A guide for first-time visitors to the Park
We know that visiting a football ground for the first time can potentially be a confusing and daunting experience. That’s why we’ve put together some information about Exeter City Football Club, for those planning to make their first trip to St James Park.
Location:
St James Park is located in the heart of Exeter, and like many traditional stadiums, is built right into the surrounding community and is situated a short walk from the city centre.
The full address is: St James Park, Stadium Way, Exeter, EX4 6PX.The stadium holds a capacity of 8219 before segregation and any unused away capacity.
Travel to the Ground
Address: St James Park, Stadium Way, Exeter, EX4 6PX
Reception: 01392 411243 | reception@ecfc.co.uk
Despite being in the heart of Exeter’s bustling city centre, getting to SJP on match days couldn’t be easier!
BUS: Local Stagecoach buses drop off on several streets in the local vicinity (York Road, Pennsylvania Road, Prince Charles Road, Union Road, Sidwell Street, Old Tiverton Road, Pinhoe Road etc.). All of Exeter’s Park & Ride services drop off in the City Centre, which is a short walk away from the stadium gates. A maximum £2 fare is still in place for all local Stagecoach services. Exeter Coach Station is also less than half a mile walk away, offering both regional and nationwide services.
TRAIN: St James Park boasts the only operating matchday station in the whole of the EFL! The station shares a name with our ground, sits on the London Waterloo line out of the city & has regular services running from Exeter St. Davids, Exeter Central, Exmouth & Paignton.
Recent timetable changes mean that trains from Okehampton and Barnstaple also now stop at the station on matchdays. Passengers from London Waterloo should change at either Pinhoe or Exeter Central for services to St James Park. Passengers from London Paddington, Bristol Temple Meads, Birmingham New Street and further north should change at Exeter St. Davids. A return fare from Exeter St. Davids costs £2.60 but is free if travelling from further afield and selected at the time of booking (ie. set St James Park as destination).
The closest station is Exeter St James station which is conveniently located right outside of the stadium at: Well Street, Exeter EX4 6PX.
CYCLING: There are a handful of racks available at the stadium, with extra capacity on nearby Sidwell Street should these areas be full. Exeter’s cycling network is continually improving and many of the surrounding streets have dedicated cycling infrastructure.
CAR:
- Home fans: EX4 6PX
- Visiting fans: EX4 6PU
There is extremely limited parking at our stadium, with several city-centre car parks within fairly close range. There is also limited on-street parking for considerate drivers. Wherever possible, we recommend the use of public transport, Park & Ride services, or active transport (walking & cycling) to reach St James Park on matchday.
From the M5: Exit westbound at Junction 29 onto the A3015 (Honiton Road). Follow the road onto the B3183 (Heavitree Road) for two miles, going past Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital. Take the fourth exit at the roundabout into Western Way, and at the next roundabout take the second exit onto Old Tiverton Road. St James Park and Stadium Way are located on the left.
From the East: Follow the A303/A30 towards Exeter, passing under the M5 bridge, at Junction 29. Then follow the above instructions from the M5.
From the West: Follow signposts towards Exeter centre. After crossing the River Exe near Exeter St Thomas rail station, join the A3015 (Frog Street). Follow the one-way system and then exit onto the B3212 (Magdalen Street) and follow the road as it veers left towards the roundabout. Take the third exit at the roundabout into Western Way, and at the next roundabout take the second exit onto Old Tiverton Road. St James Park and Stadium Way are located on your left.
Car Parking
There is extremely limited parking at our stadium, with several city-centre car parks within fairly close range. There is also limited on-street parking for considerate drivers. Wherever possible, we recommend the use of public transport, Park & Ride services, or active transport (walking & cycling) to reach St James Park on matchday.
Away Fans:
St James Park has undergone a large redevelopment which has seen a new covered away standing terrace which holds a little over 1,000 away fans.
Click here to read our dedicated away fan guide.
The Stands:
The Nevada Construction Warehouse Stand, which was opened in 2001, runs along the length of the pitch and offers a great view of the action at both ends of the ground. It is a covered all-seater stand, which from the 2015/16 season will house home fans in blocks E to K, and away fans only in blocks L and M. The Main Stand seats just over 2,100 fans, as well as offering several executive boxes for a premium match experience and an excellent view of the match.
On the opposite side of the pitch is the Optimising IT Adam Stansfield Stand. the new 1,600 capacity Stand, has replaced the former Old Grandstand that had stood since 1926.
The new single tiered stand is all seated and is a huge improvement on the old Grandstand, offering better spectator facilities and views of the playing action . Like its predecessor it does not run the full length of the pitch, due to the very close proximity of a railway line running behind the corner of the ground, and is in fact slightly closer to the away terrace so it can be rectangular, the old one being tapered. New toilet and refreshment facilities for the Big Bank terrace are now sited in the triangular are to the side.
The Thatchers Cider Big Bank has a reputation of being the loudest and most buoyant of the stands. It is a covered standing-only terrace with a maximum capacity of just under 4,000. The terrace is behind the goal, which offers an ideal view of goalmouth action at that end of the pitch.
The fourth area, behind the other goal, is the Tracks Suzuki St James Road Terrace, which is for away fans only. A little over 1,000 away fans can fit in the terrace, which is standing-only.
Both the Main Stand and the Thatchers Big Bank have disabled bays and an access ramp, and there is a designated area for disabled parking. Click here for our disability policy, and click here for more information about disability ticketing at St James Park. Please also refer to the Stadium Plan for a layout of the stadium by clicking here.
Tickets:
- While the majority of matches are not all-ticket, we highly recommend purchasing tickets in advance. Not only are tickets cheaper when purchased in advance but they ensure you can avoid the queues on matchday. Buy advance tickets online or on your phone here
- If you decide to come to St James Park at the last minute, you can pay cash on the Big Bank turnstiles on the way into the stand, or by credit or debit card from the Ticket Booth in Red Square if you want to be seated.
- Please be sure to keep abreast of latest ticket news through the Tickets section on the website
- Please note that advance discount tickets can be purchased up until the day before a match. Tickets purchased on a matchday will be subject to an increase of £1 (£0.50 for U18s).
Tickets purchased online, or on the matchday should be collected at the ticket booth in red square.
Fan Zone
The Fan Zone houses the Exeter City club shop, an outside bar and the Junior Grecians Family Zone. There is also a dedicated catering van providing hot and cold delicious local produce.
The Centre Spot bar
The Centre Spot Bar welcomes both home and away fans, and is located in the ground, next to the VIP entrance and old Reception. The bar offers a large range of drinks, pool table and dart boards, all in a friendly atmosphere.
The Centre Spot is also home to The Famous Exeter City Real Ale and Cider Emporium, offering a great selection of real ales and ciders.
The Club Shop
The club shop offers a wide range of official Exeter City merchandise,including replica shirts, training wear, hats, scarves, gifts, souvenirs, programmes, books and much more.
The club shop is situated within the stadium and is joined with reception.
The Information Point
In the Fan Zone (opposite reception) is the ECFC Information point which can help with any questions home or away fans have about St James Park or Exeter City. We also have a team of ambassadors around the stadium who can help with your questions, or direct you around the ground. Look out for the blue tabards!
Refreshments
One of the most important part of any match day! We have a wide range of hot and cold drinks and snacks available at the kiosk for away fans.
HOT FOOD
MATCHDAY TIMETABLE
Contact Us:
We are always pleased to help fans and are always keen to make sure that they have a great matchday experience – win, lose or draw! If you have any queries of any nature, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing: reception@exetercityfc.co.uk or ringing 01392 411243.
Things to do in Exeter:
1. Exeter Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter is an Anglican cathedral and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter. Founded in 1050, the current building was completed circa 1400. The clock that was the inspiration for the classic nursery rhyme “Hickory Dickory Dock” hangs above the door to the north tower with the medieval cat flap; on a related note, the cathedral is the only one in the country to have had a cat on its payroll at one point in history.
2. Exeter Quay
Located just a 20-minute walk from St James Park, Exeter Quay is the best place in town to walk on a sunny morning. Enjoy restaurants with a view of the river or take part in one of the quayside red coat guided tours, and even venture as far as the 2,000-year-old city walls, of which 70 per cent still remain.
3: Princesshay
One of the most exciting developments in Exeter City centre has been the regeneration of the Princesshay shopping area, which stands on the site of the old St John’s Hospital school, all that remains of which is the Blue Boy statue right in the heart of the area. Filled with the best of cafes, restaurants, shopping outlets and local businesses, Princesshay is the place to be.
4: Underground Passages
Take in a tour of the underground passages and walkways that formed the core of the city’s foundations. Dating from 14th century, these medieval passages under Exeter high street are a unique ancient monument; no similar system of passages can be explored by the public elsewhere in Britain.
5: Castle and Northernhay Gardens
Incorporating a good stretch of Roman wall and the only length of Saxon town wall to be seen in England, Northernhay Gardens are of outstanding historic significance.
The site of Northernhay Gardens was quarried in Roman times for stone from which to build the adjacent city walls. During the Norman period, it formed part of the defences of Rougemont Castle. In 1612, the City Chamber laid out the grounds for public recreation.
The early park was destroyed in the civil war when, in 1642, large new defensive ditches were dug outside the walls for the city's defence.
Today the gardens offer a tranquil break from the bustle of the city.
6: Royal Albert Memorial Museum
The awards continue to stream in for Exeter’s RAMM museum, which was crowned museum of the year in 2012 and awarded the £100,000 art fund prize for its redevelopment project. Chair of judges, Lord Smith of Finsbury, said of the museum at the time: “The new Royal Albert Memorial Museum is quite simply a magical place.”
Located just a few doors down from Exeter Central station, the RAMM is easily accessible and is right in the middle of town.