We’ve all heard of Wembley, Old Trafford, St. James’ Park and the Etihad stadium. They are the famous ones. The stadia where sports fans are gathered in the tens of thousands to support their chosen flavour. But, there are other stadia in the UK and Ireland where the beautiful games of rugby and football are also played and celebrated. These stadia also make ideal venues. conferences, exhibitions and events. Stadium Experience loves these stadia so much that we want to give them a mention. In this blog post, we’re covering the top stadia in the UK South. So without further ado, check out these hidden gems in England’s beautiful south.
St. Mary’s Stadium in Southampton:
Currently the largest football stadium in the south of England, outside of London, St. Mary’s Stadium is a complete bowl with stands of an equal height and a capacity of 32,505. Originally named ‘The Friends Provident St Mary’s Stadium’, the Southampton football stadium has been the home of Southampton F.C. since August 2001. The Southampton stadium plan kept in mind areas of Southampton – each stand is named after the areas of Southampton that they face – Itchen, Kingsland, Chapel and Northam. The captivating St. Mary’s Southampton stadium also has hospitality suites named after four famous Saints’: Matt Le Tissier, Markus Liebherr Lounge, Mick Channon, and Terry Paine. Ideal for every type of conference, meeting, event or even exhibition, the Southampton venue offers a wide variety of both large and small spaces, with capacities ranging from 2 – 650, across 13 different suites. We showcase the best of the South Coast, by offering our ‘Vitamin SEA’ Day Delegate Package from £25+VAT pp.
Amex Stadium in Brighton:
Also known as the Falmer Stadium and American Express Community Stadium, the renowned blue and white Amex Stadium is home to the famous Brighton and Hove Albion FC. Opened in July 2011, the Amex Brighton has a fantastic capacity of a stonking 30,750. It has come leaps and bounds since its conception, having hosted premier league football for the first time in August 2017, as well as hosting the Rugby World Cup. The Brighton FC ground has also seen their home team go from the bottom to the premier league, so it’s really not a stadium to miss experiencing, especially if you’re a hard-core footie fan. As well as sport, the venue is also ideally placed for every type of event and welcomes conferences and events, with DDR packages starting from just £37.00+VAT per person with capacities ranging from 10 guests right up to 300. With not only conferences on offer, they can host private event celebrations such as Weddings, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Wakes and Proms. Find out more about conferences and events at the Amex Stadium.
StoneX Stadium in North London:
Located in Hendon, London, the amazing StoneX Stadium (previously Allianz Park) has been the home ground of the Saracens, a professional rugby union team, since 2013. Situated in the midst of the modern Barnet Copthall leisure complex, up to 10,000 ardent rugby fans can be seated. Even more special is the fact that the Saracens FC stadium plan makes way for hosting tons of events, such as weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, conferences, charity events, corporate events and exhibitions, plus much more. Up to 3,000 people can be hosted in a reception at the stadium’s Olympic Bar and up to 1,000 people for a dinner, it is the only space in North London that can host these numbers within a large green outdoor space.
Twickenham Stadium in South-West London:
Twickenham Stadium, the Home of England Rugby, is the largest dedicated Rugby Union Stadium in the world, seating up to 82,000 fans on match days. The stadium plays host to the world renowned Six Nations and Autumn Internationals, along with concerts by some of the biggest names in music, including The Rolling Stones and Eminem. In total, Twickenham features 34 impressive suites and over 150 pitch-facing executive boxes, available for corporate events, meetings and private functions on non-match days.
In 2019, Twickenham unveiled their new East Stand facilities, featuring six brand new levels of space, bringing new opportunities for impressive match day hospitality and non-match day events. You can visit the stadium’s existing spaces using their 3D tours and virtual room layouts to see how their event spaces can work for you.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London:
Tottenham Hotspur’s state-of-the-art stadium is the world’s most technologically advanced. It offers a range of unique and diverse spaces, with pitch views throughout, that can accommodate anywhere from 10 to 10,000 guests. Whether you’re organising a large corporate event, running a team building activity or planning a personal celebration, the London venue can combine spaces and menus to help create a bespoke experience. You can enjoy stunning panoramic views across London from the highest vantage point available in the stadium, Stratus, or if you’re craving some street-style food and refreshing drinks in an epic setting, try The Market Place which holds the longest bar in Europe.
If you’re looking to make your next event extra special they have a number of exciting options, from beer tasting at their onsite brewery to the DARE Skywalk, where you can climb to the top of the stadium and abseil down, whatever you choose, your event will always be unforgettable at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. See more about the facilities at Tottenham Hotspur FC.
The club is also the Premier League’s greenest Club – Read more about their sustainable approach.
Stamford Bridge Stadium in Chelsea, London:
Stamford Bridge Stadium in South-West London is the home grounds of the famous Chelsea F.C team. Over a century of rich sporting heritage has paved the way for a superior collection of hospitality, events and leisure facilities at Stamford Bridge. Boasting 25 function rooms and 60 syndicate rooms, alongside a wealth of onsite additional facilities, we offer something for everyone. With over 20 years’ experience in providing first-class events, you can always expect a professional service with a personal touch. Featuring two hotels, a sports bar and diner, a luxury health club and a museum on-site for your convenience and pleasure, Stamford Bridge has it all.
Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol:
Opening in 1887, Ashton Gate Stadium Bristol is one of the oldest stadiums in the UK. It’s currently the home of Bristol City FC and Bristol Bears. Located just south of the River Avon, Ashton Gate Stadium Bristol can seat up to 27,000 excited football and rugby fans. After 2 years of works, the £45M Ashton Gate redevelopment was completed in 2016 with a brand new Bristol football stadium. The state-of-the-art Ashton Gate stadium design was influenced by the hospitality and hotel sectors, also on site is the Sports Bar & Pizzeria, which hosts the largest indoor pub screen in Europe. You definitely don’t want to miss a Bristol City or Bristol Bears game here.
There you have it. The top stadia in the UK South. From London, to Southampton and to Bristol, southern England is not short of beautiful stadia with which to host conferences, exhibitions, weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and other events – not just football and rugby! Looking for the perfect stadium? Stadium Experience will be able to help.
