The Grounds Guide: Everything you need to know about Memorial Stadium
Welcome to Memorial Stadium, home of League Two side Bristol Rovers.
The Memorial Stadium is the home of Bristol Rovers; however, the history of the stadium goes beyond the Pirates. It was originally built in 1921 to be the home of Bristol Rugby Club, with Rovers not moving in until 1996.
Although it was once exclusively a rugby stadium, the Memorial Stadium is now exclusively a football one. Bristol Rugby Club, now known as Bristol Bears, moved to Ashton Gate in 2014, leaving Rovers as the sole tenants.
While other older British football stadiums don’t look their age, the same cannot be said for the Memorial Stadium. It is dated and looks cobbled together due to its combination of seated stands and terraces, and is certainly in need of a revamp.
The club have been looking to leave the Memorial Stadium for several years, while multiple renovation plans have never truly got off the ground. The one recent change that did get pushed through was the new South Stand, which means at least one end of the stadium is modernised.
The current capacity of the Memorial Stadium is 12,500, but Bristol Rovers supporters have rarely threatened to reach even 10,000 over the past 20 years, making it difficult to justify moving to a new, bigger stadium.
Memorial Stand away end
The away end at the Memorial Stadium is located in the Brunel Group South Stand at one end of the stadium. As mentioned above, this stand has recently been rebuilt, which has increased its capacity to 3,414.
Away fans are not given the full stand, though, with most clubs offered around 1,000 tickets. Away supporters also have access to the southeast terrace, which is sandwiched between the South Stand and East Stand.
The view from the South Stand is good, provided you don’t find yourself behind any of the supporting pillars. Meanwhile, the view from the terrace is clearer, but you are completely exposed to the elements.
The facilities inside and directly outside the South Stand are the best at the stadium, thanks solely to the recent rebuild, which has made concourses more spacious and the toilets modern.
Away-day experience
Despite the Memorial Ground being on its last legs, Bristol Rovers away is largely a great experience.
Firstly, the sections allocated to away fans are the best and most modern at the entire stadium, while it’s an easy ground to get in and out of regardless of your mode of transport (more on that shortly).
There are plenty of pubs within walking distance of the stadium that welcome away fans, including The Drapers Arms and the Annexe Inn.
If you want to go further afield into the centre of Bristol, that is possible too, either via a 50-minute walk or by getting the train from Ashley Down Station to Bristol Temple Meads.
Once inside the grounds at the Memorial Stadium, there is a dedicated bar for away fans for those who want to squeeze in one final drink before heading to their seats.
All in all, if you ignore the rest of the stadium and focus on what is purely available for away fans, Bristol Rovers away is a belter.
Memorial Stadium seating plan
Food and drink at Memorial Stadium
There are several food and drink kiosks and bars dotted around the Memorial Stadium, providing fans with options regardless of where they are sat.
The obvious place to start is with the fanzone located outside the ground, which welcomes home supporters. Here, fans can buy alcoholic and soft drinks, in addition to food from a selection of vendors, including a BRFC (Bristol Rovers Fried Chicken), a burger grill, and a container bar that sells sausage rolls, pies, and pasties.
Other places to buy food and drink around the stadium are as follows:
North Stand
- Thatcher’s Bar
- BRFC Legend’s Bar
- Irene’s Kitchen
- Proper Cornish
South Stand
- Pirate’s Bar (home fans)
- Container Bars (home fans)
- Away bar
- Away kiosk
West Stand
- Pie Shop
- Debenture Bar
East Stand
- Pie Shop
- Butcombe Bar
How to get to the Memorial Stadium
By car
All supporters are urged not to drive to the Memorial Stadium, as there is no official matchday parking available at the ground. Instead, supporters have to find on-street parking nearby, but the vast majority of roads are for permit holders only.
If you have no choice but to drive, then you are going to want to get on the M5 in either direction and exit at Junction 16 (signposted A38 Bristol/Filton). Stay on the A38 southbound towards Bristol until you get through Filton. At this point, you will reach a large roundabout in Southmead that has the stadium signposted.
Follow the signs and then turn onto Filton Avenue. The stadium will appear on your left-hand side.
By train
The most popular way to get to the Memorial Stadium is to get the train to Ashley Down Station, which is a 20-minute walk away. This station has services that go to and from Bristol Temple Meads and Gloucester, so if you want to spend some time in a major city centre before heading to the match, you are covered.
By bus
There are bus stops on Filton Avenue (less than 50m from the stadium) with direct access to Bristol City centre and the surrounding area. Bus numbers 72, 73, 74 and 77 all stop on Filton Avenue, with regular services on matchdays.
Disabled access at the Memorial Stadium
Disabled access is lacking at the Memorial Stadium compared to other EFL grounds. There is room for 19 home wheelchair users and six away wheelchair users. These spaces are all located in the South Stand, where the accessible toilets are also located.
If you have a specific request around accessibility at the Memorial Stadium, contact the club’s Safety Officer, James Hillier ([email protected]).
Ticket prices at the Memorial Stadium
Ticket prices at the Memorial Stadium are as follows:
- Adults: £20-£32
- Seniors/students: £15-£27
- Under 18s: £12-£20
- Under 14s: £7-£14
- Under 7s: £4-£11
Record attendance
The record attendance for a match at Memorial Stadium came in March 2008, when Bristol Rovers played West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup quarter-finals in front of 12,011 fans. Sadly for the hosts, the match finished 5-1 to the Baggies, denying Rovers a place at Wembley.