I'm setting up a meeting with the Don.....

Has anyone got any 'sensible' things they would like me to discuss with him that you the fans are unhappy with.

I'm going to discuss things like match day experience, ticket prices and some of my idea's etc - I fear for a while now things have gone very flat at oakwell on match day, and these lower attendances are just tipping the scale.

I would like to hear the Don out and see it from the clubs side of things. Also.....what prices would make you the fans who are staying away come back more often!!

 

i think the highest price should be £25.00 that seems the going rate for most clubs in our division.

trying to interest new fans especially kids should be paramount, the west stand is basically unused for most games so why not fill it with school kids for all category C games. the seats are going to be empty otherwise therefore not generating any income so they may aswell get some kids in and make a bit of revenue out of burgers, hot dogs, drinks and other bits of merchandise they may purchase.

 

Ask him to turn down the tannoy so you can speak to the person next to you without shouting in their ear.

The excessivley loud volume does not create atmosphere, it's just annoying.

 

Hi Fraser,

I hope you manage to see him. As a "stay away" fan it was my choice, upon the departure of Shackell and Robins, to not bother renewing for what I feel is our swan song in the Championship. I will admit to being initially intrigued by the appointment of Hill and Flitcroft but then, in my eyes, I can only see that a relegation side has been built.

Since coming back into the Championship, barring the odd result and the FA Cup run, it has been pretty poor fayre on offer. We seem destined to lose Jacob and I bet the interest in Steele will soon become apparent. I am disillusioned with football in general (inflated salaries, FIFA wrongdoings, players antics etc) so I don't think anything Barnsley FC could do would see me beating a hasty return to the stands.

Despite this I would like to see a return to one ticket price across the season and ditch the categorisation. I haven't bothered to try and work out how much a certain match is as so many are Category A. I would also like to see Hill keep his gob shut at times as he comes across as petulant, egotistical and unable to take any criticism. I don't like these attitudes in anybody and he has to start accepting that he will get praise or grumbles for the results the team get.

The Oakwell experience is no longer value for money!

 

Get shut of the silly dancers. Bring back the shed. Get some ale in the Ponty. Kick out the awful caterers who now don't seel KitKats or Yorkies. Dairy Milk is not football chocolate.

With regards to ticket prices, reduce them yes, but christ not a lot BFC can do on their own.

 

Would you ask if theres been any offers or interest in taking over or investment at Oakwell.Could you also convey our thanks and best wishes to Patrick Cryne.

 

I'd be up for going. Free brew and that.

Turn into SM

 

I know this has been raised before, but can they please, please look again at the Bradford City model. Their season-ticket drive of a few years ago is still paying dividends - average gates are into five figures again this season, admittedly down on last year, but then they've had a few years of really awful football in the bottom tier, so that's to be expected. Tickets this year were £250. They're not making much from ST sales, but running a steady ship, which is about the best clubs can hope for these days. Point is, they've got bums on seats, which is what we desperately need. The power of a full house should not be underestimated. I can't get to weekend games - I'm stuck with the odd midweek, but that £30 cost is simply too much. Occasional discounts are not going to bring the punters in. Come up with something really imaginative, groundbreaking, on season tickets. I thank you.

 

The meeting is set, Monday 2.30

Please email me at fraser_beecroft@hotmail.com with some comments/points you would like me to raise with him. I will try and get as many across as I can along with my own issues & idea's I have.

 

I would like to know the justification for charging three pound a can in the East stand. I would also like to know what measures the club are looking at going forward to improve communications with the general fan base outside of ****ter and stalk book.
Also what actions are the club intending to take to attract fair weather and undecided fans from the outer lying areas such as wakey the dearne valley edge of huddersfield for example.

 

Look at Fraser doing The Supporters Trust job...

Well done mate.

 

Scrap the CAT system. £20 flat rate. Instead of following everyones lead, TAKE the lead.
But the easiest thing would be to READ the survey we all did int summer. That entrance music is gash. What is it? When I heard it was to be I am The Resurrection I was quite happy. But its not. The current tune (debatable) is uninspiring to say the least.

 

Not a question - just a tip

Take a good book with you and hide your smart phone.

 

Re: Not a question - just a tip

tell him to fook off back to scunny...out of his depth i am afraid....and not sure he is even a reds fan.....and if that is not constructive enough for ya...tell him to shove his two visits to oakwell to see 1 game policy up his bottom!!

 

one other Championship club contacted. former season ticket holders from last season who have not renewed and offered them free entrance with there season ticket book to a specific match. this increased numbers programmes were bought.
considering how well we are playing ,this could be accompanied by a application form for a part season ticket book.
and or 1912 card.
result create a big match atmosphere and maybe make some think about coming back.
enlist soccer in community to supervise kids from school destinations to matches as kids from schools don't take up free tkts any more.they are already cbt checked,
reason schools don't take it up is the teachers don't get paid any more for outside activities.
you have got to speculate to accumulate.
special one off family tkt 1 adult 2 kids £40:00 with 2 consecutive issue vouchers from the chronicle,enlist there help. most people read chron to see how Barnsley are doing.

 

My suggestion

Examine ways in which loyalty at the turnstile results in progressive discount.

The more you attend (as a none ST holder) the cheaper your ticket becomes every few weeks.

More likely to encourage regular attendance, particularly for the less attractive games.

 

Re: Not a question - just a tip

£20 max on all seats for all games. The atmos is terrible because the walk up fan has given up due to cost.

Inside the ground we have no real pub!
10,000 people (mostly Men over 18) and alcohol is hardly available, must be missing out on thousands a season.
Going one further, what about some lounges with tv's showing sky games which kick off before 3pm? get people into oakwell 2 hours before kick off spending money!!!

What about showing BFC's away matches in the executive suits in a beam back system. £10 a man? You could be knocking out food etc.

Music is terrible in the most part. Playing Exit calm after games is good, more from successful local bands please. I am the resurection is great song but they go and use some dodgy version ive never heard?

The concourses need jazzing up, concrete walls are stark and depressing or with hand painted murals which are not very dynamic - what about some genuine inspirational graphics, old stars and legends to rouse a bit of feeling in the crowd, we could have some brilliant slogans around the place, quotations from legends of the club 30 feet high!

What about a bit of stuff for kids under the east stand?
They run around booting bottles about for the whole of half time, get them something with a fence round with nets and they would be happy. the matchday experience greatly improved and fans for the long term. Its would be lots safer too.

Also Comment ,
The Programme much improved.
Stuff in the Club shop is much improved at better quality at better prices.

 

1) Scrap the 1912 membership and back the Twenty Is Plenty campaign so that no matter who we are playing Leeds United or Peterborough United it's always twenty pound wherever you sit for an adult.

2) Get some proper food at a reasonable price in the ground. I've no interest in paying around three quid for a processed pie or burger. Now if you helped the local community by handing the catering to a local supplier and sold home made pork pies, sausage rolls, steak bakes (Greggs style food) etc are a reasonable cost i'd be more tempted.

3) Get in some barriers at catering so the staff know who's next to be served without anyone pushing in. Also get a queue just for people who buy drinks. If someone is willing to pay two quid for a bottle of pop at Oakwell they shouldn't have to queue up behind someone ordering a pile of food. They might as well buy one and sneak it into the ground much cheaper, but then the catering contractors would make less money so probably offer less for the contract next time around.

4) At the bottom of the Ponte carpark gate have some marshalls to direct traffic before someone gets seriously injured. If someone ends up in hospital or worse we know that area would be looked after better. It should be looked after better before a serious incident happens. Especially with people ignoring the no right turn sign.

5) Sort out pre match entertainment. It's so terrible there is no reason for anyone to get in the ground spending money before ten to three. One idea could be from 2-2:15 put a live band in the corner between Ponte/West where the Sky box goes and have a local unsigned act perform. I'm sure plenty would do so for free.

6) Get some help for Mark Stokes who seems to have little help in doing loads of different jobs. It's not difficult with so many towns and cities in our surrounding area that have colleges and universities to get some free help by offering work experience or internships to media students.

7) Bring back our Timerider song. Some might think it's crap but at least it's our original song, gets the fans going and reminds us of our greatest moments. Did the club not read the survey in the summer? Nearly everyone who said they did it asked for it back, but it hasn't happened. Why not?

8) What is being done with regards to new investment? Sir Patrick has said for years he would happily sell if the right person came along. Are we waiting for someone to come to us or being pro active in sorting it ourselves? I find it hard to believe an established championship club with our ground and land cannot attract interest. I hope people aren't put off by the land ownership issues we have.

9) Another good idea to give back to the community and fill the stands would be for certain games give away free tickets to those who have done good. I know we give to school children but if a kid gets 100% attendance record for the month or an adult has given a lot of time to a charity free of charge during the month reward them with a couple of free tickets.

10) Move small away followings to the west stand upper. Ipswich Town have the best idea going with the rubbish place they put away fans so they make as little impact as possible. Stick them where we can't see them for games against the likes of Posh and Palace. Bigger away followings should be segregated bang down the middle of the north stand behind the goal. We are the home team so it's stupid when the players are in the dressing room or coming out of the tunnel they are both times more likely to hear the opposition fans not their own.