lower tier being over hung by a smaller upper tier. The West side of the stadium is slightly different, with the seating areas in the upper tier being replaced by the Director's Box and executive and corporate hospitality areas. Unusually the concourse areas at the back of the lower tier see directly into the stadium. The Club have announced that they are to increase the capacity of stadium:mk to 32,000 by installing seats in the upper tier, which has been largely left empty since the stadium was originally built in 2007. This should have a big positive impact on the overall look of the ground. It is hoped that the seating will be in place before the start of the 2013/14 season.
Club have a mascot called Mooie, whilst the South Stand is called the 'cowshed'. No wonder that the locals have christened the stadium 'The MooCamp!'
WHERE THE VALIANTS WILL BE HOUSED:
Away supporters allocated the North Stand end of the stadium where around 3,000 fans can be accommodated. So the facilities are first class. The stadium has big 'Emirates Style' comfy seats and the ability to continue to watch the game in progress, whilst eating a burger on the concourse. The view of the playing action and leg room are both good and the atmosphere not bad. The stadium also has electronic turnstiles, so no paying at the gate here! Instead you gain entrance by putting your tickets into a bar code reader to gain entrance.
WHERE TO GET A DRINK
Like a number of new stadiums, its main drawback is location. It is located adjacent to the A5, but well away from the centre of Milton Keynes, so there is little on offer in the way of pubs
Ian Townsend informs me; 'There is a hotel connected to the stadium which has Red Dot Bar, which welcomes away fans provided any colours are kept reasonably discrete. The nearest pub to the ground is the 'Inn on the Lake' (previously called the Beacon) which is about a 10 minute walk away, This pub offers food and has recently been refurbished. With the stadium entrance in front of you and Asda over to the right, then the pub is located on an industrial estate behind the stadium, next to a small lake. About a 15 minute walk away towards Bletchley is the Enigma Tavern on Saxon Street. This pub also offers food, has a large beer garden and is child friendly. To find this pub, just follow the signs for Bletchley by Asda and you will reach the pub on your left.
WHERE TO EAT:
The concourses are spacious and offer a good range of food. The food was the standard football ground offering but at least the serving areas were plentiful and well organised. Outside the ground are KFC & McDonalds outlets, plus a cafe in the Asda next door!