Odsal Stadium (Bradford)

Odsal Stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, is the home of Bradford Bulls Rugby League team. It has also been used by the Bradford Dukes speedway team, BRISCA F1 and F2 stock cars, the football team Bradford City, following the Valley Parade fire, and for baseball, basketball, kabbadi, show jumping, tennis, live music, international Rugby League and the 1997 Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain.

General information

Arena capacity: 26,019 spectators

Address: Provident Stadium, Bradford BD6 1BS, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 53°45′54″N 1°45′25″W

Year of construction: 1933

Field: grass lawn with dimensions of 67.79 × 111.74 m

Seating plan of Odsal Stadium

The stadium is unusual in its design for Britain, being a bowl shape carved out below ground level.

Rooley Avenue End

The Rooley Avenue End is at the northern end of the stadium. It is open terracing and is where the big screen is erected for televised games. The stand has turnstiles that back onto Rooley Avenue.

East Stand

The East Stand is the only part of the ground that is covered and has seating. The stand runs parallel to the pitch and has “BULLS” spelt out on the seats. The stand houses home supporters and most season ticket holders as well as the press and some executive seats. There are also bars and toilets at the top of the stand.

South Bank

The South Bank is the stadium’s commercial hospitality stand. It has two levels, each containing a banqueting suite and seats looking out onto the pitch. Speedway was forced to end its association with Odsal after the hospitality building was built.

West Stand

The West Stand is uncovered terracing and houses the players changing rooms and tunnel as well as TV gantry at the top of the stand. The supporters’ bar is in the north-west corner of the stand, which also houses a manual scoreboard and clock. At the top of the stand, on ground level with Rooley Avenue, is the car park and club shop and ticket office. There are a few hospitality boxes at the top of the stand, but these have not been used since the construction of the South Bank.

Where to buy tickets?

Only spectators with valid match tickets bought in advance of the match may attend matches.

Spectators will be able to purchase match tickets (when available for general sale) from Club Ticketing Office or Website up until 1 working day prior  in order that the ground can prepare accordingly.

How to get there?

Get to Odsal Stadium in Bradford by bus and train. The service numbers below, link through to the timetable for that service.

Odsal Stadium is about 2 miles (3.5 km) south of Bradford city centre.

Buses

Along Rooley Lane:

• service 508 (from Leeds and Halifax)

Along Manchester Road (from Bradford Interchange bus station):

• Monday to Saturday daytime:
  services 268, 363, 614, 686, 687, 688, 645, 681, X63
• Evenings and Sundays:
  services 268, 363, 686, 687, 688, 645, 682

By Train

You can travel to Bradford Interchange rail station and catch a bus from nearby Bus Station to Odsal.

You can also travel to Low Moor rail station with Arriva 268 service onwards to the stadium.

By Car

Odsal Stadium is about 2 miles (3.5 km) south of Bradford city centre.  Located off the M606 / M62, situated on Rooley Ave, Odsal, Bradford BD6 1BS.

Facilities

The AJJB Law Odsal Stadium Hospitality and Events Venue is the ideal venue to host:

• Conference and Training Days;
• Meeting Rooms & Away Days;
• Celebrations & Parties;
• Weddings;
• Black Tie Dinners;
• Proms.

Fifteen meeting rooms and seven spacious suites, which all have natural daylight and stunning views of the stadium, in various sizes which are available on a half and full day basis.

Suites can be used separately or linked together in a range of configurations ideal for conferencing, networking or training events for up to 600 guests.

• Free Wifi Access;
• Free Parking for up to 500 cars;
• In-house catering using fresh local produce;
• Bar Facilities;
• Audio, visual and PA equipment hire;
• Centrally located just off the M606/62, making it an ideal venue for any event.

Accessibility

Tickets can be purchased directly from the Bradford Bulls over the phone, online sales (if no carer ticket required) and at the Team Shop. Tickets are also distributed to away clubs to pre-sell.

Tickets can be downloaded, or physical tickets can be posted or collected on Matchday.

Six Wheelchair spaces are located directly outside the Main Stand. There is a provision for additional parking adjacent to the Main Stand that can be specifically allocated for Blue Badge Parking. The club also operates a drop off/pick up policy. There is also parking available adjacent to the other areas of the stadium. Parking is available on a first come, first serve basis.

Parking is available on a first come, first serve basis.

There are five high-level disabled viewing spaces on the North Stand. Eight pitch-side South Stand undercover and up to 50 pitchside in an uncovered area specifically reserved for Wheelchair users and their Assistants/Carers etc. No spaces are specifically reserved for home supporters.

History

The ground was officially opened by Sir Joseph Taylor, President of Huddersfield on 1 September 1934. His club went on to beat the hosts 31–16, Australian winger Ray Markham scoring four tries in front of an estimated 20,000. The clubhouse and dressing rooms were officially opened before a match against Hull F.C. on 2 February 1935. Contemporary pictures show that as late as August 1935 the banking on the Rooley Avenue side was still being created.

In 2012, the Bulls got into severe financial difficulties and the RFL stepped in and bought the lease to Odsal. On 1 September 2019, the club played their last game at Odsal, which had been the team’s home ground for 85 years.