Stoke City

Stoke City FC plays at the Bet365 Stadium (originally the Britannia Stadium), located in the Trentham Lakes area of Stoke-on-Trent, a conurbation of six towns in Staffordshire, central England. The stadium opened in August 1997 with a capacity of 30,089 spectators, replacing the Victoria Ground which had served the club since 1878. The Bet365 Stadium — named after the online betting company which is owned by the Coates family, also majority shareholders in Stoke City — was purpose-built as a modern football venue and quickly became associated with one of English football's most distinctive playing environments due to the exposed conditions created by its hilltop location.

The Bet365 Stadium became famous in the Premier League era (2008–2018) as one of the most challenging grounds for visiting teams, particularly in poor weather conditions. The exposed hilltop location meant strong winds swept across the pitch and into the stands, creating conditions that many Premier League teams found difficult to handle. Manager Tony Pulis famously exploited this with a direct, physical style of play that brought Stoke consistent Premier League survival and an FA Cup final appearance in 2011, where they lost to Manchester City. FA Cup holder Stoke also participated in the UEFA Europa League group stage in 2011–12, bringing European football to the Potteries for the first time in modern memory.

Following relegation from the Premier League in 2018, Stoke City have competed in the Championship seeking a return to the top flight. The Bet365 Stadium, with its Premier League-standard facilities and large capacity for a Championship club, gives Stoke considerable advantages compared to many divisional rivals. The stadium's sports facilities, hospitality areas, and overall infrastructure were built and maintained to Premier League standards and serve the club well in the second tier. The Potteries area's passionate football culture, forged over generations in the industrial heart of central England, ensures that the Bet365 Stadium continues to generate strong support on matchdays.