Bolton Wanderers are one of the best known football clubs in North West England. In 1997 they moved from their old ground at Burnden Park in Bolton town centre to the stunning all-seated Reebok Stadium at the Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park.
In 2014 the stadium was renamed the Macron Stadium after the club signed a new sponsorship deal with Macron, an Italian sportswear company.
In 2018 it was renamed the University of Bolton Stadium.
Club Tours
Fans and visitors to the town are welcome to look behind the scenes at the stadium. The tour includes visits to the players’ dressing rooms, officials’ changing rooms, managers’ dug-outs, press box, and the media interview room.
At the time of writing (2020) tours are offered on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday (non-match days). They must be booked in advance. For further details visit the official Bolton Wanderers website.
Hotels
The Bolton Whites Hotel offers 4-star accommodation and is built into the stadium’s South Stand. Some bedrooms offer views of the football pitch. Premier Inn also have a hotel at Middlebrook.
Layout
The University of Bolton Stadium has a capacity of just under 29,000. It has four stands; North, East (Nat Lofthouse Stand), South and West. Each stand has two tiers and every seat offers a clear view of the pitch.
Away supporters are seated in the South Stand. Sections allocated depend on the opposition and the level of support. Teams with a big following may be allocated both tiers.
The West Stand is home to the main entrance, ticket office, players’ entrance, dressing rooms, players’ tunnels, and managers’ dug-outs.
There is a big screen between the East and South Stands that showing the score, time elapsed, and other information.
A detailed seating plan can be downloaded from the official website.
Events
The stadium has hosted concerts by major artists including Rod Stewart, Oasis, Pink, Coldplay, and Elton John. It has also been the venue for other sporting events such as UK Open darts tournament.
Antique, wedding, craft, toy fairs and other exhibitions are also held here.
Shops
Bolton Central is the club’s official shop. It’s situated behind the East Stand and offers a wide selection of merchandise including replica kits, scarves, hats, and souvenirs.
Public Art
In 2013 a bronze statue of legendary Bolton player and manager Nat Lofthouse was erected outside the West Stand. The statue cost £100,000 and was paid for by public donations.
The Spirit of Sport is a 30 metre, trophy-shaped sculpture that stands at the end of Burnden Way, the main approach road to the stadium. It features more than 600 tiles, each etched with the face of a local sporting hero. Former Bolton players and managers honoured include Sam Allardyce, Phil Brown, Ivan Campo, Kevin Davies, John McGinlay, Jay Jay Okocha, and Gary Speed. Diehard fans such as Dave ‘Ding-Dong-Do’ Higson and Hovis Presley are also honoured.
Location and Directions
The University of Bolton Stadium is located at the Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park in Horwich, on the outskirts of Bolton. Visitors travelling by car should exit the M61 at Junction 6. It’s well signposted from here. The postcode to use for satellite navigation systems is BL6 6JW.
Away supporters have a dedicated car park in front of the South Stand/Bolton Whites Hotel. This is clearly signposted.
Horwich Parkway Train Station is just a few hundred yards from the Macron Stadium.
I went to a charity boxing match on Tuesday 13. There was about a thousand people there. All the staff were polite and a credit to the the company. Not one bit of trouble. Thank you for a great night.
It’s the end of an era at BWFC. From July 1 2014 the Reebok Stadium will be renamed the Macron Stadium after new sponsors Macron, an Italian sports company.
It brings to an end the club’s long association with Reebok, who have had the naming rights to the stadium since it opened in 1997.
My dad has been a fan for 50 years and has never been to the new Reebok Stadium. I would love to take him one day.
Edge. It was called Burnden Park. It was at a different location than the Reebok (just outside Bolton town centre, on Manchester Road). The last game at Burnden Park was in 1997 against Charlton. Bolton won and were promoted to the Premiership and I was there to see it!
Can anyone tell me what Bolton’s ground was called before it was the Reebok?
The Greenwood down the road from the Beehive serves food all day and also has Sports channels which the Beehive doesn’t. There are short cuts to the ground too from here.
I really enjoy going to the reebok stadium to watch a match. I just love it.
If you’re coming here for a match try the Beehive pub, at the roundabout about half a mile from the ground. No problems with away fans. All of the pubs on the Middlebrook would only allow home supporters.
The Reebok is definately one of the finest stadiums in Europe.
There’s a couple of hotels at the Reebok Stadium; the De Vere Whites and the Holiday Inn Express.