Nottingham Forest are now able to confirm arrangements for supporters to access The City Ground under the new measures recently introduced by the UK Government to minimise the risk of further transmission of COVID.
These new measures apply from this Saturday’s match versus Hull City at The City Ground.
The rules apply to all supporters aged 18 and over.
There are three key messages for supporters:
- You need a COVID pass, or negative COVID test result
- Prepare in advance
- Arrive early
1. NEW STADIUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
To enter The City Ground, in addition to a match ticket, supporters will need to provide one of the following:-
- DIGITAL NHS COVID PASS (preferred), or
- PAPER NHS COVID PASS, or
- NEGATIVE COVID TEST (evidence of a negative COVID test within 48 hours of kick off)
Entry to the stadium is dependent on the supporter being fully vaccinated with two doses of an approved vaccine, or providing a negative COVID test.
Supporters from outside the UK can use an equivalent pass to the NHS COVID pass issued in their own country as evidence of vaccinations.
Supporters' documentation will be checked by staff outside the turnstiles.
2. PREPARE IN ADVANCE
To minimise queuing to enter the The City Ground, supporters are asked to please prepare in advance of reaching the stadium.
Digital NHS COVID pass
Download your digital NHS COVID pass in advance and have it ready for inspection as you approach the stadium.
This will minimise the reliance on wifi or phone signal at the ground and reduce queues for entry to the stadium.
Click here for instructions how to receive your digital NHS pass.
Click here for instructions how to download your pass to Android or iOS devices.
Paper NHS COVID pass
If you do not have access to a mobile phone, please bring a paper NHS Covid pass.
Click here for instructions on how to receive a letter as evidence of your COVID pass status.
Negative COVID test result
If you do not have a digital or paper NHS COVID pass, please bring evidence of a negative COVID test taken within 48 hours ahead of kick-off.
For the Hull City fixture on Saturday, this means a negative test after 3pm on Thursday 16th December 2021.
The negative test can either be a lateral flow test or a PCR test.
Click here for details on how to report a negative test result with the NHS.
You will receive a text message and/or e-mail confirmation from the NHS which must be presented for entry to the stadium (rather than the physical test itself).
Proof of a negative test is not required if you have an NHS COVID pass.
International supporters
Please follow your own country’s guidance on travelling abroad and the UK Government’s guidance for entering the UK here and also adhere to the specific UK entry conditions relating to COVID here.
For stadium entry, supporters from outside the UK can use an equivalent pass to the NHS COVID pass issued in their own country as evidence of vaccinations, for example, the European EU Digital COVID certificate or USA CDC vaccination card.
Face coverings
Please bring a face covering with you, such as a mask.
Supporters are requested to wear face coverings: a) when entering the stadium as documentation is checked, b) when on the concourse areas, and c) when moving around hospitality areas.
The wearing of face coverings applies to all supporters aged 12 and over, unless medically exempt.
3. ARRIVE EARLY
With additional checking required outside the turnstiles for entry, supporters are strongly encouraged to arrive early at The City Ground. Turnstiles open at 1.30pm.
Discounts on refreshments
To encourage early arrival, the club has reduced refreshments prices from when turnstiles open at 1.30pm until 2.15pm:
500ml bottles of Carling: £3 (reduced from £4.50)
Sausage rolls: £3 (reduced from £4.20)
Coke, Sprite and Oasis: £1.50 (reduced from £2.80)
Hot drinks: £1.50 (reduced from £2.40)
25% off at the mobile Forest retail unit
The mobile Forest retail unit at the rear of the Brian Clough Stand will be open from midday, with 25% off all items.
The 25% discount also applies to the already reduced 2021-22 home kit, meaning adult shirts are now just £23.99 and junior shirts £19.19.
Fan Zone
The Fan Zone at the rear of the Brian Clough Stand will be open on Saturday from 12.30pm.
Eric Lichaj will be the VIP guest attending between 12.30 and 1pm.
The Fan Zone offers a selection of artisan food, locally brewed cask and craft beers, the usual range of Molson Coors beer brands, plus live music.
Food bank
Nottingham Forest are delighted to be again working with Hope Nottingham and the Nottingham Forest Supporters’ Trust to receive food bank donations on Saturday.
Donations can be made via car on the Brian Clough Stand car park between 10.30am and midday. From midday to 2pm, donations can be made on foot.
Hope Nottingham support 15 foodbanks across Nottinghamshire and donations on Saturday will help people who need it this Christmas. Please donate generously.
Mobile phone tickets
For supporters purchasing match tickets, please use the mobile phone ticket option where possible. Print-at-home tickets are also available.
Matchday sales
To help manage crowds on the day, traditional match tickets via the Ticket Office will not be available on matchday.
Mobile phone download and print-at-home tickets will remain on sale on matchday until kick-off.
Collections from The City Ground
To further help manage crowds on matchday, supporters are strongly encouraged to collect any tickets from the Ticket Office in advance of matchday. Mobile phone downloads or print-at-home tickets are preferred to arranging to collect a traditional ticket.
Bags
The club is delighted that more family groups are attending matches at The City Ground than ever before. This can increase baggage in the stadium and the club politely requests that the size and number of bags you bring to the stadium is kept to a minimum, particularly in the case of rucksacks. This will also further help minimise queuing to enter the stadium.
Staff
Please respect our staff who are there to help you on matchdays. As Saturday is the first fixture with the additional measures, please be tolerant if queues start to build.
Please note that these new measures are a legal requirement and anybody supplying false or misleading information might be fined up to £10,000 under new legislation.
Speaking about the new matchday procedures, Dane Murphy, Nottingham Forest CEO, said: “We at the club are extremely grateful for the fantastic support that we have received so far this season, both at The City Ground and on our travels.
“We have the second highest average home attendance in the Championship and are expecting another large crowd on Saturday, and for our Christmas and New Year fixtures against Huddersfield, Barnsley and Arsenal.
“Supporters will need a COVID pass or negative test result to enter The City Ground. We ask supporters to please prepare in advance by uploading your NHS COVID pass, or proof of negative COVID test, and arrive as early as possible.
“These new measures are important to help supporters attend The City Ground in safety. We will keep our supporters updated as and when the guidance issued by the Governement changes.
“We thank our supporters in advance for their patience as we embed these new procedures to the matchday experience at The City Ground.”