Rodney Parade (Newport)

Rodney Parade is a stadium in the city of Newport, South Wales, owned and operated by the Welsh Rugby Union. It is the home ground of Dragons regional rugby union team. It is also the home ground of Newport County football club, and is the second-oldest sports venue in the Football League, after Deepdale. Stadium capacity is reduced from rugby levels for football matches. Newport Squash Club has four courts at Rodney Parade.

General information

Arena capacity: 8,700 spectators

Address: Rodney Road, Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, NP19 0UU

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 51°35′18″N 2°59′16″W

Year of construction: 1877

Field: grass lawn with dimensions of 102 x 65

Seating plan of Rodney Parade

North Terrace

The North Terrace is a single tier of standing terrace that has no roof overhead or windshields on the sides. Three rows of metal bars are in place across the rows of terracing for fans to lean on.

You have a perfectly clear view from anywhere inside, but absolutely no protection from the elements.

There is a very small box of seats next to the northeast corner but these are considered to be part of the Bisley Stand more than the North Terrace.

Given Rodney Parade is in use by rugby teams as well as football teams, there is a large amount of space between the North Terrace and the goal, so you can feel a long way from the action here when the game is taking place.

Bisley Stand

The Bisley Stand is single-tiered.

All the seats inside are randomly coloured either black, red or yellow, although some of these yellow seats have lost their colour slightly and appear to more cream under the stand’s lights.

A row of executive boxes runs along the back of the Bisley Stand and the two back rows of seats make up the reserved blocks for each of these boxes.

Above the central boxes is the mezzanine which holds the matchday camera, and the hospitality suite is based above the Dragons Ticket Office in the northeast corner.

There are no supporting pillars coming down from the roof, ensuring a clear view from any seat inside the Bisley Stand.

The Hospitality Suite acts as a windshield for the stand at one end, but the end next to the southeast corner is left open and unprotected.

South End

The South End is split into two sets of green seating. One is wider than the other, but both go as equally far back.

There used to be a two-tiered building behind the South End seating area, but this has now gone and there is a large electronic screen there instead.

Much like the North Terrace opposite, the South End is completely uncovered with no roof or walls protecting any of the seats. On a matchday, you will feel all of the wind and the rain if it is present.

There is also a large amount of open space between the front of the South End and the goal, as the pitch has to be big enough for both rugby and football matches. You can feel a long way away from the action taking place as a result.

Compeed Stand

Rodney Parade’s tunnel is based in the southwest corner of the football ground, and continuing round from there brings you to the Compeed Stand.

It is split into two sections, with standing terrace down the front and red seating blocks higher up at the back.

The Compeed Stand only runs along half of the pitch, with the other half made up of uncovered standing terrace, and tends to only be used when none of the covered standing terrace is available.

Supporting pillars come down at the front of the Compeed Stand and will restrict the view of those behind.

A windshield is in place next to the southwest corner, but the other side of the covered area is left completely open.

Away Fans

The location of away fans at Rodney Parade depends on the size of the travelling crowd.

Small followings are kept in a couple of blocks of the Bisley Stand, over by the southeast corner. Larger crowds are kept here and then also housed in the South End blocks.

This means that some fans get the luxury of having a roof over their head, whilst others don’t.

Where to buy tickets?

Tickets are cheaper if you want to watch from the terrace rather than from a seated area, and apart from that only your age will affect the price you pay for your ticket.

Tickets can be bought at the ground or on the club’s official website.

How to get there?

Rodney Parade is part of a multi-sports complex less than 0.5 miles east of Newport City Centre. The River Usk is even closer, with its banks just a few hundred metres away from the ground’s western side. Newport City Footbridge goes from the southwest corner of the football ground to the Kingsway Shopping Centre, with the University of South Wales Newport City Campus and The Riverfront Theatre also close by.

It’s recommended staying on the east side of the River Usk if you are looking for parking spaces.

There is an abundance of streets near the ground, but they are quite tight and finding space that you are legally allowed to park in gets easier the further away you go.

It should not be too much of an issue though.

Newport Station is very well placed on the west side of the River Usk and walking from there can take no longer than 15 minutes across the nearby bridge, down Rodney Road, and then across Grafton Road to the complex entrance.

Where to eat and sleep?

If you are coming a long way and need to stay they night, try one of these as a first port of call:

1. ibis budget Newport. Budget really does mean budget as far as ibis hotels are concerned, so expect thin mattresses and ‘functional’ decor. You’ll still get free Wi-Fi, free parking and tea and coffee making facilities, though, and it’s only a mile from the ground.
2. Silurian Hotel. Although there is no onsite parking, The Silurian has a bar plus free wifi and breakfast, as well as only being half a mile from the ground. It’s pretty high spec for the price too.
3. Celtic Guest Houses, The Old Rectory. This upmarket guest house has just six rooms and is a bit further afield form the stadium at five miles, but you’ll get free Wi-Fi, free parking, a terrace and a garden.

Good news, there are pubs in Newport! Here are a few of them:

1. Blu Sports Bar & Victoria Hotel. It’s near to the ground, has plenty of TVs for watching sport and is good enough if you’re a home supporter.
2. Godfrey Morgan. You’ll be able to see the chain pub’s famous swirly whirly carpet here whilst you also enjoy a pint and a cheap bite to eat.
3. The John Wallace Linton. Cheap food & cheaper drinks etc. here.

Facilities

This is Wales, so the food on offer isn’t exactly healthy, but fans of burgers, hot dogs, and deep fill fries will be in greasy heaven.

Newport County’s most popular hospitality options are their boxes, where you’ll enjoy a two-course meal and a private bar, interviews with former players and a VIP entrance plus padded seats.

A £7 million conference centre opened at the stadium in 2011, meaning virtually any event can be catered for.

Accessibility

The club always strives to ensure that an excellent Match Day Experience is accessible to everyone.

Toilets

Accessible Toilets are located in the Bisley Stand. We encourage those who require these services to watch the match from this side of the Stadium. These have been fitted with radar locks, if you do not possess your own, please inform a steward.

Lifts

There is a lift located in the Hospitality Entrance to the Bisley Stand which provides access to Hospitality Lounges and Bars.

Food and Drink

Following Stadium refurbishments, Disabled supporters can gain access to purchase food and drink items from the Bisley Stand side of the Stadium. Please note that these are card only.

Hearing Loop

The Rodney Parade Ticket Office and Kingsway Club Shop both have portable Hearing Loops.

Wheelchair Users

Designated areas for wheelchair dependent home supporters are located on the North Terrace = 4 spaces and Hazell Terrace = 4 spaces. There is a designated area for wheelchair dependent away supporters located in the South Stand = 4 spaces (PA seated).

The area on the North Terrace is raised and covered; if additional protection is needed emergency ponchos and blankets are available. Please note that the area is exposed to the elements from the pitch, this is the case in the majority of the stadium for all supporters.

The area on the Hazell Terrace is at the south end near the changing rooms and is pitch level, under the cover of the terrace. There is a restricted view of the corner area on the near side of the pitch at the northern end, this view is restricted for all supporters not just those using the area. Wheelchair dependent supporters who require tickets for a designated area are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.

Exterior

Heading through these two black gates on Grafton Road brings you into the northernmost area of the complex.

Right in front of you is the Newport County Shop and Main Ticket Office in a large brick building. Most of the space inside this building is taken up by the Rodney Hall function room and offices for the Dragons Rugby Club.

In front of the brick building is a large grass training area that is floodlit for use at night.

Another brick building to the west of this grass pitch holds the Newport Squash Club, and to the south is a large tent that holds the Family Zone on a matchday.

Fans park up all the way along the road which rings around the floodlit grass pitch, but official parking spaces are on the east side with the Newport County Club Offices next door.

The North Stand of Rodney Parade is beyond the Family Zone tent.

Better known as the North Terrace, it has a very plain outer wall and the turnstiles leading inside are in the northwest corner.

You do have to be inside the Rodney Parade complex to reach the North Terrace turnstiles, but there is a shortcut through the fence off Rodney Road that you can take. It’s particularly useful if you are coming from the Newport City Footbridge and don’t want to have to walk all the way around to the Grafton Road gates.

Continuing round in a clockwise direction brings you to the East Stand, which is known for sponsorship reasons as the Bisley Stand.

A row of houses along Corporation Road runs along the back of the stand, so you cannot see much of its silver, panelled exterior.

There is an entrance into this stand on Corporation Road, but it is only in use when Dragons Rugby Club are playing. When Newport County are playing, you can find the turnstiles next to the ground’s northeast corner, close to the Family Zone Tent.

Newport Rugby Football Club’s Offices and Ticket Office are in a building attached to the Bisley Stand in the northeast corner, and the turnstiles for the stand’s away blocks are at the opposite end of the football ground in the southeast corner.

The South End of Rodney Parade has a walkway running out the back of it, allowing fans to get from Corporation Road on the east side of the ground to Rodney Road on the west side.

The away turnstiles that lead to both the South End seating area and the away blocks of the Bisley Stand are based off this walkway in the southeast corner.

At the other end in the southwest corner is a square building with a pyramid roof. This holds the viewing lounge, along with the changing rooms for players and officials. The building is surrounded by a tall metal fence and no supporters are allowed into here.

The West Stand is known for sponsorship reasons as the Compeed Stand.

Rodney Road runs right along the outside of it, and the exterior here is made up of large silver panels with a black strip up towards the top.

The turnstiles for the stand’s seating area (Gate 2) are based at the opposite end of the stand to the viewing lounge building, and continuing along Rodney Road brings you to the shortcut that allows you to quickly get into the sports complex and reach the northwest turnstiles.

History

Located on the East bank of the River Usk and within easy walking distance of the city’s bus and train stations, Rodney Parade began life as the home of an Athletics Club that also allowed the playing of cricket, tennis and rugby on its grounds. It has since hosted mainly rugby, including international matches, and now football.