14th August 2025
**August 14 –** Southampton Football Club are banking on a bold new venture to help them weather the financial storm that comes with life outside the Premier League. This October, the Saints will unveil LEVEL1, a sprawling 12,000 sq ft leisure and gaming area nestled inside St Mary’s Stadium’s Chapel Stand.
Built in partnership with specialist contractor Paragon, this project marks a crucial step in the club’s bid to diversify income streams beyond the ups and downs of matchdays after a relegation which hit the club hard, squeezing the budget.
The venture will include climbing walls, high rope courses, arcade machines, clayshot booths and a nine-hole mini-golf course, and is designed to attract students, families and groups of friends all year round.
Football clubs everywhere are waking up to the fact that matchday and TV income alone won’t pay the bills especially while the cost of reaching the Premier League continues to grow. Turning stadiums into lifestyle and entertainment hubs is the direction many are taking, broadening their appeal well beyond loyal fans and generating cash outside of matchdays.
The club see LEVEL1 as a way to deepen ties with the local community by offering something fresh and accessible all year round. The hope is that thousands of new visitors will come through the gates each month, creating jobs and breathing new life into the area around St Mary’s.
Southampton hope the venture will take off quickly once doors open in October, and are already pushing hard on corporate bookings and group events.
To coincide with the launch, fans can register their interest on the LEVEL1 website and two people will be chosen at random to win a £500 (€579/$674) voucher to spend at the venue.
A Southampton FC spokesperson said: “Open 360+ days a year, LEVEL1 offers fresh ways for people to connect with the club, creating memorable experiences while supporting its long-term growth.
“It’s part of the club’s commitment to bringing fans closer, welcoming more visitors, and making St Mary’s a place that’s alive with activity all year.”