It's been just over 5 years to the day that we last went to Milton Keynes to play MK Dons, so here is a reminder for those going.
We last played at Stadium MK on 15th September 2010, notable because it was the first game in charge for Nigel Adkins, since then the ground has changed slightly in that they have now put in the seats in the upper tier meaning that the capacity is now 30,500.
The Ground
Its a lovely stadium and in truth at the moment wasted on MK Dons who have struggled to build a fan base from scratch in the town when competing with the fact that many locals support the big London clubs. However they have managed to build up an average home gate of around 9,000 with a combination of cheap tickets and large away followings boosting numbers.
The Away Section
You cannot fault the away section in that its has a good view, nice comfy wide seats and a big concourse at the rear, the usual allocation is 3,000 although with around 21,000 empty seats on average for each game they will usually give away clubs what they want up to a maximum of around 6,000.
The concourse is big and has a view of the pitch as you queue for your burgers etc with separate bars serving alcohol where you cannot see the pitch to make sure they don't fall foul of the ludicrous football licensing laws, whatever you think of MK Dons or Franchise FC as some would call them, Stadium MK is a very good stadium.
Eating Drinking Etc
Like a number of new stadiums though, its main drawback is location, It is located adjacent to the A5, but well away from the centre of Milton Keynes, so there is little on offer in the way of pubs or eateries.
The nearest pub is a good 15 minutes walk from the stadium and this may be a good option, parking up there and walking as it may avoid congestion in the club car parks.
Many visiting supporters recommend nearby Fenny Stratford which is around a 20 minute walk south of the stadium, here there are a plethora of pubs and even a chip shop, although its about a 1 1/4 miles away its a better bet than around the stadium and on the A5 for a quick getaway to the M1 avoiding Milton Keynes itself.
By Train
The nearest station is Bletchley which is around about two miles away from the stadium. There is a taxi rank outside otherwise you can embark on the 20-25minute walk to the stadium. The station is served by trains from London Euston & Birmingham New Street.
By Car
The stadium is situated at Denbigh North, just off the A5, south of Central Milton Keynes and just north of Bletchley. It is adjacent to a Retail Park with ASDA and IKEA, so expect some traffic congestion. For those familiar with Milton Keynes grid road system the ground is on V6 Grafton Street on the junction with H9 Groveway
Leave the M1 at Junction 14 and head towards Milton Keynes. Go straight over the first roundabout and at the next (where there is a Total Garage on the corner) turn left onto the V11 Tongwell Street. Proceed across one roundabout and at the next turn right onto the H8 Standing Way (A421). Continue alone the Standing Way going across a number of roundabouts. On reaching the Bleak Hall Roundabout turn left into the V6 Grafton Street. At the next roundabout, turn right and the stadium entrance is further down on the left.
Leave the M1 at junction 13 and take the second exit (A421) which runs parallel with the M1 for a mile before bending left. After 3 miles as you approach a roundabout on the edge of the city take the second exit, this is called H9 Groveway, stay on this road going straight over 4 roundabouts, you will now approach the roundabout over the A5, and the stadium is in front of you slightly to the left, take the second exit. The entrance to the stadium is first left at the traffic lights.
The total mileage is around 120 with the most direct route being via the M3 & M25 to the M1, although to avoid traffic you could go via Oxford and across country, this perhaps might be a good idea for the journey up given the roadworks on the M3 and M1.
There are spaces for around 2,000 cars at the stadium at a cost of £7, alternatively you can park a short walk away either on the industrial estate or near the pubs.
Capacity: 30,500 (all seated)
Address: Denbigh, Milton Keynes, MK1 1ST
Telephone: 01908 622 922
Fax: 01908 622 933
Ticket Office: 0333 200 5343
Pitch Size: 115 x 74 yards
Club Nickname: The Dons
Year Ground Opened: 2007
Shirt Sponsors: Suzuki
Kit Manufacturer: Errea
Home Kit: All White
Away Kit: Red and Black
Third Kit: Yellow and Black