Villa Park opens its doors to supporters for the first time this season on Saturday as Aston Villa take on Everton in the Premier League.
The first home match of the 2022/23 campaign is a sell-out, so make sure you utilise the information below to enhance your visit to the stadium.
And with rail strikes affecting public transport services to Villa Park, pay special attention to our 'Travel Update' section when planning your journey to and from the game.
Below you’ll find all the information you need to enjoy your visit to the stadium on matchday…
Tickets
As mentioned above, Saturday’s game is sold out. The best way to secure tickets for future matches at Villa Park is via a Membership.
Members currently have exclusive priority access to buy tickets for the visit of Manchester City on Saturday, September 3 (ko 5.30pm).
Aston Villa Memberships
Tickets are also on sale for Aston Villa Women versus Manchester City Women at Villa Park on Sunday, September 15 (ko 12.30pm).
Since going on sale, the club has seen unprecedented demand for tickets. You can be there to experience the unique atmosphere of women’s football for yourself from as little as £5 for under-14s and £10 for adults.
Your Visit to Villa Park
With a full house set for Saturday, it's important that supporters take steps to plan their visit to the stadium.
Turnstiles open at 11am, so make sure you arrive at the stadium in plenty of time ahead of kick-off to ensure smooth entry. However you're planning on getting to the match, take a look at our Travel & Parking guide before leaving home.
Once at the stadium, there are plenty of activities taking place before the game. Check out our 'Top 10 Things To Do' below for a few ideas...
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 up to two hours before the match starts.
Supporters are advised to read the updated COVID-19 Matchday Regulations that are in place.
The Holte Suite and Holte Pub will open three hours prior to kick-off and close two hours after full-time.
Card Entry
During the close season we have upgraded the turnstile entry readers in readiness for mobile ticketing. For supporters, this means when you use your season card for entry you no longer insert the card in the mouth of the reader but tap your card on top of the reader.
Travel update
Supporters are advised there will be no trains servicing Aston and Witton stations on Saturday. Due to a train drivers’ strike on Saturday, August 13, West Midlands Railway services will not be running.
Both Aston Villa and Everton fans are advised to plan alternative routes to Villa Park and arrive as early as possible. Supporters should also allow sufficient time for a likely knock-on impact to road access in surrounding areas, with car parking further from the stadium allowing an easier post-match journey.
Fans are advised of the following matchday parking sites around Villa Park:
- Powerleague (£10 – payment by cash or card)
- Aston Tower School (£7 - cash only)
- Birchfield School (£7 - cash only)
Broadway School and Aston Social Club should also be available for supporters to access.
Bus Services
- Buses may be an alternative, with an extensive bus network across the West Midlands. To plan your journey, please go to tfwm.org.uk
- National Express services 7, 11A, 11C, 65 and 67 provide connections near to Villa Park. Please note, services will be busier than usual due to a combination of fan travel and those seeking alternatives to rail.
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.
Reusable Coffee Cups Join Matchday Line-Up
Aston Villa is continuing to reduce the environmental impact of matchdays at Villa Park with the introduction of reusable coffee cups from the start of the 2022/23 season.
The move sees Villa become the first Premier League club to utilise the complete suite of reusable beverage containers following last year’s addition of the ONE Planet ONE Chance Reusable Cup System at the stadium.
These reusable coffee cups are to be used in all kiosks and hospitality across the stadium, therefore totally eliminating any single-use cups - hot or cold - across Villa Park, which would equate to well over 300,000 each season.
Fans will be asked to leave a 10p deposit for each cup, which is refundable on return of the cup or can be donated to Aston Villa Foundation. As an extra incentive for supporters to return their cup, one tree will be planted for every 1,000 cups returned. Click here for more information.
Family Fun Zone
A new season means the return of our Family Fun Zone to Villa Park’s Academy Building on Saturday from 10.30am-12.30pm.
Young Villans can take part in a number of exciting, fun activities ahead of kick-off. We have football darts, inflatable basketball shooting, speed cage, wipeout sweeper arm, strike a light, assault course, foot pool, mega buzzwire, giant connect 4, face painting and a DJ.
We kindly ask that fans do not bring their own footballs into the Fun Zone. Unsupervised games of football cause increased risk of harm to all in attendance. Thank you as always for your cooperation and support.
Purple wristbands, which were introduced last season, will once again be available from the Fun Zone to help keep children safe. Staff will be offering parents the opportunity to receive a purple wristband that your child can wear.
Parents can write their contact details on the wristband and if your child was to become separated from you or felt unsafe, they could approach a steward or another member of staff and show their wristband. Stewards or staff can then duly contact parents and/or Aston Villa Head of Safeguarding Andy Bowly for assistance and support.
Food and Beverage
Villa Park offers a wide range of cuisine and beverages on a matchday.
In the Trinity concourse, Baked in Brick and Brummie Bostin Brownie have been popular additions to the food offering since last season. Baked in Brick offer a range of BBQ Chicken Tikka burgers, a Lemon Curry Halloumi Burger and a range of fries. Serving up a sweet treat, Brummie Bostin Brownie have a selection of double chocolate brownies to choose from, including an Eton Mess and Banoffee Pie flavours.
Outside the stadium, several street food trucks will be situated on the Trinity Stand forecourt alongside a bar serving alcoholic and soft drinks from 10am. The traders include Flying Cow, The Currywurst, The Grub Shed and Cheeky Maharaja.
Pre-Match Entertainment
A great line-up of entertainment in the Trinity Fan Zone will help fans countdown to kick-off on Saturday morning.
The live entertainment schedule for the game is as follows…
10am – Keepy uppy competition with an opportunity to win great prizes
10:45am – Live music from the Jo Baldwin Project
11:45am – A Q&A with England cricketer and Villa fan Chris Woakes
Store Opening Hours
There are a number of places where supporters can shop for Aston Villa merchandise on a matchday. Below you'll find the opening times for each shop around the ground...
Villa Store: 9am-5:30pm (remains open during the game)
Holte Store: 9am-12:30pm and 2-3:30pm
Holte Suite: 9am-12:30pm and 1-3pm
Trinity Fan Zone: 10am-12:30pm
Trinity pop-up store: 9am-12:30pm and at half-time
Academy: 11am-12:30pm
Hospitality 82: 9am-12.30pm and 1-3pm
Click and collect locations are at the Villa Store, Holte Store, Holte Suite and Hospitality 82.
The click and collect order option will be turned off at half-time but any orders placed up to then will be available to collect until that retail unit closes.
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.
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
A new ‘Match Predictor’ game is now live on the memberships portal. Fans can enter for free, you don’t need a paid membership, just a free digital account.
Simply predict the score and first goal scorer for the chance to win prizes. The match predictor will be live for all home games going forward. There is an overall season leaderboard and prizes will be awarded for every home game week.
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. The Pride Rewards collection point will be open from 10am-12pm.
This season we will be running the 'Cazoo Matchday Quiz'. A question will be read out and shown on the big screens before kick-off. Fans have until the half-time whistle blows to submit their entry by tweeting their answer using #partofthepride and including their seat number, row, block and stand. Some great prizes are up for grabs, including season tickets, signed shirts, signed footballs, tickets to watch the first team train and a matchday mascot package. T&C’s apply. For more info, click here.
We want to know about your matchday experience at Villa Park. Tweet us using #avfclive to let us know your matchday experiences and you could be featured on the big screens at the stadium!
