The Kingspan Stadium

I recently went to the Kingspan with my mum to watch Ulster play Glasgow Warriors. I had bought tickets for my brother but he was unable to go, so my mum and I thought we’d give it a go, as she had never been and I had been only once many years ago. I was very impressed with how slick everything was– spectators were in and out quickly and marshals were directing people to their correct stands. For two people who weren’t sure where to go, we had no bother and really enjoyed our evening. We didn’t have seats but we didn’t feel like the night dragged in! Ulster beat Glasgow 13 – 10 so a good night all round!

Love this place, a great stadium since the facelift. The facilities are very good, plenty of bars and a wide variety of food outlets to choose from. Definitely recommend Linenhill chip van, usually situated at the back beside the family stand.
You wont be disappointed with a night out at Ravenhill/​Kingspan. Usually cold so wrap up warm!

Absolutely love it here. My home from home. As a season ticket holder I spend a lot of time here through the season.
Since the stadium has had it’s face-​lift the facilities are top class. There are plenty of bars around the stadium which you can get served at with ease before during and after the match. At half time there’s a good bit of a queue usually, same with the toilets but it doesn’t take too long to move. My advise is to nip out at 38 minutes to beat the queue. The bar serves wine, cider, beer, Guinness, soft drinks and crisps. The cider is delicious. There is often a band playing in the front bar in the main stand too for entertainment if the rugby doesn’t cut it :)
There is a good variety of food options in the food village at the main gates. There are burger vans, hotdog van, dinky donuts and pie & mash to name a few. I find them all very good. My favourite match day feed is from the chip van at the far right corner, between the main stand and family stand.
The shop in the stadium is very good, it has a wide range of kit and other stock. Only downfall is that there is no changing room if you wanted to try anything on, otherwise it’s great.
All in all, I love it!

Now let me start by admitting I know nothing about rugby so I was the perfect person to visit the recently opened Nevin Spence Centre at Kingspan stadium. First impressions? What a fantastic tribute to one of their own! There’s a beautiful painting of Nevin in action painted and donated by his sister. The centre has some good rugby related exhibits and archive footage of Ulster rugby from days gone by and a bit of history about the old Ravenhill ground. Now I love history so this was great. Didn’t know that American troops stationed in Belfast during ww2 used the ground to play American football and Baseball. You can also have a go at a virtual goal. You get 3 attempts. I sucked as you can imagine. There’s also an interactive thing where you get to try and block a virtual player. I was slightly better at this! There are a couple of impressive big silver trophies and an interactive table where you can pick your own team from all the ulster players from years ago and I learned a few team position names. Had a tour of the actual ground which was pretty impressive plus the sun was shining which is always a bonus. Then I had a look in the gym which was state of the art and after a quick look around the empty (sadly!) changing rooms, showers and ice baths (really cold!) I took a look at the shop (not for me no style!) The only thing missing which they hope to rectify in the future is a coffee bar. All this for £7.50! Bargain!

This stadium was completely renovated a few years back now and is absolutely fantastic. Anybody that remembers the old ravenhill will be blown away the next time they see this place. The investment really has brought it up to top european standards.
They have plenty of bars now at each section of the stadium with fast pour pints meaning less queuing times. They club shop is also incorporated into one stand selling everything you could want.
I was fortunate enough to attend a corporate function for a game this season and the hospitality was second to none. The whole evening was planned to perfection and the food was top notch. We also had prime viewing from the Middle of the stand.
The atmosphere at rugby is great, no bad language you can bring the whole family. The crowds are mixed but there is no animosity just pure banter.

Not being a huge Rugby fan I was dragged to Ravenhill or The Kingspan (its corporate name) last Saturday night. Having been to plenty of football stadiums over the last few years I feel that I am a pretty good judge of sporting venues and I felt Ravenhill was excellent.
The facilities for fans were top class, they have plenty of bars that are well staffed serving pints of Heineken, Guinness and plenty of soft drinks — they even give you wee lids for your pints so you can navigate through the crowds without spilling a drop.
We were in the standing terrace so could get close to the action whilst standing with your mates, you can also move up and down the touchline at will — so when Ulster are playing the opposite way you can relocate to their try line. You can’t do this in all seater stadiums.
The atmosphere is excellent and really family friendly, there’s plenty of singing and chanting but not much bad language associated with other sporting events.
Another facility I liked were the free phone chargers provided by Power NI — really handy if you’ve lost some of your friends and you’re out of juice on your phone.

Ravenhill stadium is the home of Ulster Rugby and what a fantastic venue it is. Whenever I do go to a game, it is always a fantastic atmosphere which makes it a good night! The venue consists of one enormous stand which seats around 6000. The other stands are a lot smaller but I think that’s because of the local residents housing concerns as I’m sure they could increase capacity. The venue has fantastic corporate facilities that I had the chance to see which working for the IFA. These are by far the most modern available in Belfast. If there’s a game on, it would make great entertainment.

Before you go thinking I’m a rugby fan, I’m totally not. Which is why I’m reviewing the stadium, and not Ulster Rugby. Just so we’re clear on that. Give me football any day…
When I was a mere youngster (well, ¹⁴⁄₁₅), my friend lived a few doors down from Ravenhill in Ravenhill Park, and we spent many hours mucking around the area. I was completely enthralled by the fact that she could see rugby matches from her window… wow. Cheapest seat in the house!
After that, I went to two School’s Cup Finals (again, rugby) to watch them play. Going to an all girls school, we appreciated this favourable day (which just so happens to fall on St Patrick’s Day each year), when could all go and eye up the ‘talent’…the boys in shorts that is. My friends and I supported RBAI those two years, and the second time we went, I was dating a guy from Inst (as it’s more commonly known), so I was even able to wear his old rugby shirt.
The stadium itself is pretty huge, and apparently seats in the region of 12,00 people, though there were never that number there at the School’s Cup. We used to stand on the Terraces, which line one side of Ravenhill, but there are also seats and corporate boxes.
In 2009, a new stand was opened by Peter Robinson at one of the Ulster matches, so things have been upgraded ever so slightly since I was last there three years ago, and rightfully so. Ravenhill is a national sporting stadium, and allows Northern Ireland, as well as the three other ROI counties which make up Ulster, to showcase its rugby talent, and the facilities ensure this is the case.
Unfortunately, rugby matches are the only sport that can be watched at Ravenhill, but I reckon it’s an appropriate home for Ulster. The team usually play on Friday nights (as far as I’m aware), so it would a lovely choice of venue for an unusual date. Think of all those muscly men girls…