Welcome to our in-depth guide to the City Ground seating plan, at this historic riverside stadium, home to Nottingham Forest football club since 1898.
With a capacity of 30,455, the City Ground is more vibrant than ever in 2024/25 with the fan group, Forza Garibaldi breathing new life into the stadium.
After 2024/25 the stadium is due to go through a major redevelopment now Forest are an established Premier League team. This latest project should raise the capacity to 42,000+ by updating the Bridgford Stand and the Peter Taylor Stand.
Where you choose to sit at the City Ground will have an impact on your Nottingham Forest matchday experience, with one block making a lot of difference.
Exploring the City Ground layout we will help you find your ideal spot at the stadium, diving into everything, from views to atmosphere, proximity to away fans and accessibility.
The four stands at the City Ground are the Brian Clough Stand, the Bridgford Stand, the Peter Taylor Stand, and the Trent End.
So to illustrate the differences, let’s talk you through the City Ground seating plan:
Capacity: 9,800
Rows: About 45
On the northern longside, the two-tier Brian Clough Stand was built in 1980 and is the largest at the City Ground.
The stand’s construction was funded by Nottingham Forest’s football success in the late 1970s under Brian Clough, and was named in his honour after he retired in the mid-90s.
If you want clean sightlines of the pitch, and don’t mind sacrificing a little atmosphere, Brian Clough Upper is the place to be for your City Ground tickets. Blocks J, K, L and M have the best seats at Nottingham Forest, no question.
Originally, the Brian Clough Stand was known as the Executive Stand, for the long band of executive boxes that stretches from one end of the stand to the other.
In the car park behind the Brian Clough Stand, the Family Red Zone offers food & drink, kids’ games and live entertainment from 12 pm for a 3 pm kick-off.
Capacity: 7,780
Rows: About 45
For pure noise, there’s no better place to be at Forest games than the Bridgford Stand on the eastern shortside. Rebuilt in 1993, this merges with the Brian Clough Stand
The Forest anthem, Mull of Kintyre is always pretty special at this end, which was built lop-sided because of planning restrictions.
The Bridgford Lower, in Blocks Y1 to YZ is where the loudest Forest fans tend to gather. Adding to the bustle the away allocation is in Blocks W, X1 and X2 of the Bridgford Stand.
So you have a perfect recipe for a noisy time in Bridgford Lower, even if the lower tier view is possibly the worst in the stadium.
The Upper Bridgford in Blocks U1 to V2, offers a nice blend of high volume levels and views. In this elevated part of the City Ground seating plan you’re close to the dyed-in-the-wool Forest fans in Bridgford Lower and right above the away fans.
However, to go with that atmosphere you also get a clearer view of the action, and can see across the pitch to the dugouts and players’ tunnel, especially from the corner.
Before 2024/25, 2,300 safe standing seats were added to the Bridgford Stand, in Upper Bridgford Blocks U1 and U2, and Lower Bridgford Stand Block Z, as well as Block W in the way section.
Capacity: 5,000
Rows: About 30
On the southern longside, the main stand in the City Ground seating plan is also the oldest, dating back to 1965. Perfect for traditionalists, the Peter Taylor Stand is a throwback to an earlier time.
That includes restricted views, with two large pillars in the middle of the stand, and a low roof that can affect sightlines in the upper parts of the stand.
As the main stand, this part of the stadium includes the players’ tunnel, dugouts, the TV gantry in the roof and the Directors’ Box. Outside, this stand backs onto the Nottingham Forest Superstore and main ticket office.
Despite the age of the Peter Taylor Stand, there’s plenty of hospitality seats, including the highly prestigious Directors’ Club and the Boardroom.
Carefully positioned on the opposite side of the stadium from the away section, Blocks F1, F2, F3 and RR1, RR2, RR3 in the City Ground seating plan are dedicated as the Family Area.
As a rule, adult-only groups are not permitted here. To make sure that this part of the ground is suitable for young fans there are strict rules against persistent standing and bad language.
Stewards are extra vigilant in the Family Area, and you may even be asked to leave if you don’t follow the rules.
Capacity: 7,500
Rows: About 45
Backing onto the namesake river, this shortside stand is the newest at the City Ground and opened in 1996 when the stadium hosted matches for the European Championships.
First off, the Trent End is top two for atmosphere at the City Ground, and is up there with the Bridgford Stand for liveliness, especially in the lower tier from Blocks T7 to T9.
Not all NFFC fans want the intensity of being close to away fans, especially people with families, so for many people that’s a big advantage of the Trent End in comparison.
The upper tier is on a steep slope and commands fantastic views of the pitch, especially considering this is a shortside stand.
The Trend End is often used for spectacular banner displays orgaised by the fan group, Forza Garibaldi, which has revitalised the stadium since 2016.
As a new stand, the Trend End was built with hospitality in mind. Between the two tiers is the viewing gallery for the plush Trentside Lounge.
This comes down to what you want from your Nottingham Forest matchday. Let’s talk you through the best spots according to the City Ground seating plan:
While no stand in the City Ground can be described as ‘quiet’, the Bridgford Stand takes the prize for most energetic and loudest.
If you get a seat from Y1 to Z, get ready to belt out Nottingham is Full of Fun and Forest Are Magic.
If you want to sit in a spot that has barely changed since Trevor Francis was banging the goals in, the Peter Taylor Stand is the place to be for some football nostalgia.
In which case, restricted views may be part of the charm. You will need to be quick, because this stand will be modernised within a few years.
For perfect views of both goals, as well as the dugout and the tunnel, the Brian Clough Stand is in a privileged position.
As we mentioned, superior views don’t go hand in hand with noisy football fans. A lot of the supporters in this part of the ground are older and wealthier Nottingham Forest season ticket holders.
So naturally they’re a little more sedate, which is something to remember if you want to jump around for 90+ minutes.
The longside stands are more child-friendly than the shortsides. Both the Brian Clough Stand and the Peter Taylor Stand are fine for younger fans.
However, the seating specifications make the west end of the Peter Taylor Stand just a little better.
Most of Nottingham Forest’s matchday hospitality and all of the club’s seasonal hospitality is squeezed into the Peter Taylor Stand. Here are Forest’s hospitality highlights:
So to round things off, the City Ground offers a diverse matchday experience depending on where you sit, with options catering to atmosphere, views, and accessibility.
Whether you prefer the vibrant energy of the Bridgford Stand or the prime sightlines in the Brian Clough Stand, checking the City Ground seating plan will help you find your ideal spot.
Make the most of this historic stadium with Nottingham Forest tickets via Ticket Compare. Compare prices and locations and find the City Ground seats that are right for you.
The local team playing at City Ground, Nottingham is Nottingham Forest.