Showgrounds

Away fans enter the ground at the main Warden Street turnstile block and are allocated a section of the new Warden Street Stand.

The stand offers an excellent unobstructed view of the pitch, while the roof is deep enough to ensure fans stay dry in a downpour, and with home fans at the far end of the stand as well there is plenty of opportunity to get a good atmosphere going.

Located at the northern end of Ballymena town centre, the Showgrounds complex is regarded as one of the finest sports facilities in Northern Ireland.

The main entrance is at the bottom of Warden Street where an impressive curved turnstile block – complete with ticket office, gable and six flagpoles – greet visitors.

Back onto this entrance is the impressive Warden Street stand, which opened in the 2010-11 season. This single tiered 2,500 seat cantilever structure cost £3m to build and is split jointly between home and away fans. It replaced the 23 year old concrete structure in the same location, known as the Clock Stand, which was demolished in 2009.

The Main Stand takes pride of place with its modern seating deck of 1,836 sky blue plastic seats beneath a high cantilever roof.

Ballymena town centre – which is within a few minutes walk of the Showgrounds – features a variety of bars, pubs and restaurants for fans to enjoy a drink or grab a bite to eat.

Some options include:

• The Grouse Bar and Restaurant – 74-76 Ballymoney Street, Ballymena, GB BT43 6AN
• Granny Annies – 17-21 Broughshane Street, Ballymena, BT43, Northern Ireland
• Red’s Sports Lounge – 9 Granville Drive, Ballymena, BT43 7AE, Northern Ireland

By Car (and Parking)

From Coleraine and Limavady
Take the A26/M2 Bypass road to the junction of Ballymena North, follow the road into the town centre. Before the M42 junction take a left turn into Parkway, at the second roundabout take the forth exit into Warden Street. The ground is at the end of the street.

From Antrim and Belfast
Take the A26/M2 Bypass road towards Ballymena South and turn left at the A26 Larne Road Link. Continue past the town centre, then once in North Road take a right turn into Parkway. At the second  roundabout take the forth exit into Warden Street, the ground is at the end of the street.

From Maghear and the West
Take the A42 Galgorn Road towards Ballymena town centre. At the A26 junction turn left into North Street, then a right turn into Parkway. At the second roundabout take the forth exit into Warden Street, the ground is at the end of the street.

From Larne and the East
Take the A36 road towards Ballymena town centre. continue over the M2 bypass road,and into the A26 Larne Road Link. Continue past the town centre, then once in North Road take a right turn into Parkway. At the second roundabout take the forth exit into Warden Street, the ground is at the end of the street.

Car Parking 
There are a number of parking spaces situated alongside the training pitches close to the ground  however being as the ground has only one entrance and exit getting away after the game could prove time consuming, there are however plenty of multistorey car parks in Ballymena town centre, five minutes from the Showgrounds.

By Train

Ballymena Railway Station has a regular service on the Belfast to Londonderry line. The adjacent Bus Station also has a regular service by Goldline buses 212 Belfast Europa Bus Station to Londonderry and 218 Belfast Europa Bus Station to Portrush. There is a taxi rank outside the station for those in a hurry.

Directions from the Bus/Train station:

Approx 10 minutes. Walk down the approach road from the bus station, and take a left turn passing under the railway bridge. Walk across the A26 road and once in the narrow town centre Mill Street turn left into Wellington Street. The road will fork in two directions, take the right hand road next to the bandstand and Bank of Ireland building. Follow this road north passing the petrol station and supermarket, this will lead to a roundabout. Turn right into Warden Street. The Showgrounds is at the end of the road.

Please check out the Ballymena United ticketing website for update pricing, but as a guide, the price of single match tickets for games are as follows:

• Adults: £15
• Children U12: £3
• Concessions: £10

For half season tickets (allows entry to league games at the Showgrounds between January and April 2026):

• Adults: £90
• Seniors 65+: £50
• Students: £50
• Under 18s: £20

Official Programme £2

After the redevelopment and construction work of the 2000s and early 2010s, the stadium can now hold 4,100 spectators, though the capacity is limited to 3,600 for safety reasons.

• 2025-26 (so far): 1,666
• 2024-25: 1,606
• 2023-24: 1,342
• 2022-23: 1,300
• 2021-22: 1,662

Ballymena United’s traditional club rivals are Coleraine. Closer to home, Ballymoney, Antrim Club Chimney Corner and Ballyclare Comrades.

If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Late Rooms. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going.

Official Web Site: www.ballymenaunitedfc.com

Official Social Media
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ballymenaunited
Twitter: @ballymenaunited

If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, then please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.

Special thanks to Owen Pavey for providing the photos and stadium layout plan of the Showgrounds Ballymena.