The City Ground: Nottingham Forest Stadium 

For a football fan, it is always very interesting and enjoyable to visit a club’s stadium. When this stadium is the home of the oldest current League club, it gains even more notoriety. And if I already had this good expectation, it increased when I had the pleasure of seeing, for the first time in person, the City Ground, located on the banks of the River Trent, a majestic setting that is home to Nottingham Forest, two-time winners of the then European Cup in 1979 and 1980 and the winner of Premier League in the 1977–78 season. Today, I will share a little about what I learned about this stadium. 

Table of contents

• The Nottingham Forest Football Club Home
• Major Renovations and Developments
• VIP Experience
• Future Plans and Expansion
• Tour
• Tickets
• How To Get To The Stadium
• We Are All About Football!

The Nottingham Forest Football Club Home

Founded in 1865, Nottingham Forest Football Club did not move to the City Ground until 1898. Their first ground was the Forest Recreation Ground. The club then spent a year at the Castle Ground (later used by Notts County), and shortly after that, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground became their home for a two-year period.

Parkside and Gregory Ground were next before the club moved to the old Town Ground. Forest played there for eight years before relocating to their current home, the City Ground. That’s right, Forest had 6 homes before their current one!  

Sure, the City Ground back then was far less modernized and glorious than it is today (it doesn’t even come close), but from its earliest days, the stadium was recognized as one of the finest in England; during its first year of operation, it attracted a crowd of over 32,000 for its FA Cup match against Aston Villa, a then-record attendance. Its capacity has been increased on several occasions, and improvements have been made since then.  

Today, the City Ground, located on the banks of the River Trent in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, is much more than just a stadium. It symbolizes the history, tradition, and passion of Nottingham Forest Football Club.

Major Renovations and Developments

The City Ground has undergone numerous renovations and repairs throughout its existence. For example, during the Second World War, the pitch suffered considerable damage due to bombings. However, the ground was always quickly repaired.

Some of the most notable renovations to the stadium are:

• 1957: In this year, the stadium underwent a minor renovation. A lighting system was installed, making it possible to hold night matches (considered quite modern at the time). In addition, a new grandstand was built.
  
• 1968: Tragically, during a game against Leeds United, a fire destroyed the main stand. Despite the attendance of over 30,000 spectators, fortunately, there were no casualties, but the club was forced to play its subsequent matches at Meadow Lane since the stadium had to undergo renovation because the structure was badly damaged (and unfortunately, many of the club’s records, trophies, and other memorabilia were also lost in the fire.) 
    
• 1980: At this time, the club was at the peak of its glory under the leadership of Brian Clough. During this period, the club won two consecutive UEFA Champions League titles, and the City Ground became one of the most feared stadiums in Europe. As a result, the club built the 10,000-capacity Brian Clough Stand, which included executive boxes and a large dining area (adding a new dimension to the club’s corporate hospitality arrangements). 
  
• 1992: The club refurbished the Bridgford Stand to increase its capacity. The lower tier was allocated to away supporters. Its unusually shaped roof was a planning requirement to allow sunlight to reach the houses on nearby Colwick Road. The works also included wheelchair-accessible spaces and the Management Suite, from which the public address systems, scoreboard controls, and match-day police operate.  
  
• 1996: The City Ground was one of the venues chosen to host the 1996 European Championship, which led to the reconstruction of the Trent End Stand,  a prominent landmark by the River Trent, increasing the stadium’s total capacity to 30,445.

VIP Experience

The stadium has a very complete and modern structure. But the highlight, and one that is worth mentioning here, are the VIP experiences they provide to fans and visitors. The trend towards luxury stadium experiences has been growing in European countries, driven by the need to offer premium areas for visitors. A pioneer of this concept in the country, City Ground has transformed the experience of fans and supporters through its VIP Experiences. The club offers exclusive services such as VIP access, sophisticated lounges, fine dining, and personalized service during football matches.

Executive Boxes

The boxes at the City Ground provide a privileged view of the pitch and are equipped with comfortable seating, high-quality catering, and personalized services. These spaces are ideal for companies wishing to entertain clients or groups seeking a more luxurious experience.

Dining Rooms and Lounges

The stadium also has dining rooms that offer exquisite menus prepared by professional chefs. In addition to enjoying a gourmet meal, visitors have the opportunity to socialize in an elegant environment before and after games. Lounge areas, such as the Robin Hood Suite, combine style and comfort, offering fans the chance to relax in an exclusive space with access to bars and common areas.

Match Day Experience

For fans looking for something extra, City Ground offers hospitality packages that include pre-match access to the ground, behind-the-scenes tours, and the chance to meet club icons. These packages are designed to create an unforgettable experience, adding a special touch to match day. 

Future Plans and Expansion 

If you’ve read this far, you’ve already realized that the club has always invested in expansions and renovations to provide the best possible experience for its fans. The stadium capacity has always been an issue that has been addressed.

An interesting fact about this issue is that in 1991, Nottingham City Council proposed a new 45,000-capacity stadium about a mile west of the City Ground. The proposal was to share the stadium between Nottingham Forest and Notts County. However, the plan was abandoned after Brian Clough, who strongly opposed the proposal, said it would happen “over my dead body” and threatened to resign if the plan was approved.

There has been much debate over the future of the City Ground in recent years. In 2019, the club announced hugely ambitious plans to expand a significantly larger stadium capacity to 40,000, adding a substantial real estate development with world-class hospitality spaces and a new club shop. The plan also included refurbishing the Bridgford Stand and replacing the Peter Taylor Stand with a new two-tier structure.  

The club has also reached an agreement with Nottingham Rowing Club to demolish the three Trentside clubhouses and build a new six-story rowing centre across from the stadium. These plans reflect the club’s ambitions to return to the top of English football. 

In 2024, rumors emerged that the club could consider building a new stadium (since the club does not own the stadium’s land) at a different location. This possibility sparked fan debate, with many expressing their desire to remain at the historic City Ground.   

Tour 

If you’re interested in visiting Nottingham Forest’s stadium, the good news is that the club offers a guided tour that provides a proper football stadium experience. 

The guided visit lasts around 90 minutes, after which you will see all the main areas—including the East Stand and the famous wooden-slatted main stand—to help you appreciate what makes this ground special. 

Within this special tour, there is a visit to the Boardroom Corridor where the guide shares more about the club’s rich history and many records. The visit includes viewing the pitch from the Director’s Box, passing through the players’ entrance, and exploring the dressing rooms. You will have a chance to take pictures next to the pitch.

The experience is completed with a visit to the ultramodern Nottingham Forest Museum, which is within the stadium complex. It contains trophies and other sorts of memorabilia and has some truly iconic shirts in its long history.

Tickets

You can buy Nottingham Forest tickets online, by phone, or directly at the Ticket Office located at the City Ground. On match days, tickets are also available for purchase at the ticket office in the Brian Clough Stand.

Ticket prices vary depending on the opponent, but generally, you can expect to pay between £24.00 and £26.00.

How To Get To The Stadium

Fans can reach the City Ground by a number of means due to the stadium’s location being so easily accessible.

• Rail: Nottingham railway station offers regular services to London, Birmingham, Derby, Leicester, Newark, Grantham, Worksop, Sheffield and Peterborough. The train station is located around a 20-minute walk or 10-minute bus ride from the City Ground.
  
• Bus: A number of bus routes serve the City Ground, with services 5 to 11 being the closest to the stadium. For detailed information on bus options, visit the Nottingham City Transport (NCTX) website to find the best route.
  
• Car: The City Ground is easily accessible from junctions 24 and 26 of the M1, depending on your direction. 

1. Reach Saxondale Island: From the A46 or A52, follow signs to join the A52 towards Radcliffe-on-Trent and Nottingham.
   
2. Follow the A52: Pass through Radcliffe and at the next roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto the A6011.
   
3. Continue on the A6011: Follow the road as it bends right, cross Lady Bay Bridge, and then follow local signs for matchday parking.

For accurate targeting, use the postcode NG2 5FJ on your GPS (the complete address is Pavilion Road, Nottingham NG2 5FJ England).

There is a large car park on the ground where both home and away supporters can park at a cost of £5 per car.  

We Are All About Football!

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