Rotherham United are back at AESSEAL New York Stadium for Boxing Day action, when they host Stoke City in the Sky Bet Championship.
Ahead of the clash with the Potters, here is an overview of some key information.
Upon successful completion of the works previously taking place on Don Street the club has now returned to that location providing the main access and egress route on matchdays.
This is once again the primary entry point for vehicles entering the stadium.
Pedestrians can continue to use Don Street and New York Way as normal.
We would like to once again encourage supporters who are attending this fixture to arrive in plenty of time ahead of the 3pm kick-off against Stoke City.
Having issued a similar message through the 2021/22 campaign – which yielded a more positive outcome with supporters entering the turnstiles with greater ease – we are once again asking that fans arrive at AESSEAL New York Stadium in plenty of time and familiarise themselves with the new ticket scanning process at the stadium.
For those who are not yet familiar with the new turnstile access control system, we have produced the below video tutorial, which we hope will be hopeful to supporters prior to their arrival at the stadium.
Please be aware that any supporters who have purchased a Half Season Ticket will not be able to use to use it for this fixture, as the first match that this will be valid is the Blackburn Rovers fixture on Saturday 14th January.
🎫| A reminder of the changes to the ticket scanning process ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.
— Rotherham United (@OfficialRUFC) August 7, 2021
Watch our tutorial video, here. ⬇️#rufc | #ForeverTogetherForeverProud pic.twitter.com/RMOJQHRpkb
Supporters who are collecting tickets for the match can do so from the following locations. All tickets will be kept in the Red and White Shop until 1:30pm at which point they will be sent to the following turnstiles:
- Any tickets purchased in the Eric Twigg Pukka Pie West Stand - Turnstile 8
- Any tickets purchased for the KCM Recycling North Stand - Turnstile 11
- Any tickets purchased in the Ben Bennett Family East Stand or Block SE1 in the South East Corner - Turnstile 15
- Any tickets purchased in the Mears South Stand or Block SE2 in the South East Corner - Turnstile 22
As we continue to work towards speeding up food and drink services on matchdays, our catering partners at Elior UK would like to once again encourage card payments on the concourse kiosks.
While cash will still be accepted, we would like to take this opportunity to encourage fans to use card payments which remains the quickest and most convenient way to pay on a matchday.
Having noted feedback from supporters about queuing times and whilst continuing to work closely with Elior UK, we remain committed to achieving the best supporter experience possible at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
English football has come together to toughen measures addressing fan behaviour at matches.
The new set of actions, which will be implemented across all English football leagues from the start of Season 2022/23 and backed by the Football Supporters’ Association, will target activity such as entering the pitch without permission, carrying or using smoke bombs or pyrotechnics and throwing objects - as well as drug use and discriminatory behaviour.
These acts are dangerous, illegal and have severe consequences. They have no place in football, or anywhere.
From the start of Season 2022/23, all identified offenders will be reported by clubs to the police and prosecution could result in a permanent criminal record, which may affect their employment and education, and could result in a prison sentence. The FA will also be enforcing a tougher charging and sanctioning policy for clubs, which will reinforce these measures.
Furthermore, anyone who enters the pitch and those identified carrying or using pyrotechnics or smoke bombs will now receive an automatic club ban. These bans could also be extended to accompanying parents or guardians of children who take part in these activities.
The safety of everyone attending a matchday is the game’s collective priority. We know the behaviours carried out by some fans last season do not represent the majority of supporters and they risk ruining the fantastic experience of a football match for everyone. Therefore, we are working with clubs to highlight the important role that fans, clubs, players and coaches all have to play in helping to create a safe environment.
Our strong and collective approach reflects how seriously we all view this issue and the severity of the risks. Nobody should be intimidated or assaulted in their workplace. The pitch must remain safe for players, managers and match officials, just as the stands should be for supporters.
To further support this action, The FA, Premier League and EFL are working with police forces, the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU), and the Crown Prosecution Service to establish a new principle for cases relating to pyrotechnics and smoke bombs, as well as entering the pitch without permission. This will mean cooperating to achieve a prosecution in these cases will become the default response of the football authorities and criminal justice system, sending a clear and unambiguous message to all who break the law.
Other measures to be implemented include working with clubs to enhance search regimes and increased use of sniffer dogs at grounds. We will also be working in partnership with our clubs, players and managers, the Government, broadcasters, the police and social media platforms in seeking to discourage the further growth or acceptance of these behaviours across English football. This includes working with social media platforms to establish new ways of quicker removal of fan-generated videos of illegal behaviour at football matches, including violent offences and pitch invasions. It also includes asking the Government to reform regulations to restrict the supply of pyrotechnics and smoke bombs.
We have a full page dedicated to providing information for First Time Fans which can be found HERE.
Check out all the key information prior to your visit in our Away Fans' Guide, HERE.
Rotherham United are delighted to inform supporters that we have now implemented a new Disabled Supporters’ Room on-site at AESSEAL New York Stadium, which will be in operation prior to the Boxing Day clash with Stoke City.
Going right back to when the designs of our new home were conceived, we have always strived to ensure that AESSEAL New York Stadium offers everyone the opportunity to watch the Millers in both comfort and safety and whilst our disabled facilities have come in for much praise from both home and away supporters alike over the years, we are always looking at ways in which we can improve our matchday experienced right across the board.
In conjunction with the Rotherham United Disabled Supporters’ Association, we have been able to take on board feedback from our own fans on the matters and as a result, we have been able to amend a number of our practices in line with such suggestions.
Working closely with our Community Sports Trust, the Millers will now be offering access to the new room which will be located on the ground floor of the Community Sports Trust area of the stadium, next to the players entrance.
Use of the room will mean that can provide our disabled supporters with a warm and comfortable environment in which to enjoy the build-up to matches at AESSEAL New York Stadium and will be open from 1:30pm to 2:15pm.
For the latest news from RUDSA, you can follow them on twitter @OfficialRUDSA or on Facebook by searching OfficialRUDSA.
Rotherham United Community Sports Trust will once again be opening their GoalZone.
The entertainment facility is free to enter to supporters who are season ticket holders or have purchased tickets for the match, with pre-match entertainment provided for kids who are arriving early for the game.
The centre is now on the ground floor of the Community offices, located on the ground floor of the Eric Twigg Foods West Stand, near the Players' Entrance.
Resident club mascot Miller Bear frequently pops in to say hello on matchdays too, so come along and check it out.
The Goal Zone is open from 1:30pm on Saturday, but children attending must be accompanied by an adult.
We are committed to ensuring that Rotherham United is a place where everyone can enjoy football...
If you hear abuse of any kind whilst in and around our stadium grounds, we encourage you to report it using our anonymous mobile service.
Full information on how to report can be found HERE.
The club would like to emphasise that we operate a zero tolerance policy on discrimination of any sort. Anyone found to be in breach of this rule will receive a lifetime banning order. Any reported acts of disciplinary conducts by the club’s supporters are also highly likely to lead to formal disciplinary action by the FA under rule E20.
Anyone wishing to anonymously report discrimination or inappropriate behaviour within the ground can do so by using the following number: 07507 449121.
You can also use the Kick Out reporting app which provides users with the ability to attach video, photo and audio evidence to complaints to help support investigations into discriminatory abuse and behaviour.
The free Kick It Out app can be downloaded NOW from Google Play and the App Store.
Overseas supporters will be able to WATCH this fixture by purchasing a video match pass for £10 unless selected for overseas broadcast.
UK supporters will be able to LISTEN to live commentary with audio match passes priced at £2.50.
Copies of our official matchday programme are available around AESSEAL New York Stadium for £3.
We’re really proud to be keeping an age-old tradition alive throughout the 2022/23 campaign and hope you're enjoying reading our programme.
The Boxing Day edition is our final one of 2022 and subsequently includes our Alternate End of Year Awards with a number of players taking on our Q and A, whilst there are also exlcusive interviews with midfielder Ben Wiles and defender Grant Hall.
Rotherham United
Goalkeeper: Green shirts, green shorts and green socks.
Outfield: Red and White shirts, white shorts and socks.
Stoke City
Goalkeeper: Turquoise shirts, Turquoise shorts and Turquoise socks.
Outfield: Black shirt with Red trim, Black shorts with Red trim, Black socks with Red trim.
Referee: D. Webb
Assistants: S. Hudson & M. McGrath
Fourth Official: R. Joyce
Our resident club mascot Miller Bear loves meeting supporters young and old!
He'll be on-site at AESSEAL New York Stadium throughout the day and will happily post for photos and sign autographs, so please be sure to say 'hello' if you see him around.
Check out his social media on Twitter here!
Rotherham United would like to make both home and visiting supporters aware of the exit strategy which will be deployed following the Boxing Day clash with Stoke City at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
A barrier plan will be used following the full-time whistle in an attempt to keep home and away supporters safe as they leave AESSEAL New York Stadium.
Home supporters will exit the stadium grounds via Don Street.
Stoke City fans will leave AESSEAL New York Stadium via New York Way.