New Douglas Park is Hamilton Academical’s all-seater home on Cadzow Avenue, Hamilton (ML3 0FT), just back from Burnbank and Whitehill. Opened in 2001 by Ballast Nedam, it replaced old Douglas Park, the Accies’ ground since 1888, which stood to the south and later made way for a supermarket. Capacity is 6,018. The record is 6,007, against Celtic on 17 January 2015. After a season at Broadwood the club came back for 2026–27. You may also see it called the Hamilton Community Stadium.
The plan above matches the ground. The pitch runs north to south, and both goals are at the ends, not in front of the side stands. The northern goal sits directly in front of the North Stand, the Spice of Life Stand, a permanent covered end raised a little off the pitch. That is the usual away section, with a good view and decent legroom. A large allocation may also use the East Stand, opposite the Main Stand. Take it only if you have to: it is a temporary stand, added in 2008 to meet a 6,000 all-seater rule, and pillars across the front spoil the sightline.
The West Stand, the Main Stand, runs the length of the western touchline. Dressing rooms, the tunnel and the offices are here, and most of the home support sits under the roof. The southern goal faces no stand, only a grass bank and the perimeter wall, so a ball through that end is slow to come back. Floodlight pylons stand in the four corners. The pitch is Greenfields artificial, laid in 2018, and the ball runs true.
Hamilton West is a few minutes’ walk, on a path towards the turnstiles, with trains from Glasgow Central on the Hamilton Circle. Hamilton Central is about a mile and a half; the 227 bus runs towards the ground, or a taxi is a few pounds. By car, leave the M74 at Junction 5, follow Hamilton, pass the racecourse and turn right into Caird Street. That matchday car park is free and five minutes on foot. Morrisons has an underground car park on the approach. There is no general parking in the ground. Book disabled bays with the club; a lift serves the Main Stand.
In autumn 2026 a League One away ticket was about £18 for adults, £13 for concessions and £5 for under-18s. Check before you travel, and buy through the club’s link. Scotch pies and a programme are sold inside. The Academical Vaults, opposite Hamilton West, is a home pub. Bar West at Peacock Cross is on the way from the station. The George Bar on Campbell Street, near Hamilton Central, is the more neutral pint, and is in the Good Beer Guide.
Wrap up. The ends are open, so a winter wind cuts through the away seats. Two stands and an open end keep the noise in, and under the lights it feels tighter than 6,000 seats suggests. Most days you are quickly back on the train, though a big support will queue the single approach road. It is a modest Lanarkshire ground, and easy to like once you know the northern goal, with the Spice of Life Stand behind it, is yours.