Nottingham Forest open new club museum

Image: Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest has opened a brand-new museum at The City Ground to showcase the Premier League club’s rich history and celebrated achievements.

Nottingham Forest said a new Stadium Tours experience, culminating in a visit to the museum, rounds off the second phase of the club’s plans to transform the fan experience for the club’s loyal supporters and engage further with the local community.

The state-of-the-art museum space situated in the stadium’s Trent End will be a celebration of the club’s illustrious 158-year history, housing some of the most treasured silverware and memorabilia charting Forest’s incredible journey through the decades.

The City Ground is a football stadium in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England (UK), on the banks of the River Trent. It has been home to the Nottingham Forest F.C. since 1898 and has a capacity of 30,455.

Museum highlights include a collection of iconic former manager Brian Clough’s belongings including his famous green jumper, Reds legends’ match worn shirts from some of the club’s greatest ever games and the Playoff Final Trophy.

There are also interactive exhibits and an immersive video bringing Forest’s rich history and greatest moments to life, as well as Nottingham Forest’s most treasured possessions – the two European Cups from 1979 and 1980.

Guided stadium tours, complementing the museum experience, will take fans behind the scenes of The City Ground.

From the dressing rooms, players’ tunnel and dugouts to the owner’s Boardroom and manager’s press conference room, visitors will gain a unique perspective of the famous stadium that has witnessed decades of football history, providing an immersive experience for supporters of all ages.

The Stadium Tours programme will also feature exclusive Legends Tours, guided by some of the club’s most celebrated players through the ages, including club ambassador and two-time European Cup winner, John McGovern.

As part of owner Evangelos Marinakis’ vision for enhanced fan engagement initiatives, the club will host a calendar of special events in the Museum, including talk-ins with Forest Legends and themed events celebrating historic dates in Forest’s history.

There will also be the opportunity to join manager Nuno Espirito Santo and current players for exclusive Q&As throughout the season, providing an intimate setting for fans to connect with their football heroes past and present.

A key element of the owner’s vision for these new projects will be the introduction of an educational programme for Nottinghamshire schools, youth clubs and community groups to learn more about the past, present and future of the famous club. The educational tours will provide students with an enriching experience, combining football history with educational insights, aligning with the school curriculum.

The Museum space will also be used as a venue for a range of community and charity activity, operating as a bookable, flexible-use space for the city and county’s numerous community groups and charities to host meetings and events.

For fans seeking an elevated match day experience, Nottingham Forest will also introduce new hospitality packages in the Museum for guests to enjoy a guided museum visit, gourmet dining and some of the best views in the house to watch the game.

A new retail store, stocking best-selling items and a range of retro memorabilia to compliment the Museum displays, will be open on match days at the entrance to the Museum.

Tickets for museum entry, stadium tours, hospitality packages, and special events can be booked online. All available dates have now sold out, but new dates will be made available soon, the club said.

Nottingham Forest F.C. recently said they could have a change of heart over redevelopment of the City Ground stadium unless a row with the local council over rent can be resolved.

It is sited on land leased from the city council and there are only 33 years left on the current deal. Talks about an extension have stalled over the authority’s demands the current £250,000 rent is increased to about £1 million.

Forest have said they need to extend the lease if they are going to invest in expanding the ground’s capacity. There have been discussions about the club buying the freehold on a permanent basis.

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