Matchday Guide: Aston Villa v Bologna

Villa Park is now fully NFC ticketing enabled for supporters to access the stadium. Near-Field Communication (NFC) enables fans to enter the stadium via Apple or Google Wallet.

Supporters can now also access their match-by-match tickets and enter the stadium directly via the Aston Villa app. Simply log into your Digital Account in the app and your tickets will appear under the ‘Tickets’ section. Supporters must update their app to the latest version to ensure in-app ticketing works without issue.

A limited number of tickets are still available for the match and can be purchased here.

The best way to secure tickets for future matches at Villa Park is via a Membership. 

The club has a range of new hospitality and GA+ areas to complement our existing offer. Check out all the information here and book online.

Hospitality bookings for our upcoming home matches can be made over the phone on 0333 323 1982 (option 1) or by emailing hospitality@avfc.co.uk.

Many supporters may not be aware of the policy regarding under-3s, so we are reminding supporters that under-3’s are only permitted to be in the Family areas in the Trinity Road stand at Villa Park and must have a match ticket. Further information can be found here Aston Villa Ticketing (avfc.co.uk)

It's important that supporters take steps to plan their visit to the stadium. 

Turnstiles open at 6.30pm, so make sure you arrive at the stadium in plenty of time ahead of kick-off to ensure smooth entry. 

Please note, access to stiles is maintained during the first half and will close once the half-time whistle is blown.

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 Pub will open three hours prior to kick-off and close two hours after full-time.

Key Information

• Birmingham city centre and train services calling at Bescot Stadium will be busy, as other local football teams are playing at the same time.
• Chester Road Station car park is closed for maintenance. The closest alternative Park and Ride Station is Sutton Coldfield.  

Travelling by Public Transport

• Please plan ahead and check train timetables for direct services or travel earlier for less busy services. Please visit Transport for West Midlands’ Journey Planner or the National Rail Enquiries real-time journey planner here.
• Our dedicated city centre shuttle bus service, the AV82, will operate for the match. For more information visit here.
• There are a number of Park and Ride sites across the region, please visit Park and Ride.
• To help you plan your journey by public transport, please visit How to get to Villa Park.

Car Parking

Supporters can pre-book their space via either of the links below.

www.astonvillaparking.co.uk

www.countrywidemanagementsolutions.co.uk

Supporters are also 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)

Cycle Parking

Covered cycle parking is available at our Inner City Academy on Witton Road.

Aston Villa is delighted to confirm to supporters that our AV82 city centre shuttle bus service will continue to run on matchdays this season. This follows a successful trial of the service at the back end of last season.

The service will be in operation for all men’s home matches in the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and all domestic cup competitions, helping supporters travel more easily to and from Villa Park.

Run by Stagecoach, the AV82 shuttle picks supporters up from outside Birmingham New Street Station on Dudley Street, running directly to Villa Park. Buses run every 15 minutes, starting three hours before kick-off for every home fixture. Services run back to Birmingham New Street at regular intervals for up to 90 minutes after the final whistle of every game, with services departing from Grosvenor Road, on the walking route towards Aston Station.

The club also has a dedicated bus service, AV1, that runs to Villa Park from Tamworth on matchday. You can purchase tickets here.

More information is available here.

Accessibility signage was fitted at Witton Station last season thanks in large part to an Aston Villa supporter.

Cameron Wood is a wheelchair user and disability rights campaigner who travels to and from games at Villa Park via train.

Cameron wrote to the club to voice his concerns about accessibility at the station on a matchday and a meeting was subsequently arranged with West Midlands Trains.

Following the meeting, new accessibility signage, which can be seen from both ends of the platform by station and onboard staff, was fitted.

Find out more here.

Villa Park's new Fan Zone is again open on Tuesday, located in the former Players' Car Park.

The new space opens its doors at 5pm, with supporters able to enjoy a bar area, food and big screen TVs. 

The Fan Zone is also in prime position to watch player arrivals from 6.30pm.

We also have entertainment taking place on the stage opposite Trinity Reception, including live music from Jonny Pockets.

Unfortunately, due to the planned works, the Academy building is not operational to the extent to which we can safely open the Family Fun Zone.

The club are working on alternate arrangements to enable a continuation of some of the family-friendly pre-match activities. Updates will follow in the coming weeks.

Villa Park offers a wide range of cuisine and beverages on a matchday.

Outside the stadium, several street food trucks will sit alongside a bar serving alcoholic and soft drinks from 5pm.

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.

In-stadia betting kiosks will also be in operation for this fixture and such service will be provided on a cashless basis.

The Warehouse, which will now be 40,000 sqft, has been further developed with an enhanced design to accommodate live music and entertainment events for 3,500+ visitors and fans.

Structural alterations to over half the rooftop will make way for a newly raised flat roof which will accommodate a generous mezzanine floor and viewing galley from above for both live music and fan zone entertainment.

Creating a multi-use space called ‘The Warehouse’, will include a diverse range of Food & Beverage offers and pre- and post-match and event entertainment.

The Warehouse will become a vibrant and ‘go to’ destination for the community embedded in the Villa Park and Witton Street scene.

The latest edition of the Villa News & Record will be available to purchase at Tuesday's game.

Mark Walters provides a Legends Column, Martin Laursen is our feature interview and we also have a Q&A with Villa fan and Bologna coach Gianluca Pagliuca.

Supporters will be able to purchase copies from sellers at Villa Park on matchday, while they're also available to purchase in the club shop and online here.

There are a number of places where supporters can shop for Aston Villa merchandise on a matchday, including the upgraded Villa Store. Below you'll find the opening times for each shop around the ground...

Villa Store: 9am-10.30pm

Holte Store: 5-8pm and 9.30-10.30pm

82 Lounge: 5-8pm and 8.30-10.30pm

Lower Grounds: 5-8pm and 8.30-10.30pm

Trinity: 6.30pm until the end of half-time

Supporters can take advantage of 30% off selected lines in the Villa Collection on matchday.

The offer is only available when shopping in the Villa Store.

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.

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.

New for 2024, the ‘Villa Predictor’ game will give fans the opportunity to win a £500 store voucher if they correctly predict the outcome of the game. T&Cs apply.

We want to know about your matchday experience at Villa Park. Tweet us using #UTV and you could feature on the big screens at the stadium!

The Pride Rewards collection point will be open from 5.30am-7.30pm. 

The Pride Rewards Portal is back up and running. Log in here.