Premier League
Opener 22.08 vs Sunderland
Last season
2nd place in the EFL Championship — promotion
Stadium
Portman Road — 30,056
New coach
Gary O'Neil — since 23.06
About the stadium
Ipswich Town have played at Portman Road since 1884 — the same ground, without a break, for more than a hundred and forty years now. The stadium sits in the heart of the town of Ipswich in Suffolk, and after a 2024 renovation the capacity stands at 30,056 seats. The four stands are named after club figures and its history: the Sir Bobby Robson Stand, the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand, the Cobbold Stand and the West Stand — all covered and multi-tiered. The attendance record at Portman Road was set on 8 March 1975: 38,010 spectators at an FA Cup match against Leeds United, in the days when standing on the terraces was still allowed. The record attendance in the all-seater era alone is 30,152, against local rivals Norwich City on 21 December 2003. The stadium's proximity to the train station and the town centre is what makes matchday here especially convenient for anyone arriving from outside.
FAQ
How do you buy tickets for an Ipswich Town match?
Tickets for Ipswich Town matches at Portman Road are almost never available — about 20,000 seats are reserved for season ticket holders. It's very hard through the official channel. Out of a capacity of 30,056 seats, about 20,000 are held by season ticket holders — meaning two-thirds of the stadium is closed off in advance. Demand was so high that the club launched a season ticket waiting list on 15 October 2025, and registration for it already closed on 1 December 2025 and was open only to existing club members. The promotion back to the Premier League only increased the pressure. The away fans' allocation stands at up to 3,000 seats. TikTik gets tickets for Ipswich matches even when the official channel is closed to anyone who isn't a season ticket holder.
How do you get to the Portman Road stadium?
You reach the Portman Road stadium on foot from Ipswich train station — about 450 yards, less than ten minutes. It's one of the simplest approaches in England. Ipswich train station is about 450 yards from the stadium — five to ten minutes' walk, and the stadium is visible from the station itself. The station sits on the Great Eastern Main Line, which runs from London Liverpool Street to Norwich. Ipswich town centre itself is within walking distance of the stadium in every direction. The stadium's address: Portman Road, Ipswich, IP1 2DA.
Is there parking at the Portman Road stadium?
There is no parking at the Portman Road stadium itself, and the surrounding streets are reserved for permit-holding residents only. The streets around the ground are subject to a residents-only permit parking scheme, so there's no point looking for free parking nearby. What is available: a few pay-and-display paid car parks within short walking distance, as well as Park & Ride services that run to the town centre. Anyone coming from London will save themselves the whole hassle by arriving by train — the station is closer to the stadium than most of the car parks.
How do you get to an Ipswich match from Israel?
From Israel you reach an Ipswich match by flying to London and then taking a train from London Liverpool Street. There is no direct flight from Tel Aviv to Ipswich. The standard route is a flight to London and then a train from London Liverpool Street station to Ipswich station — a journey of an hour to an hour and a quarter. This is one of the most convenient routes from London to a Premier League match outside the city, and you can definitely do it there and back in the same day and sleep in London.
Does an Israeli need a visa to fly to the UK for the match?
Not a visa, but yes an entry authorization. Since 8 January 2025, Israeli citizens have been required to have a UK ETA. The cost is £20, it allows multiple entries and is valid for two years or until the passport expires - whichever comes first - and permits a stay of up to 6 months per visit. You apply on the official website or the UK ETA app. The response usually arrives within a day, but you should allow up to three working days, and you must not fly before the authorization has been received by email.
Where is it best to sit at Portman Road?
At Portman Road the atmosphere is concentrated in the Sir Bobby Robson Stand, home of the loud crowd. The Sir Bobby Robson Stand is home to Ipswich's loud crowd, and its seats are sold to adults only. The Blue Action supporters' group, who are responsible for the tifos and choreography, sit in the upper tier of the Cobbold Stand facing the Sir Bobby Robson Stand — which is why that corner is the loudest spot in the stadium. The West Stand is the main stand, alongside the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand. Note: away supporters sit in the Cobbold Stand, along the touchline and facing the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand.
What's special about Ipswich Town?
Ipswich Town is a small club with a big history: English champions in 1962 and winners of the UEFA Cup in 1981. Ipswich were English champions in 1962 under Sir Alf Ramsey — who four years later led the England national team to victory at the World Cup — and won the UEFA Cup in 1981 under Sir Bobby Robson. Both stands at the stadium are named after them. The club's familiar nickname, The Tractor Boys, was actually born out of mockery: in September 2000, when Ipswich were leading 2-1 against Leeds, Leeds fans began singing that they were losing to a bunch of tractor drivers — a jab at Suffolk's agricultural character. The fans embraced the nickname with pride. The bitter rivalry is with Norwich City, in the East Anglian derby commonly known as the "Old Farm Derby", and the first match in the series was played all the way back on 15 November 1902.
What's Ipswich's big match in the 2026/27 season?
Ipswich's big match in the 2026/27 season is their return to the Premier League against Sunderland at home. After finishing second in the Championship in the 2025/26 season, Ipswich are back in the Premier League, and open the season at home against Sunderland on Saturday, 22 August 2026, at 15:00 — the first Premier League match at Portman Road in two years. Right after it comes the trip to Old Trafford against Manchester United. A new face will be on the touchline: Kieran McKenna, who led the promotion, left, and on 23 June 2026 43-year-old Gary O'Neil was appointed in his place on a three-year contract, after a short spell at French side Strasbourg where he reached the Conference League semi-final.
