Pirelli Stadium

Pirelli Stadium is an association football stadium on Princess Way in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England. It is the home of Burton Albion FC, replacing the club’s old Eton Park home, also on Princess Way, which was demolished and developed into housing.

General information

Arena capacity: 6,912 spectators

Address: Princess Way, Burton-On-Trent, Staffordshire, England, DE13 0AR

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 52°49′18.86″N 1°37′37.05″W

Year of construction: 2005

Construction cost: £7.2 million

Field: grass lawn with dimensions of 100.6 × 65.8 m

Seating plan of Pirelli Stadium

South Stand

The South Stand is the only one of the four made up entirely of seating.

It consists of a single tier with a row of executive boxes at the very back. A mezzanine holding the matchday camera is up above these boxes. Seats in the South Stand are predominantly black, but the letters BURTON ALBION are spelt out using yellow seating across the blocks. Burton’s dugouts, changing rooms and tunnel can all be found in the centre of this stand.

Both ends are completely covered by large windshields and with no supporting pillars coming down from the roof, you have a completely clear view of the pitch from any seat.

It is worth noting as well that these seats are much wider than the traditional plastic ones you will find at other football grounds, and also include padding on the bottom and back for additional comfort.

West Stand

The West Stand is made up of a single tier of standing terrace.

The stand itself is very bland in colour with a plain brick wall at the back, which fans usually decorate with flags and banners pre-game that pay homage to important figures in Burton Albion’s history. There is a row of metal bars about half-way up the terrace that fans can also lean on. Down at the front of the stand, next to the southwest corner, is a flat platform and row of black seating that is for disabled supporters to use. The southwest corner itself contains an elevated police box.

Windshields completely cover every row on either side and there are no supporting pillars coming down here either, ensuring a clear view of the pitch from anywhere inside.

The northwest corner is used to store additional equipment such as the warm-up goals but also has a large open space within it that fans from both the North and West Stands usually pass through on their way out of the stadium.

Popside

The Popside is essentially a longer version of the West Stand.

There is a row of black seating down at the front for disabled supporters to use, but the majority of the stand is standing terrace, with a row of metal bars half-way up that supporters can lean on.

Windshields completely cover the sides and there is a perfectly clear view from anywhere inside due to an absence of supporting pillars.

The northeast corner next to the Popside holds a very small first aid building.

East Stand

The East Stand’s interior is an almost complete carbon-copy of the West Stand.

It is a single tier of standing terrace with a metal bar running across the central row. The only difference is the electronic scoreboard hanging down from the roof. This can be seen by every fan in the stadium except for those in the East Stand itself. Down at the front of the stand, next to the northeast corner, is a flat platform and row of black seating that is for disabled supporters to use.

The stadium’s control room is in the southeast corner and there is a windshield at the other end that completely covers the standing terrace area.

Your view from inside is perfectly clear as there are no supporting pillars coming down.

Away Fans

Where away fans are housed at the Pirelli Stadium depends on the size of the travelling crowd.

Typically, away supporters are housed behind the goal in the East Stand but are also given a few blocks in the South Stand that are next to the southeast corner. When small away crowds visit, the East Stand is closed altogether and supporters are kept in the seating blocks, with stewards used to segregate them from the home fans nearby.

The large away followings will easily pack the East Stand to the brim and take up every seat available to them in the South Stand.

You are unable to see the live scoreboard if you are stood in the East Stand and a number of fans have said how this can make away games at the Pirelli Stadium tense as you are never quite sure how long has been played in each half. Views from either away section however are perfectly clear and well protected from the sides.

Where to buy tickets?

Burton Albion don’t categorize their matches, so the ticketing structure is super simple to get your head around. They charge different amounts depending on whether you want to sit in seats or go in the terraced section of the ground, and like all clubs, Burton also charge different amounts to different age groups, but that’s it.

Here are the cheapest and most expensive ticket prices for adults and concessions, and remember you can only get these prices in advance, you’ll need an extra £2 per ticket if you buy on the day. The cheapest tickets are in the terraced section, whilst the most expensive are seated.

Burton’s website is the best place to go if you’re hoping to get a ticket to see The Brewers play live. You can also call the club’s ticket office if you’d like to buy tickets over the phone. Make sure you plan ahead, as all Championship matches are all-ticket, so you are best to buy your ticket in advance.

How to get there?

Burton is right on the border between Staffordshire and Derbyshire, so it’s not too tricky to get to from either the North or the South. There are a number of journey options available to you, though, with these being the most usual routes.

Train

Burton Railway Station is situated half a mile West of the Town Centre, past the Breweries on Station Street, on Borough Road. Trains run regularly to and from Derby and Nottingham to the North, and Birmingham to the South. It is a 25-minute walk to the Pirelli Stadium from the Station.

Out of the station turn left, then next right into Derby Street. Keep going on this road about 1½ miles, straight across the first roundabout by the Derby Turn, then immediately left at the next roundabout into Princess Way and the entrance to the ground is 300 yards on your right.

Bus

If you don’t fancy the walk from the railway station then you might want to think about getting the bus. Both the Trent Barton V1 and the V2 bus services go from directly outside the station to The Pirelli Stadium.

As you exit the station, turn left and you will immediately come to the stop. On Saturday afternoon, buses leave at 19 and 49 minutes past the hour. It stops right outside the ground and the journey takes about 5 minutes. Returning, the stop is opposite where you got off and buses are 17 and 47 minutes past the hour. On weekday evenings, the buses are 6 and 36 past approximately from the station. Returning they are down to one an hour, so 22:00 if you’re quick out, then it’s 23:00 so quicker to walk!

Car

From the M1 (Junction 24) via the A50: Exit the M1 at Junction 24 and follow the signs for the A50 (Stoke and Uttoxeter). Keep on this road, heading west until you reach the Toyota Island and the junction with the A38. Head south on the A38 (Burton and Birmingham) until you reach the first Burton turn off. Take this exit (A5121) and proceed along Derby Road, passing McDonald’s and the Pirelli factory on your right and a BP Garage and Cash & Carry on your left until you reach a roundabout. Turn right at this roundabout into Princess Way and the entrance to the ground is 300 yards on your right.

From A38 North (Derby) and M1 North (Junction 28): Exit the A38 at the first turning for Burton (North). Take this exit (A5121) and proceed along Derby Road, passing McDonald’s and the Pirelli factory on your right and a BP Garage and Cash & Carry on your left until you reach a roundabout. Turn right at this roundabout into Princess Way and the entrance to the ground is 300 yards on your right.

From A38 South (Lichfield, Birmingham): Take the second exit for Burton (North). Take this exit (A5121) and proceed along Derby Road, passing McDonald’s and the Pirelli factory on your right and a BP Garage and Cash & Carry on your left until you reach a roundabout. Turn right at this roundabout into Princess Way and the entrance to the ground is 300 yards on your right.

From M1 South (Jct 22) – A511: From the M1, exit at Junction 22 (signposted Coalville, Ashby, Burton) and stay on the A511 You stay on this road for approximately 17 miles, by-passing Coalville and going through Ashby-De-La-Zouch, then Woodville and Midway (This area is littered with speed cameras – so beware!) When you enter Burton, get into the right hand lane at the bottom of Ashby Road (A511) going straight over the traffic lights and across the Trent Bridge.

Staying in the right hand lane, go straight on through both sets of lights at the end of the Bridge, into Horninglow Street, straight on again at the next lights (next to the newly built Magistrates Courts), then turn right at the traffic lights underneath the Brewery fly-over, into Hawkins Lane. Go through the industrial estate, straight across the mini-roundabout and over the Railway Bridge, once over the Railway Bridge, you will come to a roundabout. Go straight across the roundabout into Princess Way and the entrance to the ground is 300 yards on your right.

From M42 Jct. 11 (West Mids) & M5 (South West) – A444: Leave the M 42 at its last exit Junction 11 (Just past Tamworth) and go onto the A444 signposted Burton. Stay on the A444 all the way to Burton, going through Overseal and Castle Gresley on the way. On entering Burton, go past the Black Horse and Copper Hearth pubs, straight across the mini-roundabout and you will come to a roundabout with St Peters Bridge in front of you.

Turn right at the roundabout into Stapenhill Road (A444), which runs parallel to the River Trent, and then turn left at the traffic lights onto the Trent Bridge. Get into the right hand lane, go straight on through both sets of lights at the end of the Bridge, into Horninglow Street, straight on again at the next lights (next to the newly built Magistrates Courts), then turn right at the traffic lights underneath the Brewery fly-over, into Hawkins Lane. Go through the industrial estate, straight across the mini-roundabout and over the Railway Bridge, once over the Railway Bridge, you will come to a roundabout. Go straight across the roundabout into Princess Way and the entrance to the ground is 300 yards on your right.

From M6 North Jct. 15 (A50 Uttoxeter, Stoke-On-Trent) – A511: Leave the Motorway at Junction 15, (Stoke-On-Trent South) and follow the signs for Uttoxeter (A50). Stay on this road ignoring the first sign for Burton and continuing along the A50 until you reach the Toyota Island. Come off the A50 here and follow signs for A38 (south). Travel on this road until you reach the first exit for Burton on Trent. Take this exit (A5121) and proceed along Derby Road, passing McDonald’s and the Pirelli factory on your right and a BP Garage and Cash & Carry on your left until you reach a roundabout. Turn right at this roundabout into Princess Way and the entrance to the ground is 300 yards on your right.

Taxi

A taxi from Burton Railway Station to the ground will cost about £8.50 and should take just over five minutes, traffic dependent.

Parking

There is a large car park at the ground, which costs £5, however, this gets full pretty quickly. Car parking is also available at the Ryknild Trading Estate (also costing £5), just off the roundabout right by the stadium. Also nearby is the Eton Park Junior School (Masefield Crescent – DE14 2SG) which offers parking at £4 per car. The Beech Inn on the Derby Road (which is the main pub for away fans) also offers parking at £5. Whilst behind the Beech Inn is the Pirelli Factory Car Park, which is available to fans for weekend fixtures only at a cost of £3 per car. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near in the local area via YourParkingSpace.co.uk. Otherwise street parking.

Where to eat and sleep?

Burton is a rather picturesque little place that has a fair few hotel options for you to consider. Here are some of our favourites.

1. Holiday Inn Express Burton Upon Trent. You can never go too far wrong with a Holiday Inn and this one, about three miles from the stadium, has a garden, a free buffet breakfast, a restaurant and a bar. There’s also self-parking and Wi-Fi available.
2. Mercure Burton Upon Trent Newton Park. If the Holiday Inn doesn’t tickle your fancy then perhaps this 4-star member of the Mercure chain of hotels will. It’s only a mile and a half from the ground and promises a restaurant, a bar, meeting rooms, free Wi-Fi and free parking.
3. Dovecliff Hall Hotel, Burton on Trent. If chain hotels really aren’t your bag then maybe this hotel will be more to your liking. It’s just over a mile from The Pirelli Stadium and has a number of meeting rooms, a restaurant, a bar, a garden and a picnic area. You’d no doubt be disappointed if we said it doesn’t have free Wi-Fi so we won’t because it does.

Burton itself has a number of lovely pubs and bars that you’ll want to consider for your pre-match pint and considering the club’s nickname is The Brewers that shouldn’t come as a surprise. If you’d rather drink elsewhere, however, then there’s also Ashby de la Zouch nearby, which has both a castle and a brilliant name. Here are some of the best watering holes you’ll want to visit.

1. The Roebuck Inn. The Roebuck Inn is a traditional pub not far from the station that offers a warm and friendly welcome. More than that, though, it also has an excellent real ale selection, a live bar and numerous TVs to show any live sport that might be on.
2. The Devonshire Arms. Within the same postcode as The Roebuck is The Devonshire Arms. The Devonshire might just have a leg up on The Roebuck because they have delicious food available for your consideration as well as all of the ales and sports watching opportunities you’d expect from such an establishment.
3. The Beech Inn. The closest of these three venues to the ground at about a ten minute walk away, The Beech Inn is part of The Beech Hotel and offers real ale, a good beer garden, an open fire and TV screens that will show any interesting sport that’s going on.

Facilities

As you would expect from a relatively newly built ground, The Pirelli Stadium has reasonably good facilities. There are no supporting pillars obstructing your view like you tend to find with older grounds and there’s even a bar for away supporters that you can sit down in. There are plenty of places to buy a bite to eat or a drink, too.

There are two main hospitality options available at The Pirelli Stadium, with the club priding themselves on the fact that their match day hospitality is an ideal treat for families or business partners. Here’s some information on each.

1. The Albion Suite – This is a modern spacious air-conditioned room with its own bar. You’ll get a reserved seat outside of the Albion Suite from where you can watch the match, as well as refreshments at half-time and full-time. Oh, and there’s the small matter of a pre-match four-course meal that you’ll get to enjoy, too.
2. Executive Boxes – If you like your privacy then an executive box is the way to go. No need to hang around with the hoi polloi in the Albion Suite. Instead, enjoy your four-course pre-match meal in the comfort and seclusion of your own box before watching the game either from inside it or else from the executive seat in front of it.

The various lounges and suites at The Pirelli Stadium can be used for all sorts of things, from wedding fayres through to sporting dinners and multiple delegate conferences. The Albion Suite can host up to 300 people, whilst The Tom Bradbury Lounge is a little smaller and can look after around 100 guests. If you’re a huge Brewers fan then you might like to know that you can not only attend wedding fayres at the ground but can also get married there, if you can convince your other half.

Accessibility

1. Ground info. Burton Albion Football club has a number of wheelchair bays available for both home and away supporters. The home disabled wheelchair bays are situated in front of the Raygar Stand (North terrace), Don Amott Stand (West terrace) and Carling Stand (South), while away disabled wheelchair bays are situated in front of the Russell Roof Tiles Stand (East terrace). All are situated at ground level.
2. All of the concourses and bars have low-level counters and the friendly serving staff will be happy to assist you in any way.
3. Car Parking. There are a limited number of disabled car parking spaces available to home and away fans at the Pirelli Stadium. Note that not all disabled car park spaces are next to the turnstiles.
4. Stadium Entry/Seating. Disabled supporters who are restricted in movement are requested to enter the stadium through the side gate, next to the turnstiles, where they will be greeted by one of our Stewards who will arrange to collect the match ticket. Ambulant disabled supporters are requested to enter the stadium via the relevant turnstile where the ticket will be collected. The club advises ambulant disabled supporters to purchase their match ticket in the seated stand on Row A where there are no steps required.
5. Toilet access. All of the stands have access to disabled toilets, all of which are RADAR key-compliant. Steward supervisors in each stand carry RADAR keys for emergency use.
6. Personal assistants. Wheelchair users and ambulant supporters who are in receipt of medium or higher rate of disability allowance, or enhanced PIP, are entitled to have a carer accompany them to the Pirelli Stadium free of charge.
7. Disabled tickets can be purchased by contacting the club, or the visiting club for away fans. Proof of entitlement will be required when booking tickets.
8. Further Information. The club recognises supporters who wear a sunflower lanyard and are happy to assist anyone who requires it. If guide dogs are required, they can accommodate but if possible, call to inform us prior to the game.

History

The Pirelli Stadium is basically directly opposite where the old Eton Park ground used to be before it was demolished and turned into housing. The first fixture at the ground was a pre-season friendly against Chester that the home team lost 1-0. Trialist Avun Jephcott scored the first goal in the new stadium, with Albion having to wait until Kevin Street scored against Hull City in another friendly before they could see one of their own players score in the ground. The Pirelli Stadium was officially opened on the 14th of November 2005 when The Brewers played a friendly against Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. The home side won that game 2-1.

When the club gained promotion to the Football League in 2009, they also gained the ability to add an extra 712 seats to the ground’s capacity. It moved from 6,200 to 6,912 following a discussion with Staffordshire County Council. The first Football League game held at the ground was a 5-2 victory over Morecambe on the 15th of August 2009. On the 12th of December 2009 the ground saw two firsts at the same time: The hat-trick scored by Greg Pearson in the club’s 6-1 win over Aldershot was not only the first hat-trick scored at the new ground it was also the first hat-trick scored by any Burton player in the Football League.