<\/p>\n

Key facts<\/h3>\n

Club: Stoke City FC | Opening: 1997 | Capacity: 27,743 seats<\/p>\n

History and description<\/h3>\n

The bet365 Stadium, previously known as Britannia Stadium, was one of the first newly built modern stadiums of England. It replaced Stoke’s old Victoria Ground<\/a>, where they had played for 117 years.<\/p>\n

Construction of the stadium began late 1996 and was completed in time for the 1997-98 season. The first match played at the ground was a Worthington Cup match between Stoke and Rochester on the 27th of August 1997.<\/p>\n

The naming rights of the stadium were sold to the Britannia Building Society as part of a 10 year sponsorship deal, resulting in the name Britannia Stadium. In 2016, a new 6-year naming rights deal was reached with betting firm bet365 resulting in the new name bet365 Stadium.<\/p>\n

In 2007, the club obtained full ownership rights of the stadium after a \u00a36 million deal with the Stoke-on-Trent city council.<\/p>\n

How to get to the bet365 Stadium<\/h3>\n

The bet365 Stadium\u00a0is located on an office and retail park in the south of Stoke-on-Trent, almost 2 miles from Stoke-on-Trent Rail Station and about 3 miles from the Hanley shopping and nightlife area.<\/p>\n

If arriving by car from the M6, take junction 15, then the A500 to Stoke-on-Trent, and next the A50 to Derby\/Uttoxeter. From the A50 take the first exit (the stadium is signposted and visible on the right). At the end of the ramp, up the bank, turn right at the traffic lights and again right at the roundabout.<\/p>\n

On matchdays shuttle buses run from Stoke-on-Trent Rail Station to the Britannia Stadium. Buses wait on Glebe Street, which is to the right after exiting the station, on the other side of the A500 by the church.<\/p>\n

On non-matchdays the Wardle Transport<\/a> PLUM service, and Baker\u2019s Buses<\/a> line 350\/351 connect the stadium with the rail station and Hanley Bus Station.<\/p>\n

Address: Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4EG<\/p>\n