Premier League football finally returns to Villa Park on Boxing Day.
When Aston Villa step out to take on Liverpool, it will have been 50 days since Villa beat Manchester United at home in Unai Emery's first game in charge of the club.
A full house will be there to greet their heroes as Villa take on the Reds.
Here's everything you need to know to enjoy your visit to the stadium on matchday...
Please note our Boxing Day travel and Villa Park information, for more details click here.
Getting to the game
Click on the sections below to learn more about tickets, Villa Park and transport to the stadium.
Tickets
The game is sold out, with only a very limited number of tickets available via Season Ticket Resale.
The best way to secure tickets for future matches at Villa Park is via a Membership.
Visiting Villa Park
It's important that supporters take steps to plan their visit to the stadium.
Turnstiles open at 4pm, 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.
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.
The Holte Suite and Holte Pub will open three hours prior to kick-off and close two hours after full-time.
Parking and Travel
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.
The club now has two dedicated bus services that run to Villa Park on matchday; AV1 which runs from Tamworth and AV2 which runs from Cannock. You can purchase tickets here.
The bike rack at Villa Park has now been moved behind the Villa Village building on the North Stand car park.
Boxing Day travel & Villa Park info
Supporters are advised there will be no rail services on Boxing Day for our clash against Liverpool at Villa Park.
Due to industrial action, there will no train services in operation and fans are advised to allow ample time to prepare in advance for their journey.
Tram and bus services are operating special festive season timetables, for more information, click here.
Those using the motorway will also need to be aware there are overnight M42 roadworks taking place between Junction 9-10 in the northbound and southbound directions (8pm-5am) until Tuesday, January 3.
There will be a diversion in place and roads are expected to be busier than usual.
Supporters are also asked to note that the Holte Suite will be operating at a reduced capacity on Boxing Day.
Fans looking to gain entry need to arrive early, as the maximum capacity will be greatly reduced for our match against Liverpool and into January.
The reason for the reduced capacity is development works of new catering systems and kiosks in the Lower Holte concourse area, with the works continuing for our fixtures against Wolves, Stevenage and Leeds United.
We've been working hard to upgrade food & beverage kiosks in the Lower Holte to give supporters an improved experience, which will be fully operational for our home match against Leicester City in early February.
Pre-match activities
Click on the sections below to learn more about activities taking place at Villa Park before kick-off.
Family Fun Zone
The Family Fun Zone in Villa Park’s Academy Building will be fully operational on Monday from 3:30-5:30pm.
Young Villans can take part in a number of exciting, fun activities ahead of kick-off. We have football darts, dance machine, penalty shootout, gladiator duel, climbing wall, photo booth, 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.
We will have a Welfare Officer based in the Fun Zone, as well as others around the stadium, wearing distinctive high vis who are on hand to help with any questions or concerns while visiting Villa Park
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 3pm.
New for this game is the introduction of a 'frictionless' kiosk in the Holte End. Look out for staff in pink vests who will be happy to direct and support.
Trinity Fan Zone
The Trinity Fan Zone helps fans countdown to kick-off on every matchday at Villa Park. See below for Boxing Day's line-up...
3pm: Keepy uppy competition with an opportunity to win great prizes
3:45pm: Live music from local musician, Ross Lydon
4:40pm: Q&A with Villa legend Mark Walters
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.
Villa Store
Click on the sections below to learn about merchandise points around the stadium.
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: 11am-5:30pm and 7-8pm
Holte Store: 2:30-5:30pm and 7-8pm
Holte Suite: 2:30-8pm
Trinity pop-up store: 4-5:30pm and at half-time
Academy: 4-5:30pm
Hospitality 82: 2:30-8pm
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.
Matchday Deal
Another excellent Matchday Deal is available at the Villa Store this weekend!
Supporters can take advantage of 60% off all 2022/23 Castore replica home shirts.
*In store only, offer not available online.
During the game
Click on the sections below to learn more about events that take place during the match.
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.
All-seater Stadium
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.
Fan Engagement
Click the sections below to learn about how you can get involved on matchday and our fan loyalty programme, Pride Rewards.
Get Involved
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.
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.
Three lucky fans will win the chance to play 'Score at the Holte'. Each fan will get to take one shot at the targets in the goal in front of a sell-out Holte End, with big prizes up for grabs if their shot lands in one of the targets. Members and Season Ticket Holders can enter NOW for the chance to take part at upcoming games.
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!
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. The Pride Rewards collection point will be open from 3-5pm.
Season Ticket holders and members can head to the Pride Rewards page now and use their loyalty points to redeem amazing money-can’t-buy experiences and gifts. In upcoming events, supporters can now enter the draw for the chance to step onto the hallowed Villa Park turf via our ‘Half Time Selfie’ experience.
