Stadium MK (Milton Keynes)

Stadium MK is a football ground in the Denbigh district of Bletchley in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England. Designed by Populous and opened in 2007, it is the home ground of EFL League One side Milton Keynes Dons and FA Women’s National League South side Milton Keynes Dons Women. In addition to association football, the stadium occasionally hosts rugby union. The stadium also hosts music concerts.

General information

Official website: www.stadiummk.com

Arena capacity: 30,500 spectators

Address: Stadium Way W, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK1 1ST, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 52°00′34″N 00°44′00″W

Year of construction: 2007

Construction cost: £50 million

Field: Desso GrassMaster lawn with dimensions of 105 x 68 m

Seating plan of Stadium MK

West Stand

The West Stand is divided into two tiers of black seating, with the lower tier significantly larger than the upper tier. The Directors’ Box is in the centre of the upper tier and the blocks down below are for Club Red members. A large inner concourse separates the two tiers from one another.

MK Dons’ changing rooms are based inside the West Stand, with the tunnel and dugouts placed in the very centre.

There are no supporting pillars coming down from the roof and, as a result, your view of the pitch from any seat is perfectly clear.

Cowshed

The Cowshed is also divided into two tiers with the lower tier significantly larger than the one above. Every seat in the stand is black and the same large inner concourse separates the two levels from one another.

Your view is perfectly clear from any seat as there are no supporting pillars coming down from the roof.

East Stand

The East Stand mirrors the layout of the West Stand and Cowshed, but the notable difference is that the letters MK DONS are spelt out in white seating along the lower tier blocks. There is also a large red dot between the letters K and D, the same one that appears on the Milton Keynes Dons Club Badge. The central blocks in both tiers of the East Stand are premium seats and the blocks to the left of here is the MK1 seating area.

Your view is perfectly clear from anywhere in this stand as there are no supporting pillars coming down from the roof.

North Stand

The North Stand is an exact carbon copy of the Cowshed opposite.

It is two-tiered and made entirely of black seating with the upper tier much smaller than the lower tier.

Like the rest of the stadium, there are no supporting pillars coming down from the roof and a large inner concourse divides the two levels from one another. This concourse is at the same height the whole way around the stadium’s interior and forms a continuous ring as a result.

Each corner of Stadium:MK is also two tiered and has a large electronic screen above its upper tier. The lower tier is the same height on every side of the ground and forms a continuous ring of black seats around the pitch as a result.

Much like the main four stands, each corner has no supporting pillars in the way and so you can guarantee yourself a clear view of the pitch from any seat inside the stadium.

Away Fans

Away fans are housed behind the goal in the North Stand.

When smaller away crowds come, they are usually kept in the lower tier of the northeast corner, but large crowds take up the entire North Stand lower tier, and the upper tier is usually only reserved for the largest of away crowds when the whole stadium is expected to be full to the brim.

Views from this away section are perfectly clear as there are no supporting pillars coming down from the roof, and the stadium’s enclosed design leaves every row well protected from the sides and from behind.

The padded, fold-down seats are a feature that you will find different to plenty other stadiums across the country.

Away supporters typically enter the stadium through Gate 3, though Gate 2 is also put into use for the largest away followings.

Where to buy tickets?

MK Dons do not categorize their matches, with the only things altering how much you’ll pay for your tickets being your age and where in the ground you’d like to sit. With both match tickets and season tickets, you can get hospitality packages for not much more than the price of normal tickets thanks to what they call ‘Club Red’ and ‘Club Gold’ packages.

You can get tickets through the club’s official website, by calling the ticket office directly, by calling in to the box office at the stadium or at thecentre:mk.

How to get there?

Milton Keynes is a commuter town just outside London, so getting there is reasonably easy. Here are some of the more typical options you’ll want to consider.

Directions and Car Parking

Stadium:MK is situated at Denbigh North, just off the A5, south of Central Milton Keynes and just north of Bletchley. It is adjacent to a couple of Retail Parks, as well as an ASDA store and an IKEA, so expect some traffic congestion. For those familiar with the grid road system of Milton Keynes, then the ground is on V6 Grafton Street on the junction with H9 Groveway.

Official Club Route (this is signposted from Junction 14 of the M1):

Leave the M1 at Junction 14 and head towards Milton Keynes. Go straight over the first roundabout and at the next (where there is a Total Garage on the corner) turn left onto the V11 Tongwell Street. Proceed across one roundabout and at the next turn right onto the H8 Standing Way (A421). Continue along the Standing Way going across a number of roundabouts. On reaching, the Bleak Hall Roundabout turn left into the V6 Grafton Street. At the next roundabout, turn right and the stadium entrance is further down on the left.

From the North:

Leave the M1 at Junction 15 and take the A508 towards Milton Keynes and keep going until you reach the A5 roundabout. Take the first exit onto the A5 (direction London). Turn off at the third junction (signposted A421); take the fourth exit at the roundabout onto the V6 Grafton Street (towards Bletchley) and the ground is on the left. Or if you prefer more motorway driving, then continue South on the M1 to Junction 14.

From Junction 14 take the A509 towards Milton Keynes. Take the A509 towards and into Milton Keynes. After the big motorway roundabout, turn right at the next roundabout (still A509, also called H5 Portway), then keep going straight on until you reach the A5 roundabout. Turn left onto the A5 (towards London). Turn off at the first junction (signposted A421); take the fourth exit at the roundabout onto the V6 Grafton Street (towards Bletchley) and the ground is on the left.

From the South:

Leave the M1 at junction 13 and take the second exit (A421) towards Milton Keynes. At the third roundabout (there’s a BP garage on the right as you approach), take the second exit onto the H9 Groveway. Keep going straight on until you reach the A5 roundabout. Take the second exit at the roundabout onto the V6 Grafton Street (towards Bletchley) and the ground is on the left.

If you are approaching the stadium from the South along the A5, then leave the A5 at the junction of the A421 and you then really can’t miss it.

Please note that the stadium is nowhere near the centre of Milton Keynes. If you do get lost, follow directions to Bletchley and/or IKEA.

If you are a visiting supporter then follow the signs for “football coaches” as this will take you to the back of the stadium, which is nearer the away fans turnstiles. Following signs for “Stadium MK” will take you round to the front of the ground where most of the parking is for permit holders only. With regards to parking, if you don’t want to pay, and arrive early enough, then you can park on the industrial estate which is on the opposite side of the road, to this rear stadium entrance.

Car Parking

There are 2,000 car parking spaces at the stadium, which cost £7 per vehicle. Otherwise, you can street park in the Denbigh West industrial estate. After passing the stadium entrance on your left, turn right at the next roundabout, called Granby roundabout, and then take the next turn left, and immediately left again onto the industrial estate called Denbigh West. Don’t be tempted to park at the adjacent Asda Store as it is patrolled on matchdays and you may end up with a £60 parking ticket for your trouble.

Almost opposite the main stadium entrance is another small industrial estate, called Granby, the entrance to which is on Peverel Drive. Again, there is some street parking to be had in this area. Near to the main road on Peverel Drive there is Magnet Trade (MK1 1NN). They offer car parking at £5, the proceeds of which are donated to a local charity.  There is also the option of renting a private driveway near Stadium MK via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.

Post Code for SAT NAV: MK1 1ST

By Train

The nearest railway station is Fenny Stratford, which is just over a mile away from Stadium MK, however this is on the local Bletchley to Bedford line. As you exit the station, turn right and at the top of the road turn right onto the main Watling Street. Just go straight along this road and you will see the stadium over on your right.

There is also Bletchley Railway Station, which is around about two miles away from the stadium. Surprisingly taxis are scarce outside Bletchley station so best to pre-book one in advance (Skyline are a local taxi firm). Otherwise, you can embark on the 35-40 minute walk to the stadium. The station is served by trains from London Euston & Birmingham New Street.

Turn left immediately you come out of the station building and continue to and down the steps. At the bottom of the steps, turn left and go under the railway bridge. At the roundabout by the Park pub turn left onto Saxon Street. Keep straight on this road and you will eventually reach the stadium.

However, you will need to cross over to the other side, as there is only one path beside it. You will pass Bletchley Bus Station on your right and then the Enigma Pub. Go straight across the double mini roundabout following signs for the A5 and you will see the stadium over on your left. Beware though that the walk might not be best made for night games, as there are a number of underpasses en route. After the match, you can get a Number 6 Bus back to Bletchley from Saxon Street over the road from the stadium.

More likely though you will end up at Milton Keynes Central, which is around four miles away. There is a taxi rank outside the station (Cost about £10 to the stadium). Or there is a regular Bus Service from outside the station. There is the Arriva Service No 1, which runs every 30 minutes (on Saturday afternoons) at 11 minutes and 41 minutes past the hour from Milton Keynes Central Rail station. The journey time takes about 20 minutes (and is via the city centre, Oldbrook and the Hospital) to the bus stop of Grafton Street, adjacent to the stadium entrance. The return journey from the Granby, Grafton Street bus stop leaves at 9 and 39 minutes past the hour to MK Central Rail station.

The number one bus is hourly on midweek evenings. However, you can also catch the Number 6 bus too from the station to the stadium. It runs every 20 minutes on Saturday afternoons, and every 20 minutes outbound and then hourly back on midweek evenings. Visit the Arriva website to view timetables.

Where to eat and sleep?

London is not far away if you fancy the bright lights of the big city, but Milton Keynes itself had a number of excellent choices for hotels.

1. DoubleTree by Hilton Milton Keynes. What better hotel to stay in before a game than one that is actually part of the stadium itself? The DoubleTree by Hilton has a fitness centre, a business centre and free parking.
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2. Holiday Inn Milton Keynes. About two and a half miles from the ground is another chain hotel, the Holiday Inn. It has an indoor pool, Wi-Fi, and air conditioning for those famous warm Milton Keynes afternoons.
3. The White Hart. Around seven miles from the stadium is this delightful upscale inn with just four bedrooms, a restaurant, free parking, free Wi-Fi and a free breakfast included in the cost of your stay.
• Follow the link and get your prediction before the match starts.

Milton Keynes might be a reasonably young town full of commuters, but that doesn’t mean it’s short of places to enjoy a drink. There aren’t many near the ground but here are some of our choices in the centre of town and surrounding areas.

1. Bletchley Working Mens Club. Right near to Bletchley station is this working men’s club that does what it says on the tin. It welcomes away supporters, shows sport on big screens and has a good drinks selection.
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2. Slug & Lettuce. The Slug & Lettuce is a chain pub that does food and standard drinks. They also show a range of live sports on the big screen.
3. MK11 Sports Bar. MK11 Sports Bar shows all sorts of live sports and they also do live music. There’s good drinks on offer and a menu, too.
• Free sports predictions 24 hours a day.

Facilities

Wide, clean concourses with kiosks and places to buy food and drink are on offer in each stand.

There are a lot of hospitality lounges at the new stadium, with different packages offering different things. ClubPlatinum, for example, serves up a three-course meal, half-time tea and coffee and reserved padding in the Director’s Balcony. ClubBlack offers a two-course meal, half-time refreshments and access to the Man Of The Match presentation.

Stadium MK itself doesn’t advertise private hire opportunities, but the DoubleTree by Hilton is part of the ground and offers numerous event spaces as well as 127 bedrooms.

Accessibility

Stadium MK was built with accessibility in mind, to ensure everyone who visits has an unparalleled experience. There is a range of facilities to help make visiting as possible for everyone.

1. Accessible Parking. At Stadium MK, there is 200 accessible parking spaces for guests who require them, and accessible parking is free for all Blue Badge holders. As well as accessible parking, there is multiple drop-off and pick-up points around the Stadium.
2. Hearing Assistance. Induction loops are available for hearing impaired guests, for these hearing aids should be switched to the ‘T’ position.
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3. Concourse Seating. The main concourse around the Stadium can be accessed step-free, from Gates 1 – 5, with lifts available at Gates 6 – 8. A number of accessible seats is available on the concourse, for both wheelchair users and non-wheelchair users.
4. Concourse Catering. All of the public catering kiosks on the upper and lower concourses are equipped with wheelchair friendly drop-counters.
• New predictions for soccer, tennis, hockey, basketball, etc. are created every hour.
5. Lift Access. Stadium MK is accessible via lifts from street level; this includes all areas of DoubleTree by Hilton Milton Keynes, Marshall Arena, and Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill, as well as the lower and upper concourses of the Stadium interior.
6. Bathroom Facilities. There are multiple accessible bathrooms around the Stadium, throughout the concourse, public areas, DoubleTree by Hilton Milton Keynes, and Marshall Arena.
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7. Changing Places Facility. In addition, a fully equipped ‘Changing Places’ specialist accessible bathroom facility has been installed on the South stand of the concourse by Gate 5. This facility meets the needs of people with multiple and complex disabilities, by providing adequate space for the disabled person and up to two carers.

Features include:

• height adjustable, adult sized changing bench;
• wide tear off paper roll to cover the bench;
• ceiling hoist system;
• a centrally placed toilet with space either side for the carers;
• a washbasin;
• a privacy screen;
• RADAR key operated door.

Architectural Aspects

The rectangular form of the individual amps is reflected in the layout of the hotel rooms on the upper levels, and the office space below, with balconies and brise-soleils comprised of fine black mesh squares. The cantilevered steel roof structure hovers effortlessly above, while the entire building is anchored to the ground by a dark granite plinth.

The second phase of the design utilized the upper tier and concourse, already provided in Phase One, fitting them out to expand the capacity to 30,000 seats. It also saw the completion of the 4,500-seat Arena MK, which connects directly into the lower and upper concourses of the South Stand, with two levels of bar facilities, balconies and toilets to compliment the club’s hospitality offering.

History

The stadium has a two-tiered bowl style, though when it was first built only the lower tier was added, as it was felt the local fanbase might not be able to fill the ground. The upper tier has been added since, of course. The stadium was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen in 2007.

A stadium for Milton Keynes was initially the idea of a business consortium including both IKEA and Asda, with the megastores realizing that they might not be able to persuade the local council to allow them to build a new out of town shopping centre unless they gave them something in return – thus a large stadium and sports arena were thought of as the perfect offering.