Fan Engagement Forum

Scoreboard, weeds, pigeon ****, price of food, price of drink, condiments, why can't we do a Bradford, blah, blah, blah...

 

Yes Gally. Ask em if they have got the on-line ticketing sorted. i.e uploading matches onto season pass (re the fiasco for the last 2 friendlies).

 

The club (LJ) made a big statement, live on Sky TV last night, that we are a community club. One of the big successes of last season was the Trust-run Redfearns bar. Despite being a 'community club' we have recently missed the opportunity to prove this with the catering deal on the concourses. Out went a popular local brewery, in came an overpriced non-local alternative. We have loads of local producers of food, but the opportunity to use these and truly provide something different at the ground was also avoided.

In light of this, can the club guarantee that they won't impose any of these changes on Redfearns bar? Bearing in mind that the bar is run completely by volunteers, many of whom miss a portion of the match to provide the service. Furthermore, the Academy benefits from the profits made in the bar.

If the club are of the impression that Redfearns bar is in competition with the club concourses please advise them that if the club provided a like for like service on the concourse - comfortable chairs, warm enclosed space, TV that actually works, clean toilets in a good state of repair, occasional guest speakers, reasonably priced local food and local beer, the opportunity to have a pre-match drink with friends who sit in other parts of the ground, etc - then they would be in direct competition with Redfearns. As it is, should Redfearns not be there I can guarantee that none of the regulars would choose to get to the ground early and eat and drink on the concourses, with better, cheaper fare on offer a short walk away in the town centre.

I feel that any interference with Redfearns bar by the club would have a very detrimental effect on a good number of our fans, all of whom are season ticket holders and Trust members, so if the club can confirm they are not going to interfere or impose anything on the bar it would be appreciated. If they cannot give this guarantee, and use the reason that Redfearns bar is in direct competition with the bars on the concourses, please ask them for the timescales for bringing the concourses up to the standards in Redfearns bar.

 

Ask if it's possible to set up a system whereby you can make 12 standing order payments of £25 each to pay for next seasons season ticket and just keep it running season after season .

 

thereev completely endorses this post 100%

right..... i now expect action.

hth

 

Pretty much. Can add why we've gone back on our word by being reliant on loans, why our club shop so early in the selling period are already running out of shirts (which happens every year), his feelings on our reputation stopping more fans being able to get tickets for saturday too. If around the ground they installed some heaters in the concourses and put on the early match they would make more money from fans arriving much earlier. If you want to stay warm at Oakwell during the cold months you have to go a George Michael by hanging around in the gents.

 

This a 1000%

 

Well said that. People may as well get a Greggs sausage roll for 80 pence. Much cheaper than owt in our ground. Lots of sandwiches and pasties for no more than two quid. If they did the concourses with better lighting, tables, chairs, heating etc they could broadcast on a big screen the 5:30 premiership game and make cash till like 9pm from people staying after an home game to watch it. They could even let people who haven't been to the match come through a turnstile for free to boost sales.

 

Pretty much agree about the in-ground experience. We have a nice ground that I am proud of - a mix of traditional and modern, but we don't add any value to that. Catering is far from enjoyable. I once asked a mate who was manager at M.E.N why they charged extortionate food prices. His reply - "becasue we can, simple as that". Would Ben agree with that ? The feeling of once you are in the ground you can be charged what you want ? I'd rather see 8000 fans buy a pie and a pint at a reasonable price, than a few hundred buy the same at extortionate prices.

I also agree that I hope Redfearns keeps going; once again a pie and a pint in there is so much more affordable and enjoyable.

I'd like to ask him about the idea of a fan zone too, especially for younger kids (they are the next generation of paying customers). We have spare land available on most match days - even a roped off area of the car park / club shop exterior would suffice. A recent trip to an MLS match convinced me this would work - loads of toddlers playing small scale games on pitches with inflatable goals. Get Toby hanging around and maybe showcase a couple of local bands in the couple of hours before kick-off.

 

What plans has the club made regarding brining in players to suit the next managers playing style?

 

Spot on that first para, Gordon.

 

can we get a Helter Skelter for match days

 

I think we should replace the players tunnel with a Helter Skelter,

 

At some point this evening ben will mention policing costs. Ask him does he actually question anything Syp put in front of him or does he allow Syp to do as they please and pull our pants down regardless.

Citing point... port vale at home. Its common knowledge of most people outside intellegence circles thaat unless its a local game or they are successful vale do not take significant number's away from home and that people from Burslem will set fire to their kids rather than team up with any thing stoke related which if I recall was one day fntue reasons first r the increased police presence.

Citing point.. Peterborough at home. A team again that doesnt really have a large away following nor a reputation for football violence had a substantial police presence for what amounted to little.more than drunken shouting.

 

I know a few of these have already been mentioned but here's a list.

Scoreboard: the topic might be getting old but why does the club go silent over this for so long after making very proud public statements? What is the TRUE situation? If we aren't getting one just say so please.

Community club. As others have said please ask about the brewery and also why we chose to give the catering to an American company. American owned and founded SMG which owns CGC events. How much effort did the club put in to finding a local supplier? and was it ever advertised for tender?

TV's again. For bobby's game they were on, for Huddersfield they were off. What is the clubs actual policy? Does he believe the club can attract fans to get to games early with such a wishy washy hut and miss attitude to match day entertainment? Would he, for example go to a sports bar where they only show games when they feel like it and don't tell you in advance whether they are going to have their TV's on?

Loans. So many so early. Why? And how does he feel about the complete contradiction to his public statements in loan players.

What is the management structure of the club? It was never explained what a head coach is at Barnsley.

The England game. An explanation please. And why was the club silent after the game in the face of some very justified customer complaints and questions?

How did we get it so badly wrong with the shirt sponsor fiasco this season?

Ben saw the connection the fans had to former long serving players at bobby's game. Does he have any plans to try to get some of these players to work as ambassadors for the club?

 

Couple of other little things

............. and of course if he wants to send me back to Orlando on a fully-funded fact-finding trip

SPRINKLERS - pitch looked superb on Saturday ........ can we leave them alone this year, especially when it has pi55ed it down for 48 hours before a match, as it often does in South Yorkshire.

DUGOUTS - they seemed to be blocked off at the weekend - is this purely for sponsorship revenue or did LJ not like folk peeping in ? It's not going to stop people banging on the roof, but I used to enjoy watching the dugout activity (and total disinterest of Fat Dales body langauage) through the glass dugouts.