City Ground Soccer Tickets & Stadium Guide
Best Seating to Leave Quickly After the Game
If catching trains or facing long drives home, seat location significantly affects exit speed.
- Fastest exits: Brian Clough Stand lower tier sections nearest the Trent End side, wide exits leading directly toward routes to Nottingham station and parking lot.
- Peter Taylor Stand: reasonable exit times but may go against main crowd flow if heading to station/city center.
- Slower exits: Trent End and Bridgford Stand concourses (narrower, more congestion).
- Slowest: upper tier corner sections in all stands, stairs and spiral staircases create bottlenecks.
Best strategies:
- Leave 5 minutes before full-time to beat the crush (but risk missing late drama).
- Wait 20 minutes after the final whistle: crowds thin dramatically.
- Use nearby pubs like The Boot Room or The Big Shed to wait out traffic and lines.
Best Seating Sections During Bad Weather
For guaranteed rain protection, book seats in:
- Brian Clough Stand lower tier (rows 10+).
- Peter Taylor Stand center sections.
The Trent End provides good coverage for most seats, though rows 1–10 can get wet in heavy rain. The Bridgford Stand offers the least protection, front rows (1–10) are exposed, especially in the away section. Rows 15+ receive better coverage.
Upper tier corner sections in all stands are the coldest and windiest, especially on fall and winter evenings. Layers and waterproofs are essential from November through March.
If stuck in an exposed section:
- Arrive 20–30 minutes before kickoff to minimize time in your seat before the game starts.
- Shelter on concourses until just before kickoff in particularly bad weather.
Best Time to Enter City Ground by Seating Section
Gates typically open 90 minutes before kickoff, though this should be verified for your specific game. The majority of turnstiles close 10 minutes after kickoff, though some late turnstiles remain open until half-time for those genuinely delayed.
- Bridgford Stand (Away Section): Arrive 45–60 minutes before kickoff. Away turnstiles go through the Brian Clough Stand parking lot via Scarrington Road off Lady Bay Bridge. Entry can be slower due to security checks and bag searches; the concourse can feel tight with a large away following.
- Trent End: Arrive 45–60 minutes early. This is the noisiest part of the stadium and fills up quickly on big game days.
- Brian Clough Stand & Peter Taylor Stand: Arriving 30–45 minutes before kickoff is typically sufficient. For big fixtures against top clubs, 45–60 minutes is advisable.
- Accessible Seating: Arrive 60 minutes early to allow time for smooth entry through designated accessible entrances. Contact the accessibility team in advance if you need assistance.
Peak crowding at turnstiles occurs 20–30 minutes before kickoff. Arriving either 45–60 minutes early or within 10 minutes of kickoff (if you don't mind missing the start) avoids the worst lines.


