Matchday experience

Went up to Cas today, first time in 20 years I've been to Wheldon Road (now The Jungle) - and what an eye-opener.
I sat in the main stand, a wooden affair similar to the West Upper, but on the concourse behind it - oh my goodness me! Apart from a bar with a proper queuing system, where I was served within 5 minutes in the pre-match "rush hour" there were loads of concessions selling a wide variety of food and non-alcoholic drinks, along with a stall stocked from the club shop. There were even a couple of guys making tiger balloons for the kids.
For a club of its size it was easily the most impressive setup I've seen in over 60 years watching football and RL all over the country. And it pains me to say it, light yesrs ahead of the offering at Oakwell.
If Khaled is serious about improving the matchday experience he could do a lot worse than taking a trip to The Jungle to see how easy it can be.

 

If it is the most impressive you have seen in 60 years then it must be light years in front of many other clubs as well as ours , I suppose it is all down to a willingness & organisation , something we appear to have lacked, however I might be in the minority apart from watching the match I have no interest in food , drink , entertainment etc , I arrive approx 10 minutes before kick off & leave approx 2 hours later hoping that my match day experience has ended with a good game & 3 points , the whole experience lasts 2 hrs & I do not get the clamber for extras but hey ho each to their own .

 

i think we all have different opinions on what constitutes a matchday experience. Choice would enable most people to maximise their enjoyment.

I still think what happens on the pitch is the mainstay but then again giving people choice can’t be a bad thing.

 

Very true. I’ve spent my career in advertising. The greatest thing you can do is get your client to experience what their customers go through.

Many years ago, on a pitch to a prospective new client, they were asked to enter a room before the presentation. On the tables were dirty cups and full ash trays. We left them waiting there for 30 minutes after the presentation was supposed to start. When it finally kicked off they weren’t happy at all. We started by pointing out that was exactly what their customers went through.

It was a train company. They got the point.

 

Pub beforehand. 5 minutes before ko into ground. Half time chat on the concourse. Hopefully a decent game to watch and 3 points. Back home asap. Don't need owt else. Been doing it since 1966. Pub included since 1972. lol.

Fan experience. The working man's version of the prawn sandwich brigade.

 

Nearly a carbon copy , we always stretch our legs at half time & have a walk behind the stand ,therefore missing anything that goes off at half time , as I say all I want from my match day experience is a match worth remembering & hopefully 3 points !

 

Do you go to the pub before the match too?

I think this is key personally as anyone spending money in random pubs before matches could easily be spending money in the club instead if they made it attractive enough to do so

 

Personally, I miss the "kicking a football into a garden shed" at half time from a few seasons back, proper entertainment

 

We used to call in the East Dene & still occasionally call in the Dove but it depends who we are playing with away followings etc

 

I miss the lads in red shirts kicking the ball into those big white frames covered in netting at each end of the pitch.

 

A lot of people just like the pub though don't they. I suppose they could build one on site, but there are plenty of options in town/close to the ground that it's probably not worth it. I suppose in the ground you could speed up the service/beer options, but you're still going to be supping it in the wind tunnel concourse, or on the smoke-filled corner between Ponty and West. I prefer the pub personally, and at least a lot of them are full of Barnsley fans and not altogether 'random'.

 

We used to go in supporters club before it closed. Been in The Mount ever since.
FAO ST. The redfearns and outdoor Fan enclosure were/are either too small or of an inadequate seating capacity for my/our liking. If they created something in the same style as before and large enough like Walsall and Notts county. I'd/we'd consider it. The old legs aren't up for standing at the bar anymore.
As for the rest of the fan experience. I/we have very little interest.
Also. we as a group. Spend a small fortune by other means. eg. Replica kits/Shirts, Club shop. Centenary. Half time draws etc.

 

I definitely fall into the turn and go home group. I don't buy food or beer in the ground. However I do think a market exists that we are missing out on.
The Beer is more difficult I suppose as short of building a actual pub you aren't going to pull most people in.
The service can certainly be improved though

 

Correct. but that is created by myself. Not the club.
I travel to most away games and the social side is as important as the game. Not so sure I would travel otherwise. Certainly not far distances without the traditional stop off for 2/3 hrs. To me that is a matchday experience as you say. Not something the club try to create (Fan experience). Which I'm not knocking btw. Just not for me. (Pre match/half time entertainment etc)
The sandwich brigade was a tongue in cheek comment btw for anyone (not you) possibly offended.

 

Some of what Man City do at The Etihad could be copied easily enough at Oakwell. I say some, not all though!

They have food trailers that outside caterers pull in. But they also have simple outdoor bars and food buildings. Step back and look at these, and the structures are relatively simple. The canopies that come over also make them weather proof. This could be achievable where the current fan zone is - but would need investment and also lose parking spaces. Something like that would bring the fans in earlier.

I’m one of those that’s in the pub until 2:45 and then go straight into the ground and into my seat. I would consider the fanzone if it was decent and more of a better permanent - the pub element is more about the social aspect of who you are with, rather than the place - so folk can be flexible.

 

Cas have guys running around a pole to make em dizzy then trying to kick a drop goal.
And dancing cheerleaders...

 

The Man City thing is pretty much what Cas do, but obviously on a much smaller scale.
Proves it can be done at our level...

 

Most places are light years ahead of Oakwell. There is no reason to get to Oakwell until a few minutes before kick off.