southampton stadium tour

• Betting Offers
• Football betting tips
• Euro 2024 tickets
• Euro 2024 stadiums
• New Stadiums

Southampton

St mary's stadium.

Capacity: 32,384 (all seated) Address: Britannia Rd, Southampton, SO14 5FP Telephone: 0845 688 9448 Fax: 0845 688 9445 Ticket Office: 02381 780 780 Pitch Size: 105m x 68m Pitch Type: Grass Club Nickname: The Saints Year Ground Opened: 2001 Undersoil Heating: Yes Shirt Sponsors: Sportsbet.io Kit Manufacturer: Hummel Home Kit: Red, White & Black Away Kit: White with Green trim Third Kit: Black with Yellow trim

What Is The St Mary's Stadium Like?

What is it like for visiting supporters?

Away fans are located in the Northam Stand at one end of the stadium, where normally up to 3,300 fans can sit. For cup games, this allocation can be increased to 4,750. The view of the playing action and the facilities within this stand are excellent. The legroom is good, although the width of the seating seemed to be a bit narrower than other grounds. The sizeable concourse behind the stand features a Ladbrokes, has TVs which show the game as it is played and several eating and drinking outlets. There are plenty of staff and the queues never seemed to get particularly long, which was a pleasant surprise. There is also a ‘Pie & Pint’ outlet, which as the name suggests, only serves beer and pies. Perhaps they should rename it as ‘Heaven’!

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to St Mary’s and would happily return. The stadium has (contrary to other reports) a great atmosphere and the facilities are first-class. I particularly commend the Club for the friendliness of their staff, from the stewards to the catering staff. Even as I left the stadium, a steward wished me an enjoyable journey home! Considering that away supporters are almost treated with contempt at some other clubs, this was a refreshing change. Coupled with the relaxed attitude of the home supporters and the excellent facilities, then this to me makes a visit to St Mary’s one of the better days out in the League. Expect to be searched on entry to the stadium. The visitors turnstiles (K, L & M) open 90 minutes before kick-off.

Phil Jones adds; “There was an excellent view from all around the ground and the atmosphere was good. I was impressed by their having toilet facilities around the perimeter of the ground which are accessible prior to the turnstiles opening. Well done Southampton, it’s the little touches like these, for the fans’ comfort and enjoyment of the day, which make all the difference.”

Pubs for away fans

There are not many pubs located close to the stadium, so the choice for away fans is limited. One exception around a ten-minute walk away from St Mary’s is Browns pub on Millbank Street. This pub which also has Sky Sports normally has a mixture of home and away fans in attendance. Just a couple of minutes walk away from Browns on William Street, is the Tap It Brewery. Housed in an industrial unit, the brewery is open for games and offers a selection of craft beers. Nic Hallam a visiting Wolverhampton Wanderers informs me; ‘In the Ocean Village, we found “The Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis” public house. This large establishment had an excellent choice of beers, friendly bar staff and a convivial mix of both home and away fans.

Most fans seem to end up in the city centre before the game, where there are plenty of pubs to choose from. Paul Hunt a visiting Bristol City fan adds; ‘On our last visit, the Standing Order Wetherspoons outlet was for home fans only, with bouncers on the door. We ended up in Yates Wine Lodge in the central shopping area. There were also a lot of away fans in the Slug & Lettuce next door’. Away fans should avoid pubs along St Marys Street such as the Kingsland Tavern, Joiners and Isobar. Please remember though that if you do drink in the centre, the stadium is a good twenty-minute walk away. Otherwise, alcohol is served within the ground.

If you like your real ale then around a 20-minute walk away from St Mary’s on Onslow Road (located north of the ground, in the opposite direction) is the Rockstone pub , which has up to seven real ales. It is also known for its large gourmet burgers! A five-minute walk from the Rockstone is the Guide Dog pub on Earl’s Road which has up to 11 real ales on tap. Both these pubs are listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.

Latest Developments

St. Mary’s stadium had a minor upgrade during the October 2021 international break. This coincided with the 20th anniversary of the move to the new Southampton ground in 2001. These upgrades included the installation of jumbo-sized displays, which are twice the size of the old style. There has also been a vast increase in the number of tills around the stadium. Whilst this may sound like a dull change it will reduce bottlenecking and improve the overall fan experience as well as give a much better look and feel.

St Mary’s is also undergoing further changes which are expected to come into play before the end of 2024. Away fans who currently occupy half of the Northam End will be relocated to another part of the stadium, the Family stand being the current front runner for the relocation.

This news has gone down well with Southampton fans who believe Southampton fans occupying the full Northam End will help with the atmosphere during games.

Ground History

Southampton first played at the 12,000-capacity Antelope ground from 1887 to 1896. From there they moved to the County Cricket ground for two years. Then it was the Dell, which was the Saints’ home for over 100 years. There was a fire in the West Stand due to an explosion during World War Two, which meant an entire rebuild was required; this took place shortly after the fires had happened. Various expansions were carried out at the Dell but, despite these works, the Southampton stadium was the smallest in the English top flight. In the end, the club opted for a move. In 2001, Southampton waved goodbye to their long-term home and moved into St Mary’s stadium. The 32,000-seater stadium became the biggest in South England (outside of London).

Directions and Car Parking

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. I did this and parked in an NCP car park in Portland Terrace, which cost £8. I should point out though, that after the game the roads around the city centre become almost grid locked. It took me over an hour to get away afterwards.

Alternatively, on my last visit, I noticed a number of fans 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. Steve Ship a visiting Crystal Palace fan also recommends it; ‘The Marina is called the Ocean Village which has plenty of parking, but it does charge to park there (it costs £4 for four hours or £2 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.

Barry Sear suggests ‘I parked in Woolston (on the other side of the Itchen Toll Bridge which costs 70p) 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. I was back on the M27 within 10 minutes of getting back to the car’. Paul Bostock a visiting Burnley fan adds; ‘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

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 and a half hours before kick off and costs Adults £3 return and Under 15’s £2 return.

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.

Thanks to Scott Lydon, Jeff Manning & David Furnell for providing the directions.

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’.

Ian Knight adds; ‘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.’

Ticket Prices

As with most clubs nowadays, the ticket pricing at Southampton’s stadium, St Mary’s, is tiered depending on the ‘grade’ of the game you’re watching and the area of the stadium you sit in.

Category A games are the most premium fixtures with Category D at the other end; the price range for these games is detailed here:

Adult – £25-£50 Over 65 – £25-£50 18-25 – £25-£50 U18 –   £20-£50 U14 – £20-£50

The expensive £50 tickets are for the premium seats, ticket prices range between £35 and £20 for the normal seats for the age groups. 

Programme Price

• Official Programme: £4

Club Anthem

The song most commonly associated with Southampton is ‘When the Saints go Marching In’

Biggest Rivals

Southampton vs Portsmouth rivalry: Not only are these two sides the most successful teams on England’s south coast but they’re also only separated by 19 miles giving their meetings, which are known as the South Coast derby, extra heat.

Southampton vs Bournemouth rivalry: The “New Forest derby” wasn’t really a rivalry until recently. Meetings between these teams used to be friendly but they’ve turned fiery in recent years with matches having taken on greater meaning as Bournemouth made it to the Premier League.

Disabled facilities

For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the official Southampton website .

Stadium Tours

Tours of the Southampton stadium are offered by the club on non-matchday weekends and during school holidays. Prices are pretty reasonable too:

Adults – £20

Children – £15

Over 65s –  £15

You can find further detail on the tours via the official club website .

Record and Average Attendance

Record Attendance 32,363 v Coventry City Championship League, April 28th, 2012.

Average Attendance 2023-2024: 29,371 (Championship) 2022-2023: 30,416 (Premier League) 2021-2022: 29,884 (Premier League) 2020-2021: N/A (Covid-19) 2019-2020: 29,675 (Premier League) 2018-2019: 30,139 (Premier League) 2017-2018: 30,794 (Premier League)

Map showing the location of St Mary's Stadium, Railway stations and pubs

Official Web Site:

www.southamptonfc.com

Unofficial Web Sites:

The Ugly Inside

St Mary's Stadium Southampton Feedback

If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: [email protected]  and I’ll update the guide.

Ben Clarke (Ipswich Town) 23rd January 2010

Southampton v  ipswich town fa cup 4th round saturday 23rd january 2010, 3pm by ben the tractorboy (ipswich town fan).

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

As an Ipswich Town fan I had never been to Southampton. The FA cup is always well supported by the Ipswich fans and I felt it was an ideal opportunity to go to the game. Having beaten Blackpool away in the last round I was slightly optimistic prior to the game.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

As I travelled to the game via the clubs coaches the journey was smooth. We stopped at South Mimms service station and there was a friendly banter with a few Saints fans. The coaches were parked at the back of the Northam Stand – the away end.  Without any delays it was a great start to the day.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?

Before the game I bought a match programme, then had a decent Cornish pasty inside the ground. The home fans were very friendly, making the whole experience a lot easier. The stewards were fine and entrance to the ground was quick and easy. The stewards did search through the bags upon entrance through the turnstiles. There was no severe delay.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

The ground was certainly very smart and modern both on the outside and inside of the stadium but in my opinion lacked character, it looked more like a bowl than a football ground! St Marys is certainly very similar in appearance to Middlesbrough’s’ stadium. The view from the away end was excellent, positioned behind the goal. As it was a cup game extra seats were provided to make the away end even larger.

5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..

The game itself was very frustrating from an Ipswich point of view. The atmosphere was great with all Ipswich fans in full voice. Southampton fans were surprisingly quieter than I thought they were going to be. Losing 2-1 was a little embarrassing… but losing 1-4 at home to Portsmouth in the next round is worse! Toilets were clean; it makes a change from some grounds! Pies were good according to those around us.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

The away fans were not held behind after the game which is always good for a quick exit The coaches parked behind the back of the stand making which guaranteed a fast exit. Although I heard Park and Ride was easy and cheap as well I would recommend travelling to the ground by coach. More banter was shared between the fans as the coaches departed!

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

The Southampton ground is very impressive and well worth visiting. On the whole it was a very enjoyable day, pity about the result but in all honesty Southampton did deserve the win. Everything was first class apart from the result. I would certainly return if the sides were to meet again.

Ed Butler (Walsall) 27th February 2010

Southampton v  walsall league one saturday, 27th february 2010, 3pm by ed butler (walsall fan).

1.Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

After beating Leeds at Elland road recently 3 points seemed a little more plausible. An added plus is that I had seen Villa play here a fair few years before and it’s always nice to see Walsall have a run out at a bigger stadium.

The journey was made easier on the basis that I live in Winchester, however by all impressions the stadium is very easy to get to (Train and Coach) – however parking seemed to be an inconvenience across the message boards. Parking nearby at ocean village best bet – even if it costs £1.00 an hour!

I went to a great Wetherspoons a ten minute walk away from the train station called the Giddy Bridge – here I talked to some knowledgeable Southampton fans who were more than up to the banter!! – Food inside the ground apparently is overpriced, so best bet is to get some grub from the plentiful vendors supplying on the outside.

St. Mary’s is a very impressive stadium and almost certainly deserves to be plying it’s trade within the Premiership. The away end was a quaint corner within the stadium a fair cry away from the home fans. However I imagine that the entire area is awarded to the away end for a championship/FA cup/Premiership match.

The game was superb for 3 minutes, then we conceded five goals against a vastly superior Southampton side. Ending 5 – 1. The stewards were disciplined but not over bearing and kept a careful eye. In fact one endured comically the cry of “only one David Seaman.” But if you look like an ex – England legend don’t be a steward – I joke! Atmosphere was good, and the endless “Oh when the saints””go marching in” was quite fun to join in on once desolated to defeat. Half time food – expensive, toilets (smoked filled).

Getting out of the stadium is easy as pie – the stadium sits within a vast barren area and there seem to be endless tunnels leading back towards the city centre, where a good level headed police presence eased all fans away from oncoming traffic.

A great day out, it is definitely worth staying over in the city during the night. Great locals, great pitch, sublime stadium. Worth a go for sure!! And we lost 5 – 1 (great free kick from us dead on 3minutes though :P)

Alexander Jones (Bournemouth) 2nd October 2010

Southampton v bournemouth league one saturday 2nd october 2010, 3pm by alexander jones (bournemouth fan).

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be): 

I was looking forward to the short trip to St Mary’s for several reasons. Firstly, it was the first league meeting between the two sides for 50 years. It is largely unknown outside the area that is a fierce rivalry between the two clubs, so it was a mouth watering prospect. Also, St Mary’s is a very modern ground which I was yet to visit, making it an extremely excitable game to go and watch. The fact that Bournemouth were on a great run and Saints were off to an unpredictable start to the season, made this an interesting spectacle.

The journey from Bournemouth was straightforward, just along the M27. We decided to use the away supporter’s park and ride, located by Junction 8 of the M27, as this was the safest way of getting to the ground. Usually I would expect no problems parking in the city centre, but we decided to be cautious due to the rivalry and experiences of others in the last meeting in the cup 2 months earlier. From that point onwards finding the ground was easy.  There were plenty of pubs to get food and drink. 

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly? 

Before the game we decided to have a mooch around the stadium, before entering. The stewards seemed relatively friendly. However, due to the rivalry the home fans gave us a hostile reception outside the ground. I wouldn’t assume that you would experience this with any other team apart from Portsmouth! We got into the ground about an hour prior to kick off.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? 

The ground itself is very modern, all seated with the corners filled in to enhance the atmosphere. The view from the away end was outstanding with ample legroom, which is a luxury in this division. It was everything you would expect from a new ground. Away fans receive an allocation of 4000, which was sold out for this game. The stadium has four decent stands, the ground perhaps a little too large for the division with all due respect. The catering facilities were good and prices were on par for all league grounds.

The game itself was not good for me and my fellow supporters. Southampton got two dubious penalties, which Ricky Lambert scored both. Bournemouth played poorly after hitting the post in the first minute, we expected better! The atmosphere was electric and the roof came off when Southampton scored. There was a lot of derby day banter, which got unsavoury at the final whistle. The stewards weren’t over zealous and handled the minor trouble well. Catering facilities and toilets were good.

Getting away from the ground was very easy in terms of transport. There were minor outbreaks of trouble in the surrounding area as anticipated. However we were back at the park and ride area 30 minutes after the final whistle. Obviously if you park in the city centre, the traffic would have been pretty grid locked. This is why I would recommend the park and ride.

I found everything about the trip to St Mary’s excellent bar the result! A good atmosphere was generated, while the combination of good facilities and a great view of the action would make me go back there. It is an enjoyable day which I would recommend to any fan.

James Spring (Notts County) 15th January 2011

Southampton v  notts county   league one saturday 15th january 2011, 3pm by james spring (notts county fan).

Being a Notts County supporter living in sunny Weymouth means I only really get to see Notts play when we play in the South, so I had been looking forward to the trip to St Marys since the fixtures were released. I also have a mate who is a Saints fan, so the plan was to meet up before and after the game.    We caught the train from Weymouth to Southampton Central. There was a bit of confusion on the way, as we had to catch a bus from Bournemouth to Southampton station due to engineering works, but we were told to stay on the train at Bournemouth. However a new conductor got on, and as we left Bournemouth he said the train was going directly to London Waterloo. Luckily, we were told we could get off at Totton and there would be a bus waiting to take us to Southampton Central station. we eventually arrived at Southampton central station at 13:20.   Having arrived in Southampton reasonably early, we went into the City Centre to grab a bite to eat. We found a Burger King which was full of home fans. I did feel a bit awkward going in, with a bunch of Saints fans with my County scarf on but they seemed good natured and wished us good luck for the season.

Just before 2pm we made our way to the stadium. it was about a 20 minute walk to the ground, and we didn't have to worry about navigation thanks to our local Saints guide.   My first glimpse of the stadium came as we walked through a tunnel that leads through to the ground, and what a sight it was. The stadium is stunning, and a lot bigger than what it looks on television. Away supporters are located in one corner of the Northam stand, with the noisier Saints fans in the other end of that stand. We were sat right at the back, so we had the best view. You get clear vision of the pitch, a good view of the big TV Screens which showed highlights of Saints last game (a 6-0 away win at Oldham!) and the managers interview. I personally am not a big fan of these new bowl style arenas but I'll make an exception for St Marys.   The game itself looked destined to be a hard fought contest between the two form sides in the League, Saints were 2nd in the table and Notts were on a good run of form which had seen them dump Sunderland out of the FA cup the previous week.

The first half was pretty cagey. Notts had the best chance midway through the half when Alan Gow's shot was knocked away for a corner by Saints keeper Kelvin Davis.  At half time, we only had to queue for around two minutes to get a cup of tea, although it wasn't the best brew I've ever tasted it must be said. Still, it was enough to warm me up for the 2nd half.   Now the one complaint I have about the whole day was the stewarding. Me and three other Notts fans started the 2nd half standing up, because we were right at the back, and I for one prefer standing up. But a steward came over and told us to sit down. Fine, thats all well and good, but why did they not make the home supporters standing in the other half of the Northam Stand, and in a section of the Itchen Stand sit down too?   The 2nd half was a bit more lively. Me, and indeed most of the stadium thought the hosts had taken the lead from a corner early in the 2nd half, but the linesman said that the ball didn't cross the line, and replays proved it to be the correct decision. Southampton barely threatened after that, and the game looked destined for a draw. For a side 2nd in the table, I have to say the saints fans were pretty quiet as well, and didn't really sing much. The full time whistle blew and we celebrated a cracking away point.    We met up with my Saints mate outside the ground and exchanged a polite handshake, and discussed the game, and other results as we walked back to Southampton Central station. The walkway/tunnel that leads to and from the ground was a bit packed but we got away easily and got back to the station after twenty minutes to catch a bus back to Bournemouth.   A fantastic day out, a magnificent stadium, and a cracking point on the road for the magpies. would like to return there again, hopefully in the Championship one day, although we might be thinking a bit far ahead there! Onwards and upwards for the Magpies.

Alex Smith (Coventry City) 28th April 2012

Southampton v  coventry city championship league saturday 28th april 2012, 12.30pm by alex smith (coventry city fan).

1. Why was you looking forward to going to the ground (if not if the case may be):

In a way I was still on a bit of a downer really after we had been relegated the previous week. But at least I didn't have to experience those last day nerves! Also I felt a bit uneasy at the prospect of  watching another team getting promoted

We took the Cross Country Bournemouth bound train from Birmingham International direct to Southampton it took about 4 hours. We got off at Southampton Central and on exiting the stadium we found that there were free buses to take people from the station to the ferry terminals. As this also stopped at the West Quay Shopping Centre we decided to hop on. I thought these free buses were a great idea for any visitor to Southampton.

3. What did you do before the match pub/ chippy/ home fans friendly?

We walked down the road to a JD Wetherspoons and I ordered my Usual Eggs Benedict. We had had a conversation with some Southampton fans wishing us the best of luck in League One and hoping that we bounce back up. From there we caught a taxi upto the ground and on entering we watched the players warm up.

4. What were your thoughts on the away end other sides of the ground?

St Marys looked almost identical to other grounds such as the Britannia in Stoke, the King Power in Leicester and not too dissimilar from our own Ricoh Arena. I think this why I prefer older grounds as they have more character. 

5. Comment on the game itself, Toilets, Atmosphere, Pies, Stewards, etc..

The game started off with Southampton starting off poorly, we had the first chance of the match Cody McDonald skimming the bar from a powerful header. It didn't take long for Southampton to Get there groove on Billy Sharp opening the scoring, Southampton continued to dominate 3 minutes late Jose Fonte headed in from a corner. The game went quiet for a bit then in the 56th minute Jos Hooiveld scored from close range, and in the 63rd minute Adam Llanna completed the rout for the Saints sending them to the premier league, winning 4-0.

As you would expect the atmosphere was rocking from both sets of fans, Southampton were singing 'We are going up!' while we were singing 'We're all going on a League One tour.' The stewards were rather anxious. The Coventry jokingly sung that if city scored, the Cov fans would invade the pitch, which led to large amounts of stewards taking place in front of us, blocking the view of some fans in the front rows. Some banners criticising our Board were also taken down by the stewards further which inflamed tempers further, but things did calm down after the final whistle.

After the match it was depressing watching all the Southampton fans on the pitch celebrating their promotion in front of us. But they applauded our fans for brilliant support and some invited us to join them but the stewards would have none of it (unsurprisingly).

6. Comment on the day itself:

On the whole a good day, although the stewards should really learn to try and chill out a bit.

Philip Green (Stoke City) 19th May 2013

Southampton v  stoke city premier league sunday may 19th 2013, 4pm by philip green (stoke city fan).

I was looking forward to going to St. Mary's for quite a few reasons. Firstly, when I originally booked tickets, the match was still potentially a relegation decider for both clubs. In the end both teams were safe from the drop and instead this a meaningless end-of-season fixture. Still, I quite like the party atmosphere of end-of-season games. It's quite nice to go and watch your team play when the outcome doesn't really matter (give or take a couple of million quid in prize money related to where we finished in the table!). Thirdly, I wanted to say goodbye to a number of Stoke players. The big publicity before the game was for the retirement of Michael Owen, but I was really there to (potentially) bid farewell to Asmir Begovic as I am pretty certain he will have left for pastures new at the start of the season. Of course, it also happened to be Tony Pulis' last game in charge. Finally, it was a stadium I had never been to before and I liked the look of it.  

I travelled from Hertfordshire via London and left Waterloo 3.5 hours before kick off. This gave me plenty of time, as I was on crutches due to a knee injury. The train was pretty full once we got to Southampton, despite it being 2 hours before kick off when we arrived. There was quite a heavy police presence at the station, which surprised me. I elected to take the shuttle bus up to the ground and this took a bit of finding. (Ignore the "way out" signs in the station if you are coming from London and head for the other platforms. Use the exit on that side. Note to self: write down the good advice contained on this website when next visiting an unfamiliar ground!) I was about the only one who paid £2 for a ticket up to the ground, as everyone else was a senior citizen. The bus journey took about 10 minutes, and it was clear that there were plenty of Stokies and Saints fans enjoying a beverage or two in the city centre pubs. Again, the police presence was notable. I was quite surprised that the bus dropped us a good way (5-10 minutes' walk) from the ground, but it was easy to find due to the crowds.  

I love walking around the outside of a ground, and St Mary's in a very tidy shape despite being surrounded by industrial premises. One really nice touch was that a player (I couldn't tell who) was signing autographs just outside the ground. This was very popular with the Saints fans and there were dozens queuing up. It really gave me the impression that this was a club which cared about its fans.  

I entered the ground an hour or so before kick off and was very impressed with the stewards. They could not have been more helpful in getting me in via a side gate (due to being on crutches) and seemed really concerned about me having to climb so high up. (Going up steps is not a problem; it just takes me a while to get back down them!) I had a coffee but didn't avail myself of a pie and a pint. Despite the crowds building up, the concourse was not full and the queues were almost non-existent due to having plenty of staff to hand.  

I had chosen my seat carefully so that I could put my leg out straight into a gangway and was very impressed with the view. I was just on the start of the corner, which gave me a good perspective over all the pitch. The 2500 Stokies were in fine singing voice and easily drowned out the home support, who were frankly disappointing. The bowl-like nature of the stadium might be a bit identikit but reminds us Stokies of what we might have had (and what we might have one day!) if our corners were filled in. The screens were very clear, but the PA was almost inaudible, despite me being very close to a speaker.  

The game itself was a bit of a let-down. With virtually nothing to play for, I can understand why. Stupidly, there were several flares let off by Stokies, one of which landed dangerously close to Begovic. The stewarding in the ground was so laid back that all standing (even in the aisles) was allowed. This was a bit of a pain as I had to keep sitting down and asking the Stokies in front of me to move so that I could see. I am a big fan of standing areas, (and usually stand all of a match) but not being able to stand gave me a better idea of how inconvenient it is to do so if the person behind you wants, or needs, to sit down.  

When Stoke went ahead in the 47th minute, it was party-time up the away end with plenty of taunts about how bad the Saints must be if we were winning away. Sadly that didn't last long and a deserved equaliser came along 10 minutes later. Of course, the main event in the game was when Michael Owen came on. He was given a rousing reception by all four sides of the ground – a nice touch. It would have been even better had he connected with a cross and scored the winning goal! At the end of the game, the entire Stoke team and manager came to acknowledge the support of their fans and were given a good send-off. Did Begovic's second bow mean that we won't see him again in a Stoke shirt? It certainly looked that way.  

Compared with the end of season games at the Britannia, it seemed like a bit of a damp squib at St Mary's. The players came back on to the pitch but were so far away from the fans that it seemed a bit pointless. The ground certainly emptied very quickly after this.  

I made my way back to the shuttle bus and was on my way soon afterwards. Unfortunately, we had to pass through some serious trouble in the town centre. It looked as though it had been pre-orchestrated but even being on a bus passing through the very heavy police presence was quite frightening.  

The station was pretty full, as was the first train back to London, but I was generously given a seat by a Saints fan. This sparked up a cracking conversation with him, and it was a nice antidote to the trouble I had seen earlier.  

Overall, this was a great day out. I loved the stadium, the stewards were incredibly helpful and polite (although could have done more to keep the aisles free!) and the away fans very welcoming. It's just sad that quite a few fans' experiences of the day was marred by the trouble in the city centre afterwards.

Chad Wood (Aston Villa) 16th May 2015

Southampton v aston villa premier league saturday 16th may 2015, 12.45pm chad wood (aston villa fan).

Why you were looking forward to going to the St Mary's Stadium? I had never been to the ground previously and was another one to tick off the list. Decent capacity and heard good things about it.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? Travelled by official club coach which was straight forward enough as we were dropped off outside the away end and picked back up at the same place.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly? We made the short walk to a pub called the Joshua Tree. Was quite small inside by didn't wait longer than five minutes for a drink. Was for both home and away fans so was nice to be able to mix with the opposition for a change.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium? A tidy enough stadium. The view of the playing action and facilities were both good.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. The game was entertaining if you were a Southampton fan, not so much as a Villa spectator with Villa being 5-1 down at half time. Game finished up 6-1 and despite the score, the atmosphere was brilliant in the away end. To their credit, Southampton fans were fairly vocal too. The stewards and police were all friendly and helpful, one of the best grounds which I've been to in this respect. Police officers were more than willing to chat with football fans, not something you see all the time. Steak Pie at half time was very nice but a little pricey at £3.50.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: Was waiting around 30 minutes for the coaches to leave after the crowds had dispersed. Anticipate that the wait would usually be shorter however Southampton fans all waited for their players lap of honour and rightly so.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: Excellent day out and would thoroughly recommend to others!

Brian Lawes (AFC Bournemouth) 1st November 2015

Southampton v afc bournemouth premier league sunday 1st november 2015, 4pm brian lawes (afc bournemouth fan).

Why were you looking forward to visiting the St Mary's Stadium?    

My only previous visit to St. Mary's was to see England play Macedonia back in 2002 when I remember being really impressed with the stadium. 

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?    

Southampton was busy on this Sunday afternoon, but we still arrived in good time and parked in the multi-storey car park at Ocean Village – about a 15 minute walk from the ground. It cost £4, but usefully allowed you to pay at the end of your stay, so no worrying about getting back in time.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?    

We walked straight to the stadium to meet up with friends and took up our seats immediately to take in the atmosphere and have a chat.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the St Mary's Stadium?    

It was good to be able to revisit the ground to see the Cherries, especially in a Premiership match – still such a new experience to us Bournemouth fans. The ground is located in a rather unsightly industrial area but stands out as a bright, modern structure which underlines how far Southampton have progressed since the days of the old Dell. It is what I call a proper stadium, being fully enclosed, and, because it is a sensible size, this helps generate a really good atmosphere. We were behind the goal in the Northam Stand with chanting home supporters on both sides of us so there was lots of noise, and mainly good humoured chanting. The Saints lot would occasionally chant that they didn't care about us, but we know they do really!

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..    

If ever there was a match that proved that "a game of two halves" is not just a cliché, then this was it. Southampton dominated the first half and took a two goal lead, despite some desperate defending from the Cherries who were, unusually, playing a five man midfield. Eddie Howe made changes at half time which gave us a more attacking 4-4-2 formation and much more pace, with the introduction of King and Stanislas. It seemed that Southampton did not get out of their half for the second 45 minutes, but the Cherries are lacking any cutting edge right now and failed to turn their domination into goals. It ended 2-0 to Saints.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

We had to pass the Chapel Arms, near the Itchen Bridge, on the way back to the car park and there were a few beered up Saints fans, who'd probably been watching the game in the pub, outside trying to goad any away supporters. We just crossed the busy road before we got to the pub to avoid any confrontation. In contrast we then had a pint in the Wetherspoons pub in Ocean Village; The Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis (what ever happened to pub names like The Dog and Duck?)) to let the traffic dissipate. It was full of Saints fans, we were wearing our colours, but they were very friendly, sympathetic to our current plight and happy to chat. A pleasant way to end the day.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Our first Sunday 4pm kick off and glad it was just up the road so no late night before work on Monday. Southampton have a great ground and good fans, if you avoid the few idiots, and it was a day we very much hope to repeat next season – and not just because that will mean we will still be a Premiership team.

Stephen Barrow (Watford) 13th January 2016

Southampton v watford premier league wednesday 13th january 2016, 7.45pm stephen barrow (watford fan).

Night games under floodlights have their own special magic. Southampton is only 90 miles away from Watford, so this was a chance to take in another match following the Hornets.

Followed the advice of the footballgroundguide I took the Itchen bridge route into the city and parked at Ocean Village. Plenty of parking in the multi-storey and a couple of reasonable away friendly pubs adjacent. As an added bonus the area around Oxford Street, has a large number of eating venues.

Having researched eating opportunities in advance, we opted to head to nearby Oxford Street and ventured for a curry at Kutis Brasserie and mighty fine it was too. It opens at six, and was nearly full by 6.15, so I would recommend booking in advance on a footie evening. Home fans in the majority and a friendly bunch they were too.

A fifteen minute stroll to the ground in pouring rain. In my opinion, this is one of the best of the new grounds albeit like most of the others it is stuck surrounded by largely anonymous industrial units etc. The away end offers good views and there looked to be reasonable queues for food and beer.

Undoubtedly the worst performance of the season from the Hornets who were lucky to get nil. The Saints had modified their formation following a terrible ten match run and their three centre backs never gave Deeney and Ighalo a sniff. In contrast, Southampton's fluid movement through midfield created a host of chances and only heroic keeping from Gomes kept the score down to 2-0. Watford fans gave plenty of vocal support with a passion not matched on the pitch. The Saints fans were a bit subdued at the beginning, no doubt on the back of a poor run of form, but generally found their voice as they took control.

A fifteen minute trudge back to the car and an easy exit from the car park, before gridlock….sat nav displaying 30 minute delays in most directions bar the long way through the docks out west and away from our intended direction of travel. About a ten mike detour before hitting the M3 and home.

Bar the performance a fine night out, the highlight being the curry! St Mary's Stadium is a good ground to visit, fans are friendly but beware the gridlock on getting away now everyone knows about the parking at Ocean Village!

Ian Pryer (Watford fan) 13th August 2016

Southampton v watford premier league saturday 13th august 2016, 3pm ian pryer (watford fan).

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the St Mary's Stadium?    

First game of the season and all the hope that brings, and my first visit to Southampton and the St Mary's Stadium.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

The M25 and M3 was horrendous but inevitable on a Saturday during the summer holidays. We used St Mary's Church (in St Mary's Street) who offer match day parking for £4 or £5 and also run an excellent cafe with tea and coffee for 50p, plus home made cakes, and bacon rolls and hot dogs for £1.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Having parked we went inside the church to the cafe mentioned above. Everyone inside was very friendly (as you'd expect!) and the refreshments on offer were affordable and excellent. An interesting foot note is that the vicar came and said hello and told us this church's choir back in the 1880's set up a football team which became Southampton FC and explains why they are known as The Saints. 

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the St Mary's Stadium?

St Mary's is a great stadium, excellent views and plenty of space in the concourse behind the stand.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Didn't have any refreshments inside the ground. Stewarding okay although they seemed to lack the guts to tackle those who had sat in seats not allocated to them preferring to take issue instead with those left standing in the aisles as close to their friends and family members as the situation would allows. The £10 handed to me in an envelope on entry to reduce my £30 ticket down £20 courtesy of the Southampton club sponsor, Virgin Media, was an added bonus. This is an initiative that is running throughout the 2016/17 season.

The way we got to the turnstiles before hand was fenced off, so we had to walk a slightly different way, along Britannia Road and then turned right to rejoin the way we had come in. Patience is needed coming away from the city up the A33. If you are not in a hurry, go and get a beer and let it die down!

Good day out, nice stadium, good atmosphere.

James Gregory (Burnley) 16th October 2016

Southampton v burnley premier league sunday 16th october 2016, 4pm james gregory (burnley fan).

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the St Mary's Stadium?

The St Mary's Stadium was a new ground for me and another to tick off the list. In all honestly I was not looking forward to this game. Knowing there was a 12 hour round trip ahead of me and that Southampton's recent unbeaten form, meant it was going to be a very tough day down south.

As I took the Burnley supporters club coach, parking and finding the ground were easy.

After being dropped off outside the St Mary's Stadium with 2 and a half hours till kick off, we decided to venture around the area looking for a pub. This at first was hard as there was no pubs in sight but after about a half a mile walk and asking someone we finally found a small decent bar. There was fairly priced drinks and sky sports on off so this passed the time with ease. This pub was predominantly home fans, we were welcomed very kindly and the Saints fans were up for a good chat whilst we were in there.

From outside, the St Mary's Stadium looks very modern and was much different from Turf Moor! Inside there was a very spacious concourse and clean facilities.

The game itself was a poor one from Burnley. Southampton looked a very strong team from the start and certainly proved that by managing to score three goals in the space of around 15 minutes. Sam Vokes pulled one back for Burnley from the penalty spot in around the 70th minute mark but it was obvious we were never going to be strong enough to rescue a point. The stewards were very helpful. The atmosphere was good and there was a lot of banter between the Southampton fans in the corner and us away fans.

Getting away from the ground was a nightmare. After leaving the game at 6 o'clock we weren't out of Southampton for a further 45 minutes due to the traffic within the city. However after this getting back up north was a traffic free journey.

Overall the day was very mediocre. A 12 hour round trip for a poor performance from the clarets meant this trip was certainly the worst of the season so far for me.

David Burkett (West Ham United) 5th February 2017

Southampton v west ham united premier league saturday 4th february 2017, 3pm david burkett (west ham united fan).

I had been looking forward to this for months. I knew we'd be taking a strong following and was meeting up with other Hammers ahead of the game. First visit to St Mary's having been twice to the old Dell ground.

Travelled down from London by train. As a journey it couldn't be easier. Plenty of trains from Waterloo to Southampton, fast and regular. It is about a 20 minute walk direct to the St Mary's Stadium and it's easy to navigate.

We took over the Yates Bar in Southampton city centre. It's the designated away pub. Absolutely heaving. They played a lot of music we could all sing along to although this got a bit annoying after a while but the atmosphere was electric. Fair play to the staff, they worked hard serving us all and it was a great environment and the place I would recommend all visiting fans to arrange to meet. The venue seemed well practiced at hosting away fans and we had a great time.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of St Mary's Stadium?

St Mary's Stadium seemed a bit bland to me. It lacked character. It's kind of isolated, but is easy to walk to. Inside it's very uniform, a bowl of four equal sides with nothing to jump out at you and make you think "wow".

The away concourse was pretty tight, although they were serving quickly. Toilets were decent enough, among the better I've seen. Stewards were all amiable, the ones outside in particular were very friendly and enjoyed the banter which is always good. We stood all game so can't really comment on the leg room but it seemed comfortable enough. Great view of the pitch although I struggled to see the far end of the pitch. Saints went 1-0 up early on and the home fans started giving us stick. We equalised almost immediately and went on to win 3-1 …. we enjoyed singing "oh when the saints, go 3-1 down" etc. We were quite close to the home fans and they didn't seem very up for singing us a song. It wasn't a great game but a fantastic result.

Very easy to get away from St. Mary's. Almost immediately you're back on main roads with wide pavements and open spaces and the proximity to the city centre and train station means it never got too crowded. Compared to busy London locations it was a breeze to get away from the stadium after full time.

I enjoyed it thoroughly. Totally owned Yates before going to the stadium which made it feel like a home game. We had immense support and got right behind the team and getting a decent away win capped the day off. I will definitely return to St Mary's.

Andy Jack (Swansea City) 12th August 2017

Southampton v swansea city premier league saturday 12th august 2017, 3pm andy jack ( swansea city fan), viv johnson (brighton & hove albion) 17th september 2018, southampton v brighton & hove albion premier league monday 17th september 2018, 8pm viv johnson (brighton & hove albion), geoff burrow (brighton & hove albion) 17th september 2018, southampton v brighton & hove albion premier league monday 17th september 2018, 8pm geoff burrow ( brighton & hove albion), norman miller (watford) 10th november 2018, southampton v watford premier league saturday 10th november 2018, 3pm norman miller ( watford), simon rogers (doing the 92) 19th january 2019, southampton v everton premier league saturday 19th january 2019, 3pm simon rogers (doing the 92), scott brannon (tottenham hotspur) 9th march 2019, southampton v tottenham hotspur premier league saturday 9th march 2019, 3pm scott brannon (tottenham hotspur), pete woodhead (doing the 92) 25th october 2019, southampton v leicester city premier league friday 25th october 2019, 8pm pete woodhead (doing the 92), david morris (doing the 92) 4th january 2020, southampton v huddersfield town fa cup 3rd round saturday 4th january 2020, 3pm david morris (doing the 92), andrew goddard (wolverhampton wanderers) 18th january 2020, southampton v wolverhampton wanderers premier league saturday 18th january 2020, 3pm andrew goddard (wolverhampton wanderers), thomas inglis (neutral visiting dundee united fan) 18th january 2020, southampton v wolverhampton wanderers premier league saturday 18th january 2020, 3pm thomas inglis (neutral visiting dundee united fan).

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting St Mary's Stadium?

Another of the further away grounds for me to tick off (an 1100 mile round trip). I had previously been to 'The Dell' around 20 years ago, and this would be No.91 of my personal count of English league grounds.

For me the usual overnight bus from Dundee to London, then another coach from Victoria to Southampton. Once in the town centre, it is only around a 15 minute walk to the stadium following the crowd, so fairly easy.

I arrived in Southampton around 10am and must say I was impressed walking around the city walls and with the naval history connected to the place. I also had a look in the shopping malls and market before grabbing my football coupon to study in the pub. 'The Scholar's Arms'. then O'Neils, I then had to go and sink a pint in 'The Titanic' before heading to the ground. I had some banter with fans of both teams, all friendly enough.

I was fairly impressed with St Mary's inside and out. I had a seat in the Itchen Stand, which gave a good view of the action.

A very good game for the neutral. Southampton started by taking the lead after about 15 minutes with a hook shot inside the box from Bednarek. On 35 minutes Long headed in to give Saints a 2 nil lead going into half time. The second half the game completely changed as Wolves grabbed the upper hand. 10 minutes in Neto swivelled in the box to fire home. Jiminez grabbed a brace, the first being a penalty on 65mins and the winner smashed home with about 15mins to go. No issues with stewards or facilities (clean and plenty). The atmosphere was very good from both sets of fans, though obviously there was a lot more singing from the Wolves end in the latter stages. The attendance was 31,152.

No issues following the crowds back into the town centre, where I headed to 'Standing Order's and 'Yate's' to watch the teatime game.

Southampton is a good city to have a wander around in for a bit of history and feel of the place. I then got to enjoy a 5 goal thriller, so a fine day.

Steve Andrews (Doing the 92) 15th February 2020

Southampton v burnley premier league saturday 15th february 2020, 12:30pm steve andrews (doing the 92), ryan dodds (newcastle united) 7th march 2020, southampton v newcastle united premier league saturday 7th march 2020, 3pm ryan dodds (newcastle united).

My dad had been in my ear for a few seasons saying he fancied the trip to Southampton as we'd never been, so eventually, I relented this year and made the arrangements. We attended Bournemouth away last season which was a great trip so hopefully, this could be as good a trip to the south coast as our last one was.

To avoid the drama presented last time by South Western Railway we decided to drive, booking into the Jury's Inn (which has no car parking on-site). We found the closest car park to the hotel at Compton Walk. The drive down South took five and a half hours including stops, which was ideal. The car park charged £10 for the day. We were then a five-minute walk away from the city centre pubs and 20 minutes walk from St. Mary's. It all seemed too good to be true!

We made it to the Scholar's Arms by midday for a few pre-match beers and to watch the televised the early kick off. The pub welcomed home and away fans each wearing colours and everyone seemed to be getting on fine in a friendly enough atmosphere. There were plenty of fans in the bar, but not so many that you couldn't get served quickly enough.

The 20 minute walk to the ground through the bottleneck tunnel seems quite unusual, given that both home and away supporters are all squashed in together, fortunately, I saw no trouble but I can't imagine this is always the case(?). St Mary's is a typical modern flat-pack ground with adequate facilities but little to separate it from others that are similar: Bolton, Wigan, Leicester etc. The view from the away end was great and with the perspex sheets are the back of the stand away fans are able to generate a good noise.

The game was brought to life fairly early on with VAR awarding Djenepo a deserved red card after 28 minutes that referee Graham Scott had missed. This got the away section singing up to the point VAR intervened again to award Newcastle a seemingly unlikely penalty that Scott (and the rest of us in fairness) had failed to see. Pompey native and old boy Matt Ritchie stepped up to miss which was the fourth or fifth great save from their keeper which really woke the home fans up. The game continued with Newcastle dominating possession but not offering too much in the Southampton penalty area, full credit to their defence and goalkeeper who looked to be right on their game. 

At half time I nipped down for a pint which took long enough to get, queuing systems obviously not the priority for the organisers! After coming back up for the second half it seemed as if it would be a solid home performance and typical misfiring Newcastle failing to take advantage of the extra man. Finally with 10 minutes to go Newcastle broke the deadlock with a lapse in concentration from Yan Valery allowing Saint-Maximin to nick the ball and roll it past McCarthy. Both sets of fans had been in great voice up to this stage, now the away section very much the louder of the two!

Back through the bottleneck, we walked 20 minutes or so back into town for some post-match beers and the late kick off in a bar named The Grapes – decent beer at reasonable prices. We had a nice meal in Szechuan Kitchen before heading to a few other pubs around the High Street area to celebrate the win.

Another great trip to the south coast capped off by a first win at St. Mary's in 15 years. Beforehand I'd heard a few people say that Southampton as a city wasn't exactly wonderful but I found it a great trip, good pubs, nice people and nice enough city. I would definitely go again!

Christopher Watson 18th September 2020

Southampton v  fulham premier league saturday october 26th 2013, 3pm by christopher watson (doing the 92).

Based in Bridlington, it is very hard to visit teams far away down south but a weekend trip to Salisbury meant potential for a few games. Southampton being very close so another to be ticked off and on my Birthday too!

Traffic was terrible getting out of Salisbury but having lived there for 10 years before moving back to my birthplace we knew a shortcut to get to The Saints, we parked nearby ground was easy to find 

We had eaten at a pub near Salisbury to celebrate my birthday so no food needed at ground

Very impressive large and modern with an unusual style different from other new stadiums I had visited 

5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Atmosphere was top notch we were located at the last row in the noisiest stand full of die hard saints supporters good banter and singing plus we stood all game no problems with stewards with Saints winning great game to watch

A bit crowded getting away but soon on our way back to Salisbury 

Great day visiting my old place birthday meal and watching Saints win another ticked off another ground – 26 now.

Joshua Gripton 28th September 2021

Game attended, competition, kick off time, team supported, why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself, what you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium, comment on getting away from the ground after the game, summary of overall thoughts of the day out.

Andry Watson 3rd December 2021

Andrew Walker 14th December 2021

ANDREW DAVIDSON 3rd January 2022

Steve Bolland 13th February 2022

John Rogers 15th August 2022

Paulos 7th November 2022

Kevin 5th January 2023

Ground layout.

Submit A Review

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

(can be 'Neutral' or 'Doing the 92')

(or not as the case may be!)

Please read our Terms and Conditions before submission. (opens in a new tab)

• I agree to the Terms and Conditions

RELATED POSTS

Betting offers.

• Best Football Betting Apps
• Best Football Prediction Sites
• William Hill Sign Up Offer
• Unibet Promo Code
• Bwin Sign up Offer
• SBK Sign Up Offer
• Grosvenor Sports Sign Up Offer
• Bet365 states USA

EPL Tickets

LATEST REVIEWS

AFC Wimbledon

Steve Andrews 'Doing the 92'17/4/24

Salford City

Carl Murray17/4/24

Ian Chaplin16/4/24

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Football-Stadiums.co.uk

St Mary’s: Southampton FC

By David Ingham from Bury, Lancashire, England (P1264554) [ CC BY-SA 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

For readers of a certain age Southampton Football Club will always be associated with The Dell; the atmospheric old stadium that the Saints called home virtually from their inception until they left the place in 2001. There had been talk of leaving the famous old ground as early as the 1980s but the powers that be could never quite find the right location. That all changed when the council offered them ground in the heart of the city and work began on building the new ground in 1999.

Both the ground and the club itself get their names from the same place, though in the case of the club it’s actually their nickname. Formed in 1885 as St. Mary’s Church Of England Young Men’s Association, they became St. Mary’s FC in 1887, Southampton St. Mary’s in 1894 and simply Southampton FC in 1896. The fact that they were formed as a church football team is why they are known colloquially as ‘The Saints’ and the location of the new stadium as being close to St. Mary’s church, where the club was formed, is the reason behind its name.

St Mary’s Photos

St Mary’s Seating Plan and Where to Sit

As St. Mary’s is a reasonably modern stadium it has also followed the modern trend of having a bowl style design. There are four stands that are all joined together and are all of the same height. Interestingly, Southampton have forgone the popular phenomena of naming their stands after famous people from the club’s past and have instead opted to name them after the area of the city that the stand faces.

• The Itchen Stand – Facing the river Itchen from which it gets its name, this stand houses 42 executive boxes, the police control room, the club’s offices, the press facilities, the changing rooms and some corporate hospitality suites.
• The Northam Stand – This is the part of the ground that houses the away fans and, perhaps because of that, the most vocal of the home fans.
• The Chapel Stand – Sitting behind the goal and with one of the largest sections for disabled supporters, The Chapel Stand can produce a great atmosphere. The corner between Chapel and Kingsland stands is the family section.
• The Kingsland Stand – Plenty of passionate Saints fans call The Kingsland Stand home and there is another excellent area here for disabled supporters. There are also plenty of premium seats here, so if you’re happy to splash the cash then this might be where you’d consider sitting.

Southampton Ticket Prices

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, and Category C.

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. Saints members can get a discount, but prices are technically different depending on your age, but the cheapest and most expensive are the same for all age brackets from one Category to another as follows:

League Games

• Category A: £25 – £50
• Category B: £20 – £40
• Category C: £15 – £35

How To Get Southampton Tickets

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.

Where to Buy

• Ticket Compare

Getting To St Mary’s

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.

Train – Southampton Central Train Station is in the heart of the city and is operated to from plenty of different mainline stations, so it’s a good option if you’re hoping to get the train. There is also a shuttle bus service operated by the club that runs from two hours before kick off and costs £2 for a return on production of a match or season ticket. If you’d rather walk then it will take about 15 minutes to do so.

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.

Car – Southampton’s somewhat remote location means it’s actually reasonably easy to reach by car. The M3 and the A33 are the roads you’ll be looking to take from the North and London. Obviously if you’re after more specific directions then a sat-nav will be your best friend.

By Air – Southampton Airport is serviced by plenty of the country’s chief airports including Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Southampton Parkway Train Station will be able to take you to the city centre and from there your options to get to the ground will be numerous.

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.

Parking Near St Mary’s

Because there are parking restrictions in place around the stadium on a match day the club vehemently recommends that you avoid driving to the ground, but if you still really want to then the official website has a host of council car parks that it suggests you use.

• See Available Parking Near St Mary’s

Useful Resources

• Parking - Just Park

St Mary’s Hotels

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:

The Star Hotel - £45+

Leonardo Hotel Southampton - £77+

Grand Harbour Hotel - £116+

Pubs and bars near st mary’s.

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:

The Bedford

The elephant and castle, yates southampton.

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.

• Programme: £4
• Cup of tea: £2

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.

Aspire is a step up in terms of quality, with a private dining and food prepared from local sources and complimentary drinks. You get exclusive padded seating to enjoy the game from and you might even meet an ex Saints player in the lounge.

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 the 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.

Stadium Tours & Museum

Operating sporadically and lasting around 90 minutes, a tour of St. Mary’s will take in the changing rooms, the baths and warm-up rooms, the tunnel entrance and the side of the pitch. They cost £20 for adults and £15.00 for juniors. They are only ever available on non-match weekends and during the summer holidays, and they do book up quickly, so make sure you’re quick off the mark if you want to see where your heroes prepare for the match ahead.

About Southampton

Southampton won the FA Cup in 1976 and came close to winning the league in 1984, eventually losing out to Joe Fagan’s all-conquering Liverpool by just 3 points. No shame considering the Reds also went on to lift the League Cup and European Cup that season. When the Saints were relegated from the Premier League in 2005 it brought to an end 27 successive season’s in England’s top-flight league.

One of Southampton’s more unusual claims to fame is that they notched up a unique ‘even season’ in 1922-1923, winning 14, drawing 14 and losing 14 games, earning 42 points – or one per game – and scoring the same amount of goals as they conceded, finishing mid-table. The club went into administration in 2009 and faced bankruptcy before being bought by Markus Liebherr, who died not long afterwards leaving his family in charge. Liebherr’s daughter, Katharina sold an 80% stake to Chinese sports investor Gao Jisheng in 2017, and since then they have enjoyed steady progress and are now one of the Premier League’s mainstays.

St Mary’s 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. The capacity at St. Mary’s is technically 32,505 including the director’s box and the press section, though it will rarely be as full as that because of segregation rules between home and away fans.

When the ground was first opened it was called ‘The Friends Provident St. Mary’s Stadium because of the stadium sponsor. When flybe.com took over sponsorship duties in 2006 they chose not to take up naming rights and so the place reverted to merely St. Mary’s 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 in March 2007 a statue to commemorate him was unveiled outside the ground.

Future Developments

St. Mary’s is the largest stadium in the South of England outside of London, yet in 2012 they announced plans to expand the stadium to around 50,000 seats. Though they have not ruled out that expansion they have decided to put things on the back-burner for the time being.

What they have done, however, is given the place a refresh in 2021, including the addition of jumbo sized big screens that dwarf the previous displays. They have also refurbished and made improvements to many of the lounges and boxes.

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Additional menu

The Stadiums Guide

St Mary’s Stadium: Southampton FC’s Spirited Sanctuary

posted on November 8th 2023 by Charmaine Cortes // last updated on November 8th 2023

Nestled in the heart of Southampton, St Mary’s Stadium stands as a testament to the city’s rich footballing history. Since 2001, the stadium has served as the home of the Southampton Football Club, an English Championship side with a dedicated and passionate fan base. The roots of the club can be traced back to 1885 when it was founded by members of St Mary’s Church Young Men’s association, giving the stadium its iconic name.

Boasting a capacity of 32,384, St Mary’s Stadium is currently the largest football stadium in South East England. Its modern design and excellent facilities make it a popular destination for football fans and visitors alike. In addition to hosting thrilling football matches, the stadium also offers behind-the-scenes tours, allowing fans to explore areas usually reserved for players and staff.

The stadium’s close proximity to St Mary’s Church serves as a constant reminder of the club’s origins, ensuring that the rich history and traditions of the Southampton FC are kept alive. As the team continues to grow and evolve, St Mary’s Stadium stands as a beacon of hope for the fans and a symbol of the club’s unwavering commitment to its community.

History of St Mary’s Stadium

Stadium characteristics, southampton fc at st mary’s, future developments, visitor’s guide.

Construction and Opening

St Mary’s Stadium was built between December 1999 and July 2001, with a total cost of £32 million. The stadium serves as the home of Southampton FC, who moved from their previous ground, The Dell, after playing there for 103 years. Officially opened on 1 August 2001, it marked a return to the club’s roots, as they were originally founded as ‘Southampton St Marys’, giving rise to their nickname ‘The Saints’.

Major Events and Matches

Since its opening, St Mary’s Stadium has hosted numerous noteworthy football matches, including Premier League and domestic cup games. The venue has also had the privilege of hosting international matches; for example, England’s under-21 team has played several games at the stadium. In addition to football, St Mary’s has been a preferred destination for various other events, such as concerts with notable artists, charity matches, and community events.

Renovations and Expansions

Although there have been no significant renovations or expansions of the St Mary’s Stadium since its construction, it remains a modern and well-equipped venue, with its all-seater capacity of 32,384 making it the largest football stadium in South East England. The stadium is completely enclosed, with all corners filled with seating, creating an enjoyable and intimate atmosphere for both home and away supporters. As a testament to its exemplary design and function, St Mary’s has become a vital part of Southampton’s sporting and cultural landscape.

St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton is a complete bowl design, with all the stands of equal height. This design allows for good visibility from all seats and creates an impressive atmosphere on match days. There are four stands, named after the areas of Southampton they face. The exterior of the Itchen Stand, in particular, is an iconic feature of the stadium. The bowl design of St Mary’s makes it a modern and aesthetically pleasing football ground.

Seating Capacity

The stadium has a seating capacity of 32,505, which makes it the largest ground in the South of England. The record attendance at St Mary’s is 32,363, set in a match against Coventry City on 28 April 2012. Each stand offers comfortable seating for fans and ensures that everyone can enjoy the excitement of Southampton FC matches.

St Mary’s Stadium provides a variety of facilities for spectators. There are two large screens at either end of the stadium, which can be seen from any seat. This ensures that fans can enjoy replays and stay informed about events during the match. The stadium also offers undersoil heating, which facilitates optimal pitch conditions throughout the year, making it a suitable venue for both home and away teams.

To provide the best possible experience for spectators, St Mary’s Stadium features a number of facilities and amenities, such as:

• Numerous food and drink concessions, offering a range of refreshment options
• Toilet facilities located throughout the stadium
• Speedy telephone and fax services, with contact details available online
• A well-stocked club shop for purchasing official Southampton FC merchandise

St Mary’s Stadium, not only the home of Southampton FC but also a modern and welcoming venue, boasts impressive design, seating capacity, and a variety of facilities to ensure an enjoyable matchday experience for all its visitors.

Record Matches

St Mary’s has been the home of Southampton FC since 2001, when the club moved from The Dell. The stadium has seen many iconic matches, and as such, has become intimately intertwined with the club’s history. Some of the record matches held at St Mary’s Stadium include:

• Highest attendance : In a Premier League match against Manchester United on 8 December 2001, St Mary’s witnessed its highest-ever attendance of around 32,000 spectators.
• Biggest win : Southampton enjoyed one of their most significant victories at St Mary’s on 18 October 2014, when they defeated Sunderland 8-0.
• European nights : St Mary’s has hosted a few memorable European encounters, including a Europa League group stage match against Inter Milan on 3 November 2016, which ended in a thrilling 2-1 victory for the Saints.

Southampton’s loyal supporters, known as the Saints, have made St Mary’s Stadium a fortress in which the team thrives. The passionate support and unwavering dedication from the home crowd create an electrifying atmosphere that often inspires the players to push harder on the pitch.

With a capacity of 32,384, St Mary’s is often filled to the brim with fans donning the red and white colours of Southampton. The home crowd enjoys cheering from diverse vantage points, such as the iconic Northam Stand, where the most boisterous fans congregate to relentlessly rally their team throughout the matches.

In summary, St Mary’s Stadium is undoubtedly an integral part of Southampton FC’s identity. Through hosting record matches and cultivating the fervent home crowd, the stadium has played a pivotal role in enhancing the club’s fortunes and etching indelible memories in fans’ hearts.

St Mary’s Stadium, the home of Southampton FC, is continuously evolving to provide a first-class supporter experience. In celebration of the stadium’s 20-year anniversary, the club has announced a £2.5 million investment for planned improvements 1 .

One of the recently proposed developments in the surrounding area includes a plan to build between 400 and 500 private rent flats at the gasholder site next to St Mary’s 2 . This would create additional housing options in the vicinity of the stadium, further promoting growth and development in the area.

Southampton FC has been working closely with the city council, which released a 2020 vision document highlighting the potential regeneration of the area surrounding the stadium 3 . This collaboration indicates strong support for the club and their plans, contributing to a promising future for St Mary’s Stadium.

The planned improvements within the stadium itself aim to elevate the fan experience. While specific details regarding these improvements have not been disclosed, it is expected that the investment will bring significant benefits for both the club and its supporters 4 .

In summary, the future of St Mary’s Stadium looks bright, with a series of developments in the pipeline to enhance both the stadium’s facilities and its surrounding area.

Getting There

St Mary’s Stadium is the home of Southampton Football Club, also known as The Saints. For those visiting the stadium, there are several options for getting there. If you are driving, there are numerous multi-storey car parks nearby, such as:

• Westquay Shopping Centre (SO15 1ST)
• Ocean Village (SO14 3TL)
• Bedford Place (SO15 2DB)
• Grosvenor Square (SO15 2UA)
• West Park Road (SO15 1FZ)
• Marlands (SO15 1BA)
• Eastgate (SO14 3HB)

In addition to car parks, St Mary’s Stadium can be easily reached via public transportation. Buses and trains run frequently, with Southampton Central railway station being just a 20-minute walk from the stadium.

Tickets and Tours

If you’re planning to attend a match at St Mary’s Stadium, you can purchase tickets through the official Southampton FC website or at the stadium’s ticket office. Advance booking is recommended, especially for high-profile matches.

For a unique experience, consider booking a stadium tour. These tours offer behind-the-scenes access and the chance to explore parts of the stadium that are normally off-limits on matchdays. Participants can visit the St Mary’s changing rooms, walk down the tunnel, and gain an insight into the workings of the club. Tours can be booked online through the Southampton FC Official Site.

Charmaine Cortes

• Charmaine Cortes https://www.thestadiumsguide.com/author/charmaine/ How to Get to Smoothie King Center: A Comprehensive Yet Concise Navigation Guide
• Charmaine Cortes https://www.thestadiumsguide.com/author/charmaine/ How to Get to Paycom Center: A Quick Guide for Efficient Navigation
• Charmaine Cortes https://www.thestadiumsguide.com/author/charmaine/ How to Get to Wells Fargo Center: A Quick Guide for Efficient Navigation

Skip To Main Content

Official Tourism Website for Hampshire

Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

• Zoos & Aquariums
• Museums & Heritage
• Military Heritage
• Literary Heritage
• Stately Homes & Castles
• Arts & Entertainment
• Family Attractions
• Theme and Amusement Parks
• Country Parks
• Art Galleries in Hampshire
• Adventure & Outdoor
• Walking & Hiking
• Horse Riding
• Watersports and Sailing
• Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP)
• Health & Spa
• Walks in the New Forest
• Walks in the South Downs National Park
• Christmas Walks in Hampshire
• Family Walks in Hampshire
• Jane Austen Attractions & Hampshire
• Jane Austen Events
• Jane Austen for Beginners
• Jane Austen Walks and Tours
• Cycling & Mountain Biking
• Downton Abbey
• City, Coast and Countryside
• Shopping Centres
• Events in Southampton
• Events in Winchester
• Events in Portsmouth

Submit Event

• February Half Term
• Easter Holidays
• May Half Term
• Summer Holidays
• Halloween and Half Term
• Bonfire Night and Fireworks
• Christmas Events in Hampshire
• Jane Austen 250
• Hotels in Southampton
• Hotels in Portsmouth
• Hotels in Winchester
• Bed & Breakfasts
• Large self-catering properties
• New Forest Holiday Cottages
• Caravan & Holiday Parks
• Camping and Campsites
• Dog Friendly Accommodation
• Group Friendly
• Quality Assured
• Luxury Accommodation
• Family friendly places to stay
• Places to stay near Peppa Pig World
• Fine Dining
• The Best Pub and Beer Gardens In Hampshire
• Afternoon Tea
• Local Produce
• Cookery Schools
• Breweries & Distilleries
• Food Markets & Events
• Hampshire Farmers' Markets

Vegetarian and Vegan Places to Eat in Hampshire

• Family friendly places to eat in Hampshire
• Luxury Breaks in Hampshire
• Dog Friendly Hampshire
• Weird & Wonderful
• Hampshire Waiting to be Discovered
• Studying in Hampshire
• Money Saving Ideas
• Famous People
• Itineraries
• City Breaks
• Rural Escapes
• Romantic Breaks
• Short breaks from London
• Top 10 Free Days Out in Hampshire
• Top 10 Rainy Days Out in Hampshire
• Top 10 Sunny Days Out in Hampshire
• Discover More Top 10 ideas
• Wedding Venues
• Pannage in the New Forest
• Destination Videos
• Special Offers
• New Forest National Park
• South Downs National Park
• North Hampshire
• Central & East Hampshire
• Test Valley
• South Downs
• Southampton
• Stockbridge
• Basingstoke
• Petersfield
• Hayling Island
• Discover More Towns
• Brockenhurst
• Hamble Le Rice
• Countryside
• Beaulieu River
• Blackwater Valley River
• River Itchen
• Nearby Hampshire
• North Wessex Downs (AONB)
• UNESCO World Heritage
• Brochures & Guides
• Tourist Information Centres
• Apps & Downloads
• Win a Family day out to Basingstoke
• Getting Here
• Getting Around
• Coach Parking
• Media and Press
• Sign up to eNewsletter
• Best days out for SEN visitors in Hampshire
• Social Media
• Car-free days out in Hampshire
• Literary Greats
• Dog Friendly
• Conferences & Meetings

You are here > Home > Things to Do > Southampton Football Club: Matches & Stadium Tours

Southampton Football Club: Matches & Stadium Tours

Tel: 0845 6889448

Share this with

St Mary’s Stadium has been the home of Southampton Football Club since 2001. The stadium hosts 19 Premier League games throughout the season, with more than 32,000 fans cheering on Saints. St Mary’s is the only place in southeast England to experience the exciting atmosphere of live Premier League football.   You can also watch the match in style with Club Southampton, the premium matchday hospitality offering at each and every Saints home game. Every exhilarating moment on the pitch is matched with superb delivery by a dedicated service team. Savour freshly prepared food and drink with friends and clients in the prestigious surroundings.    What’s more, you can get a close-up look at exactly what goes on at St Mary's by purchasing one of the stadium tours featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the First Team dressing room, players’ tunnel and much more.    

Opening Times

Map & directions.

Click to Activate

View Map

Hide Facilities

What's Nearby

Jurys Inn Southampton

Jurys Inn offers a high standard of accommodation, restaurant and bar facilities in the…

The White Star Tavern

Based in the thriving cosmopolitan restaurant area of Southampton, The White Star offers…

room2 Southampton

room2, the world's first hometel brand, is a unique offering combining the comforts of…

Southampton Harbour Hotel and Spa

Southampton’s only 5-star hotel, offering 119 luxury rooms including 10 suites, an…

Travelodge Southampton Central

Travelodge Southampton Central is right in the heart of Hampshire's largest city and all…

Mercure Southampton Centre Dolphin Hotel

Situated in the heart of Southampton where it has stood for over 500 years, the grade II…

Moxy Southampton

Moxy Hotels, don’t take themselves too seriously. But they’re seriously into showing you…

The Pig in the Wall

THE PIG – in the wall is a boutique hotel within Southampton’s medieval walls. Stay the…

Ennio's Boutique Hotel

The Ennio's Boutique Hotel Southampton, in its prestigious and historic location is home…

Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour

Situated on Southampton’s lively waterfront and with 173 spacious hotel rooms, Leonardo…

Holiday Inn Southampton

With pretty views over the waterfront, the Holiday Inn Southampton is in the heart of…

Mayview Guest House

Mayview Guest House are a very friendly, clean and comfortable guest house located in the…

Novotel Southampton

The Novotel Southampton Hotel is located in the city centre opposite West Quay Shopping…

Travelodge Southampton

Located just 1.25 miles from Southampton train station and 1 mile from the ferry and…

Ibis Southampton Centre

Ibis Southampton Centre is an economy hotel located in central Southampton. Book the…

Elizabeth House Hotel

The hotel is situated in thriving Southampton less than a mile from the City Centre.

Search What's Nearby

Follow visit hampshire.

• Visit Hampshire Blog
• Visit Hampshire facebook
• Visit Hampshire twitter
• Visit Hampshire youtube
• Visit Hampshire instagram

Accessibility Statement

Website privacy notice, advertising.

Copyright 2024 Visit Hampshire. All Rights Reserved

Don't Miss

Beaulieu, Home of the National Motor Museum

May Half Term in Hampshire

Paultons Theme Park Home of Peppa Pig world

50 Things to do this Spring

Competitions

New Forest Cottages

Camping and Campsites in Hampshire

Cafés in Hampshire

Pubs & Bars in Hampshire

Free Days Out in Hampshire

Search for things to do...

Share great experiences with friends!

St Mary’s Stadium Tour

Calling all Saint’s, now is the perfect time to head you way to the home of Southampton and go behind the scenes of a wonderful stadium and an historic club. You will find yourself in the newly refurbished home dressing room where you can take a seat at any of the top footballers in the world seat, you will have plenty of opportunities to take numerous photos of this experience so you will never forget it. You will then find yourself in the wonderful press conference room where you can have a seat in the managers chair where he takes all the questions from his critics after matches.

Where can I find St Mary's Stadium?

Each tour will last around 90 minutes dependent on the size of group participating, please be sure to arrive 10 minutes early as it could be busy. You will be taken through the trophy cabinet where you can have a photograph with the famous FA cup won by Southampton most recently in 1976. You will walk through the players tunnel out onto pitch side of the beautiful St Mary’s which has a wonderful capacity of 32,384. This stadium is currently the largest in southern England not based in London.

• Tours take place on Saturdays
• Estimated 90 minutes long
• COVID safety through out the tour

Southampton Football Club

Check out things to do nearby....

Batting Experience in Hampshire

Piecaramba’s “Piescraper” Food Challenge in Southampton

Activity Centre in Southampton

Escape Rooms in Hampshire

Ninja Warrior UK in Southampton

English Breakfast Challenge Southampton

Snow Sports centre in Hampshire

New Forest Wildlife Park

Motor Museum in Hampshire

Alpaca Walking in Hampshire

Marwell Zoo in Hampshire

Falconry Experience in Wiltshire

• United Kingdom & Ireland
• Northern Ireland
• Top Leagues
• Czech Republic
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Faroe Islands
• Other Countries
• Bosnia & Herze
• Liechtenstein
• A-Z Countries
• El Salvador
• Trinidad & Tobago
• United States
• New Zealand
• Most Popular
• South Korea
• North Korea
• Saudi Arabia
• Turkmenistan
• United Arab Emirates
• Ivory Coast
• South Africa
• Premier League
• Champions League 21
• Europa League 21
• Championship
• National League
• Primeira Liga
• Champions League
• Europa League
• World Cup Qatar 2022
• Info & Corrections
• Privacy Policy

St Mary’s Stadium - Southampton FC Stadium Guide

Home » England » St Mary’s Stadium

By Football Tripper Last Updated: September 8, 2021

Table of Contents

Stadium facts.

• Southampton
• Seating Plan
• Stadium Tours
• Ticket Information

Airports and Flying

St Mary’s Stadium is the home of Southampton F.C who are currently in the Premier League. UEFA have awarded the stadium 4 stars, and with a capacity of 32,689 it is the biggest football ground in the South of England, excluding London of course.

Southampton FC Stadium Guide

St mary’s stadium history.

Southampton first took residence at St Mary’s in the Summer of 2001, with the first match held against RCD Espanyol in a thoroughly entertaining friendly  which ended 4-3 to the visitors.

The inaugural season saw former Coventry City manager Gordon Strachan guide the Saints to an 11th placed finish in the Premier League, and the season after they made an appearance at the Millennium Stadium in the FA Cup against Arsenal .

Built between December 1999 and July 2001 at a cost of £35 million, it would have been hard to imagine the same levels of success had the club remained at their old ground, The Dell.

Dating back to the late 19th century, the Saints had previously played at the ground for over 100 years and is was sadly beyond renovation at this point.

At the time of closing in 2001, the ground’s capacity was only 15,000 after the publication of the Taylor Report, and the move to St Mary’s Stadium one and a half miles away instantly doubled this number.

It also greatly increased the amount of matchday revenue that the club could make per season.

Constructed on a plot land close to St Mary’s Church who formed the first incarnation of the club, many fans regarded the relocation as a spiritual move home.

With the exception of the Itchen Stand, the stadium is designed to be expanded in the future with the addition of a second tier estimated to increase the capacity to 50,000.

Lastly, a local legend suggests that some Portsmouth fans mischievously buried their team’s shirt under the Northam Stand.

Whilst we can’t confirm or deny the reports, common sense would suggest that due to the frequency of such stories they should probably be disregarded!

View of St Mary’s Stadium

Southampton Info

St mary’s stadium seating plan.

Below is a seating plan of Southampton FC's St Mary’s Stadium:

Stand Photos

St Mary’s Stadium is comprised of the following four sections: The North Stand, The Itchen Stand (East), the Chapel Stand (South) and The Kingsland Stand (West).

Click the thumbnails above to enlarge an image of each stand and to read a more detailed description of each part of the Stadium.

Matchday Experience

St mary’s stadium away end.

Away fans who make the trip to St Mary’s are housed within the Northam Stand which as the name almost implies, is the northernmost point of the ground behind one of the goals.

Like the rest of the stadium, and its southern counterpart, the Northam Stand consists of a single-tier of seating which is a popular design choice for modern mid-sized stadiums.

The standard allocation of tickets is around 3,100 although for cup games this is often increased to around 4,800 which presents the home faithful a greater noise challenge.

As one would expect from a 2001 built ground, the sight lines throughout the ground are flawless, the concourses spacious and the levels of comfort from the seats are greater than a lot of older stadiums.

Best Pubs near ground

St Mary Street which runs parallel to the ground beyond the train tracks is usually the preserve of home supporters with the Isobar, Kingsland Tavern and the bar at the Premier Inn not permitting visiting fans to drink their on matchdays.

Thankfully the centre of town is less than 20 minutes away, and the walk from the station takes fans past several pubs such as Yates’s, and The Slug and Lettuce which is particularly popular with the away supporters.

The large Wetherspoons, The Standing Order, is manned by bouncers who weed out away however this isn’t much of a problem as it isn’t in the best location anyway.

You can always grab a pint at the stadium itself where there is an efficient queuing system, and even a Pie and Pint Stall which does what it says on the tin.

Food - Places to eat

If you are visiting St Mary’s from Southampton Central Station then you are met with a lot of dining options, and as you make your way through town you will encounter even more.

A McDonald’s is 10 minutes south next to several hotel chains, with WestQuay shopping centre located behind the large Tesco.

The last opportunity to get food before you get to the ground is at St Mary’s street with several independent fast-food joints offering cuisines ranging from Chips to Chinese, and Pizza to Indian.

Southampton FC Club Shop

Southampton run a club shop at St Mary’s stadium which is augmented by their official online store. The club store at the ground has the following opening times:

• Monday to Friday: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
• Saturday: 9.30 am – 5.00 pm
• Sunday: Closed

Can you take a stadium Tour?

Southampton offer Saints fans the chance to get a behind the scenes tour of where their favourite players hang out before, during and after matches.

Lasting 90 minutes, and covering areas such as the dressing rooms, dugouts and the tunnel the tour is a great way to spend an afternoon with the family.

Tour Prices:

• Adults: £12.00
• Concessions: £6.00
• Family Ticket (2 adults and 2 children): £30.00

To book a tour of St Mary’s contact the Saints Foundation office on 0845 688 9370 or email [email protected] .

How to buy Southampton FC Tickets

Tickets for Southampton games fall into the classic three tiered pricing structure ranging from Category A to Category C.

In order of cheapness the seats go: Family Enclosure, Wings/Goals, Centre Itchen & Kingsland, Kingsland Premium and Itchen Premium.

Ticket Price Range

• Category A: £37.00 – £50.00
• Category B: £34.00 – £46.00
• Category C: £30.00 – £44.00

To book your saints tickets you can either phone the ticket hotline: 02381 780780, email [email protected] or go to the official website.

Fans also have the option of purchasing tickets up to an hour before kick-off for games which aren’t sold out but this isn’t always possible.

How to get to St Mary’s Stadium

Where is st mary’s stadium.

St Mary’s stadium is nested on the Western bank of the River Itchen, less than a mile or so away from Southampton’s main high street.

St Mary’s Stadium address for satnav is as follows:

• Britannia Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 5FP.

With regards to parking, there isn’t anything immediately around the stadium with fans often choosing to park 1 mile west within Southampton city centre where there are numerous multi-stories. One such example is the NCP which will cost five pounds to park at for the day.

Another popular option for fans is parking east towards the Marina area (Ocean Village) and then walking 10 minutes to the ground.

It has the added advantage of having a pub within the complex and is reportedly much less congested after full time than the city centre which becomes gridlocked due to traffic.

Train - Public Transport

St Mary’s is approximately 1.5 miles east of Southampton’s main railway station resulting in a walk of around 30 minutes in length.

If you’re into pub crawling and real ale, then some fans recommend walking to the ground from the lesser known St Deny’s station which passes several pubs en route such as The South Western Arms and The Junction (pub).

Public Transport of St Mary’s Stadium

Southampton Airport is located 3.5 miles away from the city centre and 4.1 miles away from St Mary’s stadium.

This makes travelling quite convenient at less than 15 minutes should you ever need to fly in or if the club has any big European fixtures!

Hotels Near St Mary’s Stadium

The nearest hotel to St Mary’s is probably Jurys Inn but if you’re planning to make a weekend of it then perhaps the Ibis Southampton Centre or Holiday Inn is a better option.

If you want something really fancy then go for the Grand Harbour Hotel which looks like it belongs in Las Vegas at night time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who plays at st mary’s stadium.

English side Southampton FC play their home matches at St Mary’s Stadium.

What is the capacity of St Mary’s Stadium?

As of 2024 St Mary’s Stadium has an official seating capacity of 32,363 for Football matches.

When was St Mary’s Stadium opened?

St Mary’s Stadium officially opened in 2001 and is home to Southampton FC

What is the postcode for St Mary’s Stadium?

The postcode for St Mary’s Stadium is SO14 5FP.

Are there any Covid restrictions at the stadium?

Covid Restrictions may be in place when you visit St Mary’s Stadium in 2024. Please visit the official website of Southampton FC for full information on changes due to the Coronavirus.

Largest Stadiums in England

Wembley Stadium

Old Trafford

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

The Emirates

London Stadium

St James’ Park

Premier league stadiums, related football stadiums.

• Useful Sites
• Old Grounds

© 2024 Football Tripper All Rights reserved.

Football and Travel: Independent stadium guides and travel information for football fans across the world

• Seating Plan

St Mary's Stadium Seating Plan

SeatPick has the most comprehensive St Mary's Stadium Seating plan on the web. Here you would be able to see where it is recommended to sit in Southampton matches. Discover all the row numbers of the sections at the venue. You will be able to browse between all the different St Mary's Stadium interactive seating charts and read real fan reviews on the various sections of the stadium. Additionally, you can read about what is included in the VIP boxes, find out about the stadium's parking details & buy event tickets on this St Mary's Stadium Seating map page. If you are looking to discover more upcoming events happening at the St Mary's Stadium then you can look for them here - St Mary's Stadium

St Mary's Stadium Seating Chart:

Upcoming St Marys Stadium Events:

Southampton vs west bromwich albion.

20:00 ・ St Marys Stadium

$126+ ・ Southampton , England

Take That Southampton

17:00 ・ St Marys Stadium

$64+ ・ Southampton , England

$88+ ・ Southampton , England

Top Seating Plans

Allianz Arena

Allianz Stadium

Amsterdam Arena

Civitas Metropolitano Stadium

El Estadio Santiago Bernabeu

Emirates Stadium

Etihad Stadium

Goodison Park

King Power Stadium

London Stadium

Old Trafford Football Ground

Parc des Princes

Stadio Olimpico

Stadio San Siro (Giuseppe Meazza)

Stamford Bridge

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Wembley Stadium

More Southampton Events

Sport Events in Southampton

Concerts Events in Southampton

Events in Southampton today

Events in Southampton this Weekend

Events in Southampton this Week

• Useful Tips
• Ticket Site Reviews
• Partner with Us

Ticket Sites Reviews

• StubHub Review
• ViaGoGo Review
• Live Football Tickets Review
• TicketGum Review
• Sports Events 365 Review

Top Football Clubs

• Arsenal Tickets
• Manchester United Tickets
• Liverpool Tickets
• Chelsea Tickets
• Paris Saint Germain (PSG) Tickets
• FC Barcelona Tickets
• Tottenham Hotspur Tickets
• Manchester City Tickets
• Real Madrid Tickets
• Atletico Madrid Tickets
• Sevilla FC Tickets
• Olympique Lyon Tickets
• AS Monaco (ASM) Tickets
• Lille LOSC Tickets
• Olympique de Marseille (OM) Tickets
• Bayern Munich Tickets
• Dortmund Tickets
• Juventus FC Tickets
• AC Milan Tickets
• AS Roma Tickets
• Inter Milan Tickets
• AFC Ajax Tickets
• West Ham United Tickets

Top Artists

• Taylor Swift Tickets
• Coldplay Tickets
• Ed Sheeran Tickets
• Pink Tickets
• AC/DC Tickets
• Adele Tickets
• Alicia Keys Tickets
• Andrea Bocelli Tickets
• Avril Lavigne Tickets
• Bad Bunny Tickets
• Beyonce Tickets
• Billie Eilish Tickets
• Bruno Mars Tickets
• Busted Tickets
• Drake Tickets
• Eminem Tickets
• Eric Clapton Tickets
• Foo Fighters Tickets
• Green Day Tickets
• Hozier Tickets
• Imagine Dragons Tickets
• Iron Maiden Tickets
• Jennifer Lopez Tickets
• JLS Tickets
• John Legend Tickets
• Justin Bieber Tickets
• Justin Timberlake Tickets
• Katy Perry Tickets
• Kings of Leon Tickets
• Lady Gaga Tickets
• Liam Gallagher Tickets
• Madonna Tickets
• Maroon 5 Tickets
• Metallica Tickets
• Morgan Wallen Tickets
• Niall Horan Tickets
• Nicki Minaj Tickets
• Noah Kahan Tickets
• Pearl Jam Tickets
• Pitbull Tickets
• Pixies Tickets
• Red Hot Chili Peppers Tickets
• Rihanna Tickets
• Take That Tickets

Top Football Matches

• Arsenal vs Liverpool Tickets
• Liverpool vs Manchester City Tickets
• Manchester United vs Liverpool Tickets
• Manchester United vs Manchester City Tickets
• Chelsea vs Liverpool Tickets
• Arsenal vs Chelsea Tickets
• Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund Tickets
• Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur Tickets
• AC Milan vs Inter Tickets
• Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid Tickets
• FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid Tickets
• PSG vs Bayern Munich Tickets
• Championship Play Off Final Tickets

Upcoming Events

• Adele Munich Tickets
• Lady Gaga Las Vegas Tickets
• Usher Tickets
• Formula 1 Tickets
• Copa America 2024 Tickets
• FA Cup Final Tickets
• Manchester United vs Arsenal Tickets
• Manchester City vs Manchester United Tickets
• Liverpool vs Wolves Tickets
• Fulham vs Manchester City Tickets
• Arsenal vs Everton Tickets
• Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich Tickets
• PSG vs Borussia Dortmund Tickets
• Germany vs Scotland Tickets
• Italy vs Albania Tickets
• Denmark vs England Tickets
• Spain vs Italy Tickets
• Netherlands vs France Tickets
• Turkey vs Portugal Tickets
• Euro 2024 Semi Final Tickets
• Euro 2024 final Tickets

Top Competitions

• English Premier League Tickets
• UEFA Champions League Tickets
• UEFA Euro 2024 Tickets
• FA Cup Tickets
• Carabao Cup Tickets
• Spanish La Liga Tickets
• French Ligue 1 Tickets
• German Bundesliga Tickets
• Italian Serie A Tickets
• Belgium League Tickets
• Champions League Final Tickets
• Dutch Eredivisie Tickets
• UEFA Europa League Tickets
• London Tickets
• Berlin Tickets
• Manchester Tickets
• Glasgow Tickets
• Barcelona Tickets
• Madrid Tickets
• Amsterdam Tickets
• Munich Tickets
• Hamburg Tickets
• Cologne Tickets
• Milano Tickets
• Paris Tickets
• Lyon Tickets
• Budapest Tickets
• Rome Tickets
• Lisbon Tickets
• Copenhagen Tickets
• Zurich Tickets
• Helsinki Tickets

© 2024 SeatPick. All rights reserved.

• Business Visitors

1st June 2024 - 2nd June 2024

17:00 - View all performance times

St Mary's Stadium , Britannia Road

Information: 0845 688 9448

Event Website

The prototype boy band have re-lit their own fire and returned to cash in those nostalgia dollars, and have proved far more credible than any of us could have imagined. Now reduced to a three-piece as Jason Orange bows out but Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald soldier on.

Event Dates

Share this:

Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on all things Southampton !

Submitting your information...

Thank you! You will receive an email to confirm your subscription.

• What's On
• Inspiration
• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• About Visit Southampton
• Add your event
• Add your offer
• Add your business
• Information for Event Organisers
• Filming In Southampton
• Invest in Southampton
• Help & Advice
• Press & Media
• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Cookie Policy
• Accessibility

© Visit Southampton 2021

Brought to you by

In partnership with

Ultimate guide to Rolling Stones 2024 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale: Tickets, parking

T he Rolling Stones will be getting their ya-ya’s out again at State Farm Stadium in Glendale when the Hackney Diamonds Tour hits metro Phoenix on Tuesday, May 7, a day the city has proclaimed shall temporarily be known as Ruby Tuesday .

This is the Stones’ third time at State Farm Stadium, where they last played in 2019 on their final tour with Charlie Watts, who left this world on Aug. 24, 2021.

The Hackney Diamond Tour is in support of their first album of original material in nearly 20 years, which topped the Billboard album charts in late October while leading many critics to proclaim it their best work since “Tattoo You” in 1981 (and whether you agree with that or not, it’s certainly a strong contender for the title).

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

Glendale is the third stop on the Rolling Stones 2024 tour. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.

When is the Rolling Stones 2024 State Farm Stadium concert?

The Rolling Stones will play State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Tuesday, May 7.

What time does the Rolling Stones concert start?

Here's the timetable:

• Parking lots open at 4 p.m.
• Plaza opens at 5 p.m.
• Doors open at 6 p.m.
• Concert starts at 8 p.m.

When does State Farm Stadium open for concerts?

Doors open at 6 p.m. Fans are encouraged to show up as early as possible to avoid potential delays at the gates as you get closer to show time. The concert starts at 8 p.m. 

Motorists should expect congestion, especially during rush hour. Allow ample drive time and arrive no later than 6 p.m. to minimize the potential for delays.

Where is State Farm Stadium?

State Farm Stadium is off Loop 101 between Cardinals Way/Bethany Home Road and Glendale Avenue in the Glendale Sports and Entertainment District. 

The street address is 1 Cardinals Way, and typing "State Farm Stadium" into your phone will yield the same result, which may not be as helpful as you think.

In fact, fans are encouraged to avoid their favorite apps when approaching the stadium, as they do not take into account special road closures, traffic patterns and access routes allocated to specific carparks. Using these apps could result in a longer commute.

The stadium website encourages ticketholders to use the directions on the parking pass purchased at SeatGeek.com , as this accounts for road closures and event-specific diversions. 

State Farm Stadium parking map

This map will help as you get close.

How to get to State Farm Stadium for the Rolling Stones

The State Farm Stadium website offers these directions:

From the south:  Take Loop 101 north, exit at Bethany Home Road/Cardinals Way and turn right off the exit. State Farm Stadium is on the left.

From the north:  Take Loop 101 south, exit at Glendale Avenue and turn right onto Glendale Avenue. Make the first left onto 99th Avenue and left onto Maryland Avenue and continue over the bridge. State Farm Stadium is on the right.

From the East Valley using Interstate 10:  Follow I-10 west to Loop 101 north. Exit at Bethany Home Road/Cardinals Way and turn right off the exit. State Farm Stadium is on the left.

From the East Valley using surface streets:  Take Glendale Avenue west to 91st Avenue. Turn left onto 91st Avenue. State Farm Stadium is on the right.

From the West Valley using I-10:  Follow I-10 east to Loop 101 north. Exit at Bethany Home Road/Cardinals Way and turn right off the exit. State Farm Stadium is on the left.

From the West Valley using surface streets:  Take Glendale Avenue east to 95th Avenue. Turn right on 95th Avenue and follow it south. State Farm Stadium is on the left.

Rolling Stones 2024 tickets in Phoenix

Tickets are available through  SeatGeek , starting at $65.

Is State Farm Stadium air-conditioned?

Yes, State Farm Stadium is air-conditioned. 

Will the State Farm Stadium roof be open?

Most likely not.

Can I bring a seat cushion or blanket to State Farm Stadium?

Yes. One-piece foam seat cushions no larger than 18 inches without pockets, zippers or concealable areas are permitted.

Additional clothing, blankets, etc., are permitted if carried loosely or in an approved clear bag. Blankets should be carried over the shoulder to be screened more quickly.

State Farm Stadium security

Metal detector screening and a search of all bags and other items will take place at stadium gates. There are no provisions to store or safeguard prohibited bags. Guests will be asked to return prohibited items to their cars. 

State Farm Stadium water bottle policy

You can bring in one factory-sealed, non-frozen 500ml (16.9 ounce) bottle of plain water. Sports drinks and flavored water are not permitted.

Glass bottles, cans and vacuum bottles also are not allowed.

State Farm Stadium prohibited items

The following items are not permitted inside State Farm Stadium:

• Aerosol cans.
• Alcoholic beverages.
• Animals (except for documented service animals).
• Bags that do not meet NFL guidelines (must be clear and smaller than 12 by 12 by 6 inches).
• Banners or signs larger than 3 feet by 2 feet.
• Beverages other than one factory-sealed, non-frozen 500ml (16.9 ounce) bottle of plain water. Sports drinks and flavored water are not permitted.
• Beverage containers — glass bottles, cans and vacuum bottles.
• Cameras with professional lenses, tripods/monopods and iPads.
• Chewing tobacco.
• E-cigarettes/vaporizer pens.
• Clothing deemed obscene or indecent in a public setting.
• Coolers of any kind.
• Food (unless used for children younger than 2).
• Footballs and beach balls (inflated or deflated).
• Illegal drugs.
• Laptop computers.
• Laser pointers.
• Noisemakers of any kind (whistles, horns, bells, etc.).
• Poles or sticks of any kind, including selfie sticks and brooms.
• Seat cushions except those that are one piece and have no zippers, pockets or concealable areas.
• Golf carts, skateboards, rollerblades or hoverboards.
• Umbrellas larger than 12 inches in length.
• Unmanned aircraft systems (drones, etc.).
• Video cameras (single purpose).
• Weapons of any kind including, but not limited to, firearms and knives.
• Any item deemed inappropriate or hazardous by stadium security.

State Farm Stadium bag policy for concerts

The NFL clear bag policy is enforced for all events at State Farm Stadium. Fans are encouraged to bring no bags, but the following will be permitted:  

• Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12 by 12 by 6 inches. This includes clear backpacks, fanny packs and cinch bags.
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc or similar).
• Small clutch bags, with a maximum size of 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches, with or without a handle or strap, may be carried into the stadium along with one clear bag.
• Exceptions for medically necessary items will be made after inspection at a gate designated for this purpose.

Is State Farm Stadium a cashless venue?

Yes. Cash is not accepted at State Farm Stadium.

Lost and found at State Farm Stadium

Report lost items by filling out  the form at statefarmstadium.com . In the Item Description section, provide as much information as possible. If an item is turned in that matches your description, you will be contacted.

Rolling Stones 2024 tour at State Farm Stadium in Glendale

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 7.

Where:  State Farm Stadium, 1 Cardinals Way, Glendale.

Admission:  $63 and up.

Details:  800-745-3000,  SeatGeek.com .

Reach the reporter at  [email protected]  or 602-444-4495. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter)  @EdMasley .

Support local journalism.   Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ultimate guide to Rolling Stones 2024 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale: Tickets, parking

Danny Rohl ticks all the boxes of a modern manager – can Sheffield Wednesday keep him?

Danny Rohl is not a drinker but this was an achievement that compelled him to make an exception.

Sheffield Wednesday would not succumb to the fate that had stalked them all season and, improbably, will be a Championship club again in August.

“You have to say thank you for the moment,” said Rohl, soaking wet from a one-sided water fight with his players. “Normally I don’t drink but maybe one beer today. It will be a long, long evening.”

Advertisement

And justifiably so.

A year on from their extraordinary ascent through the League One play-offs , Wednesday have produced a story just as miraculous to avoid trudging back to square one in the third tier of English football.

A 2-0 away win against Sunderland on the regular season’s final day made it 30 points from their last 16 games. Only Ipswich Town , who celebrated automatic promotion to the Premier League as Wednesday were doing the same about staying up, could better that return down the stretch.

Wednesday’s players revelled in the moment at the Stadium of Light, dancing in front of their 2,000 or so travelling fans for 15 minutes after the full-time whistle, but this was Rohl’s coronation as one of management’s brightest young things. The German was pushed forward by players to take the acclaim he had been eager to share with them.

Rohl, who was 35 last month, had never led a club before arriving at Hillsborough in October, but in turning around a bedraggled, aimless group he has caught the attention of plenty. A team who won only one of their first 18 league games this season, lost 13 of them and had two points after 10 matches have ended up three points clear of the relegation zone they had spent the previous eight months calling home.

“We should be very proud of our team and our club,” said Rohl, formerly an assistant at RB Leipzig , Southampton and Bayern Munich , who he helped win the 2020 Champions League as part of Hansi Flick’s staff. “You can have ideas as a manager but without your players, you cannot do this. It was a strength that we never gave up.”

The Championship ’s bottom half has seen plenty come home with a wet sail, including Queens Park Rangers and Millwall , but Wednesday have found a gear that appeared beyond any of the strugglers.

Wins over Blackburn Rovers and West Bromwich Albion had lifted Rohl’s side out of the bottom three in the season’s final weeks and securing the point they needed on the last day against hosts in mid-table and with nothing to play for never looked in doubt.

Jeopardy was denied entry to the Stadium of Light once Liam Palmer and Josh Windass capitalised on lax defending to score first-half goals. The rest became an implausibly merry procession towards safety.

Three months ago, on the back of a winter transfer window that had frustrated Rohl, such an escape had become difficult to picture. A bruising 4-0 away loss against Huddersfield Town , a Yorkshire club who will play League One football next season, on February 3 left Wednesday eight points adrift of safety with 16 games remaining.

They would hit further bumps in the road, like a 6-0 demolition by Ipswich in March, but Rohl traces their survival back to the days which followed that Huddersfield defeat.

“I showed a video that was four or five minutes that was about what it means to be successful, and then I showed the players the last 16 matches,” he said. “Then we had a very emotional conversation with the players. Some players were really touched in this meeting, but then we looked forward. It was not easy to lift other guys up, but we did it as a team.”

Wednesday’s subsequent revival has been a glowing endorsement of Rohl’s coaching and communication skills. A squad who spent half the season looking short of Championship quality have been cajoled into finding more, playing with greater intensity and drive.

Rohl has forced improvements from young and old in the group he inherited from Xisco Munoz, appointed in the summer after promotion-winner Darren Moore’s post-Wembley departure. The shoestring-budget January business sanctioned by the club, overseen by head of recruitment Kevin Beadell, also proved telling: forward Ike Ugbo , goalkeeper James Beadle and winger Ian Poveda all played valued roles as loan additions.

Rohl gradually instilled belief and resilience, too. Wednesday would lose just three of their last 14 games, fewer than second-tier champions Leicester City and play-offs sides Leeds United and Southampton.

And all this was played out against a backdrop of simmering unrest.

Protests against Wednesday’s long-standing owner Dejphon Chansiri became commonplace around the turn of the year, with fans marching to the club’s Hillsborough stadium carrying banners calling for the Thai businessman to sell up.

Thousands of yellow leaflets, distributed by the 1867 Group, an independent set of fans named for the year the club was founded who have got together to protest against the owner, were held up during the home game with fellow strugglers Birmingham City a few days after that loss to Huddersfield.

“Out of touch, out of time,” they said, next to an image of Chansiri.

Located around the ground now #swfc pic.twitter.com/8ta8tAcUlG — The 1867 Group. (@The1867Group) March 8, 2024

A truce was called for the season’s final weeks to ensure no distractions, but opposition to Chansiri will not go away. Rohl only papered over the cracks at a club so often made to look dysfunctional by their owner.

How long Rohl chooses to stick around is the inevitable worry now for Wednesday supporters.

Although there are 12 more months to run on his contract, the German has made it clear that things have to change at Hillsborough. He wants to see strategy and a slick off-field infrastructure. Chansiri, who chose to part with Moore three weeks after winning the League One play-off final, will struggle to fill fans with reassurance before a scheduled meeting with Rohl next week.

“Today I will not speak about my future,” Rohl said after Saturday’s win. “I want to enjoy, and then we will see what we can do on that. I know you want to know more but it’s important that we enjoy this evening. We will see. I have an idea of what the direction could be like, but just to have an idea is not enough.”

Rohl has a climbing stock and is known to have appealed to Sunderland, whose final 10 weeks of the season have been overseen by interim coach Mike Dodds following the sacking of December appointment Michael Beale.

They are not alone, either. Rohl ticks all the modern game’s boxes and the last seven months would indicate there is much more to come from him.

(Top photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

Get all-access to exclusive stories.

Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Try a week on us.

Watch CBS News

Tickets for Tom Brady's Patriots Hall of Fame induction go on sale Thursday

By Matt Geagan

April 30, 2024 / 4:45 PM EDT / CBS Boston

FOXBORO -- Pats fans who want to be at Gillette Stadium for Tom Brady's Patriots Hall of Fame induction will get their shot at tickets later this week. A limited number of tickets will be available for public purchase starting at noon on Thursday, May 2.

It won't be cheap to watch the GOAT collect his red jacket and take his seat in the Patriots Hall of Fame. Tickets will go for $100 each, and are only available through Ticketmaster. 

It should be quite the show on June 12, 2024, when Brady becomes the 35th person inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. The event is set to kick off at 7 p.m. and will feature a number of Brady's former teammates and special guests. NBC's Mike Tirico will host the ceremony, which will be held inside Gillette Stadium under the six Super Bowl banners that Brady brought to New England.

Usually, a person has to wait four years after their retirement to be considered for the Patriots Hall of Fame. But this is Tom Brady, so team owner Robert Kraft made a special exception and decided to throw a grand party for No. 12 inside the stadium.

In addition to those six Super Bowls that Brady won with the Patriots, he owns nearly every franchise passing record and a handful of all-time NFL passing records. He retired from football in February 2023 -- for good this time -- and was honored at Gillette Stadium during halftime of the New England's Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last September.

Matthew Geagan is a sports writer and producer for CBS Boston and wbz.com. He has been part of the WBZ sports team for nearly 20 years.

Featured Local Savings

More from cbs news.

Tom Brady puts a cap on Deflategate during Netflix roast

Lana Del Rey to headline her first stadium concert at Fenway Park

Here's the schedule for Bruins-Panthers second-round playoff series

Bruins-Panthers playoff series forces Tim McGraw to reschedule TD Garden concert