Return to St Mary’s: Ticketing and safety

We’ve been working with both government and Premier League guidelines on how and when fans will be returning to St Mary’s and can share the latest update below.

Check the website for the latest news, or you can see all the information about the Return to St Mary’s here.

Ticketing and stadium entry
During the summer we have installed a new access control system meaning all turnstile readers and handheld devices for stewards allow tickets to be scanned directly from mobile phones for the first time at St Mary’s.

Supporters will be required to enter the stadium using tickets stored on their mobile phones or by using print at home tickets. Please note this change has been made in line with government advice to reduce physical touchpoints, reduce the passing on of tickets through the black market, and to ensure compliance with the government track-and-trace scheme.

Due to this, we will be delaying sending out Season Ticket/Membership cards until a time when all Season Ticket holders can be admitted to the stadium.

Reduced capacity 
It is highly likely there will be capacity restrictions when fans are first allowed back to stadium. The club have been working on a system which provides fair and equitable access, albeit weighted towards our most regular attendees, and will seek to give every Season Ticket Holder who wishes to attend a chance to do so within the first few games following supporters being allowed back into stadiums.

We are not in a position to confirm the extent to which capacity might be limited but will share this information with supporters as soon as we have it.

Safety on matchday
We are working with government and Premier League guidelines to implement measures ensuring the wellbeing of all visitors to St Mary’s. This may include one-way systems to ensure smooth movement throughout the stadium, hospitality areas and concourses, the provision of hand sanitising stations, and the introduction of specific entry times.

People at high risk (clinically vulnerable)
Although the government guidance for people at high risk has changed and they are no longer being advised to shield, the club do understand that some fans will not be comfortable returning to matches just yet, even with all the mitigating measures in place. In this circumstance, there will be an opportunity to opt out of any selection processes for returning to initial matches with reduced capacities. For the latest government guidance please click here.

Bubbles/groups
The Club are working to ensure that supporters can select their social bubbles in groups of up to six people from two households, and will need your help to understand more about your groups. In preparation for this, please ensure your friends and family list is up to date on your ticketing account.

Further information on how social bubbles are to be managed will be released in due course.

The Saints Promise
The club has committed to a series of promises, should any Season Ticket holder miss out on a fixture due to the coronavirus pandemic. Included in this is a refund, within 14 days of announcement, for any fixture that can’t be played at St Mary’s with fans. For full details of the Saints Promise please click here.

Code of conduct
Supporters will be required to read, understand and agree to measures put in place by the club to ensure their safety ahead of a matchday. This may be through email so please ensure your details are up to date and that those in your social bubble are included in your friends and family. If you wish to receive communications through other forms of contact, please contact Supporter Relations at supporterrelations@saintsfc.co.uk.

Hospitality guests 
Hospitality guests will be contacted directly by their account manager to update how guidelines affect them.