Aston Villa take on their first fixture of the New Year on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Leicester City to Villa Park (ko 3pm).
Unai Emery's side will be looking to return to winning ways after closing 2024 with a 2-2 draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday, while recording a first Premier League double of the campaign, after a 2-1 win at the King Power Stadium in August.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of the encounter to enjoy your visit on matchday...
Getting to the game
Click on the sections below to learn more about tickets, Villa Park and transport to the stadium.
Mobile Tickets
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.
Tickets
A limited number of general admission tickets for the match remain. Book online here.
The best way to secure tickets for future matches at Villa Park is via a Membership.
Get Matchday Ready
Ahead of the match at Villa Park, the club would like to advise supporters of the following ticketing information to ensure everyone enjoys their visit to our stadium.
Fans will need to provide one of the two specified ticket types to gain entry to the stadium - access tickets in our official Aston Villa mobile app or download to Apple/Google Wallet for NFC entry.
Hospitality and Premium Experiences
The club has a range of new hospitality and GA+ areas to complement our existing offer. Check out all the information and book online here.
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.
Under-3s Policy
Many supporters may not be aware of the policy regarding under-3s, so we are reminding supporters that under-3s 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)
Visiting Villa Park
It's important that supporters take steps to plan their visit to the stadium.
Turnstiles open at 1.30pm, 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.
Parking and Travel
Supporters are advised that the supply of car parking around Villa Park is limited. Fans can pre-book their space via either of the links below:
www.astonvillaparking.co.uk/football/events
www.countrywidemanagementsolutions.co.uk
We will continue to work with local parking operators to offer fans the opportunity to book parking near the stadium.
We would strongly encourage all supporters who have not pre-booked their car parking to travel to Villa Park by alternative modes.
Covered cycle parking is available at our Inner City Academy on Witton Road.
Plan ahead and check train timetables for direct services or travel earlier for less busy services. Visit Transport for West Midlands’ Journey Planner or the National Rail Enquiries real-time journey planner here.
PLEASE NOTE: Engineering work is taking place on the rail line between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton on Saturday, January 4 and Sunday, January 5. Rail replacement bus services are in operation. You can view details of the rail replacement bus services and check your journey using the National Rail journey planner here.
There are a number of Park and Ride sites across the region, for further details visit Park and Ride.
To help you plan your journey by public transport, visit How to get to Villa Park.
There is no planned disruption to key road, rail and bus routes to Villa Park on Saturday.
Traffic signals have been optimised around Villa Park to help improve flow of traffic away from the ground. This should assist with journey times for our AV82 city centre shuttle bus (see below).
City Centre and Tamworth Shuttle Buses
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.
Traffic signals have been optimised around Villa Park to help improve flow of traffic away from the ground. This should assist with journey times for our AV82 city centre shuttle bus.
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.
Cycle Parking
Covered and secure cycle parking is available a short walk away from Villa Park at our Inner City Academy, Brook Vale, on Witton Road.
Accessibility information
Supporters with accessibility requirements travelling to Villa Park by rail are advised to look out for the accessibility signage on both platforms at Witton Station.
Station staff will be able to help you if you wait in the designated areas. More information is available here.
For any supporters with additional mobility needs who have questions about travel to and from Villa Park on a matchday, please contact accessibility@avfc.co.uk.
Pre-match activities
Click on the sections below to learn more about activities taking place at Villa Park before kick-off.
Enjoy the Fan Zone
Villa Park's new Fan Zone is again open on Saturday, located in the former Players' Car Park.
The new space opens its doors at 12.00pm, with supporters able to enjoy a bar area and food.
The Fan Zone is also in prime position to watch player arrivals from 1.30pm.
We also have entertainment taking place on the stage opposite Trinity Reception, including live music from Vivid Souls.
We want to see your experience of matchday at Villa Park! Post your photos and tag #UTV and you could be featured on the big screens at the stadium!
Supporters are advised that the R44 accessible entrance will be closed for a period of time.
Family Fun Zone
Work is soon to begin on the transformation of the existing Academy building at Villa Park.
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.
Food and Beverage
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 1.30pm.
Supporters are reminded that Aston Villa adopts a one-cup system at Villa Park, in our continued environmental sustainability efforts.
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.
In-stadia betting kiosks will also be in operation for this fixture and such service will be provided on a cashless basis.
North Grounds Update
Aston Villa Football Club has announced its plans for a bold regeneration project at Villa Park that will build on the Club’s 150-year heritage, while also creating the fan experience zone of the future.
Expected to go live Christmas 2025, the new project includes the launch of The Warehouse, a new multi-use venue set to become a centrepiece of the matchday experience and a hub for year-round entertainment, along with a new ticketing office, improved plaza in the North Grounds, and expanded footprint of the club shop.
Admission to The Warehouse will be free for ticketed supporters on matchdays, when the venue becomes the largest beer hall in the Premier League – a vibrant space to connect, enjoy a pint, and soak in pre-match excitement with state-of-the-art LED lights and flat-screen TVs. Beyond matchdays, The Warehouse will transform into the Midlands’ premier concert venue and event space. The 3,500-seater venue will host world-class performances, from live music and sporting events to community activities, creating a versatile space for audiences of all kinds. Designed to bring the Aston and Birmingham communities together, it will also serve as a platform for local and global talent, making an impact far beyond Villa Park.
More information here.
Matchday Programme
The latest edition of the Villa News & Record will be available to purchase at Saturday's match!
Fans can continue their sticker album collection, while the programme is also packed with features and news from around the club.
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.
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, including the upgraded Villa Store. Below you'll find the opening times for each shop around the ground...
Villa Store: 9.30am-3pm and 5pm-6pm
Holte Store: 12pm-3pm and 5pm-6pm
82 Lounge: 12pm-3pm and 5pm-7pm
Lower Grounds: 12pm-3pm and 5pm-7pm
Trinity Store: 1.30pm-3pm and for 30 minutes at half-time
Click & Collect
Don’t miss out on the matchday bundle. You can place your merch orders now and simply Click & Collect on matchday!
Pre-order your items and collect at the Villa Store, Holte Store, Holte Suite or Hospitality 82 on matchday.
Please note, the Click & 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.
Click & Collect here.
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, Villa Rewards.
Get Involved
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!
Pride Rewards
The Pride Rewards Portal is back up and running. Log in here.
AV150 Legacy Wall
Aston Villa is excited to reveal a new AV150 Legacy Wall at Villa Park as part of our 150th anniversary celebrations.
Supporters have the opportunity to become part of our iconic home, wherever you are in the world, by purchasing your very own personalised plaque at Villa Park.
Our Legacy Wall is a place where you, your friends and family can show your support for the club, celebrate births, marriages, anniversaries or pay tribute to loved ones.
For more information, click here.
