Paul Conway.

By keeping a separate area to stand and sit, and keeping the live music down so folk can talk. Decent food and maybe even some trailers with arcade games/esports/rides etc. But I appreciate there’s not going to be space for everything, and it’ll be trial and error.

Basically don’t make it Ale-centric - and take note how the East Lower concourse fails and ensure it’s not repeated I.e not cold, not windy, somewhere to sit and somewhere to rest a pint on whilst eating a pie.

For me, the East Lower concourse is an absolute waste of space and so much more could be done with it.

 

Bit o’ blue for t’dads.

 

Oh you complete and utter fanny. I know it’s a very limited brief, you half-wit, but stick to comments on subjects you’ve got the slightest shred of knowledge about, yeah?

 

Biggest mic-drop ever.

 

Girls like porn too.

 

I'm not expecting anything to be fair, I'm not really bothered whether there is a fanzone at Oakwell or not. But, if they are going to do it they may as well do it properly. A marquee with a popup bar is low-end stuff, that's what you'd expect at a wedding or a food show up at Cannon Hall.

Build something permanent. If we can't afford to do it, then don't bother.

Sorry if that comes across as negative, I'm sure some of you that have direct input have had some very constructive talks with the powers-that-be, but I honestly think it's a waste of time, effort and money to put something in place that is deliberately limited in scope and shows zero ambition. In fact, to me that comes across as a cash grab.

 

Exactly. Ideal world would be owning the land of the old school and building a Premier Inn/Glasshouse (but two floors for added space like Joseph Brammahs) style complex. We can fill the hotel all year round pretty much even if it had say 100 rooms. You could have academy lads stay there. PDC has weekend tournaments most months of the year at the Metrodrome such as this weekend where 128 darts players, family, management, scorers etc need somewhere to stay. Snooker players can stay there when Metrodrome have their qualifiers which happen a few times a year. We can give offers to away fans so if we have a Tuesday night game at home to a team far away they can stay the night and go home Wednesday morning.

Next to it can be a two floor bar/restaurant complex so people have plenty of room next to the ground to either enjoying a loud pint on one floor watching a big screen of a early kick off or can go upstairs for a quieter time and enjoy a pre game meal with family and friends. What Accrington had was a great idea and worked well for a small club with limited budget. But for us I can't see people wanting to stand in a tent with no windows to drink out of a plastic cup. The novelty will soon wear off and people will be back to sitting at a proper table in a town centre bar, with a pint in a glass in more comfortable surroundings.

 

Yup. Agree with this.

 

Can you find me one?

 

Never happen due to traffic and parking issues. Nice idea though.

 

Survey of 24,000 women in 2017 suggested that 60% of them watched porn a couple of times a month at least.

So, talk to 5 lasses and 3 of them will probably watch some with you.

 

More I think about it, would a fanzone be a success at Oakwell for the home fans?

The ground is away from main transport links eg bus station, train station so it has to be something special to bring enough folk from Chennels to the back of the ground for more than a pint to make it worthwhile.

With this there is also the consideration of how it affects town centre trade. The vast majority of pubs make their keep on match day takings. I used to live next door to one of the staff in the white bear and she said if they took 4K on match day it was quiet!

A fan zone worked at Accrington due to the grounds proximity to the motorway. Coaches straight off Ten minutes you are parked up and on the beer.

Wouldn’t it be more more beneficial to upgrade the facilities in the east and ponty end and create something for the away fans other than the metrodome...

For example, you get 3k of derby fans parked up for 12:30. Pint every half hour at 2.50 a pint... £37.5k

Next season there’s at least 10 clubs which will do the same at least in numbers.

Not only that, keeping them away from the town centre reduces any potential disorder and lowers police costs...

 

I'm expecting something more professional than we are used to, but let's face it, the bar hasn't been set very high (no pun intended). Under the old regime it would have been a gazebo from Aldi and some of those kegs from Morrisons.

 

Donny get fewer fans than us, this is what they do. An outside fan zone is Probably popular in nice weather but as a few have mentioned itwould be a struggle in the cold and rain. Advantage Donny seem to have is a decent sized indoor area as you can see on the photos linked to it. I think a fanzone at oakwell would work but it needs a comfortable indoor part with screens as a part of it - that’s where we will struggle - perhaps some work can be done under the east stand and it linked to being part of the zone.
https://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/2018/august/gallery--fans-park-at-wycombe-game/

 

I guess that may take time with planning consents, etc, but might be a good long term goal, if it is seen to work.

 

My priority is I want something warm as most of the season is cold. Make it warm and I’ll go in. So I want it to be undercover, with heaters and hot food (pie & peas, pizza, panninis, chips etc.) If it’s peeing it down and freezing I’ll be heading in there for shelter rather than the open concourse. I’d also like something to drink that I like (so not real ale). If you want more women get some gin, Prosecco, fruity based drinks (alcoholic and not) and pop that’s not a couple of quid a bottle. I’ll die of thirst before I pay that price. Get decent priced sweets/snacks and drinks for kids. Then there needs to be some sort of entertainment so a big screen or music or live entertainment or things to do (pool tables etc.) That’s what would interest me and my mates.

 

Might as well stop in town then.

 

Indeed.

 

There’s a new Gin bar now as well.

 

Can't say I've ever drank gin but I know it's what all my female friends drink.