StoneX Stadium
Rugby
Premiership Rugby
London
Score:
38
/ 60
Overview
As you near the end of your journey to the StoneX, you might reasonably ask the question, ‘Why the fuck did anyone decide to build a stadium all the way out here?’ You’d be right to ask. It’s a mission to get to. It’s even worse getting away thanks to the enormous queues to get onto a bus. That said, it does feel worth the effort. Putting to one side the debate that Saracens’ symbolism – their logo borrowing heavily from the Tunisian flag, the fact that their mascot is a camel wearing a fez – might reasonably spark about cultural appropriation and stereotyping if enough people in the UK cared about rugby that anybody actually noticed, the pre-match hype created by marching drummers and the aforementioned camel is pretty exciting. Views from the permanent stands are good, although tickets are relatively expensive. There’s plenty of room to move around the ground, lots of bars serving pretty good beer, and Saracens – occasionally thanks to certain unscrupulous financial practices – boast a team pack with stars who are always fun to watch.
Score Summaries
Atmosphere & Experience: 8
Saracens put on a good show and create a sense of anticipation and excitement ahead of their matches. Their fans are vocal. Having once attended in support of Harlequins at a Premiership semi-final, I can confirm they also really hate their south London rivals. Once you’ve made it there, it’s great fun.
Seats: 8
The two permanent stands along either sideline provide excellent views across the whole playing area. It’s not the cheapest stadium, with seats between the 22s ranging from £70-£80+ the closer you get to halfway in the larger East Stand. It’s a little cheaper between the 10-metre line and the 22 in the West Stand. You can also opt for sideline standing tickets. The sight of the most dedicated fans running up and down the sideline to follow the action closely is one of the most enjoyable things about the StoneX.
Catering: 8
Plenty of bars, a good selection of beers. Standard, but high-quality stadium fare to eat.
Facilities: 7
Fairly plentiful. Queue situation acceptable.
Getting There: 4
It’s a schlep, there’s no denying it. Minimum of one tube, a bus, and a walk. Roughly an hour from Euston. Not a huge amount going on around the ground either as it’s surrounded by playing fields in a very residential area. Parking is available and driving may be advisable if it’s an option for you.
Getting Away: 3
Slightly worse than getting there due to the likelihood of having to queue for quite a long time to get on a bus. I have not driven to the stadium, but can report that it does look like it would take a little while to get out of the car park at the end of a game. I spotted quite a few people leaving early, presumably to beat the lines for the bus or to get out of the car park.