Plans have been submitted to improve the experience for fans attending matches at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium.
The club’s proposal for new fan zones could also be used to broadcast other sporting events such as this summer’s European Championship and Paris Olympics.
The project includes putting up a fan zone marquee with screens and a stage behind the Northam Stand.
It comes after Saints last month confirmed plans for the new home-fan-only experience in the Northam Stand.
A stage, food and drink concessions and a new 4G playing area would be installed behind the Chapel Stand, while a third area would be created behind the Kingsland Stand.
Saints released illustrative pictures of the fan zones as part of the 2024/25 season ticket sale launch.
The club has now applied to the city council’s planning department for permission to carry out the scheme.
A letter submitted on behalf of the club by agents PowerHaus consultancy said the proposal will “rationalise and create enhanced fan zone experiences external to the stadium”.
The new areas would be able to host football fans for Saints matches and other events.
“Many of the club’s supporters lobby the club to provide spectator facilities for other sporting and entertainment events at the club, as such venues encourage fans to gather and enjoy the sporting spectacles across a number of yearly events,” the letter said.
“The creation of fan zones enables the club to attract fans, families and friends who have tickets in the respective stands to gather for sporting and other events, which could be used for this year’s events such as the Euros and the Paris Olympics.”
There would be a total of 15 food and beverage, and retail stalls. Some of these would be new, while others relocated from existing locations.
One toilet block would be relocated and another introduced.
On-site car parking spaces at the stadium would be reduced as part of the proposal. There would be a revised layout with 106 standard car parking spaces and 30 disabled spaces, down from 237 and 57, respectively.
The cycle storage would also be relocated and reduced from 157 spaces to 66, although the club has said it will install more if demand increases.
The planning agent’s letter said: “This move is to ensure that those with the greatest need to use the private car to access the stadium are prioritised and that further encouragement is given to all other users to use other forms of public transport, walk or cycle to the stadium.”
Saints are hoping to secure promotion straight back to the Premier League through the play-offs after finishing fourth in the Championship.
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