Teething problems

Well I guess after so long away problems wouldn’t be far away but the late news on all ticket, confusion over West stand ( no idea why went off sale as capacity reached allegedly), the scoreboard didn’t work so we didn’t know when it was the 5th minute, we kicked off as half of the team were taking the knee, I would assume the car park was carnage after? Complaints of the ground being dirty, the tannoy wasn’t working half the time the advertising hoardings were grimey, ball boys were absent Collins had to climb over hoarding to retrieve the ball.( did see some BB’s) before the game.
At least I didn’t any issues with my ticket on my phone.

 

Plenty of ballboys. I reckon it was game management on the part of Brad! Confused as to why the tannoy and scoreboard weren't up to scratch but on the plus side the pitch was beautiful.

 

It was a poor match day experience regards the stadium. If kids went back to school after 6 weeks and the school was blatantly not ready, questions would be asked. I think the positivity over the result has tempered some comments.

I love Oakwell too, by the way. But:

Not queued like that to get into the ground since Man City, 1981.
If the WSL was sold out, then I was surrounded by 35 invisible Reds.
Seats were filthy. Not just dust from recent weather. Ingrained, established muck.
The rows looked like they hadn't been swept since last home game

 

All this. No excuses, given the prep time they've had. Ground just looked mucky. All the advertising hoardings round the pitch were filthy with grime from the cinder surround - get the YTS lads with mops & buckets sorting them out. Maybe I'm naive, but I thought a lick of paint and your Sunday best for the opening game was standard practice at any ground. No queueing issues into the Ponty, but the season ticket didn't work - fella just let me through. Have the club said 'owt about this?

 

I was pleased they just let everyone in to avoid the certain agro if they hadn't. But in reality it can't actually be the correct thing to do can it?

 

So much for improving the match day experience eh? One of the first promises of this lot when they took over

 

Correct re Collins. He waved away the four ball boys towards the end of the game when it went out. The ball boys got some stick from the away end so have them some lip back. That's what caused the kick off in the stand and the ball boys being moved to the east stand. Ball Boys were laughing and one had his phone out, I assume filming the dickheads.

 

What happened to the traffic managment for folk navigating Eldon st last time I went that way it was all cordened of to traffic yesterday nothing very congested pavement under the railway bridge

 

As a regular Barnsley fan I found most of it laughable because I'm used to it but for anyone new it was just a disgrace really. The place looked like they were deliberately trying to run it into the ground. First time I've had to clean filth off my seat before sitting down

 

I'll check my seat Tuesday I didn't actually sit down yesterday. Mate took his little un to get a hit dog just before half time and reported they had run out of beer.
As you say we regulars just chuckle about it these days.

 

New season,new manager,good draw at Cardiff,hard work win against Coventry,18 months of uncertainty and some still find something to moan about.

 

They'd sold out of some of the different bottles of pop before kick off which is especially embarrassing considering that at that point the stands were still half empty and most people were queuing outside

 

I remember in years gone by seeing pictures in the Chron of cleaners wiping the seats clean a day or two before the first home match of the season. A dozen or so cleaners on minimum wage for a few hours would cost a few hundred quid. Shows a lack of respect for the fans to not even do the basics. But as has been said elsewhere,these owners are all about return on investment and won't spend a penny if they can't see a return,ground ownership issues notwithstanding

 

Let's be right, this is not club bashing, they are valid opinions about the match day experience. Hopefully a one-off (except the ongoing laughable catering) and as the OP states maybe just teething problems.

On your own points re the clubs on field successes, this leads to us attracting new fans. They would hardly have been impressed yesterday!!!

You don't get a second chance to make a first impression.

 

All of this doesn’t apply to everyone to be fair. The queue at my usual ESL turnstile was short and moved quickly. My ticket in the phone wallet scanned perfectly. I didn’t notice anything untoward on the concourse. My ESL seat was clean, as were the surroundings. The tannoy was booming out, far too loud for comfortable conversation.

The score board not working was very poor and I didn’t see the board go up for the time added on but at least there was an announcement. So, all in all, not much to complain about from me. I took my own food and flask of tea so can’t comment on the catering.

Perhaps turning up at ten to three isn’t an option any more, but I know plenty will carry on doing that and expect to walk straight in, like you could when we had 5,000 crowds and lower.

 

I didn't plan to arrive at 10 to 3. I started the 10 minute journey (on none matchdays) well over an hour before kick off. Due to the traffic problems and road closures etc it took 45 minutes to get parked up

 

Park away from the ground then, if you’re able to do a ten minute walk? I arrived at my usual place at about 1415, had a steady walk down and was in the ground shortly after 1430.

 

Yeah the ground looked dirty. Saw muck and cob webs walking past seats. On the plus side I know it's expected for the first game but the pitch looked really good, helped by our talented ground staff having a proper pre season to work on it.

 

Yes, the pitch looked pristine. Beautiful

 

You're implying it's not possible to praise the start made on the pitch, but be critical of the club's preparedness for a new season off it?

Sorry, but that's just wrong.