Leicester Tigers host the season’s first ‘Friday Night Lights’ fixture this week when Bath Rugby are the visitors to Mattioli Woods Welford Road. Our matchday guide contains everything you need to know about your day at the stadium.
We appreciate that supporters will have to make special arrangements for a Friday fixture, especially if they are travelling from outside the city or heading to the stadium straight from work. But we encourage everyone to arrive in good time to allow for access through the turnstiles to reach your places ahead of kick-off and to avoid congestion at entry points.
Please have your season ticket card, match ticket, print-at-home ticket or your smartphone ready before you reach the turnstile to allow prompt access to the stadium.
Getting in
All season tickets for under-18s – including those issued as part of a family season ticket – are automatically upgraded to adult tickets for Friday evening fixtures to allow supporters to bring family or friends in their place if a 7.45pm kick-off is too late for youngsters.
Match tickets are still available and can be booked in advance online or by phoning the ticket office on 0116 319 8888 (option 2).
Tickets are also available to purchase on matchday but please allow enough time to reserve your place, your entry point and your place in the stadium ahead of kick-off.
Matchday ticket units are located at the Mattioli Woods Stand/Welford Road end, the Beehive Money Stand/Aylestone Walk end and on the plaza outside the North Stand.
The previous ticket office at the Aylestone Road end is now part of the extended Club Shop and operates as a ticket point on non-matchdays only.
Friday Night Lights
Look out for a Friday Night Light Show as well as our bhangra drummers and dancers at this game.
A group of supporters will watch the game from The Best Seats in the House courtesy of Mattioli Woods, and there is a chance to win a free pint in the Topps Tiles Golden Tile promotion.
You can also win with a scratchcard promotion with every purchase of a pint of Stowford Press cider.
Pre-match
The Final Whistle bar is open for early arrivals from 5.30pm and there is a pre-match DJ this week in the build-up to kick-off.
Turnstiles open at 6.15pm, together with the stadium’s other food kiosks and bars – now serving Carling and Madri lagers as well as a range of beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks.
The club encourages supporters not to bring bags into the stadium in order to help minimise delays and contact due to searches at the turnstiles.
The ABC and Crumbie Bars in the Breedon Stand, and the men’s/women’s toilets in the tunnel area, are fully open again for this game. There are also drinks and food outlets, and toilets, available at each end of the stand.
Please be patient with staff in bars and kiosks, many of whom will still be new to their roles after the restrictions on crowds and capacity over the last 18 months.
The 100-page printed matchday programme is available from kiosks around the stadium and in the club shops, price £3. Please note that programme booths operate cashless payments only. This week’s edition previews Friday’s Gallagher Premiership match and the women’s fixture at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Sunday.
Making payments
The stadium runs cashless payments only, including shops, bars, kiosks and programme booths.
Travel and Parking
Matchday bus services are in operation from Loughborough, Market Bosworth, Market Harborough and Oakham. Places must be booked in advance, with all fares costing £4 return. Click here for route and timetable details.
Parking spaces are available on Freeman’s Common for matchday at a cost of £8. These are pre-book in advance only.
There is no matchday availability at the King Power Stadium.
Wellbeing and Safety
Please think of the wellbeing and safety of yourself and those around you, while helping us to minimise risks from the pandemic.
Take extra care over hygiene and sanitisation, consider wearing a facemask in areas around other people, and follow directions of signage and stewards regarding entry and exit. You may not be able to enter at your normal turnstile.
If a ball is kicked to you in the team warm-up or in the game, please do not return it direct to the players or to the pitch. Instead, return to the ball boy team or a steward so it can be sanitised.
Club Shops
The main Club Shop in the Beehive Money Stand at the Aylestone Road end is open from 9.00am on matchdays with a full range of replica kit, training kit, leisurewear and souvenirs.
The second shop in the North Stand is open from 4.30pm this Friday.
Both shop units will remain open after the final whistle.
Season ticket holders receive a discount on shop purchases.
Supporters can use any Credit on their Tigers account to spend on shop purchases.
Breedon Stand
There are some limits on movement in the Breedon Stand due to the Red Zone for players and officials. Please follow signage and instructions from stewards and do not gather close to the players and officials in the tunnel area before or after the game.
Pre-match build-up
Guard of Honour groups from local rugby clubs will welcome the teams for kick-off in each half – and flames will greet the players from the front of the North Stand as they run out on to the pitch.
You can send photos and messages to the stadium’s big screens courtesy of club partners Yodel. Open the Leicester Tigers app, click ‘Send A Photo’ and select ‘Big Screen’ option.
Half-Time
The Big Boot, sponsored by De Montfort University, is back, allowing groups of supporters to test their skills and their nerve on the pitch at half-time. Give them plenty of encouragement from the stands!
Supporters can use the Tigers app to vote for a Fans’ Favourite from half-time.
Post-match
Your support is appreciated and the players will acknowledge the crowd from the pitch at full-time. They are unable, though, join supporters on the touchlines.
Please do not wait and gather at the front of the stands as we aim to reduce congestion and close contact in those areas.
Supporters are not allowed to go on to the pitch.
The Final Whistle and Droglites bars will remain open at the end of the game.
Resident band Rock Bottom provide the entertainment in Final Whistle.
If you are unable to attend
Friday’s match is scheduled for live coverage with BT Sport 1HD, or you can keep in touch using the Matchday Live service on the club app and website is in operation for every game home and away. There will also be updates on the club’s social media.
There is build-up to the game on the club website, app and social media, with team announcements at noon on Friday and full reaction afterwards.
