Molineux Stadium

Despite having a name that sounds a little like a type of painkiller, Molineux is full of history and also boasts a number of fun claims to fame. It has been the home of Wolverhampton Wanderers since 1889 and was also the club’s first permanent football ground. Previously they’d basically played on a field and a makeshift location on Dudley Road.

Molineux was the first ‘new build’ stadium in the Football League and was also one of the first grounds to install floodlights, allowing games to be played after it had gone dark out.

Molineux also played host to one of the first European club games. When it was renovated the stadium was considered to be one of the most modern and state-of-the-art grounds in England, though it is obviously showing its age now compared to more recently developed grounds.

General information

Arena capacity: 32,050 spectators

Address: Waterloo Rd, Wolverhampton WV1 4QR, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 52°35′25″N 2°07′49″W

Year of construction: 1889

Field: Desso GrassMaster lawn with dimensions of 100 x 64 metres (109 x 70 yards)

Seating plan of the Molineux Stadium

Molineux is dominated by the modern Stan Cullis Stand at one end of the stadium, which was opened in 2012. This impressive looking structure towers over the rest of Molineux and the roof steelwork can be seen from miles around on the Wolverhampton skyline. The stand is two-tiered, with a larger lower tier, with the upper tier having a large windshield on one side.

The stand extends partly around one corner towards the Steve Bull Stand and some seats in the upper tier in that corner will have a restricted view of the playing area, due to the roof of the Steve Bull Stand being directly in the line of sight. It is hoped that at some point the Steve Bull Stand will be replaced by a similar structure and will extend around to meet the new Stan Cullis Stand.

Both sides of the stadium are two-tiered covered stands, which have a row of executive boxes situated along the middle. They are unusual in being oval in shape, meaning that those sitting on the half way line are furthest away from the playing action.

The oldest of these is the Steve Bull Stand, which was opened in 1979, whilst opposite is the Billy Wright Stand which was opened in 1993. This stand is the Main Stand at Molineux, which contains the Directors area, team dugouts in front and a television gantry below its roof. At one end is the Sir Jack Hayward Stand, which was also opened in 1993, four months after the Billy Wright Stand. Situated in the corner between the Sir Jack Hayward and Billy Wright stands, is a temporary stand that has a capacity of 900 seats.

The seats are green coloured which makes it look a little out of place to the rest of the stadium. This is affectionately known as the ‘Gene Kelly’ stand (or officially known as the Graham Hughes Stand – named after a former club historian). That is because this area is open to the elements so you could end up ‘singing in the rain’. There are a couple of video screens located in opposite corners of the stadium.

What particularly impresses about Molineux, is that quality shows, getting the feeling that little expense has been spared in its construction. This is perhaps best summed up by the two statues that sit outside the ground. The impressive statue of Billy Wright is probably the finest football statue located at any ground in Britain.

It sits outside the main entrance to the club offices. In 2003 the same designer, James Butler produced another statue, this time of former player and manager Stan Cullis. The Stan Cullis Statue is located outside the entrance to the Club Museum (see below). Also outside Molineux is a statue of former club owner Sir Jack Hayward which was unveiled in 2018.

Away fans

Away fans are housed in the lower tier of the Steve Bull Stand, which runs along one side of the pitch, where up to 2,750 away supporters can be housed. Fans in this stand are sat quite far back from the playing area, which gives the illusion that the pitch is larger than at most other grounds. Wolves fans are housed in the upper tier above the away section making for some ‘interesting conversations’ between the home and visiting supporters.

For cup games then if required part of the Stan Cullis Stand at one can also be allocated, where an additional 1,500 visiting fans can be housed, high up on one side of the upper tier (towards the Steve Bull Stand side of the ground). Views are excellent from the front of the Stan Cullis Stand away section, although if you are at the top then it’s all a bits distant. It’s a lot of stairs up to the upper tier and when you get to the top puffing and blowing a friendly steward tells you that you should have asked to use the lift!

The facilities are fine, including the catering, serving a range of pies including; Steak, Rogan Josh, Potato & Meat, Vegetable, Cheese & Onion (all £3.10), Cornish Pasty (£3.10), Sausage Rolls (£3.10) Hot Dogs (£3.60), Burgers (£3.60)  and Chips (£2.50).

Musical delights at the ground include just before kick off, ‘Hi, Ho, Silver Lining’ with the crowd singing ‘Hi, Ho, Wolverhampton!’

It is strongly advised that colours are kept covered around the ground and the city centre (and that goes for your cars too).

Where to buy tickets?

Prices for Wolves matches aren’t too expensive, with match split into just two different categories. The main things that will change how much you’ll pay are your age and where in the ground you’d like to sit. Prices range from £25 to £30 if you’re an adult or between £15 and £18 if you’re over sixty-five.

Wolverhampton Wanderers operates a category system for matchday pricing (A & B) whereby the most popular games cost more to watch. Category A prices are shown below with Category B prices in brackets.

Home Fans

1. Billy Wright Stand (Upper Tier): Adults £40 (B £35), Over 65’s/Under 21’s* £18, Under 17’s £15, Under 12’s** £12.
2. Billy Wright (Family Lower Tier): Adults £32 (B £27), Over 65’s/Under 21’s* £15, Under 17’s £12, Under 12’s** £5.
3. Steve Bull Stand (Upper Tier): Adults £30 (B £25), Over 65’s/Under 21’s* £15, Under 17’s £12, Under 12’s** £10.
4. Stan Cullis Stand: Adults £30 (B £27), Over 65’s/Under 21’s £15, Under 17’s £12, Under 12’s** £5.
5. Sir Jack Hayward Stand: Adults £30 (B £27), Over 65’s/Under 21’s £15, Under 17’s £12, Under 12’s** £5.
6. Graham Hughes South West Stand: Adults £22, Over 65’s/Under 21’s £15, Under 17’s £12, Under 12’s** £5.

Away Fans

Steve Bull Stand (Lower Tier): Adults £30, Over 65’s/Under 21’s* £15, Under 17’s £12, Under 12’s** £5.

Category A Matches are against; Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

* Under 21’s must first become Club members to qualify for this reduced ticket price.

** When accompanied by a paying Adult (includes Over 65’s and Under 21’s).

When it comes to season tickets, you’ll pay different amounts of money depending on whether you get them over the phone, on the internet or via Direct Debit.

The best way to get tickets for Wolves matches is via the club’s official website. You can not only buy match tickets but you can also click on an interactive map of the ground that will let you know roughly what the view will be from your seat. You won’t get that over the phone, though you can, of course, buy tickets that way if you’d prefer. You can also pick up tickets from the club’s box office at the ground itself.

How to get there?

The Midlands isn’t named that because it sounds funny when someone with a Black Country accent says it, but rather because that’s what it is – in the middle of the land. It’s therefore easy enough to get to Wolverhampton from pretty much anywhere in the country. Here’s some of the more typical routes you might consider.

From The South

Leave the M6 at Junction 10 and take the A454 towards Wolverhampton. Continue to follow the A454 right into Wolverhampton (be wary of speed cameras on the A454). On reaching the traffic island that intersects with the ring road, turn right. As you approach the 2nd set of lights look for the signs for football parking. The ground is over the second set of lights on the right. Alternatively, if you turn left into the city centre you may find a space in one of the many council run ‘pay & display’ car parks (see Car Parking below).

From The North

Leave the M6 at Junction 12 and take the A5 towards Telford and then turn onto the A449 towards Wolverhampton. On reaching the traffic island that intersects with the ring road, turn right. Then as South.

Car Parking

Just off the ring road near Molineux is the Civic Hall car park, normally remains open for night matches and costs £4 for three hours or £5.50 for four hours or £2 for evenings (entering the car park after 5pm). Although the city centre car parks are handy, the area is busy with shoppers so you may get stuck in long queues to get into one.

Parking in the car parks that you see further away from Molineux and taking the 10/15 minute walk is recommended; it also means you are back on the motorway quicker after the game. There is also some limited parking available at the stadium itself at a cost of £8 per car. There is some street parking to be found on a small industrial estate near to Wolverhampton Railway Station.

It is in the region of Kennedy Road (off Culwell Street). It is then about a ten minute walk to Molineux. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near the Molineux Stadium via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.

Post Code for SAT NAV: WV1 4QR

Thanks to Paul Judd, an exiled Wolves fan, in Milton Keynes, for providing the directions.

By train

Wolverhampton Railway Station is around a 15 minute walk away from Molineux. From the main station entrance proceed straight on towards the city centre and as you reach the inner ring road turn right. Just follow the ring road as it continues in a circular pattern around to the left. Eventually you will see the Molineux on the right.

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.

Bus

There are at least eight different bus routes that serve Molineaux from the city centre and surrounding regions. Bus number 3, 4, 5, 5A, 62, 62A, 877 and 878 should all get you to where you want to go.

Taxi

A train from Wolverhampton Railway Station to the ground will probably take you longer than walking because of the city’s traffic routes, but if you’re interested to know then it will take you just over 5 minutes and cost about £8. Needless to say if you get stuck in traffic you’ll pay more.

Facilities

The fact that Molineaux is almost constantly being updated and upgraded is a good thing as far as the ground’s facilities are concerned. The seats are reasonably comfortable, the views are almost universally unobstructed and the concourses are wide and welcoming. You’ll be faced with numerous places to buy a bite to eat or a refreshing drink before and during the match.

Hospitality

Molineaux is a stadium in a state of constant flux in order to ensure it keeps up with the times. As such there are a host of ever-evolving match day hospitality packages for your enjoyment. Here’s some details on a couple of your choices:

• The WV1 Restaurant. You’ll enjoy a three-course meal on a private table that faces the pitch here, before heading to your padded seat in The Stan Cullis Stand. A pay bar is also available and you’ll receive half-time and full-time refreshments, too.
• The International Restaurant. This really is a cut above the normal match day hospitality experience. You’ll get a welcome drink on arrival, a three-course buffet style meal, cheese board and refreshments at half-time, coffee and cake at full-time and padded seats in the upper section of The Billy Wright Stand.
• The WV1 Bar. This is the more relaxed alternative to the restaurant of the same name. More like a city centre pub located in the middle of the ground, The WV1 Bar lets you buy drinks at the cash bar, purchase pub grub style food and take a padded seat in the stand to watch the match. You also get one complimentary drink per person for good measure.

Private hire

There are no less than twelve suites and rooms available for private hire at Molineaux, not including the executive boxes. The likelihood is slim, therefore, that you’ll want to put on an event that the gang at the home of Wolverhampton Wanderers won’t be able to cope with. Whether you want to host a Christening, an exhibition or even a wedding, this could be the perfect venue for your private hire needs.

Molineux Hotels

Wolverhampton is an enjoyable city to spend time in in its own right, but you’ve also got Birmingham nearby should you prefer the bright lights of a big city. Here are some hotels you might want to consider for your visit to Molineaux.

1. Britannia Hotel Wolverhampton – £35+. Address: Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DB. Located near to the train station and a short walk from the stadium is the Britannia Hotel, a place with bags of character. There’s a restaurant, a bar and six meeting rooms should you wish to do a bit of business, plus it’s virtually on top of the theatre in case you want a bit of culture in the evening.
2. Novotel Wolverhampton – £50+. Address: Union Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 3JN. You know what you’re getting with hotels in the Novotel chain. They’re not the best in the business but they’re not the worst either, so expect self-parking, meeting rooms, a garden and free Wi-Fi. The hotel is about half a mile from the ground, too.
3. Village Hotel Walsall – £70+. Address: Tempus Drive, Tempus Ten, Walsall, WS2 8TJ. A little further afield than the other two at about five miles from the ground is this member of The Village chain of hotels. There are over 120 rooms to choose from and your stay includes access to a health club with an indoor pool, a terrace area, free Wi-Fi and free parking.

Pubs & Bars Near Molineux

Well, it may be a great stadium, with good atmosphere, but the main drawback with a visit to Molineux is the lack of away friendly pubs for visiting supporters to drink in. Now there are a number of pubs situated around the ground, but they do not admit away fans, which to a certain extent can be understood.

But what is a real shame is that unlike many new stadiums that are located out of town with not much in the way of drinking holes located around, Molineux is only a 10 minute walk away from the city centre where there are plenty of pubs to be found. However by far the greater majority of these are for home supporters only on matchdays (even the Wetherspoons has bouncers on the door demanding to see your match ticket for one of the home sections before being allowed entry).

I have been advised that there is a small bar called the Bluebrick inside the Premier Inn hotel, located near to the railway station, which is being used frequently by away fans. It does though charge a £2 entrance fee. If arriving by train then as you leave the station entrance, turn right and you will see a walkway going down under the station. At the bottom of the walkway turn left and after a short walk you will see the Bluebrick over on your right.

Alcohol is available inside the stadium this includes Carling (Pint £4), Banks’s Bitter (Can 440ml £3.60), Aston Manor Cider (Bottle 500ml £4), Guinness (Can 520ml £4.20), plus wine and spirits (£4.10).

History

The ground’s strange name was taken from Benjamin Molineaux, a local merchant to the city who purchased the land on which the stadium now stands. He originally built himself a home that he somewhat arrogantly called Molineaux House, which was later turned into Molineaux Hotel.

The land was purchased by O. E. McGregor and he turned it into a pleasure park, complete with ice rink, cycling track and a boating lake. Crucially it also featured a football pitch, and it was this that Wolverhampton Wanderers leased from Northampton Brewery after the company bought the land.

The ground followed the takeover of the club by Sir Jack Hayward, the man after whom one of the stands is now named. He saw the requirement to redevelop the stadium in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster as an opportunity to bring the club’s ground right up-to-date, demolishing and re-building the stands one at a time throughout the early part of the decade.

The new stadium was opened officially in December of 1993 when Wolves played a friendly again the Hungarian side Budapest Honvéd FC.