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Blackburn Rovers and Hozah are making matchday parking smarter, greener, and easier than ever. With on-site support at both the launch and the recent Bradford City game, and more to come, fans at Ewood Park can enjoy a stress-free start to every match.
Modernising matchday, the fan-first way
Blackburn Rovers have partnered with Hozah to transform the parking experience at Ewood Park. The club faced a complex challenge: how to prioritise supporters’ experience during high-demand matchdays, while also making the car park a source of revenue that could support the community and local initiatives. Hozah’s system meets both needs. Fans can pre-book, use PayByWeb, or register for AutoPay to enjoy ticket-free, cashless parking every matchday. No machines, no apps, and no stress, just a smooth, efficient entry and exit.
Ongoing support for fans
Hozah were on site for the launch and returned for the home game against Bradford City to ensure fans felt confident with the new system. Working alongside club staff, the team guided supporters through the registration process, answered questions, and provided hands-on assistance. This approach ensures a consistent, stress-free experience while also allowing the club to monitor and optimise car park usage efficiently.
A chance to win big
To celebrate the launch, Blackburn fans who had pre-booked their parking for the home game against Everton were automatically entered into a prize draw to win a year’s free parking. This initiative highlights how the system can be used creatively to enhance fan engagement while promoting pre-booking and optimised parking usage.
Supporting fans, backed by the community
This rollout is about more than just modernising parking, it’s about strengthening connections with the local community. On launch day, local youth ambassadors were on-site at Ewood Park to help fans navigate the new system. These young people will continue supporting fans at upcoming games, offering guidance and friendly assistance. By involving the community in this way, Blackburn Rovers are creating opportunities for local youth while ensuring fans feel supported every step of the way.
Why it matters
Hozah’s technology uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to detect vehicles as they enter and exit the car park. Drivers are automatically charged if they have pre-booked, used PayByWeb, or registered for AutoPay. This eliminates tickets, machines, and queues, while reducing the risk of overpayment or incorrectly issued PCNs.
For Blackburn Rovers, the benefits go beyond convenience: more fans are in their seats faster, traffic around Ewood Park flows smoothly, and visiting supporters enjoy a positive first impression. By streamlining the process from arrival to departure, the system also helps reduce congestion, lower emissions, and generate revenue that can be reinvested in supporting the local community, demonstrating how an innovative parking solution can address multiple challenges simultaneously.
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Six months on: the results at Ewood Park
Since launch, the partnership has gone from strength stronger. Supporters now register once and drive in and out on every matchday, with AutoPay charging automatically only when they park. Fans who visit less often can still pre-book a space for a specific match online, with no app needed.
Pre-booking has proved especially popular. It gives fans the reassurance of a guaranteed space and helps the club make the most of its car park capacity. Because the system recognises when a game runs into extra time, supporters are no longer at risk of receiving incorrect PCNs. Behind the scenes, Rovers receive monthly usage and revenue reports. They also hold regular review meetings with Hozah to plan improvements, while Hozah handles all driver enquiries directly so club staff can focus on matchday.
The club’s Head of Commercial & Partnerships said:
Working with Hozah has transformed the way we manage parking at the football club. The introduction of Hozah Autopay and other digital payment methods has created a seamless experience for our supporters and visitors on matchdays.
