QPR try for a second time this season to make their way to Hull for a game this weekend. Here is the usual guide for those travelling north.
Ground Name: KC Stadium
Capacity: 25 504
Address:The Circle, Walton St, Hull, HU3 6HU
Main Telephone No: 0870 837 0003
Ticket Office No: 0870 837 0004
Fax Office: 01482 304 923
By Car: Travel north on the M1 or A1 and join the M18 until it reaches M62. Turn right and head for Hull on the M62 which eventually turns into the A63. Watch for speed cameras all along this section. The ground is clearly signposted from this road once you reach Hull but basically once you've gone underneath the Humber Bridge the first junction you meet is the one for the park and ride. The third junction you meet, just before the flyover and just inside the forty limit, is the one to take if you're heading for the ground. It's signposted for the stadium and the Royal Infirmary. Take the second exit at the roundabout and sit in a queue for the lights next to the giant Infirmary. When you get to the lights you can turn left and then the ground appears on your right as you go over the flyover. It’s a journey of about 215 miles from Loftus Road, in a little under four hours at the speed limit – although you’d be lucky to do it in that time in the current weather conditions.
Map:
Click map to visit Google and zoom in/out or tour round.
Parking: Unlike Coventry and their "green travel plan" Hull City actually got the idea that people get to grounds by means other than bicycle – there’s more parking here than you’ll ever really know what to do with. For starters there's a big car park off Walton Street. Follow the directions for the ground above but carry on over the fly over with the ground on the right, down to the lights then right and right again as signposted. If you park here it'll be £5 and make sure you take the left exit at the end of the game, the right exit forces you to turn right and you'll end up in Beverley or somewhere.
Second option, follow the directions to the ground as above but after queuing and turning left at the disgusting hospital turn right immediately into an NHS car park. It's £2.50 for two hours or a special stadium rate of about £5. Now firstly this machine is broken 50% of the time and you can park for free. Secondly, assuming you turn up after 2pm, you'll probably get away with paying the £2.50. Now of course I don't guarantee that, don't really want to be responsible for everybody getting fined or clamped, but in six years of going to the KC Stadium for rugby we've never been done for the missing 30 minutes on our parking ticket. We've also never known that car park to be full for either rugby or football, even when the ground is sold out.
There's lots of car parking in the city centre but the third option is probably the park and ride. Clearly signposted at the first and second exits on the Clive Sullivan Way (A63) as you pass under the Humber Bridge. Used these a couple of times for the rugby matches with slightly bigger crowds and they operate a good and cheap service.
Street parking around the old Boulevard Rugby Ground is walkable but risky – this is the only place I’ve ever had my car broken into.
By Train: Trains to Hull run directly from Kings Cross, or with a single change at Doncaster, and are operated by either East Coast or Hull Train. Looking at direct services only the 0934 arrives at 1220, and the 1812 gets back at 2052. The cheapest ticket at this late stage for those is £70 return. As ever on this line, I advise checking how much money can be saved by buying a return to Newark, and then a return from Newark to Hull. You’ll be able to stay on the same train but because nobody lives in Newark trains are cheap to and from there. Try a change at Doncaster on the 0910 from Kings Cross there, and the 1752 coming back for a small saving – that return is currently £57.85. If travelling in a group, East Coast are currently offering a third off tickets for groups of three or more if booked through their website.
To walk to the ground either come out of the station by the main exit and turn right, then turn right again and walk 15 minutes down the Anlaby Road until the disgusting hospital and the stadium appear on the right. Or come out of the station and take a sharp left to follow back on yourself, across the bus station and building sites and then straight on down to the ground via the metal wooden walkway.
By Coach: The official club coach leaves Loftus Road at 8.30am, and the usual lay-by at the Target roundabout at 9am. This is now sold out. The LSA is running a coach from the Springbok at 8am but this is also now sold out.
Pubs: All the pubs around the ground are not exactly a safe haven for away fans. The Silver Cod and the Admiral of the Humber are massive no go areas for Ranges fans, and The Eagle didn't look too clever after our last few visits here either. Pubs in the city centre are ok by and large, lots of QPR fans found some great boozers on the waterfront. Alternatively you can stop on the way in, or south of the river in Barton or Barnetby and pay your £2.70 to cross the bridge. The guide recommends the Brickmakers and Walton Street Social Club near the car park.
Tickets: Rangers had an initial allocation of 1,500 tickets but this can be more than doubled on the day if needed – which I can’t see being an issue. The tickets are priced £23 adults, £13 for seniors and young adults aged 16-22, £11 for 11 to 15 year olds, £8 for under tens and £13 for people in wheelchairs with one helper. These will be on general sale until 5pm on Thursday and then returned with the team for sale on the day. Young adult and under 10 concessions are not available on the day. People with tickets for the original game who cannot attend are entitled to refunds from QPR.
Links >>> Official Website >>> Detailed Fans Guide >>> KC Stadium Awayday