Kenilworth Road

Luton Town's Kenilworth Road stadium, including a review of the logistics, catering and matchday experience, along with details of my visits to the stadium.

I had wanted to visit Kenilworth Road for some time, so I was delighted when Luton won the play-off final to move into the Premier League alongside us. Sadly though I was unable to get a ticket for Burnley's 2-1 victory here, sealed with a wonder goal from Jacob Bruun Larsen. A year later, and promoted back to the championship together, I was able to get a ticket, despite selling our allocation.

Arrival

Our coach parked up on Oak Road, just 50m down the terraced street from one of the iconic stadium entrances in football. Visiting supporters enter through turnstiles between the houses, and climb into the stand via external steel staircases.

Program

Slightly bigger, and glossier than 'The Turf', Luton's program costs £4. You will struggle to find a vendor outside the away end - either make your way up the public footpath behind the new executive stand where you will find a vendor in the carpark on the corner with Kenilworth Road, or there are vendors selling the program behind the bar, and inside the ground. You don't get that service in Premier League

Food

There was no non alcoholic beer at the bar, so I made do with a bottle of Oasis. The pies looked pretty good with a puff pastry top, but I did not eat either.

The food and drink vendors are set in the area behind and under the stand, as is the bar. It gets pretty rammed down there, so I couldn't really be bothered to fight my way further than the loo at half time.

Stadium

Unusually the stadium consists of 5 stands.

Away supporters are located largely in the Oak Stand behind the goals, opposite the Kenilworth Road (3,229) Stand. The new Executive (Bobbers) Stand, rebuilt to meet premier league media requirements, is set to the left, and the Main Stand (4,277) to the Right. The Preece Stand (711) straddles the corner between the Main Stand and Kenilworth Road End. Official total capacity is currently 12,056 - following installation of rail seating in the Oak Stand.

Atmosphere

The ground was full, and the atmosphere was electric in the away end. There was a whopping great big girder in my goalmouth view (not the kind you drink), and if I sat in my seat, I could not see the pitch over the electronic advertising boards.

Every time Burnley scored the stewards crowded the corner - but why they thought anybody was going to climb out of that moat, I've no idea.

Getting Away

Getting out of the ground was easy enough. The coaches had spun around while we were at the match. We just hopped on the coach and drove away. We hit lots of traffic and closed roads on the way north, none of which was anything to do with getting out of Luton.