Welcome back to the new Sky Bet League One season! The Bantams began their campaign with a home game against Port Vale this coming Saturday (06.08.2016). The first thing to say is that very little has changed in the entry procedures for the coming season, so if you came to home league games regularly last season everything will be pretty much as before. This statement seeks to remind supporters of the easiest ways to gain access to the stadium and some of the safety procedures that will apply to all games at the Northern Commercials Stadium for the coming season.
We expect a great turnout for Stuart McCall’s first competitive game on his return to the Club. Therefore, we would ask all spectators to arrive at the stadium as early as possible. The turnstiles will open from 1.30pm in all sections of the stadium. Another reason for getting to the stadium as early as possible is that additional security checks will be in place for this game. Supporters are asked not to bring bags to the stadium but when that is unavoidable, please note that it will be necessary to check all bags prior to entry. This may slow down the entry process a little, so spectators are asked to have their tickets ready for inspection and co-operate with stewards as they carry out this important task. Bags checks will be conducted at every point of entry to the stadium including turnstiles and banqueting facilities.
We would also take this opportunity to remind supporters that the main Ticket Office will not open at all after each home game. With the North Stand Kop being close to capacity and the North West Corner back in use for every game, the ticket office will be closed after each home game to avoid adding to congestion in that area as supporters leave the stadium.
The Club wishes to remind all home supporters of the standard policy that any home supporters who haven’t got a ticket or pass in their possession before the game must buy a ticket from the main ticket office in the North West corner of the stadium before they approach the turnstiles.
Adult tickets on a match day are priced at £25.00 each with concessions at £15 and juniors at £10 (new for this season, adult tickets are reduced to £20.00 when bought before 5:00pm on the day before the game).
So, for Saturday’s home game against Port Vale (kick-off 3:00pm), the following entrances are the easiest way to gain entry to the stadium:
For the JCT 600 West Stand
- Supporters with pre-paid tickets - i.e. season tickets, match tickets or FlexiCards where the seats have been paid for in advance - should make their way to turnstiles W4-W10 or W12-W18. These turnstiles are all located in the Directors’ car park either side of the glass doors that lead to the banqueting areas.
- Supporters with a FlexiCard who wish to pay cash on the day can enter by turnstiles W3 or W11.
- Any spectator with no passes or tickets should make their way to the main ticket office in the North West corner of the stadium to make a purchase.
For the North West corner:
- Supporters with pre-paid tickets - i.e. season tickets, match tickets or FlexiCards where the seats have been paid for in advance - should make their way to turnstiles NW3-NW6. These turnstiles are located in the North West corner to the left of the main Ticket Office as supporters approach it down the steps from Burlington Street.
- Supporters with a flexi-card who wish to pay cash on the day can enter by turnstiles NW1-NW2. These turnstiles are located in the North West corner to the right of the main Ticket Office as supporters approach it down the steps from Burlington Street.
- Any spectator with no passes or tickets should make their way to the main ticket office in the North West corner of the stadium to make a purchase.
For the North Stand Kop
- Supporters with pre-paid tickets - i.e. season tickets, match tickets or FlexiCards where the seats have been paid for in advance - should make their way to turnstiles N1 to N4 and N5-N6, all of which are located behind the Kop
- Supporters with pre-paid tickets - i.e. season tickets, match tickets or FlexiCards where the seat has been paid for in advance - can also enter both levels of the North Stand Kop through turnstiles N10 - N14 which can be located on Midland Road
- Supporters with a FlexiCard for the North Stand Kop, who wish to pay cash on the day, can gain access through turnstiles N7-N8 behind the Kop (close to the Bantams Bar entrance). One turnstile - N9 - which is situated on Midland Road will also be available for FlexiCard holders who wish to pay cash on the day to enter both levels of the North Stand Kop.
- Any spectator with no passes or tickets should make their way to the main ticket office in the North West corner of the stadium to make a purchase.
For the Northern Commercials (East) Stand
- Supporters with pre-paid tickets - i.e. season tickets, match tickets or FlexiCards where the seats have been paid for in advance - should make their way to turnstiles E1 to E5, all of which are located on Midland Road
- Supporters with a FlexiCard who wish to pay cash on the day can enter the Northern Commercials Stand by only one turnstile, which is E6
- Any spectator with no passes or tickets who wants to sit in Blocks A-E of the stand, should make their way to the main ticket office in the North West corner of the stadium to make a purchase.
Late turnstiles
There will be late turnstiles for each part of the stadium which will remain open until half-time. There will be two late gates per section with one being for flexi-card holders paying cash on the day and the other for holders of season tickets, match tickets or flexi-cards where the seats have been paid for in advance.
- For the JCT 600 (West) Stand, tickets holders that arrive after kick-off should go to W4, with late FlexiCard cash payers using W3
- For the North West Corner, tickets holders that arrive after kick-off should go to NW6 and late FlexiCard cash payers should use NW1
- For the North Stand Kop, ticket holders that arrive after kick-off should go to N1, with late FlexiCard cash payers using N8 (both of which are behind the Kop - there is no late turnstile for the Kop on Midland Road)
- For the Northern Commercials (East) Stand, ticket holders that arrive after kick-off should use E5 with late FlexiCard cash players using E6.
Road closures and breaks-ins
There will be no road closure in place on Midland Road for this game. Please try to ensure that when you park your vehicle it is secure when you leave it and that any valuables are either removed from the car entirely or placed out of sight while your car is parked up for the game.
This advice is intended to help supporters to try and avoid having their match day at Bradford City FC being spoiled by thoughtless thieves getting into vehicles. If you do suffer any crime of this type while attending the game, please report the problem to West Yorkshire Police immediately by calling the non-emergency 101 number.
Northern Commercials Stadium is a no-smoking arena
We would also like to take this opportunity of reminding all supporters that, in accordance with legislation and the EFL regulations, the entire stadium is a no-smoking area. This includes the viewing areas, concourses, toilets and stairways.
In addition, the Club has imposed a ban on the use of e-cigarettes within the stadium. We would request that all supporters abide by the bans that are in place for all tobacco products and e-cigarettes for every home game.
Season ticket/FlexiCard collections
Finally, we must repeat the messages that have been issued consistently over the last few weeks that we cannot allow the collection of season tickets or FlexiCards on Saturday.
This measure has to be taken to ensure the safety of all spectators approaching the stadium via the North West Corner.
The ticket office is staying open until 7:00pm tonight (Friday) to enable supporters to make last minute collections.