QPR travel to the Ricoh Arena on Tuesday, December 28, as the holiday games come thick and fast. Here are the usual travel hints and ticket information.
Ground Name: Ricoh Arena
Capacity: 32 000 (all seated)
Address: Phoenix Way, Foleshill, Coventry, CV6 6GE
Main Telephone No: 0870 421 1987
Ticket Office: 024 7657 8000
By Car:
A pretty simple trip this one – up the M1 and across on the M6. Go off at Junction 3 and then park up in the first place you see. If you do want to drive to the ground follow the A444 towards the city centre and look for the ground after a mile. If you can't see it see an optician. Roughly 97 miles from Loftus Road.
Map:
Click map to visit Multi Map site and zoom in/out or tour round.
Parking:
Coventry have a ‘green travel plan’ in place for their shiny new stadium so please be concerned about your carbon footprint at all times. Next to the ground there is a Tesco where several friends of mine parked last season, although I'm not sure it's technically allowed so I'm not responsible for any tickets handed out. Failing that if you come off the M6 at junction three then take the first exit at the roundabout, and first exit again you can park in a field that offers a quick getaway afterwards at a small price. We've used it a couple of times and it was excellent.
There are a number of smaller car parks just off the M6 next to the ground. These all charge a fiver, some are private, some are official all are tricky to get out of afterwards
The people involved with the parking and drinking at the Black Horse got in touch last season. Leisure Ireland, located a few minutes drive away from Junction 3 of the M6, has 200 secure spaces next to the pub and you're straight out onto the M6 afterwards. The cost to park there is £4 per car and to find the car park, follow the 'pink arrow' signs from Junction 3 of the M6. Not sure if that's the case this season.
By Train
As with all new grounds it's miles away from the nearest station, and with this being an early kick off on a Christmas Bank Holiday the options are limited, although three trains and hour will still run to Coventry from Euston. An off peak return (turn up and pay on the day) is £38.80, but save yourself £6.80 by booking the 1003 service there (arrives 1102) and the 1611 back (arrives 1714) for £32 return.
Taxi is just about your best bet if arriving at the station in the middle of the city or the shuttle bus that runs every ten minutes from the bus station to the Tesco and stadium complex – buy a matchday ticket for £3.50 for unlimited bus travel in the city.
Coach: QPR’s official club coach will leave Loftus Road 8.45am and collect at the Target Roundabout in the lay-by next to McDonalds at 9.15am. Tickets are priced £26 adults, £16 seniors and young adults, and £14 juniors with concessions for season ticket holders. The LSA is running a coach from the Springbok at 8.30am with tickets priced £20 adults and £10 concessions. Contact Gary on 07951 423 341 or Luke on 07806 531 999 for more information and bookings.
Pubs:
As with all new grounds pubs are few and far between near the ground. On our last few visits we've drunk in the Black Horse just the other side of the M6 and about a 15 minute walk from the away end. There's parking in a nearby field and the welcome has always been friendly however the quality of the pub has been on the wane, from a pretty low starting point, over the four years we have been coming here. The Sky is long since gone, and when we arrived here last season it was bitterly cold inside, the toilets looked and smelt like something from the seventh level of hell, and the beer and soft drinks were being sold out of multi-packs at colossal mark up. The guide recommends several pubs in nearby Longford, follow the link below for more information.
Tickets
QPR can have as many tickets as they would ever possibly need behind the goal for this match. They are priced £25.50 for adults, £14 for over 60s and 16-18 year olds, £14 for under 16s and the disabled are priced the same but with a carer free of charge. Tickets will be available on the day but increase by £1.50 for adults, and £2 concessions if bought on the day. QPR are no longer posting tickets out for this game because of the Christmas and holiday period. Tickets bought online or over the phone from now on will be held for collection at the Ricoh Arena box office. They can be held for collection at Loftus Road prior to the Boxing Day match, but this must be made clear to staff at Loftus Road when the purchase is made. The QPR Box Office will be closed on December 27 and 28 so any requests for lost or duplicate tickets must be received prior to the Swansea game on Boxing Day to be processed.
Links: >>> Detailed fans' guide to the Ricoh Arena >>> Official website >>> LFW Awaydays – Ricoh Arena