Swish look for Southampton F.C. home

Image: Southampton FC

Plans for new fan zones and big screens outside the Premier League team Southampton F.C.’s home pitch – the St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, England (UK) – have been given the green light by the City Council.

‘BBC’ stated that the Premier League club’s proposals feature a stage with large screens, food and drink stalls and a playing area on land around the ground.

The Southampton Football Club is a professional football club based in Southampton, Hampshire, England (UK). The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football, after achieving promotion in the 2024 EFL Championship playoff final.

The St Mary’s Stadium is an all-seater football stadium in Southampton, Hampshire, England (UK) which has been the home stadium of the Premier League club Southampton F.C. since the year 2001. The stadium has a capacity of 32,384 and is currently the largest football stadium in South East England.

‘BBC’ further stated that the representatives for the club said the scheme aimed to improve the experience for the fans on matchdays and could be used to broadcast other sporting events this Summer, such as the forthcoming Paris Olympics.

The 2024 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad and officially branded as Paris 2024, is an upcoming international multisport event scheduled to take place from July 26^th-August 11^th, 2024 in France with some competitions starting on July 24^th.

The above changes will result in the loss of about half of the stadium’s parking spaces, including those reserved for the disabled fans.

Outside the Northam Stand there will be a large marquee, stage and large screens. Behind the Chapel Stand, a 4G playing area will be installed as well as another stage.

Finally, there will be food and drink stalls outside the Kingsland Stand, which will be the new home of the away fans.

In total, there will be 15 food and drink stalls dotted around the stadium exterior.

The Planning Officers from the Southampton City Council approved the proposals – which were submitted in April – under delegated powers.

The Southampton City Council is the local authority of the City of Southampton. It is a unitary authority having the powers of a Non-Metropolitan County and the District Council combined.

A report by the Case Officer read, “The proposed use would enhance the offer at the football club which is a valuable asset to the City Centre. The use itself is complementary to the club and subject to securing the appropriate mitigation will not harm the residential amenity.”

Work has already started on the scheme.

The onsite car parking at the stadium will be reduced from 237 standard spaces and 57 disabled spaces to 106 and 30, respectively.

The application did include plans to reduce the number of cycle storage spaces from 157 to 66, but the Council insisted on revisions to the plans to increase that number.

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