First time I’ve left before half time tonight

In the club’s wisdom they only opened the bottom tier of the ESL tonight. We were sat near the halfway line, about 2/3 of the way back. Seemed pretty packed, with not many empty seats around us. All was well for about 20 minutes or so, and then it started raining. A lot. The roof gave us no cover and we were getting soaked.

I have more than my fair share of health problems and can’t be sitting in heavy rain, so we went down onto the concourse. We were not alone. Difficult to tell how many people joined us, but it was pretty full under there, but hundreds, many hundreds. Stewards were stationed at the bottom of the stairs to the tier of the stand that has been opened for every EFL Trophy until this one. You know, the tier that’s completely under cover.

I asked the steward who was in charge, I.e. who could make a decision to open a block upstairs, for the people who have paid for a ticket to see the game, but are now facing a choice between not watching it (it wasn’t even on the TVs on the concourse) or getting absolutely soaked. None of the stewards seemed to know, so we worked our way down them until we found someone who had a direct line to the person in charge.

Whilst he was trying to get through the bald headed steward, who seems to be one of the team leaders, suggested we all “stand at the back”?!? Then he helpfully said the roof goes all the way to the front. Anyway, the chap who radioed through to whoever was in charge apologetically said no, they couldn’t open a block upstairs. So we left. Or we tried to, as we were sent from gate to gate until someone let us out, at the far end to the car park, giving us the length of the stand to walk in the rain, just to rub it in.

My questions are, firstly, why only open a stand where half the seats are open to the elements, with absolutely no contingency for if there’s a torrential downpour? There are two stands that would have safely kept every Reds fan out of the rain. We’ve always sat upstairs for EFL Trophy games.

Secondly, with so many Reds fans leaving their seats and going to the concourse, because of the rain, is it so difficult for the ground manager to come up with an answer? I could think of one, and everyone on the concourse were saying the same thing. Just open one block upstairs. There were plenty of stewards on the concourse and only half the fans in the ESL that we started with, so I don’t buy the excuse that there weren’t enough stewards, or that it was a safety/regulation issue, especially when one of the senior stewards advised 500+ fans to “stand at the back” of the ESL, which I’m pretty sure is also a safety/regulation issue. In extraordinary circumstances you sometimes have to come up with different solutions. Although I’d argue that half the stand getting soaked wasn’t that extraordinary. It often rains in Barnsley. We even have weather forecasts these days!

A lot of fans were getting very frustrated with the lack of an explanation to our simple solution. All we could get out of the stewards was “no, you can’t go upstairs” and when we asked why they just said because they were told to say that.

A lot of people left. We spoke with a family of four down near the train station. The dad told us it was their young son’s first game. What an introduction to Barnsley FC. He got wet through, then they asked why they couldn’t sit upstairs out of the rain and were told they just can’t, so their only option, if they wanted to watch the match, was to go and sit on a wet seat in the torrential rain, so they left halfway through the first half. Can’t imagine they’ll be in a hurry to come back, and neither will I, if they’re only opening the ESL.

With the outrageous ticket prices for the Mansfield game, and now the poor planning and total disregard for their paying customers today, I’m beginning to wonder whether we’re an inconvenience to them?

 

We decided we wouldn’t attend another game where they were only opening the lower tier in the East Stand after the group game against an U21’s side last season. View was crap to be honest. I find it hard to judge distance & see what’s happening properly so low down. We try to attend every home game in all competitions but won’t bother if it’s lower tier only.

And yes you’re right it’s farcical. I don’t know the costs involved but does it really cost the club that much to have the upper tier open?

 

Another own goal by Barnsley by not selling tickets under cover definitely not going to come to Jokewell again if the don't offer ALL fans the chance to sit protected from the elements. Nice to see the guests nice and dry!!!!

 

You should have queued to get a Bovril like I did. Spent all of half time in a queue that moved about 15 yards, before giving it up as a bad job.

When we got back to our seats, 3 people behind us arrived back just after, having been told that the kiosk had shut for food 5 minutes after the second half kicked off - despite them queuing all of the half time period.

It's so amateur hour it's unbelievable.

 

We’re run like a non league outfit, & that’s where we’ll end up.

 

Said it b4 why not open ponty end up instead lower east stand more chance staying dry in ponty end than east lower specially if not going to open upper east stand. Pleased i cancelled mi ticket once I knew it was on sky plus channel way that rain came down.

 

Tbf to the club…..they did clearly state that it was only the East Stand Lower that would be open before tickets were released.

I’ve actually just looked back to check. Although I totally agree with the OP reasons and others regarding this situation…..the club did give all the information out correctly.

I’m guessing to open a different part of a stand during a game requires staffing and health and safety protocols to be put in place which at short notice….can be an issue hence why they couldn’t do it.

I’m not sticking up for them by the way but given the information is out there…..I’m guessing it’s down to the individual to make the decision based on these things like bad weather etc…

Totally agree with the reasonings behind the OP and following comments btw……just that when things seem simple to us fans to do like opening up another tier……business wise……it’s not that simple.

 

No we won’t

 

I think this situation is basically down to the fact of why is it seemingly always the ESL that opens for lower attended games ?
The response may be so the Concourse amenities are more accessible.
However, only one food/drink outlet is then opened with the pizza and hot dog shops staying closed ???
Our situation was very similar to the OP last night in that we were on row K, left at half time and could only find one exit door which was at the wrong end of the stand.
I don’t think anyone really expected opening the ESU but it was more irksome when added on to other bad experiences on the night.

 

I completely agree. For events like this, there’ll be a h and s plan in place for each match. If it states that the upper stand was closed, then they open it without it being an option in the h&s risk assessment, they will be liable for any damages or issues incurred. Plus they will have the correct amount of stewards for the lower tier.

It’s all h&s stuff, but it could be costly to the club for any issues.

Not saying they shouldn’t have used the upper tier, just there’s more to it than just opening it up if it rains.

 

I'd imagine just opening top tier wouldn't work as discriminates against those who can't get up the stairs as lifts can't be used in event of an emergency (if they even go all the way up). I guess logic is more people prefer side on view than behind the goal so if you only open 1 part of 1 stand then it has to be ESL. I get the frustration but not as simple as it's made out and the costs of opening the whole stand up for this game wouldn't make commercial sense.

 

It'll be nice for them to learn from these issues though and maybe just open the Ponty End next game- I can also understand why it was just the lower tier.

It's still not nice though to pss off their "customers". The service at the kiosk was pathetic

 

They won’t learn they never have, apart from service at the box office this club is run with paying customers as an afterthought.
All these forums and new boards never seem to achieve owt.

 

We booked the back row so we were ok but it was shocking. The concrete steps are 30 years old and so sagging and collect rain water. They were hazardous.

 

Could have let em in the ponty. But that would have led to a mad rush which may cause problems in itself. H&S takes precedence.
If you think it was barmy last night. You should have witnessed the stupidity of what we went through at lincoln last satdy. with our disabled. Arrived at arranged drop off point. 2 minute walk to ground. 20 minutes later and waiting for an escort to make sure we reached our destination 100yds. A guy coming over trying to get permission from control to let us through. Waiting for 2 burley stewards (crowd control) to come take us over. Asked the guy that came over why he couldn't escort us to where he came from. Shrugged his shoulders. The worlds gone mad.
Average age of the 7/8 of us 70+. 3 in wheelchairs. Loads of barnsley fans in the fanzone as we passed by. Wtf did they think we would do or happen to us.

 

Looks like once again finances of putting the game on comes before any thought of the paying publics needs.

Khaled revisited.

 

To be honest, I can't see how the club could make money last night. Attendance was just over 2600 - so that's 26k incoming. I would imagine stewarding, staff and electronics would gobble up most of that.

Then again, £6.50 a Madri probably makes plenty back.

 

That's awful - zero common sense on show these days, wherever you go. It's like grown ups can't be trusted to do something they do without thinking every day, just because you're in the proximity of a football ground. Infuriates me, even though I'm not affected by what you obviously are.

I wasn't there but I've read all about this business of everyone getting soaked on Tuesday night - absolutely STUPID on the club's part. The tv cameras zoomed in on it a couple of times and it looked like a monsoon downpour. An immediate tannoy announcement should have been made saying anyone that wants to go upstairs to get dry should go immediately. Again - where's the difficulty? Do they need a certain number of unqualified guys in hi viz jackets to be standing by the stair wells, top and bottom, just to make sure no one falls over or something? What do they do anyway? Seems to be just a box ticking exercise to me - they don't have any useful function as far as I can see.

Why the hell can't adults be allowed to act like adults, either looking after themselves or any children with them? It would have only been a few hundred anyway wouldn't it. If they needed access to food and drink they could then have gone downstairs at half time. I despair of this stupid world that we live in these days, I really do

 

Was meant as a limiting your losses exercise to the finances.

 

Be nice if someone in authority from the club could offer answers to these numerous complaints. As usual, they will offer nothing in response.