After a fantastic return for a capacity Kenilworth Road crowd against Peterborough, we look forward to once again welcoming 10,000-plus fans on Saturday for the visit of Birmingham City.
With changes to our access and entry systems and the move to becoming a cashless venue in time for the 2021-22 season kick-off, we wish to monitor the various modifications and ensure they are working for you, our supporters.
We emailed a questionnaire to several hundred fans who attended the Posh match to gauge opinions on the matchday experience and ask for feedback on how we could improve further.
We were so delighted by the 30 per cent response rate that it is an exercise we will continue to carry out after each game.
We have listened to your issues around entry, the lengthy wait to order a drink, congestion caused by the resulting queues at the Kenilworth Road entrance, and the limited number of programme sellers – and you will see below what changes have been made to address them.
We also asked whether anyone had tested positive for Covid-19 after attending the Peterborough match – and are delighted to report that no-one who responded had done so.
So, once again we look forward to welcoming you tomorrow and have put this fans’ guide together to help your day run smoothly. Please take a few minutes to read it and refresh your memory as we know the matchday routine has changed for us all.
And if it is your first return to the Kenny on Saturday, we welcome you home and look forward to hearing you…
Cashless Kenny
We would like to remind supporters that Kenilworth Road is now a cashless stadium, meaning all food and drink kiosks, bars and the Ticket Office are accepting card payments only.
Please ensure you bring a suitable payment method with you to avoid issues at the till when you visit.
This decision has been taken with the safety of supporters at the front of our minds and all of the information about the move to a cashless stadium and new access control measures can be found HERE.
Kenilworth Bar Congestion
At the Kenilworth Road Bar, we understand that there were first-day teething problems with payment systems and queues.
We can inform supporters that tills have now been hard wired in to limit connectivity issues and ensure the queues move more quickly.
Extra signage has also been put in place to manage the queue away from areas that could prevent other supporters entering the ground.
To help ease congestion, we would also like to remind fans that they can head straight into the stadium if queues appear long as draught beer is also available at the following internal kiosks:
- Kenilworth Stand: Hatters Bar
- Main Concourse: Pie Hut & Nick Owen Bar
- Oak Stand: Oak End Bar & Oak Road Bar
The situation will continue to be reviewed after each match.
COVID-19 precautions
Supporters are advised to enter the stadium at their own risk.
An NHS Covid pass is not required to enter the ground, nor proof of a negative test. But if you are displaying symptoms, awaiting test results or have been pinged and told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace prior to the day of the match, please do not attend.
The NHS QR code will be available at entrances for those who choose to check-in using the NHS Covid-19 app.
Face coverings
Please do continue to wear a face covering if you feel more comfortable doing so, and please also be sensitive to others if you choose not to wear a face covering.
We would also like to emphasise that club staff also have the right to choose whether to wear a face covering or not, so please respect every individual’s decision.
Hand sanitising
There will be extra hand sanitising stations around the stadium, at kiosks and in toilets. Please make use of these at every opportunity and leave in place for others to use after you.
High touchpoint areas will also be cleaned regularly throughout the game.
Club Shops
Our town centre store on Park Street is open from 9am until 4pm on Saturdays, and 10am-4pm Monday to Friday.
The stadium club shop remains closed for now following a recent fire, but our Retail Pod will once again be open from 12pm outside the entrance to the shop at the top of Kenilworth Road.
At this time, the Pod will only be selling 2021/22 replica shirts.
Name and number printing will not be possible on a matchday, but shirts can be taken to our Park Street store at a later date for printing.
Please note that after midday on Saturday, all Click & Collect orders due to be picked up from the Ticket Office will be available from the Pod after midday.
Programme
Programmes costing £3.50 will be available to purchase outside the ground with two stations on the Kenilworth Apron – including a clearly-marked Gazebo – and others on Oak Road and Maple Road.
In total, there will be six sellers, bringing us back to the same number as pre-Covid, but in addition programmes will also be available at the Retail Pod and at ALL fixed kiosks inside the ground, but not mobile units.
The sellers will be situated in the following positions:
- Kenilworth Apron (x3)
- Kenilworth Road Stand – K2
- Oak Road
- Maple Road
Programmes will also be available at the Pop-up Shop, Main Kiosk and Kenilworth Road Stand Kiosk.
Please remember that Kenilworth Road is now a cashless stadium and sellers outside the ground with have payment machine that will accept contactless payments. They will not accept cash or American Express.
Golden Gamble
You asked for its return, and we are delighted to tell supporters that the Golden Gamble is back!
Tickets will be available to purchase from ALL programme sellers at £2 each – with a vendor also visiting all hospitality areas to give everyone a chance of winning half the pot that will be drawn at half-time.
Travelling to Kenilworth Road
Parking is available at Power Court A car park, and you can park up to three hours before kick-off and leave within an hour after the final whistle for £1.40.
To download your permit, simply follow these instructions:
- Click this link and complete the short form which includes your car’s number plate.
- Submit the form and click the link to download your permit which appears on the confirmation screen.
- Print the permit off and display it clearly on your dashboard when parking on a matchday.
- If you are parking on a Saturday afternoon, purchase a ticket for £1.40 from one of the machines and display it with your permit.
Alternatively, a list of public car parks can be found via the link HERE.
See you soon!
Finally, with capacity crowds now back at Kenilworth Road, we ask you to be considerate of fellow supporters and our neighbours by leaving the stadium in a patient, responsible manner.
Thank you for your support and we hope your afternoon at the Kenny is a good one!
COYH