Doncaster Rovers visitor guide (Keepmoat Stadium), England

The £32 million Keepmoat Stadium was officially opened on the 3 August 2007 with a football match between Doncaster Rovers and a Manchester United XI. Although this was the official opening, sporting events had taken place at the stadium since December 2006, including Doncaster Rovers first game in their new ground, a 3-0 victory over Huddersfield town on 1st January 2007.  Keepmoat Stadium is a multi-purpose venue that is also home the Doncaster R.L.F.C. and Doncaster Belles L.F.C. The stadium complex includes a smaller stadium that is used by reserve teams and the South Yorkshire Mustangs American Football team. The ground itself is a functional affair lacking some of the character of older stadiums; the hybrid pitch, a mixture of natural grass and synthetic fibre, is fully enclosed by all four stands. The capacity of the ground is 15,231.

Away fans are housed in the North Stand where around 3,200 seats are allocated to the visiting team. The facilities at the Keepmoat are good, fans have commented on the decent views, good legroom and a good-natured atmosphere provided by the home support. Pasties, pies, burgers etc are available on the concourses as are the regular liquid refreshments and alcohol. Television screens will help you to keep an eye on the action while you queue.

The ground is located about 1.5 miles from the town centre in a fairly non-descript retail/industrial park, so fans wishing to find accommodation should consider looking for a Keepmoat Stadium hotel in the centre of Doncaster.

Getting To Keepmoat Stadium

By Car

The Keepmoat Stadium can be easily accessed from all directions by the M18. Exit the M18 at Junction 3 taking the A6182 towards Doncaster. The ground is clearly sign posted and will be easy to find from here.  

The car park at the Keepmoat Stadium has just 1,000 spaces, which can make it a bit of a struggle to claim a space on match day. Also, an environmental initiative favours the allocation of spaces to vehicles carrying more than three people, so this should be taken into consideration while planning your journey to Doncaster. Parking at the Keepmoat Stadium costs £5; alternative spaces can be found on the nearby industrial park, parking here will cost between £3-4.

Parking is also available at the car park of Doncaster Rovers former home, Belle Vue. Referred to as a 'park and walk' scheme, fans can leave their car here and make the fairly short and well sign posted walk to the Keepmoat Stadium.    

If a high attendance is expected then a park and ride scheme is available at Doncaster Racecourse. Parking hassles can be avoided by staying in a hotel near the Keepmoat Stadium and making the journey to the game on foot.

By Public Transport

Doncaster's main train station is about two miles from the ground. It is easy to get to the ground from here but fans will need to allow around 30 minutes for the journey, which will put some off. Those who decide to walk should head out of the station; turn right and head down the road passing straight over the first roundabout onto the A638. Follow this road for a while until another major roundabout is reached; pass straight over this one onto the A6182. Keep going down this road and eventually you will reach the Keepmoat Stadium. Fans not wishing to make the journey on foot should take a taxi from outside the train station or take a bus from the nearby bus interchange.

On match days, First Bus provide an enhanced service between the Frenchgate Bus Interchange (opposite the main train station) and the Keepmoat Stadium. The enhanced services are the number 72 and 75 routes. The journey by bus should take less than ten minutes.

Here are football stadiums close to Doncaster Rovers: