Pride Park Stadium
Pride Park Stadium has been the home stadium of Derby County FC since 1997, when it replaced The Baseball Ground. The stadium has a capacity of 33,010 seats.
First plans for a move away from The Baseball Ground were made in the early 1990s, when, following the publication of the Taylor Report, it turned out the ground was ill-suited for a conversion into an all-seater. After a few unsuccessful attempts land could be acquired on favourable terms, and in 1996 the announcement was made that Derby were to build a new stadium.
Construction of Pride Park Stadium started later in 1996, with the stadium being completed by the summer of 1997. On the 18th of July 1997 the stadium was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II. The first match was played a good two weeks later when Italian side Sampdoria visited the stadium for a friendly. Vincenzo Montella scored the first goal at the stadium, and the only one during the match.
In later years a few more thousand seats were added to the stadium, resulting in its current capacity. In 2006 the club announced plans to expand the stadium with another 10,000 seats, though contingent on Derby staying in the Premier League. After the relegation of the club in the following year, these plans were scrapped.
Getting there
Pride Park Stadium lies slightly more than 1 mile south-east from Derby’s city centre, and less than a mile south-east from Derby Rail station.
From the rail station, the stadium can be reached by foot in 15 minutes. The walk from the city centre takes 10 to 15 minutes longer. On matchdays shuttle buses run from the city centre.
If arriving by car from the M1, take either junction 25 or 28. From junction 25, take the A52 to Derby, from junction 28, the A38 (and then A61). Then follow the signs to Pride Park Stadium.
Address: Pride Park Stadium, Derby, DE24 8XL
Tickets
Tickets for Derby County games can be bought online, by phone +44 (0) 871 472 1884, or in person at the ticket office at Pride Park Stadium.
Derby typically attracts average crowds of in the mid 20,000s. If tickets remain, these can be bought at the gates of the stadium on the day of the match.
Derby uses three pricing categories for its tickets. Tickets for Platinum Plus games – the most expensive – cost between £31.00 and £36.00. Tickets for Gold games – the cheapest – cost between £25.00 and £29.00. Tickets bought on the day of the match cost £3.00 more.
For more information email ticket.office@dcfc.co.uk.
Stadium tours
Derby County offers guided stadium tours that include the changing rooms, players tunnel, directors box, dugouts, press areas, and police cells. The tour lasts about 60 minutes.
Tour dates and hours are announced on the Derby County website. For reservations call +44 (0) 871 472 1884. The tour costs £8.00.
Relevant Internet links:
Dcfc.co.uk – Official website of Derby County FC.
Visitderby.co.uk – Derby tourist information.
Nationalrail.co.uk – Check train times and fares.
Keep up to date with the latest stadium news by following @stadiumguide on Twitter (all updates) or liking our Facebook page (occasional updates). 
