Stadiums in Doncaster

A professional football club since 1885, Doncaster Rovers has a long and impressive history. They have reached the latter stages of the FA Cup five times and were recently in the Championship; the second tier of the national league.

Their home is the Keepmoat Stadium, a 15,000-capacity arena that they share with Doncaster Rugby League FC and the Doncaster Rovers Belles. Built in 2006 at a cost of £32 million, the pitch is a mix of synthetic fibres and natural grass, giving a consistent playing surface and one that’s adaptable to all weathers – an important factor in the middle of a Yorkshire winter! It’s also just a short walk from our Doncaster (Lakeside) hotel.

The stadium isn’t just a sporting home, however, as several big names including Sir Elton John, Ronan Keating and Bryan Adams have hosted gigs and concerts in the ground.

Just next to the main stadium is a smaller 500-capacity arena that includes a six-lane running track and is home to the Doncaster Athletics Club and the region’s American football team, the Doncaster Mustangs. But it’s the football teams that are the main draw.

Now a consistent League One team, Doncaster Rovers have several intense local derbies, including games against Rotherham, Barnsley and Scunthorpe United, which are all highly contested. While the men’s team is the longest-running, the women’s team – the Doncaster Rovers Belles – have a winning reputation, having walked away with the FA Cup six times in their short history.

One of the oldest tracks in the UK, dating back to 1595, Doncaster Racecourse is one of the more active and is just a five-minute drive from our Doncaster Central East hotel. With 36 race days throughout the year, you’re never far from a flutter on the horses.

Take a seat in the grandstand enclosure and enjoy its superior views of the winning post and close proximity to the paddock and big screen. The two biggest events of the year are the Doncaster Cup and the St. Leger Festival, which take place every September.

Culminating in what is believed to be the world’s oldest classic horse race, the St. Leger Festival is a four-day long celebration of horse racing at Doncaster Racecourse, building up to the St. Leger Stakes on the final day, the longest and oldest of the five classic races in England. Events before that include Ladies’ Day, Gentlemen’s Day and a charity race raising funds for injured jockeys. A social occasion as much as a chance to see world-class thoroughbreds in action, the festival takes place in the middle of September every year.