Good Friday Hull Derby: Security Ramped Up for the Rugby Rivalry
If anything shouts big match, it’s the upcoming Hull Derby between Hull FC and Hull KR—this year landing on Good Friday at the MKM Stadium. This isn’t just fierce competition on the pitch; off the field, authorities are stepping things up with the strictest security and ticketing measures seen at this derby in recent memory. And with the match set to draw a full house, there’s no room for slip-ups.
The stadium will see a sharp increase in security numbers, with extra police and stewards making their presence impossible to miss. For the first time, sniffer dogs specially trained to detect both pyrotechnics and illegal substances will be scanning crowds outside the stadium’s main gates. These patrols aren’t just for show—Hull KR supporters will be subject to mandatory searches. That means every fan from the away side can expect to be checked before stepping inside, part of a clear strategy to stamp out any trouble before it starts.
Six fans have already found out the hard way that the new zero-tolerance approach is serious. After being linked to recent incidents, including drug possession and setting off pyrotechnics, they’re banned from both MKM Stadium and Hull KR’s home, Sewell Group Craven Park, for the next three years. The clubs want everyone to get the message: breaking the rules won’t just ruin your day at the game—it’ll cost you seasons of matches.
Ticketing Tightens and Fan Zones Buzz
On the ticketing front, organizers are running an operation that leaves nothing to chance. For Hull KR fans, forget picking up tickets at the ground or sorting things the day of the game. Physical tickets—no digital copies—must be collected ahead of time from Sewell Group Craven Park, with the strict cutoff hitting on the 17th April. Turn up without one on game day, and you’re not getting in. There’s zero match-day ticket availability, so any last-minute plans are off the table.
Accessibility matters too. Ambulant and wheelchair-accessible tickets had to be sorted directly with the club in advance, and organisers have made it clear that all ticket holders need to work closely with club officials to confirm arrangements well before the crowds arrive.
Inside the stadium, things are shifting, with separate home and away ends more enforced than ever. Hull KR supporters will be confined to the North Stand and the northern part of the East Stand, giving them a clear patch to rally together. Any Hull FC members who are usually in the North Stand have already been moved to the South Stand for this event. It’s about keeping rival groups apart and limiting flashpoints before, during, and after the whistle blows.
Alcohol rules are getting an overhaul as well. All drinks in the West Stand Upper Tier (Hull FC’s regular haunt) and the North Stand (Hull KR’s section) will be poured from bottles into cups. That’s to make sneaking in bottles or causing mischief that much harder.
Before the action kicks off, fans looking to soak up the atmosphere can hit the West Park Fan Zone, which opens bright and early at 10:30 am. There’s live music, inflatable games, and merchandise stands ready to draw the crowd. If you’re driving, Walton Street Car Park is the spot, with a flat fee of £5 for the day.
The big message? Whether you’re there in black and white or red and white, expect tight security, no last-minute ticket drama, and a matchday experience with a bit of everything—both on and off the pitch.
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