Aside from the obvious of actually being able to get served, having hot drinks hot, cold drinks cold, not running out of everything before the game even starts etc etc, what would you like to see different from a catering offering point of view at Oakwell? (Assuming the aforementioned issues are addressed first) If the club opted to partner with local companies (Farm shops, butchers, delis, street food vendors, takeaways etc), which are the ones that you think would translate well to being available on a matchday? What have been the best food offerings you've seen at other sports clubs? (Not necessarily at football or in this country)
Partnering with a local brewery. Acorn, Nailmaker, Jolly Boys, Geeves, all a stones throw away. I like a lager as much as everyone else but would be fantastic to have an alternative. Huddersfield have done it with Magic Rock for example.
Codfather Fish and Chip van in the Fan's zone. Remember the chip van being quite popular as a kid - time it made a comeback!
Until they get everything sorted it seems like there's no point discussing it. We can make all the suggestions in the world but will they be capable of actually getting the food out? That said, if they're able to source hot dogs, burgers etc from Cannon Hall it seems like a no-brainer. It's got national name recognition from the Channel 5 series, so a few more away fans might be tempted to buy something at the ground. If they really want to innovate, how about an app to order at your seat & have food brought out to you? Just Eat for football.
It’s very very rare I purchase anything but my shouts would be, a local brewery like others have stated, local pork pies (with peas) definitely be popular in winter months and a chippy waggon like @LiverpoolRed mentioned, that’d be a great idea. Most games I go to market kitchen and spend £40-£50 on food and drinks, if oakwell wasn’t a concrete jungle downstairs and offered better food and beet I’d most likely go there more often.......I remember going to Brighton a few year ago and after the game the que for the train was massive so went back into the home end under the stand which stopped open, we had a couple of pints and watched a game on sky, I remember thinking this is something that we are crying out for, it was absolutely packed and the atmosphere was brilliant!! I’m not knocking the club but the match day experience could be so much better
Cannon Hall for me or someone similar. But it’s all moot really because no local supplier is going to put their name to something where the service and end product isn’t guaranteed. That’s why you’ve got to get the fundamental basics right first of being able to get served, gain momentum and consistency there over a 2-3 month spell, and then add complexity. Having a desire to work with local suppliers is great and exactly the right path, but the infrastructure behind the scenes has to be able to deliver it. Otherwise you’ll do more harm then good despite the best intentions. Huge project and way more complex than people sometimes assume.
Hot drinks less hot as I don't know what setting they use but I am surprised nobody has burned themselves yet either mouth/lips from drinking it or hands from spilling it. Cash is king and should always be around but give people other options to pay for better consumer choice. Food choices are rubbish if you're vegetarian, vegan or simply want to eat healthier. That's something to work on. Make it so you can go to catering when it's dead pre game and order something for half time. You can pay then, get a number then at a set time queue jump and get your order that should be ready waiting for you. Work better on being greener as a club. So instead of selling 500ml plastic bottles of pop sell in the containers places like McDonald's use for drinks and stop with plastic straws. You could even offer a discount on soft drinks I'd people bring their own reusable drink cup for staff to fill for them.
The problem with the drinks one is that there is a big cost involved in having a McDonald's style dispenser using the syrup system, then there's licencing costs etc to get a brand. I would like to see them provid recycling bins for the bottles as plastic bottles can actually be recycled but not if we aren't even trying to separate them. Serving chips or fries is an absolute must. There's a reason they're a staple at every single fair or event in the UK. They're cheap, easy to make and punters love them (look at me saying punters like I'm a cockney) The basics that simply HAVE to be offered: Hotdogs, chips, burgers, sausage roll, pies. The simple stuff that should and could be easily offered: Roast pork sandwiches Sausages (to go with the chips or on a sarnie) Paninis. Cheese and ham, pulled pork, etc. Pre-made, banged in a warmer and bobs your uncle. Low risk and popular. Jacket potatoes. They keep for a long time and have been popular for years. That's all for inside the ground. Outside, in the carpark they could have 2 or 3 different things on the go. hogroast, pizza, fish and chips. Those three are simple and effective. People love them for a reason and events have them for a reason too. Actually one of the changes I'd like to see, and I'm not sure how to do this, is to somehow have the fanzone refreshments available to people who aren't in the fanzone itself.
Supa club Suppa club who run monthly evens at Elsecar Heritage have nailed catering for the masses have a load of street food vendors on rotation wasn't perfect at first but now cater for 10k over a weekend.
Get the folk from market kitchen stalls around the ground and you can’t go wrong. I sit in the West, I think it would be class if there was a pop up stand/burger van type thing parked up in there serving proper snap at reasonable prices. Me and my dad are usually in the ground at not long after 2 but rarely but owt. If snap were good we would love to eat there.
I’d like to see chips, something chicken based (even if just nuggets) and pizza slices alongside burgers and hotdogs.