Spectator Information: Durham v Northamptonshire Steelbacks

Durham Men return to T20 Blast action on Saturday night taking on Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Banks Homes Riverside under the lights.

Fans arriving early will be able to enjoy a special performance from Taylor Swift tribute act So Taylor, who will take to the stage from 5.30 pm to get the evening started, performing for an hour. This will take place behind the Dafabet stand. 

Whether you are a dedicated Swiftie or simply enjoy a good singalong, the performance will provide the perfect warm-up ahead of the cricket. Supporters can come down specifically for the tribute act or arrive early to enjoy the music before heading into the stands for the match.

We are keen that all the spectators have an amazing experience at the games and the following guide is designed to give you everything you need to know ahead of your visit.

If you still have any queries after reading the guide please do not hesitate to contact the Club via box.office@durhamcricket.co.uk

PART 1 – BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

TICKETS AND MEMBERSHIP

Tickets can be bought in advance from the box office at £25.00 for adults & £5 for juniors. Click here to buy online.

Tickets can also be bought on the gate for £30 adults and £5 juniors.

If you have anything to collect on the day please visit the window at Gate 2.

HOW TO GET TO BANKS HOMES RIVERSIDE 

Click here for a full guide on ways you can get to the Banks Homes Riverside.

The arrangements for parking at the ground are outlined below, and parking is also available in other car parks in Chester-le-Street and these are included in the guide.

PLEASE NOTE – a number of streets around the ground are Residents Only parking and these are indicated by large yellow signs on the entrance to the streets.  Please do not park in any of these areas as you may be liable to enforcement notices.

PARKING AT THE GROUND – BUY YOUR ADVANCE PASSES

Car Parking passes are  available for all of Durham’s home T20 Blast fixtures. Car Parking passes can be purchased in advance for £5 – click here.  Blue Badge parking is also available in advance for £5 – click here.

Please make sure you have your Blue Badge on display, in addition to your pre-purchased parking pass, and you will receive priority parking at the front of the car park opposite Bannatyne Health Club.  This then involves a short walk to the turnstiles at Gate 2.

Advanced purchases of car parking passes can be printed at home after purchase and must be displayed to stewards on entry to parking areas.

ART 2 – ARRIVAL AT THE GROUND

CAR PARKS

Parking will be located in the council car park opposite Bannatyne Health Club or in the Riverside Park and these will be filled on a first come first served basis.  Please follow the instructions of stewards who will direct you to the parking areas.

If you haven’t bought a parking pass in advance, the remaining parking passes will be £7 on the day payable to the stewards in the car parks.  We are a cashless venue so this will be card payments only.  (However, to save money and speed up ingress of cars we definitely recommend that you buy your pass in advance).

Please note – car parks will be busy immediately before the game and spectators are advised to allow themselves plenty of time to get parked and access the ground.

ENTRY TO THE GROUND – GATES

All spectator gates will open at 5pm. If you are able to, please make sure to arrive early to avoid any queues and to sample both the games and all the great activities we have in the ground.

The following gates are in use:

•  Gate 1            Hospitality customers
•  Gate 2            General access
•  Gate 3            General access (no bags)
• Gate 5.           General access

Spectators are asked to avoid bringing any bags, if at all possible, but where they do, please expect to be searched. Also be aware you cannot bring your own alcoholic drinks or glass items into the Stadium for games in the Vitality Blast.  These will be confiscated at the entry gates.

HOURS OF PLAY

The scheduled hours of play are as follows, but please listen for announcements of any adjustments to these timings on the day.

Durham Men v Northamptonshire Steelbacks – Pitch 14  

7pm start

8:15pm – interval

9.45pm – scheduled close of play

PART 3 – IN GROUND – CONCOURSE ACTIVITY

Be sure to arrive early for the game so you can experience all the great activities we have on the concourse at the ground.  There’s something for everyone to enjoy in the build up to the game.

That’s So Taylor Tribute act will be performing live behind the Dafabet stand from 5:30pm until 6:30pm bringing a range of hits including We are Never Getting Back Together and Shake it Off. This concert is included in your match day ticket.

Please note – Banks Homes Riverside is a cashless venue throughout so come prepared for this.

SHOP/RECEPTION/BOX OFFICE

Durham’s Welcome Hub will be open throughout this fixture.

Fans will have the chance to browse all of Durham’s retail offering in our club shop and go home with some Durham merchandise as a momento of your visit.

A special Durham Cricket 2026 programme is available to purchase from the Welcome Hub priced at £5, limited copies are now available so make sure to grab yours.

FAMILY ZONE

Durham Cricket is delighted that our Everyone Active Family Zone is back for 2026 located behind block 5.  It’s a must for all families to experience with lots of fun games to have a go at.  Think you can bowl as fast as Lauren Filer or pull off some Ben Stokes catches? If so, we have you covered. The Family Zone will be open from 5pm.

FAMILY STAND

Our family stand is located in the three tiers of Block 5.  This is immediately adjacent to the Family Zone and is the ideal place for families to enjoy the game from.

The Upper Tier of the Family Stand is a no alcohol area.

If you have a pushchair, don’t worry there is a pushchair storage area next to the Family Zone.

FAN ZONE

In association with Heineken, Durham Cricket will see our Fan Zone return for 2026. Situated in front of the main pavilion the Fan Zone will feature live music.

The Heineken Fan Zone will host a large selection of varied food and drink options with seating to relax and enjoy the live music.  Our fan zone will remain open after the close of play to grab a final drink or bite to eat before leaving.

FOOD AND DRINK PROVISION

We have a wide variety of food and drink offerings around the ground to suit everyone’s tastes.

The following bars will be open:

• Undercroft
• Fan Zone
• Moxy
• Pimms
• Big Screen

The Durham Cricket Members Lounge will be open from 5pm.

The Sticky Wicket will be open for drinks throughout the day closing following the completion of the men’s match.

A number of food outlets will be open, see below:

• Pizza
• Hog Roast
• Chilli chicken van
• Coffee
• Greek

WELCOMING ENVIRONMENTS – FACILITIES AVAILABLE

Durham Cricket is committed to providing a venue which is accessible to all.  We aim to cater for everyone’s needs.

The following facilities are available at the ground:

Sensory Room

Our Sensory Room will be open for all Vitality Blast games.

Based in the Media Centre, this room provides a safe, relaxing space for individuals and families who may have particular sensory needs to enjoy an unrivalled view of the game. Due to the space available please register your interest in using this space  by calling 0191 387 1717 or by emailing box.office@durhamcricket.co.uk

Changing Places Facility

Adjacent to the Media Centre under Block 5 we have a Changing Places facility which includes disabled toilets and changing space.

The new accessible changing facility meets the needs of those who require complex care and provides equipment, including a height adjustable adult-sized changing bench, ceiling track hoist system and peninsular toilet.

Multi-faith space

Durham Cricket also has a multi-faith space which is available for use at all fixtures and is situated next to the Media Centre.  This is designed for anyone who wishes to practise their faith or simply utilise a space for quiet reflection.

There is no requirement to book this space with access controlled via a steward on the day.

PART 4 – IN BOWL ENTERTAINMENT

Seating

As previously mentioned the seating is unreserved so you can choose where to sit in the ground.  As T20 Blast is a fast, explosive game we ask for spectators to keep their eye on the action at all time as there may be occasions where a big hit means the ball coming into the stands.

Entertainment 

It would be great to generate a fantastic atmosphere at the ground.  In the run up to the game our Host will keep the crowd informed about things going on around the games and also get the crowd involved in games and activities.

Be sure to join in where you can and don’t forget to grab your 4 and 6 cards at the gate to wave every time there’s a boundary scored.

Also keep your eye out for the Scatter Blast when our volunteers will throw T-shirts into the crowd – try and be the one who catches them.

Bowl For You Break

Fancy winning £1,000 towards your summer holiday? ✈️☀️

Enter now for your chance to take part in our live “Bowl for Your Break” challenge.

If your name is called during the innings break, you’ll head onto the pitch for your chance to hit the wickets, win instant prizes and secure your place in the Grand Finale on 10th July.

One finalist will walk away from the last T20 game with £1,000 towards a summer holiday departing from Teesside International Airport. Enter now, and you could be packing your bags this summer!

Crowd and Spectator Behaviour

You can also assist with the security operation by reporting any concerns relating to crowd behaviour – no matter how small – to the club’s stewards.  If something doesn’t look right, tell a steward.

Durham Cricket is committed to ensuring that all spectators have an excellent experience, no one should have to endure anti-social behaviour of any kind.  Should you experience such conduct or behaviour, please report it to your nearest steward or anonymously by texting the location and conduct details to 07714 954990.

PART 5 – END OF THE GAME AND EXIT

The fun doesn’t stop once the game is finished, so please make the most of this too.

Signing Session

At the end of the both games players will conduct a signing session for fans which will be pitch side where the players head out on the pitch.

Food and drink outlets

A number of the food and drink outlets will remain open after the game to allow you to carry on enjoying the experience at the venue.  This will include Durham Cricket’s Fan Zone and the Sticky Wicket.

Car Parks

Please be patient when leaving the car parks.  They will take some time to fully empty after the game.

BOOK SHOP

Our book shop has reopened in the media centre. This will be open 45 minutes pre game and will be open during the interval.