Villa Park is ready and waiting to host another matchday when Aston Villa welcome Everton to B6 on Saturday.
Home support has helped Dean Smith's side pick up four points from their opening two Villa Park fixtures and they'll be hoping to continue that trend at the weekend.
Below you’ll find all the information you need to enjoy your visit to the stadium on matchday…
Your visit to Villa Park
Full houses are back at Villa Park, however, it's important that supporters take steps to ensure that their visit to the stadium is a safe one.
Turnstiles open at 4pm, so make sure you arrive to the stadium in plenty of time ahead of kick-off to ensure smooth entry. However you're planning to get to the match, take a look at our Travel & Parking guide before leaving home.
As is usually the case, a traffic exclusion zone will be in operation around the stadium – meaning there will be less traffic on Trinity Road and Witton Lane from 90 minutes before the match starts. Limited car parking is available at Brookvale car park, subject to availability.
Along with following the Club's COVID-19 Fans Code of Conduct vigilantly, supporters can take actions before, during and after the game to help minimise risk surrounding the transmission of the virus. See our Returning to Villa Park guide for more information.
The Holte Suite is open for the first time this season, opening three hours before kick-off and closing two hours after full-time. The Holte Pub currently remains closed.
New matchday protocols and COVID-19 guidance
Villa Park will again be operating at full capacity and, in line with the Premier League, we have taken measures to help safeguard everyone in the stadium on a matchday amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
These include a COVID-19 Fans Code of Conduct. By purchasing a match ticket, supporters are agreeing to comply with this Code of Conduct.
At the start of the 2021/22 season, we also published guidance on COVID-19 status certification here, which may be implemented at future matches. Please note, this does not apply to the Everton fixture and no fan will be denied entry to the game.
Spot checks will, however, continue to take place asking those supporters in attendance to show they are fully vaccinated or have proof of a negative lateral flow test. We encourage all concerned to comply and help both the club and fans prepare for a scenario in which this potentially becomes mandatory at short notice.
For full details on medical exemptions, click here.
Please note, the club will not be showing the match live on the screens in the concourses at Villa Park. To ensure the safety of all fans we encourage you not to congregate in the concourses, but to consume your food and beverages and return to your seats promptly.
During the match
We would like to remind supporters that Villa Park is an all-seater stadium.
In all areas of Villa Park, we have children, elderly fans and those with medical conditions who are unable to see or watch the match if supporters stand up in front of them.
Please be mindful of this at all times and thank you for your cooperation.
Cashless stadium
Please note, Villa Park will be cashless to help ensure safe social distancing practices and minimise contact at all points of sale. This includes the Villa Store, with card payments widely accepted in and around the stadium.
The only exception is programme kiosks outside the ground, which will still accept cash.
Food and beverage
To further diversify the choice of food we’re providing for fans, the club has brought a new trendy food trader into the Trinity concourse
Pietanics, a Birmingham-based street food trader, is famous for their classic British pies, including the bacon cheeseburger pie, Birmingham Balti pie and saag aloo pie (vegan) on their Villa Park menu.
Pre-match entertainment
Roaming entertainment will again be provided by Digbeth Dining Club, who featured at Villa Park on matchdays before the pandemic.
The entertainment will consist of a brass band, a dohl drummer band and a circus act.
They will be located in the Trinity forecourt area and Holte End car park, but will be moving around the outside of the stadium before kick-off.
Matchday Click and Collect
A new Matchday Click and Collect platform is in operation at Villa Park this season.
Supporters will be able to pre-order merchandise in the run up to matchday and on the day, and collect from the Villa Store or Holte Store. You can also order from your seat up until half-time and collect after the game.
A new 'Back to School Bundle' is now available in store and online, consisting of an Aston Villa crest backpack, Aston Villa clear bag stationery set and an Aston Villa A4 sticker pack. You can save 28% on the bundle, which is on sale for £28!
Visit here to shop, choose your collection point, and pick up on the day.
Villa Store opening hours v Everton: 9:30am-8pm
Holte Store opening hours v Everton: 2:30-5:30pm and for one hour after the final whistle
82 Lounge opening hours v Everton: 2:30pm-5:30pm and at half-time for hospitality guests
Fun Zone
The family Fun Zone returns to Villa Park’s Academy Building on Saturday from 3:30-5:30pm.
Young Villans can take part in a number of exciting, fun activities ahead of kick-off. We have unclimbable ladder, football darts, inflatable penalty shoot out, gladiator duel, the vault, assault course, dance machine, foot pool, giant connect 4, face painting, DJ and a pop-up store.
To help keep people safe, sanitiser stations will be provided at each activity. Face masks will be required in the fun zone in line with government guidance on face masks in crowded indoor spaces.
See it...hear it...report it!
If you witness discriminatory behaviour at a match or around a stadium, please report it to the police or a steward.
Supporters at Villa Park can text REPORT to 60060 along with the location of the incident and details of what you have witnessed using one of the key words below to enable a prompt response.
The text line also includes the reporting of any safeguarding concerns. The text service will be supported by our security team and West Midlands Police. Each text costs one standard message at your network rate. The club may share your details with West Midlands Police if further information is required to assist with a criminal prosecution.
Fan engagement and Pride Rewards
Fans will again be able to take part in the ‘Pick a Player’ game on Pride Rewards for the chance to earn loyalty points. All you have to do is pick a player for the match and their performance during the game will earn you points.
Fans can collect items they have redeemed on Pride Rewards from the collection point between 3.30-5.30pm. The collection point window is situated on the side of Villa Village just to the right of the main Ticket Office.
Half-Time Trivia returns for the start of the season. Fans will have the opportunity to test their Villa knowledge at half-time for a chance to win a 2021/22 home shirt.
The question will be read out and displayed on the big screens pre-match, with the winner presented with the shirt at half-time. All fans have to do is tweet their answer along with #PartOfThePride and their seat, row, block & stand for the chance to win!
Junior Season Ticket Holders will be able to collect their gift from Villa Village. Simply show the voucher you received in your Welcome Pack upon collection.
