AFC Bournemouth welcome Chelsea to Vitality Stadium for our Premier League game on Saturday afternoon.
The game kicks off at 3pm and you are strongly advised to arrive at least 1 hour before kick-off to avoid any potential queues as all supporters and bags will be searched prior to entering the ground. Please do not bring a bag with you unless absolutely necessary.
This game is dedicated to our official higher education partner Bournemouth University and the theme of this year’s match is inclusivity and celebrating International Women’s day.
Here’s a list of what is open at the stadium ahead of kick-off so that you can plan your matchday.
9am TICKET OFFICE OPEN
Supporters can collect their tickets for the Chelsea game from 9am at one of the collection windows.
Tickets for our next home game against Crystal Palace is currently at all tickets issued and any returns will be made available from 11am Friday 13th March. AFC Bournemouth v Newcastle tickets are currently on sale to supporters with 15+ Home Cherries Points.
Tickets for our away match against Liverpool are currently at all tickets issued whilst our fixture with Wolves is currently on sale to supporters with 4+ Away Cherries Points.
Tickets for our Women’s Team clash at Vitality Stadium 15th May 7pm against Brighton are currently on general sale
For sale and Cherries Points information click here.
The ticket office stays open 20 minutes after the final whistle.
9am SUPERSTORE OPEN
Supporters can bag a bargain with a huge 50% off our replica kits and training wear now, click here for more details
The Superstore will also remain open 20 minutes after the final whistle.
9am CAR PARK OPEN
The South Stand car park, behind the stadium, costs just £1 to park; it does fill up roughly 75 minutes prior to kick-off so arrive early and please be aware it may take up to 45 minutes to clear after the game. However, you can now leave via the south of the car park to exit Kings Park along Gloucester Road and so miss the traffic along Kings Park Drive.
For free parking just a 10-minute walk from the ground, Avonbourne Boys Academy (formerly Harewood College) is open from 11.30am [google maps]. The club’s allocated facility is located at the end of the drive, past the mini roundabout. If you are using a SatNav, please refrain from using the postcode and instead use ‘Harewood Avenue’. Please note this car park is locked 45 minutes after the full-time whistle. Users are asked to ensure they keep to the maximum speed limits displayed.
Alternative parking can be found at Sovereign Shopping Centre for £2 for four hours or £4 for 24 hours [google maps].
Any Blue Badge or other drivers who have previously parked along Kings Park Drive should note that there are now enforceable parking restrictions along that road. These have been requested to ensure a safer and quicker exit from the ground post-match. The parking restriction is enforceable by the local authority’s civil enforcement officers and can incur a fine of £70. The club will try to accommodate any blue badge holders who may have previously used this section of the road in its South Car Park, although this cannot be guaranteed. Thank you in advance for your support and co-operation with observing the new parking guidelines.
Any drivers who do not park in the available car parks should please respect local residents’ driveways and relevant parking restrictions. Enforcement officers are active on matchdays.
12pm 1910 BAR OPEN
This is located next to the media entrance in the Vitality Main Stand and is for home supporters only.
This bar is a great place to meet prior to the game but it does get busy, so bear this in mind as there may be a queue.
As well as our bar food range, you can also enjoy our bistro area with table service and a tasty variety of hot dishes, freshly prepared. There is no need to book in advance, just arrive and wait to be seated.
The 1910 is open after the game for an hour and a half for drinks and to catch up on all of the day’s scores, while allowing the traffic from the ground to ease.
12pm GREAT ESCAPE BAR OPEN
The Great Escape is a good outdoors alternative and is located outside of the Superstore. Again, available to home supporters, the bar serves a range of hot food and drinks. Last orders are at 2.15pm and the bar closes 15 minutes later. It does not re-open post-match.
12pm NORTH STAND KIOSK
Available prior to turnstiles opening for a wide range of hot food and soft/hot drinks – try our handmade pies – they’re very tasty as are our special recipe burgers.
12.30pm DC LOUNGE OPEN
This is open to both home and visiting disabled supporters pre-match and is based on the ground floor and first floor of the Vitality East Stand – where supporters can pit their wits in a Cherries quiz prior to kick-off, enjoy a free hot beverage and review the team sheets once available.
12.30pm FANZONE OPEN
The Fanzone, located in the Vitality Main Stand next to the ticket office, is free to enter for all fans under the age of 16 and is open from 12.30pm until 1.45pm.
We have a variety of games and activities including the Strikezone, Xboxes and face painting. It is also a great opportunity to grab your Junior Cherries meal deal before the rush!
As part of their BU ‘Big match’ celebration, junior supporters will be able to dig for fossils and learn about some of Dorset’s ancient inhabitants!
In partnership with the Premier League and WH Smith, the Community Spots Trust will be promoting World Book Day in the Fanzone too, where will be books for children to read as well as vouchers that can be redeemed at WHSmith. This all part of a wider promotion of World Book Day which will also include an Assembly at Manorside Academy in which scholars from AFC Bournemouth youth team will be reading to the school.
1.30pm TURNSTILES OPEN
Supporters can take their seats from 1.30pm, except at Gate B where entry is available from 1 hour before kick-off. Please bear in mind that for supporters’ own safety, there will be 100% searches of every single supporter as well as bag searching/tagging. Please don’t bring a bag unless you absolutely need to and ensure you arrive at least 1 hour prior to kick-off to avoid delays.
Get inside the ground early to make the most of our meal deal which is a pie, burger or hot dog, chocolate bar and a pint for £7, although due to licensing restrictions, alcohol is not available in the south stand. All stands offer a soft/hot drink option for £6 for the bundle and all meal deals are available throughout once inside the ground.
This weekend, supporters can access an exclusive Swipestation meal deal. Simply download the app to purchase your meal deal including a hot snack, chocolate bar and any drink for just £5!
We are also introducing resuable cups stadium-wide this Saturday. Supporters should place the cups back in the holders provided and not dispose of them in the general waste bins.
The Junior Cherries meal deal is great value at just £2.50 when you present your JC membership card.
As stated earlier, please arrive early for the game to ensure entry before kick-off.
This weekend, supporters can access an exclusive Swipestation meal deal. Simply download the app to purchase your meal deal including a hot snack, chocolate bar and any drink for just £5!
We are also introducing resuable cups stadium-wide this Saturday. Supporters should place the cups back in the holders provided and not dispose of them in the general waste bins.
2pm PRE-MATCH ENTERTAINMENT
Get into your seat early and be in the running for a signed Ryan Fraser shirt – man of the match at our last home game. All you have to do is enter the ground 45 minutes prior to kick-off and you’re automatically entered into the prize draw.
Our themed matchday is designated to the BU Big Match, celebrating our wonderful business collaboration with Bournemouth University, who are the official higher education partner of AFC Bournemouth. The theme of this year’s match is inclusivity, looking at the work the university, alongside the football club, does to champion equality and diversity in our community and workplace.
The nominated Fans Champion will deliver the match ball to the Premier League plinth just before kick-off so be sure to give them a big round of applause.
3pm KICK-OFF
Our game with Chelsea gets underway, so let’s cheer the squad to three points!
