St Mary's Stadium

[Football Special]

12 minutes ago, SW11_Saint said:

I swear I read a reference to it (the arena stuff), but can’t find. Wider plans are in the links above. I do know the original housing plan for the gasworks site isn’t going ahead. 

Cheers, yeah sorry I replied before seeing your other posts

Bound to take years these things 

[Midfield_General]

2 hours ago, SW11_Saint said:

Actually enhanced transport links are part of the Renaissance plan, and as I understand it that includes investigating a potential rail link to SMS. 
 

 

Regeneration of five areas of the city, an innovative mass transit system*, investment in public transport and development of a sport and entertainment district near St Mary's. Billions and billions and billions of pounds worth of cost there. Unless Southampton City Council is slightly more flush than I suspect they are, who's paying for all this?

As a guide, Stratford cost £9bn which was raised by a combination of private investment, £2.2bn from the National Lottery, £600m from a GLA Olympic council tax precept, and major contributions from Transport for London and central government because it was for the Olympics. And that was to regenerate one area of a city, not five plus a waterfront. 

Obviously Dragan's hundreds of millions will be more than enough to cover the new Northam Estate tourism hub near the ground, we've established that, but what about the rest? 

(*please please let this be a monorail)

Edited Wednesday at 10:33 by Midfield_General

[Matthew Le God]

17 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

(*please please let this be a monorail)

Rasmus Ankersen at a council meeting...

 

[Midfield_General]

28 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Rasmus Ankersen at a council meeting...

 

There's his next TED talk sorted. Just need to get him a piano and the hat 👍

[Saint Fan CaM]

4 hours ago, Chez said:

Undesirable? If you work in these businesses or need cement for example, they are quite desirable. Cities need workplaces. 

Well that’s the rub - unless SCC get their collective heads sorted any likely re-locations will not happen. In terms of the definition of undesirable, there are environmental concerns for say the cement works being waterside (obviously they will be heavily regulated wherever they reside) and there’s the simple fact that some businesses are getting in the way of urban improvement and need to be re-located (a rather large example of late being the new Bargate development). It’s a complicated process that could take decades if atall.

[spyinthesky]

3 hours ago, SW11_Saint said:

I looked again and ABP are listed as a Partner in the Renaissance prospectus. Good news that they are involved and onboard. As you point out less of an issue for the area adjacent to SMS, but critical for the Town Quay plans. 

You are correct.
ABP own Town Quay and I believe also own the Freehold to the adjacent Red Funnel area so they will be working with the developers, Nicholas James Group, and the City Council, and presumably the Crown Estate, to advance the plan.
Interestingly, I understand that Nicolas James (an ex Soton Uni student who has done very well as a property developer) has sold his interest in the Harbour Hotel at Ocean Village to assist with the challenging funding.
I have also heard from decent sources that Red Funnel and ABP are looking at the possibility of transferring the Car Ferry Service over to Marchwood and ABP are actively looking at alternative sites for the aggregate business (Dibden Bay perhaps, but this would be years away).
As far as I am aware a fair bit of the western Itchen River quayside land is either owned Freehold by private companies or are held on long term leases.
If this assumption is correct then, whilst SCC and SFC may be keen to develop the land (which I think would be great) there are significant challenges in acquiring the land.
I guess there is the possibility of SCC compulsory purchasing the land but this would take time and money.

[franniesTache]

17 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

I did not say they did. It is irrelevant to the point I was making that developments are catalysts for further development. Fallacy after fallacy from some people on here!

Except that's not true for either of the two stadiums you mention.

In Manchester the Commonwealth stadium hasn't led to regeneration of the area, the Northern Quarter closer to Picaddily was already being gentrified before the stadium was built and was largely down to a council scheme in the 90s and second much bigger period after the bombing of the arndale center. The City of Manchester stadium is actually a fair bit away from the main gentrification of manchester and has a large a road that goes past it, with the immediate area still fairly run down and without a huge amount there in the way of shops (unless you count big Asda's).

As for the Olympic stadium and Olympic park, well Stratford shopping center was there prior to the Olympics, Stratford high st still has "character" (shorthand for pretty stabby) and west of the lea Hackney Wick had already started to be gentrified about 5 years before the Olympics due to Hackney being popular and artists being priced out who moved to the empty industrial units there. Then if you go south of the Olympic park you have victoria park which is one of the biggest parks in East London and gentrification has nothing to do with it's use (funnily enough the old big breakfast house is on the corner there).

Having spent a fair bit of time in that area pre Olympics, during and now the only really significant change i can think of post the stadium being built is the swingers club that used to be opposite Crate has now turned into a pub, which is a shame as it used to be hilarious sitting at Crate and laughing at the people sheepishly trying to go in without being seen.

So yeah both your "examples" are utter horseshit, and to think that it would re-generate Northam, Golden Grove or Derby Road/St Mary's is naive at best, unhinged at worst. If football grounds and events venues could do that then so many of the shops, clubs and pubs on Old Northam road wouldn't have shut down when St Mary's moved there would they?

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, franniesTache said:

So yeah both your "examples" are utter horseshit

I listed three, not two. I'd also question your points on the first two.

[SW11_Saint]

1 hour ago, Midfield_General said:

Regeneration of five areas of the city, an innovative mass transit system*, investment in public transport and development of a sport and entertainment district near St Mary's. Billions and billions and billions of pounds worth of cost there. Unless Southampton City Council is slightly more flush than I suspect they are, who's paying for all this?

As a guide, Stratford cost £9bn which was raised by a combination of private investment, £2.2bn from the National Lottery, £600m from a GLA Olympic council tax precept, and major contributions from Transport for London and central government because it was for the Olympics. And that was to regenerate one area of a city, not five plus a waterfront. 

Obviously Dragan's hundreds of millions will be more than enough to cover the new Northam Estate tourism hub near the ground, we've established that, but what about the rest? 

(*please please let this be a monorail)

Well if you read the Renaissance prospectus, they were seeking investment from the private sector. That’s how all commercial developments happen. Not sure who has shown concrete interest, but I understand there is interest. So funding is not all down to SFC or SCC. 
 

The rail link, if it happens, is using existing infrastructure - the train line runs right behind the Kingsland stand, so by far the easiest way to implement it. 

[trousers]

It's happening....

 

 

[Saint Garrett]

Just now, trousers said:

It's happening....

 

 

Thats a nice pint! Far better than Kingfisher!

[Turkish]

Just now, trousers said:

It's happening....

 

 

Another fantastic improvement to the match day experience!! 

[CSA96]

5 minutes ago, trousers said:

It's happening....

 

 

Thank fuck Kingfisher are gone

[Turkish]

What's the current situation for Vegan foodstuffs in St Marys? Do we offer this?

[Midfield_General]

8 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Another fantastic improvement to the match day experience!! 

What they haven't mentioned is that it will be somewhat aggressively priced at £58,000 per pint. Need to offset the investment in the DraganWorld St Mary's Leisure Experience, Retail Park, Hotel Complex and Northam Estate Tour ™ development somehow. 

So get drinking - the city's ambitious infrastructure vision needs YOU 🫵

[spyinthesky]

3 hours ago, SW11_Saint said:

Well if you read the Renaissance prospectus, they were seeking investment from the private sector. That’s how all commercial developments happen. Not sure who has shown concrete interest, but I understand there is interest. So funding is not all down to SFC or SCC. 
 

The rail link, if it happens, is using existing infrastructure - the train line runs right behind the Kingsland stand, so by far the easiest way to implement it. 

The possible rail Station/Halt at St Marys is an interesting one.
I am no rail expert but the expenditure of at least £1m, possibly a fair bit more, would really only cater for between 19-23 games a year.
It is highly unlikely, in my opinion, that the Station/Halt would be suitable for regular, non football related, services and with regard to the latter would trains on existing services from London (which are normally 10 carriages long) and Romsey/Salisbury be expected to call in off the main line via the branch line at Northam?
After the game, there would undoubtedly be a rush to board the one train, of indeterminate carriage length, that potentially could be accommodated at the Station/Halt.
Presumably the rail line from Northam is electrified. If not then this is another consideration.
Years ago I remember there was a Station at Boothferry Park and there was a rail line behind Bolton's old ground at Burden Park.
None of them survived.
 

[skintsaint]

Hopefully Gregg's can go in one of the new commercial developments, it's scandalous that fans have to walk one mile to get to one.

 

[Weston Super Saint]

37 minutes ago, spyinthesky said:

The possible rail Station/Halt at St Marys is an interesting one.
I am no rail expert but the expenditure of at least £1m, possibly a fair bit more, would really only cater for between 19-23 games a year.

 

You jest, surely?  The station would be in constant use with people visiting the gentrified district, assorted shops, restaurants, indoor arena etc etc.

[franniesTache]

6 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

Hopefully Gregg's can go in one of the new commercial developments, it's scandalous that fans have to walk one mile to get to one.

 

Greggs? I think we should be aiming higher than a pastry shop, this fabled MEGALOPOLIS OF SPORTATAINMENT GREATNESS (tm) will be attracting michelin star restaurants, we will see the re-homing of the Ivy to old norham road, clubs will flock from Ibiza to set up residency in the britannia road warehouses, when we flatten golden grove and northam estate they will be rebuilt with luxury yurts and short stay complexes that all have their own sex pond and butlers.

The south of france will lose the Cannes Films Festival as it will move to the newly appointed AREA OF CULTURE that is derby road, with the meridan water filled with super yachts eager to observe the greatest moment of gentrification ever known.

The hustle, bustle and glamour will be the focus point of new signings, eschewing boring places like Milan, London, Paris, Barcelona and Madrid in favour of the greatest sport and cultural complex known to man.

If you build it. They will come.

[Weston Super Saint]

1 minute ago, franniesTache said:

Greggs? I think we should be aiming higher than a pastry shop, this fabled MEGALOPOLIS OF SPORTATAINMENT GREATNESS (tm) will be attracting michelin star restaurants, we will see the re-homing of the Ivy to old norham road, clubs will flock from Ibiza to set up residency in the britannia road warehouses, when we flatten golden grove and northam estate they will be rebuilt with luxury yurts and short stay complexes that all have their own sex pond and butlers.
 

The guy who makes the sweat burgers outside the stadium is going to be furious!

[Midfield_General]

59 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

The guy who makes the sweat burgers outside the stadium is going to be furious!

Sadly he will be a victim of the forced relocation of all current residents and businesses, because that spot is earmarked for the dedicated monorail stop for the DraganWorld MGM Grand Casino (sponsored by Castrol). 

Edited Wednesday at 17:24 by Midfield_General

[Chez]

11 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Sadly he will be a victim of the forced relocation of all current residents and businesses, because that spot is earmarked for the dedicated monorail stop for the DraganWorld MGM Grand Casino (sponsored by Castrol). 

Maybe he can relocate to the monkey chicken petting zoo car park? Hang on, that is part of the St Marys gentrification plan, right?

[SW11_Saint]

2 hours ago, spyinthesky said:

The possible rail Station/Halt at St Marys is an interesting one.
I am no rail expert but the expenditure of at least £1m, possibly a fair bit more, would really only cater for between 19-23 games a year.
It is highly unlikely, in my opinion, that the Station/Halt would be suitable for regular, non football related, services and with regard to the latter would trains on existing services from London (which are normally 10 carriages long) and Romsey/Salisbury be expected to call in off the main line via the branch line at Northam?
After the game, there would undoubtedly be a rush to board the one train, of indeterminate carriage length, that potentially could be accommodated at the Station/Halt.
Presumably the rail line from Northam is electrified. If not then this is another consideration.
Years ago I remember there was a Station at Boothferry Park and there was a rail line behind Bolton's old ground at Burden Park.
None of them survived.
 

I have no idea what the plan is - and suspect atm it’s just a ‘floated idea’ - but maybe it’s a shuttle service back and forth to Soton central? If it’s just for SMS it may not be viable, but if there are other reasons to visit the area (bars, restaurants, hotels - and especially if the indoor arena/conference centre happens - then maybe it looks more viable?

[S-Clarke]

We have to remember we're kind of reliant on Southampton City Council here as well, they're a key driver in the wider picture.

This is the same Council who still haven't developed Mayflower Park, the pier, Toys 'R' Us or the Leisure World site. For those reasons alone, I wouldn't hold out much hope for anything happening this side of 2040.

[whelk]

4 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

We have to remember we're kind of reliant on Southampton City Council here as well, they're a key driver in the wider picture.

This is the same Council who still haven't developed Mayflower Park, the pier, Toys 'R' Us or the Leisure World site. For those reasons alone, I wouldn't hold out much hope for anything happening this side of 2040.

TBF Leisure World is now a big car park

[Turkish]

42 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

We have to remember we're kind of reliant on Southampton City Council here as well, they're a key driver in the wider picture.

This is the same Council who still haven't developed Mayflower Park, the pier, Toys 'R' Us or the Leisure World site. For those reasons alone, I wouldn't hold out much hope for anything happening this side of 2040.

This is still “soon” though right?

[S-Clarke]

4 minutes ago, Turkish said:

This is still “soon” though right?

Yeah, very soon. Always very soon. The last I heard on the Toys R Us one is that the 'last plans' are being torn up as they're not viable, or something.

How they've left that Toys R Us site is an embarrassment really, shows us up as a right old dump as soon as you get off the train. They've tried to polish a turd by investing into new train station frontage, but ignoring what it overlooks. (and don't forget the eyesore of the grey concrete buildings on the other side..!)

Edited Wednesday at 19:35 by S-Clarke

[Turkish]

7 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Yeah, very soon. Always very soon. The last I heard on the Toys R Us one is that the 'last plans' are being torn up as they're not viable, or something.

How they've left that Toys R Us site is an embarrassment really, shows us up as a right old dump as soon as you get off the train. They've tried to polish a turd by investing into new train station frontage, but ignoring what it overlooks. (and don't forget the eyesore of the grey concrete buildings on the other side..!)

It is a dump though isn’t it. The blank canvas of Southampton is something special not many other cities in Europe let alone UK have a blend of historical ruins, large green areas and a coastline all within the city centre along with a relatively decent climate for UK. Rather than building on that and making Southampton a place people want to visit it’s a run down dump these days. So much potential squandered. 

[Matthew Le God]

There’s a magical place

We’re on our way there

With fans in their millions

All under one roof

It’s called Saints’R’Us!

[Sevvy]

33 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

There’s a magical place

We’re on our way there

With fans in their millions

All under one roof

It’s called Saints’R’Us!

Don't give up your day job,😉

[Osvaldorama]

45 minutes ago, Turkish said:

It is a dump though isn’t it. The blank canvas of Southampton is something special not many other cities in Europe let alone UK have a blend of historical ruins, large green areas and a coastline all within the city centre along with a relatively decent climate for UK. Rather than building on that and making Southampton a place people want to visit it’s a run down dump these days. So much potential squandered. 

Couldn’t agree more. Sums up the whole country tbh. Destroyed by wanker politicians and councils who hate any success and joy. 

[spyinthesky]

2 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

We have to remember we're kind of reliant on Southampton City Council here as well, they're a key driver in the wider picture.

This is the same Council who still haven't developed Mayflower Park, the pier, Toys 'R' Us or the Leisure World site. For those reasons alone, I wouldn't hold out much hope for anything happening this side of 2040.

Re Mayflower Park...This is a protected area, as are the local parks and covered by Legislation ie The Hampshire Act, so the Council cant 'develop' the space.
                                   That said money (if available) could be invested in the area to improve the area
Re Royal Pier............This is the responsibility of ABP. The Council has no involvement in the Pier but has been trying to get ABP to do something.
                                   Unfortunately there have been at least three schemes proposed to develop the area around the Pier and improve/expand Mayflower Park but
                                    non of the developers were able to raise the money.
Re Toys R Us.............There are/were plans in the pipeline to develop the area for Toys R Us through to Dock Gate 8. Once again the plans have not been
                                    progressed due to lack of developers money.

[Saint Scott]

8 hours ago, trousers said:

It's happening....

 

 

A very nice selection there

[BarberSaint]

10 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

I listed three, not two. I'd also question your points on the first two.

 

 

Why? Were you unembarrassed when walking past Crate?

[BarberSaint]

2 hours ago, Sevvy said:

Don't give up your day job,😉

 

Just give up.

[SW11_Saint]

3 hours ago, Turkish said:

It is a dump though isn’t it. The blank canvas of Southampton is something special not many other cities in Europe let alone UK have a blend of historical ruins, large green areas and a coastline all within the city centre along with a relatively decent climate for UK. Rather than building on that and making Southampton a place people want to visit it’s a run down dump these days. So much potential squandered. 

I’d agree but isn’t that what this Renaissance project is about? Regenerating the City? 
 

[SW11_Saint]

4 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

We have to remember we're kind of reliant on Southampton City Council here as well, they're a key driver in the wider picture.

This is the same Council who still haven't developed Mayflower Park, the pier, Toys 'R' Us or the Leisure World site. For those reasons alone, I wouldn't hold out much hope for anything happening this side of 2040.

Worth remembering that two of the biggest developments in the City - West Quay and SMS were green-lit and initially developed under a Labour controlled City Council. So although some developments have faltered - due to lack of private investment I believe - they have delivered when the partnership investment is there. That’s the key. 

[Kenilworthy59]

15 hours ago, spyinthesky said:

The possible rail Station/Halt at St Marys is an interesting one.
I am no rail expert but the expenditure of at least £1m, possibly a fair bit more, would really only cater for between 19-23 games a year.
It is highly unlikely, in my opinion, that the Station/Halt would be suitable for regular, non football related, services and with regard to the latter would trains on existing services from London (which are normally 10 carriages long) and Romsey/Salisbury be expected to call in off the main line via the branch line at Northam?
After the game, there would undoubtedly be a rush to board the one train, of indeterminate carriage length, that potentially could be accommodated at the Station/Halt.
Presumably the rail line from Northam is electrified. If not then this is another consideration.
Years ago I remember there was a Station at Boothferry Park and there was a rail line behind Bolton's old ground at Burden Park.
None of them survived.
 

Kenilworth station which opened in 2018 cost £12 million. That is a bog standard station with one platform serving a single track line, probably not unlike what would be needed at St Marys, so the cost would be similar.

[ecuk268]

3 hours ago, Kenilworthy59 said:

Kenilworth station which opened in 2018 cost £12 million. That is a bog standard station with one platform serving a single track line, probably not unlike what would be needed at St Marys, so the cost would be similar.

There are 2 lines. The non-electrified one goes into the docks and is used regularly by car transporters.

The electrified one is used to park trains that are being serviced at the Maintenance Depot at Northam.

[Whitey Grandad]

3 hours ago, Kenilworthy59 said:

Kenilworth station which opened in 2018 cost £12 million. That is a bog standard station with one platform serving a single track line, probably not unlike what would be needed at St Marys, so the cost would be similar.

So fans could get transport as far as the maintenance depot?

Seriously though,  there's no point in building a station if the rail companies don't want to run trains to it.

[Give it to Ron]

Asahi, Peroni, Meantime Lager, Meantime IPA, and non-alcoholic options, will be available throughout St Mary's. Bar facilities to be upgraded too.
 

Anyone know if Guinness stays?

[Saint Fan CaM]

5 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

Asahi, Peroni, Meantime Lager, Meantime IPA, and non-alcoholic options, will be available throughout St Mary's. Bar facilities to be upgraded too.
 

Anyone know if Guinness stays?

Tell you what, if Guinness Zero is served that’ll be fantastic!

[Matthew Le God]

8 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

Anyone know if Guinness stays?

No, it has downward-cascading bubbles 🍻 😉 

[Give it to Ron]

10 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

No, it has downward-cascading bubbles 🍻 😉

Cant see you appearing at the Comedy Club soon

[SteveGc]

On 24/06/2025 at 19:04, Turkish said:

another shopping centre, just what Southampton needs!!!

Spurs got a go kart track under theirs. Lol. We need a hotel, convention entertainment centre and connection through to the water for shopping and dining maybe marina. That’s my opinion Im sure there’ll be some housing type as well.

[Matthew Le God]

Under 1,000 season tickets left for 2025/26.

With more sold than in the 2023/24 season.

Men's Season Tickets: fewer than 1,000 left | Southampton FC Official Site

Edited Friday at 10:45 by Matthew Le God

[spyinthesky]

There must be quite a few new season ticket holders to replace the not insubstantial number who were so cheesed off with last years dire performances at SMS

[Saint Fan CaM]

3 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

Under 1,000 season tickets left for 2025/26.

With more sold than in the 2023/24 season.

Men's Season Tickets: fewer than 1,000 left | Southampton FC Official Site

If the ground capacity is 32500 (for example) does that mean they’ve sold more than 31500 ST’s? I find that hard to believe, but if it’s true then it’s little wonder that a stadium expansion is being talked about! 😉

[Saint Garrett]

Think they had more tickets available for ST purchase last season, so even if 10% churn this season, they could still be 24/25k, Take into account £3k aways, leaves about 2/3k for walk ups.

[franniesTache]

8 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

If the ground capacity is 32500 (for example) does that mean they’ve sold more than 31500 ST’s? I find that hard to believe, but if it’s true then it’s little wonder that a stadium expansion is being talked about! 😉

I'm pretty sure that the leagues have a cap on the percentage of the ground that can be sold as season tickets. I think it used to be you could only have 75% of the ground as season tickets, but they dropped it to something like 60% on the idea that you had to provide "match day tickets" too. Obviously that doesn't take into account away tickets though so 60% minus the away allocation.

Saying that some clubs - especially the big tourist clubs - actually cap season tickets much lower as they want to sell more game by game tickets to tourists because they spend more on tat