Reduced mobility doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the roaring crowds or the final whistle at your favourite sporting events. With sports, you just can’t beat the thrill and excitement that comes with watching the action live. 

As service providers, clubs and venues are legally obliged to provide access to everyone on match day. This means that regardless of your mobility needs, experiencing a live sporting event is totally possible. In a lot of cases, you’ll even be able to take your mobility scooter along for the ride. 

Many venues and organisations are developing more inclusive services and features to draw in the crowds. From dedicated viewing platforms to complimentary companion tickets, there are so many ways to experience live sports with your mobility scooter. 

We’ve listed our top accessible sporting events to help you plan your next action-packed day out. 

Accessible Sporting Events

Football 

It’s never been easier to cheer on your team from the comfort of your mobility scooter. Immerse yourself in the drama and nail-biting action that comes with match day thanks to improved accessibility at stadiums and clubs. 

Good practice at spectator sports is regulated by the SGSA (Sports Grounds Safety Authority). The SGSA champions spectator equality and inclusion, regardless of how big or small a stadium is.

SGSA actively encourage the improvement of facilities and services to accommodate those with mobility requirements. Some of these include: 

●    Dedicated access to the stadium 
●    designated parking spots
●    Ease of movement within the stadium 
●    Accessible viewing platforms/seating within own-team sides
●    Provisions for ambulant disabled, visually impaired and hearing-impaired fans
●    Accessible toilets, restaurants and bars
●    360 safety at the venue
●    Appropriately trained staff

We encourage fans to look up the disability liaison officer (DLO) at their local club. A DLO is the best point of contact for any questions that you have about your visit. They can offer invaluable advice, such as how early to arrive before a match, or whether accessible seating is undercover or not. 

Horse Racing 

Royal Ascot, the Grand National, Glorious Goodwood. Horse racing in the UK has long been one of our favourite sporting days out.

But a visit to the races isn't just about a cheeky flutter on the horses. Amongst world-class fixtures, racecourses also host live music and entertainment for all the family. 

Racecourses are improving their accessibility to allow everyone a safe, enjoyable visit. The Jockey Club is a great source of information for those visiting four of the UK’s most popular horse racing destinations. 

At Aintree, New Market, Sandown Park and Haydock Park, accessibility is at the forefront. Event organisers have put many measures in place for those with mobility requirements. These include:

-    A complimentary ticket for your carer or companion
-    Manual and electric wheelchair hire, if you'd prefer to leave your mobility scooter at home or in the car 
-    Accessible viewing areas along the grandstand/at entertainment stages
-    Accessible toilets
-    Blue Badge Parking

Indulge in the glamour and join in with the drama of race day from the comfort of your mobility scooter. See here for more information on accessibility at these racecourses here.

Rugby

You can't beat a day out at the rugby for the comradery and high-energy of match day. Events run all year long and include famous fixtures such as the Six Nations, Heineken Champions Cup and the Premiership Rugby Cup.

Twickenham Stadium in South-West London is known as the home of English rugby. This stadium hosts the majority of famous fixtures, including all of team England’s home games.

The stadium can hold up to 82,000 spectators and insists that there is a seat for everyone. Some of the measures put in place to ensure accessibility include: 

-    Accessible seating and bays
-    Accessible toilets & changing facilities 
-    A complimentary ticket for your carer or companion
-    Extensive use of ramps and lifts 
-    Lowered counters at information desks and in some bars 
-    Blue Badge Parking

Rugby is all about the crowds and the electrical atmosphere that they bring to match days. Twickenham is an especially large stadium, so it’s always best to ask a steward for assistance to your spot if you’d prefer to avoid busy crowds. 

Though the stadium does not offer a wheelchair hire service, their dedicated wheelchair spaces are adequately sized and come with adjacent companion seats. Always call ahead to check that your mobility scooter will fit into these spaces if you don't have a manual wheelchair to use on the day. 

View Twickenham stadium’s accessibility here.

Wimbledon 

Impaired mobility won't stop you from watching a grand slam live this summer at Wimbledon. This world-famous tennis event is held at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Regardless of mobility status, Wimbledon aims to champion an inclusive experience.

Beyond tennis, there are lots of different activities to enjoy throughout the Grounds at Wimbledon. From the on-site museum, to shopping, Afternoon Tea and picnics galore, there is something for everyone. 

Wimbledon has many high-quality accessibility features. These include:

●    Accessible routes throughout the grounds
●    Step free access to courts, including lifts and ramps
●    Changing Places facilities and accessible toilets
●    Reserved spaces within the grounds for mobility scooters
●    Wheelchair seating in the courts with adjacent companion seat
●    Blue Badge Parking

AccessAble offer a thorough guide of the venue’s accessibility features. Each court has a detailed listing of its accessibility, which is supported with imagery for extra reassurance. See here for more information. 

If you were unsuccessful in the official Wimbledon ballot you can still grab a piece of the action nearer the time of the championship. Opportunities to watch the action live are available via ticket resales and Grounds passes. For these you’ll just need to have a level of mobility that allows you to be a bit more spontaneous on the day!

Top Tips

A car boot or foldable mobility scooter is always a fantastic option when visiting live events. A huge benefit of these mobility scooters is their transportability.

Once you're at your venue, a collapsible mobility scooter can be fully dismantled within a few seconds. This allows you to store your scooter fuss-free, so you can get on with enjoying the main event. 

Live events are still possible if you have a larger mobility scooter, they'll just require some extra planning and preparation. Your level of mobility will also impact how accessible a live event is. 

Lots of venues have wheelchair spaces that you can occupy if it's easy for you to transition from your scooter into a manual wheelchair. To support this, a free companion tickets is normally offered to ensure you have the help you need and trust on the day.  

We always recommend requesting a venue’s accessibility statement before booking any tickets. Being aware of how easy the venue will be to navigate before you visit avoids any unnecessary stress or disappointment. 

Level Playing Field is a fantastic source for live sports. You can view an extensive breakdown of a venue’s accessibility within the football, rugby, cricket and tennis worlds. Their website offers amazing advice for fans and lists the contact details of accessibility managers for all clubs.

For more ideas of where you can take your mobility scooter this summer, see our guide to accessible UK events here.