New Catering And Hospitality Supplier on the Exec Floor

I enjoyed myself, mate

But, for a while, I took delight in taking the mickey out of Stahlrost by claiming everyone in there were from the Prawn Sandwich Brigade, who knew bugger all about football!

 

I actually took my wife last night so you would have had no worries on that score. Mind you, she did get rather distracted by the self-filling wine glass as time went on.

 

Self filling wine glass?

Ooh, I like the sound of that.

 

Agreed. The refreshment stalls at Oakwell for the average fan are laughable. 'Sorry we havent got any steak and kidney pies. We've got 2 meat and potatoes and one chicken and mushroom' at fecking 2:15pm.

The club do seem to put more effort in to finding a good supplier for the posh seats than they do to ensuring that the common fan is taken care of but that might just be how it appears rather than how it is. I do know though that I asked ages ago for information on when the tender for contracting the refreshment stands was due for renewal and was ignored.

 

Aye. Dint realise it was free food and bar and all that til she told me this morn. If I'd have known.....

 

I almost agree. Catering in general in the ground is shocking.

However, I don't think the executive facilities and catering are there to "appease" rich people or whatever - they are there to try to get as much money off them as possible. Since the club needs as much money as it can get, I don't understand why some people don't like rich people going to Oakwell and parting with loads of money. All other clubs do it, why shouldn't we?

And I've no idea how much of this dosh the club actually gets, as I'm aware that catering is subcontracted. But the club must make something out of it or they wouldn't do it.

 

I do like the rich folk coming and spending money, I didn't mean it to sound like I didnt. I also understand why the club want to get money out of them.

The things I don't like is when the club takes care of the rich folk at the expense of the poor. A prime example being fecking the voting public so that the rich can have the player of the year awarded at a private do. The other thing I don't like is that I sometimes get the feeling that certain people are looking out for themselves. Where are Don, Patrick and Barry more likely to eat? The exec suites or the stall under the ponty end? And where do they seem to focus their energy making sure its only the finest food? Where have they put effort in to ensuring theres a bar? Exactly. That might not be the case and probably isn't but sometimes its just a feeling I get. If they had to eat under the ponty every week do you reckon there'd be beer in bottles and warmed up pies on offer?

 

People HAVE given comments and suggestions though but nothing happened with the old 'its not us who provides the catering' used as an excuse to allow fans to be ripped off.

My comments and feedback.
1. Does the club have ANY control over the range of food offered in the stands?
2. Does the club have any control over the pricing?
3. Is there any kind of customer satisfaction requirement for the providing company to attain? (ie if people all say its **** is it a breach of contract and they can be dumped?)
4. When is the tender up for renewal? I asked and didnt get a reply.
5. Is the contract under the stands exclusive or could the club allow another company to open more kiosks at the same time?

 

I agree with you about the player of the year thingy.

However, I've been going in the Legends since the east stand was built and I've never seen any of the directors having a meal in there. I think your argument that the club appoint new caterers so that the Don can have a nice plate of snap is bizarre to say the least.

 

I think the executive facilities and those in the stands should be adressed individually and not be seen as rich v poor. I just think the club is missing a trick not having a bar in the ponty end. I bet they could sell over 1,000 points and it irks that Brighton can have guest ales
on while we can't even do the basics.

 

Are they going to be given control of the POTY award dinner ?

Or will it be the same amateurish embarrassment as this year ?

 

Re: Are they going to be given control of the POTY award dinner ?

Thank goodness. Had business people with me who would be interested in commercial ventures at and with BFC. The 'comedian', the player interviews, the locating tables etc etc all showed us up in such a light that I am having a hell of a job trying to persuade colleagues that we are more than a Sunday league club and the awards night is more than a lads piss up. If we really want to drive the club commercially off the pitch we quite simply have to up our game in areas like that.

 

Re: Are they going to be given control of the POTY award dinner ?

Let's hope so - it's difficult enough trying to promote Barnsley without the club affirming every stereotype.

The interviews couldn't be heard above the background music and general chatter - which is testament to the lack of organisation.- with the greatest of respect to the interviewer he was struggling imho (as would I btw before the 'can you do better' argument is used) why can't we have a professional MC doing them ? BTW - whoever decided on the 'bloopers' video should be shot.

 

I was working in London earlier this year and talking to a female colleague who is a Crystal Palace fan. She loves away days at Barnsley due to the friendliness of the people and the ease of getting to thr ground.

However, on her last visit she was invitied to accompany Steve Parrish, the Palace chairman, who also happens to be the chairman of the company we work for. She was in the board room after the game and there was a single plate of sandwiches to be shared by all, and when Steve Parrish asked for a bottle of chilled white wine, there was none available.

So don't be so sure that the "rich" people are pampered at Oakwell...