Ahead of Friday night’s anniversary game against Colchester United, we have put together all the details you need to make the most of your visit to the Crown Oil Arena.
ADMISSION DETAILS
The Crown Oil Arena no longer operates cash turnstiles and is barcoded entry only. We urge supporters to use our online ticketing site to purchase their tickets before coming to the ground. Tickets will remain online until kick-off.
Buying online is the quickest and easiest way buy your match tickets and you can do so HERE.
You can save your e-ticket directly to your phone to scan upon entry to the turnstiles.
In circumstances where you can only purchase from the Ticket Office, please do not leave this until the last minute. Our new ticketing system requires the details of all purchasers to be stored on our system, so it will take time to process your details and issue your match ticket. Therefore, to avoid delaying your entry to the ground further, please allow plenty of time to visit the Ticket Office.
PRE/POST-MATCH ACTIVITIES
There are a host of activities planned for before Friday night’s game. Click HERE to view them in full!
From 5pm, an outside bar will open on the Crown Oil Arena car park, with live acoustic music from artists that have featured in our Inside The Arena – Sweetmore’s Sessions videos.
The Ratcliffe Bars also open at 5pm, where they will be showing a full-match replay of our home game against Charlton Athletic in the 2017/18 season, when Joe Thompson’s goal secured Dale’s League One survival.
There will be activities for the kids on the five-a-side pitch from 5pm, including an inflatable penalty shootout, whilst an arts and crafts junior event will be taking place in the Carlsberg Lounge, which opens at 6.45pm. Entry to the Carlsberg Lounge is via the turnstiles of the Smith Metals Family Stand.
After the game, entry to the Ratcliffe Bars will be free where Dave Sweetmore will be performing a live DJ set until late. The Carlsberg Lounge will be shut after the game.
THE VOICE OF SPOTLAND
There is a special edition of our award winning matchday programme, The Voice Of Spotland, for Friday night’s game.
It starts with an old-style front cover, designed to reflect the occasion of Friday night as Dale celebrate 100 years since their first game in the Football League.
Several one-off special articles relative to this milestone have been written, which you can read about HERE.
Priced at £3, it will be available around the ground and in the Club Shop on matchday.
FORMER PLAYERS
A number of former players will be guests of the club at Friday’s game, including Gary Jones, Joe Thompson, Lee McEvilly, Dennis Butler and Billy Rudd.
They will enjoy hospitality before the game and at half-time will parade around the pitch. Please give them a huge round of applause as they pass you in the stands!
CATERING KIOSKS
We have a brand-new catering partner in place at the Crown Oil Arena for the 2021/22 season!
There are some tasty looking items on our new menu, provided by the Lancashire Hospitality Co-Operation. Click HERE for full details on the partnership and to view the menu.
You will be able to pay by cash or card at the kiosks.
CLUB SHOP
The Club Shop will be open from midday on Friday, right up until kick-off!
New in are special anniversary Dale scarves and mugs.
Our 2021/22 shirts are also selling fast, as is our new Errea training and leisure wear, so make sure you pop-in and get your new gear for the new season!
Click HERE to browse our online shop, where you can also purchase items 24/7.
HALF-TIME DRAW
Tickets for Friday night's half-time draw are on sale now. Get yours online HERE.
Buying online is the perfect way for exiled fans to support the club, or for those who prefer not to use cash. Please note, online sales will end at 6pm on Friday.
With Covid restrictions having eased, we are pleased to say that we have re-introduced half-time draw sellers around the ground, in addition to having online sales. Look out for our sellers around the Crown Oil Arena in the run up to kick-off.
Tickets are priced at £1. First prize is 50% of the takings, whilst second prize is a Dale shirt signed by the first team squad!