We encourage fans with disabilities to inform us of their personal situations in order to allow us to make your matchday experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
Arrangements can also be made, subject to availability, for any supporter suffering from a temporary disability (e.g. broken leg/ankle) which could affect ease of access to and from the stadium.
Audio Description Commentary (ADC) Headsets
An audio-descriptive commentary service is provided for home match fixtures at St. James' Park. The audio-descriptive commentary is a specialist matchday service that enables visually impaired fans to enjoy live matches, thanks to trained specialist commentators.
Supporters who require an ADC headset can request one by emailing [email protected]. Wellbeing officers will distribute the headsets before kick-off.
Quiet Viewing Area
The Quiet Viewing Area offers a calm and comfortable space for supporters with sensory processing difficulties to enjoy the match. It provides an exceptional view of the pitch from behind soundproof glass, allowing supporters to experience the game in a controlled environment.
Adjacent to the quiet viewing area is the sensory room, equipped with bean bags, sensory lighting, and interactive toys to support self-regulation.
The quiet viewing area accommodates 12 supporters:
Six supporters who require access to the space
Six parents/carers accompanying them
To apply for access, The Mags+, The Mags and Junior Mags members can enter the accessible ballot by selecting the sensory room option.
Sela Sound Shirts
Designed to enhance the matchday experience for deaf and hard-of-hearing fans, Sela Sound Shirts provide real-time haptic feedback.
Microphones positioned around the pitch capture crowd noise, which is transmitted to an antenna and directly to the shirt, allowing fans to feel the vibrations of the crowd’s cheers.
To enquire about using a Sela Sound Shirt, deaf and hard-of-hearing supporters can email [email protected].
Food Service for Wheelchair Users
To improve accessibility, wheelchair users at St James’ Park can order food without navigating the busy concourse before the match. Orders can be placed directly with staff in the following areas:
· Level 7
· Lower North
· Lower East
· Lower South
Accessibility Passport
Visiting St. James' Park can be daunting for people with both visible and non-visible disabilities. The club strives to make trips to the stadium as easy as possible through accessibility passports which ensure those who need accessibility support can alert matchday staff in a simple, recognisable way.
Fans who produce their accessibility passport to matchday staff along with their membership card and/or ticket will be assisted with their individual requirements, which may include support accessing the stadium and facilities. Individuals who may benefit from this support are invited to register for a pocket-sized accessibility passport, by contacting [email protected].
Wellbeing Officers
The club has a team of wellbeing officers who work to deliver effective safeguarding and equality, diversity and inclusion support on matchdays.
The team take a proactive approach to supporter wellbeing and are there to ensure the safety of visitors, as well as assisting with any accessibility requests, reporting or further assistance. Wellbeing officers are located around the stadium on all home matchdays and are identifiable by their white bibs.