Another reason why Im disengaged from this club

You'd want two or three put together to create a structure I think. Underneath something that would act as the roof. Means everything is indoors, with heating, and sides, but you don't need to invest in much more than already exists in terms of seating, tables, the bars, etc.

 

We've been lucky with the rain but not so lucky with the wind and the freezing temperatures.

With the extra marquees the club bought pre-December, once the panels are on all sides there's probably cover for around 200-250 people but it would be cosy (and warm!).

 

Whilst I agree with Loko, that it's just not that simple to create a space for a club, you are 100% correct - we had a social club, which was knocked down. In that time the club has overseen the building of three new stands, one of which, the East Stand is the biggest cavernous waste of space, ever. There is a mezzanine that has never been developed, and the lift to floors arrangements are not disability friendly. Whoever planned the 3 stands created huge vacuums of space that are wasted.

I suppose if you look at the money generated by a supporter's social club, it probably is not a huge return. However, our owners came with a pledge of matchday experience. From my point of view, my matchday experience is worse, not better. I meet friends in town instead, which means some of the people I used to meet, I no longer meet. Owners need to view it more as a community initiative, rather than £££, but we know that is not how they view things.

 

Not sure that's a major flaw considering you're going back so many decades? Attendances and culture were very different back then.

I'm not sure Barry Taylor spoke very highly of it. And maybe it wasn't making ends meat which is why they never fulfilled the promises of building a new one? Plus many of the years that you're referring to there were no outlay costs, so it had decades to return on the investment.

 

Haven't taken anything in this thread as a dig mate. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I said at the start of this discussion that you can't please everyone and just have to hope you please more people each season. We also said plenty of times at the start that the first year would be a big learning curve starting from scratch, who's to say the format will remain the same for next season? And if it does, maybe there's a solution for it being cold, or even the winds.

The comment on the council owning half the ground is one that hasn't been made. I think when Dane referred to licensing in his interview this is what he meant, but I'm guessing.

 

There's a reason we've lost over 13,000 pubs since the year 2000. Tough out there these days

 

Because that's what they said they'd improve. Their pledge, not the fans.

I think most fans now acknowledge they won't spend "proper" money on anything. Hence our fantastic volunteers working out of a second hand truck, and a few gazebos, pulling it all together on Saturday .Just from the people I know who work for nothing on matchdays in the fanzone, they have tons of experience and expertise for £0. I have no idea what those folks get paid in their everyday work, but let's just take a stab .. some of these guys are experienced in the brewing trade.....minimum 10 volunteers working from 10am - 3pm, then 5pm -6pm = 7 hours. x average hourly wage let's say £15/ hour (this is probably way below the value of alot of the staff there) = value of £1050 in free staff per game (minimum) . That's not taking into account the pre match stuff they do in arranging stock, bringing it to the ground etc.

Multiply that by home games = almost £25k per season of free staffing to the benefit of BFC. I'm sure @Loko the Tyke could calculate this far more efficiently than I can, but the point is, the management made a pledge, and are hooking it on the good will of a handful of really good people.

They have made some additional improvements in the family stand, but it's hardly ground-breaking.

* I'm including services of compere and non bar staff in very basic calculations.

 

Every investment is aimed at an ROI down the line surely? Be it buying players, building club shops, extending the tea and coffee kiosk, hiring a manager, etc.

Some of that is monetary but other ROIs can be less about cash. We know we run a tight ship with minimal outside investment, so if you want the budget spending on a social club won't that have to come from a pot for something else? Unless it pays back quickly, in which case you can speculate.

 

I think it was more the impression they left..... wonder what they are saying to their next project??

 

We like our second hand truck now it actually starts and we don't have to push it out from the East Stand! Thanks though Fi, you're not far wrong with your worked out hours.

To be clear though for those that aren't aware, there are many other groups of people involved in the FanZone than just the Trust. BFC Marketing bring the whole thing together in terms of the organisation, we help with that if asked and manage everything with Redfearn's Bar and the majority of the marquees, chairs, tables. You've then got the team that setup the other bar and seating area, the concourse with the Carling bar, and the stadium team that help set it up and put it away too. Not forgetting Kieran and the team that manage the music, Reds Report, Dave Cooper, etc.

We've been round this once before not long ago, but the club have invested both financially and with their time. There's 'weekly' costs that are covered by the club and some investment at the start for electrics, plus fixtures and fittings.

 

Deserving of more support in my opinion. The club is utilising a huge amount of professional expertise for nothing. Yes they may be supplying electricity etc, but it is in their interest to do so. Tiny investment set aside from the huge volunteer investment, for the club to be able to make "Improved matchday experience" boasts. Hence my post in the first place.