On The Road.... Part Three
By Dragons' Den
January 24 2013
Leicester, Exeter and Saracens – the next three away matches give London Welsh supporters the chance to visit some of the finest stadiums in the Premiership. Dragons’ Den brings you the third installment of ‘On the Road’, our own brief guide to this seasons’ away venues.
Leicester Tigers
Welford Road is one of the most famous grounds in British rugby (possibly running a close second to our own ODP!) and in the 120 years that Leicester have occupied the site they have developed it into a 24,000 capacity stadium.
The stadium address is Aylestone Road, Leicester, LE2 7TR and Tigers’ provide an excellent set of directions for those travelling by road and public transport. Click here to read it. There is no parking at the ground but “Parking spaces are available at the King Power Stadium, a 10 minute walk away, for £5 per car, per match. Pre-book online at www.leicestertigers.com/parking or with the Tigers ticket office on 0844 856 1880 (option 2)”
Leicester price their tickets according to the ‘grade’ of game. The visit of London Welsh is considered B Grade and for once we shouldn’t moan about this snub but rejoice in the availability of slightly cheaper tickets.
A £2 discount is available for tickets bought prior to match-day and these can be purchased via the online ticket office. For those that prefer to buy over the phone the ticket office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm, Wednesday 8.30am - 8.00pm and non-match Saturdays 9.00am - 5.00pm on 0844 856 1880 (option 2).
Exeter Chiefs
Sandy Park is a familiar venue for those that followed London Welsh when these two clubs were Championship opponents. The purpose built stadium is perched high above the M5, easier to get to by car than their former home at the County Ground but not nearly as convenient for those making the trip by train. It has been almost seven years since Exeter moved out from the city centre and steady expansion of Sandy Park has taken capacity to just short of 11,000, a figure that they hope to double in due course.
Although there is no on-site parking there are a couple of park and ride facilities available at a cost of £5 (including shuttle bus). Road directions, parking information and a guide to getting to Sandy Park by public transport. Click here to read.
Match tickets can be bought from the online ticket office and are available until 9am on the day of the game. There is a £2 administration fee for online bookings and those that book by phone (number 01392 890890) will incur a £5 fee.
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Saracens
The final trip in this set of Premiership games is to Saracens’ new Allianz Park stadium. The ground has a modest 10,000 capacity comprising 3,000 permanent seats plus 7,000 temporary seats that will be removed out of season. It's noi surprise that the £500,000 plastic pitch has captured the headlines and this innovation will be studied with interest throughout the sport.
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There is no onsite parking for visiting supporters although there are numerous ‘park and walk’ and ‘park and ride’ options. You can book a place on one of the 14 Saracens Express routes or use the free bus service that will run from Mill Hill East and Mill Hill Broadway stations. On-street parking will very restricted in the area and maps of the match-day Controlled Parking Zones can be viewed on the Barnet Council Website.
Match tickets are selling fast and can be bought from the online ticket office.
Seats in blocks 15-26 are uncovered as are the spaces on the unreserved terrace in front of the east stand.Food and drink will be available at various points in the ground including on Saracens Street, a covered area between the permanent west stand and the temporary seating in front.
Please feel free to add your comments and experiences of these three grounds.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2013:03:12:15:06:50 by Dragons' Den.
[www.rugbynetwork.net]
East Stand with the temporary seating and terracing partly installed in front
West Stand with temporary seating in front
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:01:24:12:24:21 by nld.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:01:24:12:10:03 by Newest Sir Benfro.
Quote:Newest Sir Benfro
Looks a bit stark and uninviting doesnt it ?? Bet those uncovered seats are fun when its tipping down :-)
I went to the ground yesterday and frankly was a bit disappointed - the East stand looks good but appears to be some way from the pitch and the West was quite stark and again not particularly close.
Temporary stands North and South.
As nld says Mill Hill RFC is very close and has a car park - whether the car park will be open on match days i didn't check.
[www.blueballpub.com]
Quote:Crug MawrQuote:Newest Sir Benfro
Looks a bit stark and uninviting doesnt it ?? Bet those uncovered seats are fun when its tipping down :-)
I went to the ground yesterday and frankly was a bit disappointed - the East stand looks good but appears to be some way from the pitch and the West was quite stark and again not particularly close.
Temporary stands North and South.
As nld says Mill Hill RFC is very close and has a car park - whether the car park will be open on match days i didn't check.
Hendon RFC (near the A1 entrance) has limited parking on the day priced at £10, last Saturday they also had a barbeque running and the bar was open (lager on tap and bottled bitters).
Sarries forum reporting lots of space on the shuttle buses that run the loop to take in the two Mill Hill stations. CPZ huge and clearly signed so it's not even worth thinking about parking on the local (and not so local) roads.
Quote:adge1
Excellent pub close to Sandy Park. Lunches, good beer, parking. A walk over the M5 pedestrian bridge to the ground.
[www.blueballpub.com]
Take your hiking boots with you though, it's quite a climb up the lane over the motorway!
The ‘Early Bird Services’ run across all routes and seats are available at only £6.50 return, this service arrives at Allianz Park two hours fifteen minutes before kick off. A later service is also available with prices starting from only £11.50 for adults and £9.00 for concessions. All coaches for London Welsh will be set to depart at 17h00.
Saracens Express tickets for London Welsh are on sale until 4pm Tuesday 26th February. This is to ensure all tickets can be posted prior to the match day. Please ensure you book early to secure your seat.
In respect of Exeter, the Blue Bell looks delightful, but is a long trek from the Digby & Sowton station (my map-reading says you first have to walk south from the station across the Exeter by-pass dual carriageway, then along Old Rydon Lane and across the M5 to turn left to reach Sandygate. Of course if you are coming by car, it's a breeze, taking the Exmouth Exit at J30, then a quick right into Sandygate. Are there other eateries near Digby & Sowton station worth knowing or is it better eating in Exeter city centre?
Plenty of great pubs in the city but the Great Western and the Imperial (a cut above your average Wetherspoons) are near the station andd good drinking venues.
Quote:nld
Hendon RFC and Mill Hill RFC are advertising that their bars will be open on Saracens match days. Both clubs are within the Copthall site - Hendon near the A1 entrance and Mill Hill near Page Street.
I THINK I'm going to come via the shuttle from Mill Hill Broadway, Thameslink from Wimbledon.
If so, any idea which RFC is nearest to the entrance I'll be dropped off at, as I have to meet some guys to hand over tickets!
Quote:TC08Quote:nld
Hendon RFC and Mill Hill RFC are advertising that their bars will be open on Saracens match days. Both clubs are within the Copthall site - Hendon near the A1 entrance and Mill Hill near Page Street.
I THINK I'm going to come via the shuttle from Mill Hill Broadway, Thameslink from Wimbledon.
If so, any idea which RFC is nearest to the entrance I'll be dropped off at, as I have to meet some guys to hand over tickets!
I believe that the shuttle buses drop off on Pursley Road and don't actually enter the site. The stop is by the Powerleague centre and from there you walk down a footpath, round the edge of the pitches and past Metro Golf to the stadium. Keep going straight at the stadium and you get to Hendon RFC, right takes you to Mill Hill RFC. Not very much in it distance-wise. Footpath, stadium and both rugby clubs very clearly shown on the aerial view of Google Maps.
Quote:Thanks Nigel. 10 mins walk from the dropoff, then.nldQuote:TC08Quote:nld
Hendon RFC and Mill Hill RFC are advertising that their bars will be open on Saracens match days. Both clubs are within the Copthall site - Hendon near the A1 entrance and Mill Hill near Page Street.
I THINK I'm going to come via the shuttle from Mill Hill Broadway, Thameslink from Wimbledon.
If so, any idea which RFC is nearest to the entrance I'll be dropped off at, as I have to meet some guys to hand over tickets!
I believe that the shuttle buses drop off on Pursley Road and don't actually enter the site. The stop is by the Powerleague centre and from there you walk down a footpath, round the edge of the pitches and past Metro Golf to the stadium. Keep going straight at the stadium and you get to Hendon RFC, right takes you to Mill Hill RFC. Not very much in it distance-wise. Footpath, stadium and both rugby clubs very clearly shown on the aerial view of Google Maps.