Exclusive deal agreed for matchday parking

Matchday fans of Sheffield Wednesday will be able to use its nearby car park for next season, after the club agreed a deal with the council.

The club has agreed with Sheffield City Council to continue a licensing deal to use the main car park off Parkside Road on 28 match days a year.

In the agreement, which stretches back to 2009, Wednesday gets exclusive use of the pay and display car park for four hours prior to kick-off until 90 minutes after the final whistle.

The car park, which is a six minute walk to Wednesday's Hillsborough ground, is owned by Hillsborough Park Charity, of which the council is a sole trustee.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), a report to a council committee said the extended deal will generate a "guaranteed" income for Hillsborough Park Charity - which promotes the maintenance of the park.

Members also agreed to increase the hourly cost of pay and display for Hillsborough, Graves and Endcliffe parks from £1 an hour to £1.10.

This is in line with a recent car park charges review and is the same rate as now charged by the council outside the city centre.

The income is retained by the charitable trusts that own the parks and is used for upkeep and maintenance.

Councillor Matt Smith said he was keen to see the fees kept as low as possible, given the cost of living crisis, adding that a 10% rise would be "a little bit much".

After finishing bottom of the Championship last season, administration-hit Wednesday start their League One 2026/27 campaign away at Leyton Orient on 25 August.

Their first home game follows a week later, when the Owls welcome Bradford City.

Along with driving to the historic stadium, fans can also travel via tram, with its Leppings Lane stop 0.1 mile (0.16km) from the ground.

Bus and train routes are also available to get to the Owls' 34,835 capacity ground.

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