Southampton Football Club’s St Mary’s Stadium welcomes more than 32,000 supporters. Having supplied the stadium’s original public address, voice alarm and emergency telephone systems, TG Baker returned to modernise its PAVA provision, improving matchday sound while keeping essential safety communications operational throughout the works.

Advise

The club wanted a substantial improvement in audio performance across the seating areas, supporting a more engaging matchday experience alongside clear operational and emergency announcements. We developed a solution that addressed both requirements, with continuity of the existing life-safety system central to the upgrade approach.

Plan

We designed a dual-node, fully networked PAVA system, combining ASL control equipment with Crown amplification and JBL loudspeakers. The installation programme was phased around the working stadium, allowing equipment to be replaced while maintaining a functioning PAVA system throughout.

Deliver

Our in-house engineering team installed the new system and replaced every seating-area loudspeaker and its associated cabling. JBL full-range loudspeakers and 18-inch subwoofers improved speech clarity and strengthened music reproduction across the stands. The completed system meets BS 5839 and BS 7827 requirements, providing integrated support for entertainment and safety communications.

Support

The upgrade continues our longstanding relationship with the stadium, replacing its original provision with modern networked infrastructure. The completed system supports clear emergency announcements and higher-quality matchday entertainment, while the phased delivery ensured the club retained a fully functioning PAVA system at every stage of the project.