Sheffield Wednesday visitor guide (Hillsborough, Sheff Wednesday, Owls)

The Hillsborough Stadium has been the home ground of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. since it's opening on the 2nd September 1899. The ground is often referred to as a 'classic' football venue, as although a modern all-seater stadium, it still has a vintage feel to it. One of the stands, the South Stand dates back to 1913-14 and still bears the original clock face erected at the time. The North Stand and West Stand (Leppings Lane End) both date from the 1960s, the latter being built to prepare the ground for hosting matches during the 1966 World Cup. The Hillsborough Stadium was one of the eight grounds to host matches during the Euro 96 tournament and had a major refurbishment around this time. Group D fixtures were held here and Denmark, Portugal, Croatia and Turkey all graced the pitch during June 1996. The current capacity of the stadium is 39,814 all-seated.

Visiting supporters will find themselves seated in the upper tier of the West Stand. The usual seat allocation is 3,700 but this can be increased depending on demand. The legroom in this stand is good and the views excellent provided you don't end up behind one of the supporting pillars. The usual match refreshments such as pies, burgers and hot dogs are available inside the ground but it should be noted the alcohol is not available in the away section.

The ground is located some way out of the centre of Sheffield so fans looking for a hotel near the Hillsborough Stadium may be disappointed. However, fans prepared to stay a few miles away in central Sheffield will find a wide range of Hillsborough Stadium hotels to choose from.

Getting To Hillsborough Stadium

By Car

Travelling to the Hillsborough Stadium will, for most people, involve driving through Sheffield City Centre. This can be quite a chore at the weekends and it is advised to avoid doing this if at all possible. Fans approaching from the North, as well as those coming from other directions that don't mind travelling a little further if it means an easier journey, should leave the M1 at Junction 36 and take the A61 into Sheffield. After about eight miles the stadium will be on your right. Fans travelling from the South who don't wish to take this route could try leaving the M1 at Junction 29 to take the A617 towards Chesterfield. Once in Chesterfield, pick up the A61 towards Sheffield and keeping following this road into and then out of the city until you reach the Hillsborough Stadium.

Street parking can be found near the ground although this can disappear fairly quickly on match day. There are plenty of unofficial match day car parks along the A61 and visiting supporters shouldn't have trouble finding a space in one of these. Prices range from £3-5.

Another suggestion would be to leave the M1 at Junction 34 and park at the Meadowhall Shopping Centre and take the South Yorkshire Supertram (yellow route) to the Leppings Lane stop. This journey takes around 40 minutes.

By Public Transport

Fans arriving in Sheffield by train will find that the Hillsborough Stadium is about three miles from the main train station. The walk is for the brave only, so the best way to reach the ground is by bus or tram. For trams, leave the train station and follow the signs for the South Yorkshire Supertram. Take the yellow route towards Middleton Road and alight at the Leppings Lane stop; the ground is just a short walk away. Fans choosing to travel to the stadium by bus will need to make the short walk from the train station to the Flat Street Bus Terminus. The bus station is sign posted and is a couple of minutes walk from the train station. Bus routes 53, 77 and 80 all run to the ground from Flat Street. If you have chosen to stay in a Hillsborough Stadium hotel in the city centre then public transport will be the best way to reach the ground.

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