Outdoor Major Venue Guide

For the benefit of those spectators planning their summer days out at major domestic track and field meetings, maybe for the first time, here is some information on the major UK venues and how to get there, which we hope you may find useful.

Birmingham - AVIVA World Trials and UK Championships, Friday 10th to Sunday 12th July 2009 Birmingham Alexander Stadium Stadium Way Perry Barr Birmingham B42 2LR General enquiries: 0121 464 8008 Website: www.birmingham.gov.uk/alexander Email: alexander.stadium@birmingham.gov.uk Event timetable can be found here. Those using older versions of Internet Explorer, such as IE6, may have trouble opening this. IE7 and Mozilla Firefox are recommended browsers to use. About the venue The stadium was opened in 1976 and has staged the national championships on and off since 1988. The championships and trials returned to Birmingham in 2008 after four years in Manchester. In addition the Alexander Stadium has staged the European Cup in 1994 and the Disability World Championships in 1998. It is also the home of Birchfield Harriers. There are three covered stands: the Main Stand, along the 100m finishing straight, the Knowles Stand, which stretches around the curve from the 100m start to the centre of the second bend, and the Nelson Stand, which similarly extends around the first half of the first bend. The back straight consists of uncovered seating and a grass bank which on occasions is open to spectators. The stadium is set in a park which allows plenty of picnic space and a fair selection of temporary catering stands. Until recently it was possible to camp for the whole weekend within the park grounds. How to get there The stadium is situated about 3 miles north of Birmingham city centre in Perry Park, just off the A34 Walsall Road. It can be easily reached by bus from the city centre, or by car, since it is about 2 miles south of the M5/M6 interchange. Local public transport information can be found here. By car The stadium is well signposted on the A34 during major events. If approaching from the M6, take junction 7 and head towards the city centre for about two miles. If approaching from the city centre, follow signs for the A34 from the ring road. Parking is available at the venue for about £5 per day, although some street parking may be available nearby. By bus Local bus information can be found here. Bus number 51 runs every 10 minutes, 7 days a week, from Carrs Lane or Bull Street. The journey takes around 20 minutes and you should get off after the One Stop Shopping Centre. By train The train is less convenient than the bus. The nearest stations are Perry Barr and Hamstead, which are 12 and 14 minutes respectively from New Street station. The stadium is then about a mile on foot from either station and there is only an hourly service on Sundays. Hotels A list of Birmingham hotels can be found at www.visitbirmingham.com. Amongst those closest to the venue are: Express by Holiday Inn Birmingham North, Birmingham Road, Great Barr 0871 423 4931 The County Hotel, 45 Birmingham Road, Walsall WS1 2NG 01922 632323 Park Hotel, 131 Aldridge Road, Perry Barr B42 2ET 0121 356 0707 Catering On event days there is a selection of mobile fast food outlets.

London - AVIVA London Grand Prix, Friday 24th and Saturday 25th July 2009 Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Ledrington Road Upper Norwood London SE19 2BB General enquiries: 0208 778 0131 Web: www.crystalpalacepark.org Event timetable - can be found here. Those using older versions of Internet Explorer, such as IE6, may have trouble opening this. IE7 or Mozilla Firefox are recommended browsers to use. About the venue The stadium was opened in 1964 as part of the National Sports CEntre, but a stadium existed on the site from the late 19th century, and the FA Cup Final was staged there 20 times. Rugby and cricket have also been staged there. Various meetings have been held at the stadium, including the AAA Championships between 1971 and 1987, and the IAAF World Cup in 1994. The annual IAAF Super Grand Prix has become Britain's premier athletics meeting. The stadium capacity is around 18,000, although this can be increased slightly with temporary stands near the second bend. The West Stand (on the finishing straight) and the Jubilee Stand (on the back straight) are covered. The stadium is situated in Crystal Palace Park. How to get there The stadium is situated about 5 miles south of central London. It is served by a variety of public transport options. By car - take the A23 towards central London from the M25 London Orbital. South of Streatham, take the A214 (Streatham Common North) eastwards for about 2 miles. The spectators' car park is near Anerley Hill. still on the A214, although some limited street parking is availavle nearby. By bus - from the north end of the park take buses 2, 3, 63, 122, 137a, 202, 227, 249, 306, 322 or 358: from the south end the 194, 227 or 312. By train - The nearest stations are Crystal Palace, Penge West and Penge East, all of which have frequent services from London Bridge, Waterloo or Victoria. Those planning on attending using public transport would be well advised to check here to plan their route. Hotels Amongst those hotels closest to the venue are: The Queens Hotel, 122 Church Road, Crystal Palace (within walking distance) 0208 653 6622 Norfolk House Hotel, 589 London Road, Thornton Heath 0208 689 8989 Croydon Court Hotel, 597-603 London Road, Thornton Heath 0208 664 9291  Catering: on event days there is a selection of mobile fast food outlets. Note that there is a larger range behind the West Stand which isn't usually available for those spectators in the Jubilee Stand.

Gateshead - AVIVA British Grand Prix, Bank Holiday Monday 31st August 2009 Gateshead International Stadium Neilson Road Gateshead Tyne and Wear NE10 0EF General enquiries: 0191 433 5700/6900 Web: via www.gateshead.gov.uk Email: via events@gateshead.gov.uk Event timetable - can be found here. Those using older versions of Internet Explorer, such as IE6, may have trouble opening this. IE7 or Mozilla Firefox are recommended browsers to use. About the venue Gateshead International Stadium was originally opened in 1955, as Gateshead Youth Stadium. Besides athletics it also hosts rugby league and football. In 1989 and 2000 the European Cup was staged here. The all-seated capacity is 11,800. Only the 3,300 capacity Tyne and Wear Stand is covered, which runs along the lenght of the finishing straight. How to get there The stadium is situated on the A184 Felling Bypass, about half a mile east of Gateshead town centre. Local transport information can be found here. By car - from the A1, turn off at the A184 junction (Gateshead Town Centre) and go through the town on the A184 (Park Lane, later Park Road on the east side of town). Neilson Road and the stadium are on the left about half a mile after the town centre. Alternatively, from the south, leave the A1 at the A167 junction and follow the A167 north for about 4 miles. Turn right at the roundabout with the A184, and follow the A184 (Park Lane/Park Road) for about half a mile. By bus - the 93 and 94 buses operate every 15 minutes from Gateshead and Heworth respectively. By train - Newcastle Central Station is five minutes (two stops) away by the Metro. Any train heading for South Shields or South Hylton will take you there. By metro - Gateshead Stadium Metro Station is 10 minutes walk from the stadium. Eastbound services to South Shields and westbound services to Newcastle and Gateshead run about every 6 minutes during the day (about every 8 minutes on Sundays). More information is available here. Hotels - There is a guide to accommodation at www.newcastlegateshead.com. Special thanks to Richard Cooper. Alexander Stadium and Crystal Palace event photographs by kind permission of Mark Shearman @ Athletics Images. Additional thanks to Andrea Lee (Gateshead Council).