Watford FC are back at Vicarage Road for Friday evening’s fixture against Burnley (August 12, 8pm KO BST), with Rob Edwards’ men looking to extend their unbeaten start to the fresh Sky Bet Championship campaign.
All at the club are delighted to welcome fans back once again for the 2022/23 season, however it is vital that everyone works together to keep matchdays safe. Ahead of kick-off, below is a list of everything stadium visitors need to know…
Getting To The Ground
Stadium address:
Vicarage Road Stadium
Vicarage Road
Watford
WD18 0ER
By Train Or Tube
The nearest station is Watford High Street, a 10-minute walk away from the ground. Watford Junction train station is about a 20-minute walk.
Watford has its own London Underground tube station, which is on the Metropolitan Line and is situated just under one mile from Vicarage Road.
By Car
Due to the club’s partnership with Event Support Team (EST), fans are able to reserve parking spaces in the Holywell Primary School, Watford Grammar School for Boys or Westfield Academy car parks on a match-by-match or seasonal basis, by clicking HERE.
There is no parking available at the ground and street parking is restricted for local residents with matchday permits. Watford General Hospital ensure that their security and parking staff monitor the entrances to the hospital car parks to prevent people from parking on-site.
Accessibility
All accessible entrances will be open as detailed in the stadium map below:
Full details of the club’s provision for supporters with all types of disability, including visiting supporters, can be found in our Access Statement HERE.
For any access queries please email disabled.supporters@watfordfc.com or call 01923 496262.
Ticketing
Fans can now use Apple Wallet or Google Wallet to store their NFC (Near-Field Communication) matchday and season tickets. Click HERE for details on how to add your ticket to your mobile device, and click HERE for all information relating to NFC mobile ticketing and entering the stadium.
We encourage anyone who experiences difficulties downloading or using their tickets to get in touch with the club directly by emailing supporters@watfordfc.com or calling 01923 223023, so these issues can be resolved.
To quicken the flow of fans into the ground, we would ask that supporters prepare their phones before reaching the turnstiles. Your NFC pass will remain live for 90 seconds once it is opened from your digital phone wallet, so if you are scanning more than one pass from your device, you may need to close and re-open the wallet.
Dedicated ticketing staff will be on hand at the turnstiles, as well as at the Ticket Information pods, to provide further assistance on the day to anyone who needs it.
Security
Early Arrival
In order to reduce the potential for delayed access into the stadium, supporters are asked to arrive as early as possible. Turnstiles will open 90 minutes before kick-off, and the clock-style graphic above gives a visual representation that the ideal latest arrival point to the stadium is over half-an-hour before kick-off time, please.
Searches & Bag Checks
There will again be an increase in our security operation this season, in particular with searches and bag checks at the turnstiles. Bags will be checked at an outer cordon before entering the stadium, and those larger than A4 size (height: 297mm width: 210mm depth: 210mm) will not be permitted entry.
We Campaign
The We campaign - continuing into its fourth season - has provided a clearer route for supporters to report incidents of discrimination, excessive anti-social behaviour or safeguarding issues, which led to a record number of reports last season (58).
As a result of feedback received from those who made a report during 2021/22, we have changed the number to make it even easier to report issues.
Please text ‘We’, followed by seat numbers and details, to 66777 straight away. Our team will then investigate and take action accordingly.
The same details will be used at all Watford FC men’s and women’s matches, and Community Trust events, so please work with us to make our stadiums and events enjoyable for all supporters.
Click HERE for more information.
Love Football. Protect The Game.
The Hornets have backed the introduction of strong measures across football to tackle antisocial and criminal behaviours within football grounds.
This includes entering the pitch without permission, carrying or using smoke devices or pyros and throwing objects onto the pitch, as well as discriminatory behaviour and taking drugs. For everyone’s safety, Watford FC will report anyone carrying out these offences to the police.
Click HERE for more information.
Smoking
Smoking (including e-cigarettes) is not permitted in any area of the stadium.
Prohibited Items
The following articles are prohibited and must not be brought to the stadium:
Any person in possession of such items will be refused entry to the ground.
Further, you may not bring into the ground any sponsorship, promotional or marketing materials save in respect of official merchandise. Any flags or banners larger than those maximum dimensions permitted by the club (or, in the absence of such stipulations, two metres x one metre) and/or of an offensive nature are also prohibited.
Weather Warning
We are expecting hot weather at The Vic on Friday evening and some parts of the stadium will be particularly warm, especially the Sir Elton John Stand which will be in sunlight for the first part of the match.
For those supporters sitting in this stand we strongly recommend you follow our tips for coping in hot weather, as the main risks posed by a heatwave are:
Tips For Coping In Hot Weather:
If you, or anyone close to you is experiencing problems with the heat please attract the attention of a steward and report the problem to them. We will have medical personnel on-site who can assist.
Covid-19
Despite restrictions having ended, it is still important to do all you can to minimise the risk of passing on Covid-19. If possible, take a Covid-19 test on the day of the game, to check there is no risk of passing on the virus. You can also wear a face covering in indoor and crowded areas, and continue to wash your hands regularly or use hand sanitiser provided around the stadium.
Further Questions?
Our Supporter Services team are here to help with any queries you may have.
You can get in touch by emailing supporters@watfordfc.com, or via Twitter (@WatfordFCHelp).
On matchday, fans can seek assistance from the team of Vicarage Roadies. The team are dressed in green and are armed with the tools and knowledge to answer all the common queries we receive. They are here to help their fellow Hornets, so if you see a member of the team, please take the time to say hello!
Can’t Make It To The Vic?
Domestic and overseas supporters can access live coverage of Watford v Burnley, via the Hornets’ Hive Live streaming service with Jon Marks and Tommy Mooney.
Click HERE for more information on how to follow the mouth-watering Sky Bet Championship clash from home.
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