The Friends Provident St Mary’s Stadium (Southampton)

The Friends Provident St Mary’s Stadium is an all-seater football stadium in Southampton, England, which has been the home stadium of Premier League club Southampton F.C. since 2001.

General information

Arena capacity: 32,505 spectators

Address: Britannia Rd, Southampton SO14 5FP, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 50°54′21″N 1°23′28″W

Year of construction: 2001

Construction cost: £32 million

Field: Desso Grassmaster lawn with dimensions of 105 × 68 m

Seating plan of the The Friends Provident St Mary’s Stadium

Northam Stand

The Northam Stand consists of a single tier of red seating with the letters SAINTS spelt out in white up towards the back. Part way up the stand’s centre is a flat platform for disabled supporters to use.

Translucent panels up behind the back row allow light to access the pitch, and there is a large electronic screen attached to the roof which can best be seen by those at the opposite end of the stadium.

Your view from anywhere inside the Northam Stand is perfectly clear because of the cantilever roof above, and the stadium’s enclosed design means that every row is well protected from the sides and from behind.

Itchen Stand

The Itchen Stand’s interior includes both the stadium’s northeast and southeast corners.

It consists of a single tier of entirely red seating that is near enough the same height as the adjacent Northam Stand. This side of the stadium additionally has a row of executive and hospitality boxes up at the very back, and the back rows of the stand’s central blocks are dedicated executive seating. Flat platforms for disabled supporters can also be found just in front and to one side of this executive seating area. Southampton’s dugouts and tunnel are based down at the very front of the Itchen Stand, with the changing rooms located inside.

Your view from anywhere inside the Itchen Stand and its corners is perfectly clear because of the cantilever roof above, and the stadium’s enclosed design means that every row is well protected from the sides and from behind.

Chapel Stand

The Chapel Stand is very similar in design to the Northam Stand opposite.

It consists of a single tier of red seating with the letters SAINTS spelt out in white up towards the back. Part way up the stand’s central blocks are flat platforms for disabled supporters to use.

Translucent panels up behind the back row allow light to access the pitch, and there is a large electronic screen attached to the roof which can best be seen by those at the opposite end of the stadium.

Your view from anywhere inside the Chapel Stand is perfectly clear because of the cantilever roof above, and the stadium’s enclosed design means that every row is well protected from the sides and from behind.

Family Stand

The Family Stand in the stadium’s southwest corner is a single tier of red seating that is the exact same height as the adjacent Chapel and Kingsland Stands.

The translucent panels continue here behind the back row and allow light to access the pitch.

Your view from anywhere inside the Family Stand is perfectly clear because of the cantilever roof above, and the stadium’s enclosed design means that every row is well protected from the sides and from behind.

Kingsland Stand

The Kingsland Stand is a single tier stand that is the same height as the adjacent Chapel, Family and Northam Stands. The vast majority of the seats in here are coloured red, but the more central blocks contain too thick white vertical lines and the letters SFC spelt out in white down the front. Right above the letters F and C are flat platforms for disabled supporters to use, whilst up at the back is the stand’s premium seating area and the gantry that holds the matchday camera.

Translucent panels up behind the back row allow light to access the pitch.

Your view from anywhere inside the Kingsland Stand and the northwest corner is perfectly clear because of the cantilever roof above, and the stadium’s enclosed design means that every row is well protected from the sides and from behind.

Away Fans

Away fans are housed behind the goal in the Northam Stand.

Smaller crowds usually take up a couple of blocks right of centre, separated from home supporters nearby by rows of stewards and large sheets. Larger away crowds will take up more blocks nearer to and including part of the stadium’s northeast corner.

This away section will always include a flat platform in the centre so that disabled supporters will always feel fully part of the travelling crowd on a matchday.

Regardless of the size of the away section, the views from any seat are perfectly clear and very well protected by the stadium’s enclosed design.

Translucent panels up behind the back row allow light to access the pitch and help make the away section brighter during non-evening kick-offs.

Spacious and comfortable, the away section offers everything you could want from a modern stadium.

Where to buy tickets?

Southampton don’t have one of the easiest to understand ticketing policies in the Premier League. They break matches down into different categories as follows: Category A, Category B, Category C, and Category D.

Once you know the category of game you want to go and see you can then decide where in the ground you want to sit, whether you want premium seating and who it is you’re buying tickets for. You’ll find the prices are different depending on whether you’re an adult, over 65, 18-25, Under-18, Under-11 or you have a disability.

Southampton have a comprehensive and reasonably easy to use website that should be your first port of call if you’re hoping to pick up some tickets to see the Saints play. You can also phone the ticket booking line or call in to the box office at the stadium. Tickets go on sale to Official Membership holders first before being released to the general public, and you can become an official member by paying a fee to the club. There may be people offering to sell tickets to you near the stadium on the day of the game, but we’d strongly recommend against purchasing your ticket in this manner.

How to get there?

Southampton is out on the South coast, so it isn’t the easiest of places to get to to be honest. The club knows it, though, so there’s excellent information on the official website including a journey planning tool. We’ll give you some brief guidance here too, though.

By car

From the M3 take the A33 into Southampton. Continue on the A33 until you reach the junction with the A3024 Northam Road and turn left onto this road towards Northam. Then turn right onto the B3038, Britannia Road for the stadium.

There is hardly any parking available at the stadium for away fans and there are parking restrictions in force for the local area. Most fans seem to be just heading for the city centre car parks and then embarking on the 15-20 minute walk to the stadium. After the game the roads around the city centre become almost grid locked.

Alternatively, fans also parking around the Marina area and then taking the ten minute walk to the ground. Parking in this area has the advantage that at the end of the game, you can avoid the city centre gridlock, by heading along the coast on the A3024 and then onto the M271/M27.

The Marina is called the Ocean Village which has plenty of parking, but it does charge to park there (it costs £1 per hour, but is free after 6pm). It is no more than a ten minute walk to the stadium, has a pub on the complex (which had a decent mix of home and away supporters) as well as plenty of food outlets.

Please note though that due to the popularity of parking at Ocean Village it can take quite a while now to exit the car park and get back onto the main road (30-45 minutes). So if you are looking at a quick getaway then it maybe advisable to park further away from the stadium.

You can park in Woolston (on the other side of the Itchen Toll Bridge which costs 60p) where there is plenty of street parking, and made the 15-20 minute walk from there to the ground over the Itchen Toll Bridge. To get there, you leave the M27 at Junction 8 and follow the A3025 to Woolston.

There is a public car park (free for first 5 hours) located just south of the Woolston side access to the Itchen Bridge. It is on Oakbank Road and the entrance is at the junction of Bridge Road and Oakbank Road. For those without the benefit of sat nav, as you approach the bridge along the A3025 there is a roundabout at the entrance to the toll booths, take the first exit left onto Portsmouth Road down to the traffic lights, turn right into Bridge Road and the car park is immediately on the left.

Across Oakbank Road are steps which take you up onto Itchen Bridge and St Marys is visible across the river to the right. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near St Mary’s Stadium via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.

Post Code for SAT NAV: SO14 5FP

By train

The stadium is located around one and a half miles away from Southampton Central Railway Station (where there is also quite a large car park), which should take about 30 minutes to walk. There is also a shuttle bus in operation taking fans from the station to the ground. This operates from the Blechynden Terrace bus stop outside the station. It starts two hours before kick off.

Turn left out of the station’ s southern entrance and walk up Western Esplanade, which becomes Civic Centre Road. Remain on the Civic Centre Road and walk between the Civic Centre and the Marlands Shopping Centre. Eventually a crossroads is reached with the Nationwide Building Society on one corner and Lloyds Bank on another.

Cross into New Road and follow this road across a park and past a college. Eventually you will reach a complex road junction with a number of traffic lights. Cross Kings Way into Northam Road and follow this road for quarter of a mile until you reach the ground on your right. There are signs provided by the local council, which direct fans from the station to the ground.

You can also walk to the ground from St Denys Station, which is about a 25 minute walk away. This area also has some good pubs. Kay Wilkinson provides the following directions: Leave the station on the platform 4 (South Western Arms Pub side) and proceed past the pub, which is on your right hand side and continue on down this road, past the Junction Inn and over the Horseshoe Bridge (this goes over the railway.)

Take the next left, Empress Road and follow this for about 3/4 of mile past various industrial units and round past Mount Pleasant School, which is on your right.  At this T junction turn left into Mount Pleasant Road and walk over the railway (tip if the train gates are down use the footbridge — you can sometimes wait here for 20 minutes). You then continue along this road, which changes into Radcliffe Road, past the mosque on your right and this road will take you all the way down to the underpass to the Stadium. This is the most direct route.

If you want to visit the Dolphin Pub mentioned above you exit the Station on Platform one side using the bridge across the road and the Dolphin is directly in front of you. To visit the Rockstone pub (formerly called the Bevios Castle) follow the directions into Dukes Road and half way down this road is a right turn, this will take you out into Bevios Valley, turn left and the pub is about 3 minutes walk away on a road junction on the right hand side.

To get to St Marys from here you can either walk up the hill following the road continuously, past the hospital and the fire station on your left, when you reach the main road, Northam Road, cross and pass through the bridge to the ground. Alternatively, you can walk down the hill and take the first right, Mount Pleasant Road and follow the directions as from St Denys Station above.

The South Western Arms and the Junction pubs near to St Denys Stadium are both excellent real ale outlets and are football fan friendly. The Junction also serves good food. Allow around 25 mins to get to the ground in good time. Basically you just follow the crowd, but recently the council have put in a rather pleasant boardwalk alongside the western bank of the River Itchen thus saving the walk over the railway bridge and down Empress Road to the level crossing at Mt Pleasant. The boardwalk comes out in a small industrial estate the stadium side of the level crossing. From there follow the directions above.

By Bus

Buses are operated from throughout the town by BlueStar, First Bus and Velvet Bus companies, so wherever you’re hoping to travel to the stadium from they’ll have you covered. Buses 8A and 18 will take you from the station to the ground.

By Taxi

A taxi from the train station to the ground will take less than 10 minutes and will cost you a little over a fiver.

Where to eat and sleep?

As a seaside town there are obviously loads of bed and breakfasts to choose from in Southampton. There are other options, though, so we’ve got a couple for you here.

1. The Star Hotel. Located less than a mile from the stadium and with a bar and lounge on offer, The Star Hotel has 3 meeting rooms and free Wi-Fi, should you be looking to do a bit of business whilst you’re on the coast.
• Go to a bookmaker and place your bets right now.
2. Jurys Inn Southampton. A three star hotel with a restaurant an a bar, you know what you’re going to get from a hotel in the Jurys chain. There’s a conference space, multilingual staff and, of course, free Wi-Fi. the hotel is half a mile from the ground.
3. Grand Harbour Hotel. The Grand Harbour hotel offers an indoor pool, a full-service spa and a restaurant as well as a bar/lounge area. It is on the waterfront, so expect good views, and also has a strange pyramid design that is reminiscent of the Luxor hotel in Las Vegas. It’s more like a mile away from the stadium, but it’s still not going to take you long to get to the game.
• Free sports predictions 24 hours a day.

As a dockside city you can expect to see many sea shanties with rum swilling sea dogs propping up the bar. There are loads of great drinking holes in the city, basically, and here are some of choice options:

1. The Bedford. The Bedford, or simply Bedford’s as it is sometimes known, is named after the thriving Bedford Place area of the city and welcomes people of all ages. They serve food, have good drink options and show plenty of live sport on big screens dotted throughout the pub.
• Find out which bookmaker you can get a sign-up bonus from.
2. The Elephant and Castle. A little further afield at around 15 minutes drive from the ground is The Elephant and Castle. It’s a friendly bar full of local spirit and with a top atmosphere that has a good selection of beers, wines and spirits.
3. Yates Southampton. A bar that very much caters to the sports fan, Yates Southampton has 11 plasma screens and 2 large projector screens. They boast a brilliant atmosphere, serve food and become an exciting night time venue when the sun goes down.
• We make dozens of free sports predictions every day.

Facilities

The modern design of the stadium means that the facilities at Southampton are better than at plenty of older grounds in the Premier League. There are places on the concourses to buy both hot and cold food and drinks, you’ll be able to place a bet in one of the numerous kiosks around the place and the toilets are clean and modern.

Hospitality

As a reasonably new stadium the hospitality packages available at St. Mary’s are top-notch. There are different options available for you depending on what you’re after and how much you’re willing to spend. We won’t go through every single package that the club has to offer, but we’ll talk you through some of the most popular because we’re nice like that.

Saints Bar calls itself ‘your favourite pub in the heart of St. Mary’s’, so that should give you an idea of the sort of atmosphere they’re hoping to create. You’ll get pub style food, a cash bar and a drink at half-time. Not the most all-encompassing of hospitality lounges but certainly one of the most fun.

The President’s Lounge is a slight step up in terms of quality, calling itself a ‘stunning contemporary setting’. You’ll enjoy a pre-match buffet and all-inclusive drinks package, a match day magazine and you’ll be welcome after the game, too.

The Markus Liebherr Lounge is named after the man many consider to be the ‘saviour’ of modern day Southampton FC, The Markus Liebherr Lounge is one of the top-end packages on offer at St. Mary’s. With a three-course fine dining experience pre-match, an all-inclusive premium drinks package, half-time refreshments and a full-time cheese board, what more could you ask for? Not much, but you may well be treated to a player appearance and you’ll get one car parking space per four people you go with.

Private hire

There is virtually no part of St. Mary’s Stadium that isn’t available for private hire if you’re putting on an event and looking for somewhere to host it. Fancy having a get together in press lounge? No problem. Got a big party and want to dance the night away in the Matthew Le Tissier Suite? You’d be more than welcome.

Form the club’s boardroom and press conference room through to executive boxes or even a SuperBox, there will almost certainly be a suitable part of the stadium for your event to be hosted in. The club welcomes events as diverse as an awards ceremony or a family christening through to a wedding ceremony and breakfast. Being in the heart of Southampton, the ground is an ideal location for whatever you’re up to.

Accessibility

Accessible Toilets

There are accessible toilets in every stand – for both right- and left-hand transfer. There are also accessible facilities outside of the stadium near the Ticket Office and Saints Store which are available on both matchdays and non-matchdays. If you are visiting the hospitality or corporate areas, there are accessible toilets available near each suite.

Note that most of the accessible toilets are fitted with RADAR locks and disabled supporters/ guests will need to bring their RADAR key to access the facilities. If you do not have a RADAR key these can be purchased from local councils, shop-mobility schemes, and online Disability Rights UK. Should you find yourself without a key please approach an Accessibility Steward on a matchday within the area who will be happy to help. On a non-matchday, speak to a member of staff, who can get in touch with the Disability Liaison Officers.

Changing Places Facility

The Changing Places Facility is offered to use. Supporters or guests in need of this facility are encouraged to contact the Supporter Services Team for full information to ensure you have easy access to the facility as and when required.

Saints Store

Saints Store is open Monday – Saturday, and on matchdays. Entrance and exit points are via a flat surface through automatic doors. There are also lowered counters and hearing loops available in store.

If you require any assistance whilst in the Saints Store, you are more than welcome to speak to a member of staff.

Food And Refreshments

All fixed catering outlets have a lower counter for wheelchair users and supporters that find the lower level more easily accessible.

Menus are available in large print for supporters that are visually impaired. Feel free to request these at any of the fixed outlets – they are printed on matt paper to prevent glare and can be taken away to peruse.

Enablers with supporters on the raised wheelchair decks will have access to concourse areas for half time refreshments. An Accessibility Steward or a member of the Supporter Services Team may assist with the purchase of refreshments if needed.

It’s a cashless stadium and therefore they can only accept card payments. This is now in place for the convenience, as well as the health and safety of supporters, guests, and staff.

Hearing Loops

Hearing loops are available in the Ticket Office, Club Shop, Reception, Catering Units and Lounges.

Matchday Entrances

On a matchday there are accessible entrances at each turnstile for use by any supporter that needs them – if you prefer to use this entrance, advise one of the stewards located at the turnstile.

Sensory Room

Sensory Room provides a calming environment for supporters of all ages with sensory differences, or who may find the atmosphere of a football stadium challenging for their first visits.

Places in the Sensory Room will be available for all first team fixtures and are subject to availability. Proof of eligibility, in the form of a letter from a doctor/consultant or similar, may be required.

They can also work with individuals and families that may benefit from pre match stadium visits, a photo journey, or other tools and assistance that can help to overcome any challenges of their first matches.

Away Supporters

There are 6 accessible parking spaces available to away supporters with a blue badge, on a first come first saved basis. These are subject to a £6.00 charge which is payable upon arrival on matchday.

Visiting supporters who are Visually Impaired can also make use of the Audio Description Service.

Powered Wheelchairs & Scooters

Powered wheelchairs and scooters can be used in all wheelchair accessible spaces –advise the Ticket Office staff at the time of your purchase that you require a wheelchair space.

You should remain in your powered wheelchair or scooter for the duration of your visit, as they do not have storage facilities available.

Ensure that your powered wheelchair or scooter is fully charged for the duration of your visit to St Mary’s, including their journey to and from the Stadium.

Audio Description

Audio Description Service is offered for blind or partially sighted supporters, and there are receivers available for use by both home and away supporters.

Our Audio Description is provided by specially trained commentators that keep up with play to the second, so listeners don’t miss anything happening on the pitch. The simple to use receivers can be used anywhere in the stadium, and although they can provide you with headphones with the receiver, it’s recommended you bring your own.

There is no charge for this service, although they do ask that you get in touch with them to book a receiver once you have your match ticket by telephoning or by emailing [email protected]. They will arrange to have a receiver brought to your seat before kick-off.

At the end of the match, you have to return your receiver to a nearby steward. In order to continue providing this service it is vital that they have all receivers returned at the end of each match.

Exterior

If you are walking to St. Mary’s Stadium from Southampton Central, the route should take you down Melbourne Street alongside rail tracks, and that leads you first to the northwest corner and the stadium’s North Stand. It is better known as the Northam Stand after the area of Southampton out beyond it.

The stand has a nice exterior design, consisting of a brickwork base with silver corrugated iron higher up, translucent panels above here and a white cantilever roof coming down from the top.

Turnstiles for the Northam Stand (H, J, K, L and M) are spread across the brickwork base, with Turnstiles L and M for use by away supporters. The Away Ticket Office is in place between Turnstiles L and M.

One of the St. Mary’s Stadium’s Main Car Parks is out beyond the Northam Stand’s exterior.

The northeast corner of the stadium follows a similar exterior design to the adjacent Northam Stand, but the uppermost section is white and protrudes outwards, held in place by long white poles. A banner displaying the letters WE MARCH ON runs along the corner’s base.

Southampton’s Main Ticket Office is located in this corner of the stadium. It is split into two offices, number one being for purchases and number two being for collections. An executive entrance is in place between these two ticket offices.

Continuing round from here in a clockwise direction brings you to the East Stand, better known as the Itchen Stand after the river and area of Southampton that are out beyond it.

It is the clear largest of the four sides of St. Mary’s Stadium, using an exterior that is brickwork at the base with large white and silver panels higher up. The centre of this exterior contains a large glass façade which holds the entrance to the Main Reception as well as the entrances for Players, Executive Boxes 28-43 and the Saints Bar.

There is a set of turnstiles either side of this central façade, and these lead into the Itchen Stand itself. Turnstile A is nearer to the stadium’s northeast corner and Turnstile B is nearer to the stadium’s southeast corner. The 1885 and Press Entrances can be found next to Turnstile B.

In front of the Itchen Stand’s central glass façade is a statue of Ted Bates. Born in Thetford on 3rd May 1918, Bates was a centre-forward who joined Southampton on his 19th birthday in 1937. He would play over 200 times for the Saints and score more than 60 goals during a career that was interrupted by the Second World War.

After retiring from playing in 1953, Bates moved from coaching to becoming Southampton’s manager in September 1955. He would lead the club from the regional Third Division South (the same level as League One) into the First Division (the same level as the Premier League) and would even take Southampton into European Competition.

‘Mr Southampton’ as he is known would step down as manager in December 1973 after more than 18 years, acting as assistant to Lawrie McMenemy for the next few seasons and later serving as part of the Saints’ board and club president for more than 20 years.

Ted Bates passed away on 28th November 2003 at the age of 85, having been associated with Southampton Football Club for 66 years. The statue of him that you can find outside the Itchen Stand nowadays has been in place since March 2008 following a redesign that better matched his likeness.

The southeast corner of St. Mary’s Stadium is similar in design to the northeast corner.

Its exterior uses a brickwork base, silver corrugated iron in the middle, and has a white top that protrudes outwards, held in place by long white poles.

This corner also often has pictures of Southampton players and club mottos attached to its upper parts, and the Saints Store is located inside this part of the stadium. Head across the other side of the access road outside the southeast corner and you will come to The Dell Fan Zone.

The South Stand, better known as the Chapel Stand after the area of Southampton out beyond it, has a very similar exterior design to the Northam Stand opposite.

It consists of a brickwork base with silver corrugated iron higher up, translucent panels above here and a white cantilever roof coming down from the top.

Turnstiles for this stand (C and D) are located towards the middle of the brickwork base, and out beyond the Chapel Stand is the other St. Mary’s Stadium Car Park. The Saints Foundation Entrance is in place between Turnstiles C and D.

The southwest corner of St. Mary’s Stadium is considered the Family Stand.

It continues the exterior design of the adjacent Chapel Stand, using a brickwork base, silver corrugated iron higher up, translucent panels above here and a white cantilever roof coming down from the top.

Turnstile E is for this part of the stadium, as well as the Mascot Zone.

The West Stand is better known as the Kingsland Stand after the area of Southampton out beyond it and follows a very similar exterior design to the adjacent Northam and Chapel Stands.

It consists of a brickwork base with silver corrugated iron higher up, translucent panels above here and a white cantilever roof coming down from the top. The big difference in this stand’s exterior however is in the very centre, where a small section of glass and panels holds the entrance to the Gasworks Bar and Kitchen.

Turnstiles for the Kingsland Stand itself (F and G) are located along the brickwork base either side of the Bar and Kitchen entrance.

Slightly out beyond the Kingsland Stand is a long covered bicycle shed and rail tracks that lead down to the docks.

The northwest corner of St. Mary’s Stadium follows the same design as the southwest corner.

Its exterior uses a brickwork base, silver corrugated iron higher up, translucent panels above here and a white cantilever roof coming down from the top.

Southampton often have a small merchandise hub open right outside this part of the stadium.

History

The Saints moved in to St. Mary’s in August 2001 having departed The Dell at the end of the previous season. Their former ground could only hold about 15,000 by the end of its life, less than half of the amount that can fit into the new stadium. Ted Bates was a Southampton player who later became a manager, a director and even the president of the club. He was so heavily associated with the place that he was known as ‘Mr. Southampton’ and a statue to commemorate him was unveiled outside the ground.