Breaking News Facilities Update - North Bank (NWQ) X block now open

[RHB]

Didn't TL already state that they were getting it ready for boxing day so they could specifically sell more home tickets in the NB?

At the risk of me looking a complete numpty, you may be right. I will need to check his article out. I thought he was talking about the NW corner.

 

[RHB]

At the risk of me looking a complete numpty, you may be right. I will need to check his article out. I thought he was talking about the NW corner.

The extract below from TL's article appears to be the relevant bit, and that does say (I think), that a bit of the NB will be available for home supporters.

Going forward, we’ll return the NWQ and NW (yellow seats) sections to home fans, with full details coming soon. Supporters can look forward to refurbished toilets, refreshed facilities, a new bar, and an enhanced food selection provided by Eat Street.

 

[HertfordshireBlue]

Realistically, there is no way on earth that the North Stand will be made safe standing or available for home fans this season. And I'm not convinced that there are enough willing home supporters to fill a stand which is designed for 2k+ people. I realise that there is a strong call for a return to the North Stand but its always from the same minority on here. The big deal would be where to put the away fans.

The thing is collectively in W and X we’re looking at 700 - 800 capacity which on most bumper crowds we always tend to fill out when it’s selling pre-game instead of opened last minute on the day.

Then look at the north bank on Saturday, 1300 Charlton which is only 500 or so more fans than W + X, but yet it looked relatively packed. And just imagine the noise if only W block was in the north bank on Saturday - it would be electric. People say the north bank would be too big for TBV however you’d be surprised how full that will get on a big fixture of a strong promotion push..

I think my above post somewhat answers the concerns we may not have enough of a fanbase to fill the north however I do firmly believe despite the appreciation of COSU sorting the north bank out early, either we have the whole north bank or none of it - we have tried and tested half the north bank and it doesn’t work.

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

I'm assuming that the location of the refurbished facilities in the NW corner will allow the area to be used flexibly - the segregation area will probably be the yellow seats in the north for smaller away followings with home fans using the corner and yellow seats in the West, and as it was on Saturday (segregation on the corner section) if we ever get another decent away following.

 

[Holy Joe]

Away fans east side of North bank and home fans west side of North bank. Segregation netting over seats behind the goal.

Been done before and from COSU communication is the plan. If their is a longer term plan for safe standing or something else I don't know.

 

[Uncle_Rons_Teapot]

They need to sort the east stand out. I'm sick of standing up multiple times a match to let the same individuals past.

Either put a peg on it or buy your food before ko

 

[Tinks]

They need to sort the east stand out. I'm sick of standing up multiple times a match to let the same individuals past.

Either put a peg on it or buy your food before ko

Same happens in the West although I do th8nk that some people in the West get up and go for a ciggie.

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

Agreed on safe standing in the North bank, west of the goal, would entice a lot of people to join if the drummer was in there with Blue Voice, then you could have seating further towards the corner. On anything approaching big games and i dont just mean the likes of Charlton, non frequent fans scrabbling for tickets can easily get one there and enjoy the atmosphere that the BV brings and in turn would be encouraged to book again. Thats an extra few hundred sold in my opinion, plus more room for the seats left behind in W block.
Meanwhile as many others keep saying, opening block X is a must to open to relieve W which is certainly dangerous at times. People buy tickets anywhere in the West stand, wait till almost ko then their mates call them and say come and stand with us in W block cos the stewards have gone. My lad said i wouldnt have liked it on Sat in W block, it was a free for all and three deep everywhere.

 

[Crowstone Crevette]

Yes, Block W is popular and has completely been outgrown, there are far to many persons in there now, but you cant blame them as that is were they want to be.

The beginning part of the season was good, season cards being looked at, and those not for block W was then moved on, and once again it was a safe place to stand.

Then on Saturday, Tickets were not being inspected, and Block W was rammed again, and again it was starting to get dangerous again, at times im having to pick kids up in front of me that have been bundled on by others and getting squashed, then seats are being broken by persons falling them.

Now im afraid that someone may get hurt in Block W and the powers to be then close the block or make persons in there made to sit down.

Now this would be no fault of the supporters as we have said in the past Block W is way to small now, open Block X also, make this standing and a singing section also.

SO, IN SHORT, OPEN BLOCK X, ON PERMEANT BASIS, MAKE THIS AN EXTENTION OF BLOCK W.

DO THIS OF THE NEXT GAME FOR HEALTH & SAFETY REASONS AND THE SAFETY OF ALL IN THAT AREA.

@Ramsdenblue I agree wholeheartedly with the vast majority of your post. Of course people, especially the younger fans, want to be 'where the action is'. And in my youth I'm sure I'd have looked to get into the 'singing area' myself. TBV do a great job ramping up the volume and leading the vocal support.

HOWEVER, if due to overcrowding someone was hurt it would be the fault of the supporters who shouldn't be there. If someone knowingly goes into an area of the ground that they have no right to be in, because they don't have a valid ticket, then they are in the wrong. It would be them causing the overcrowding. No one else, and not the club, even if requests for additional 'singing area' space had not been acted upon. Yes people want to be there, yes they see their mates there, yes their mates may well call/txt them and say the stewards have now gone come and join us...

But they are not entitled to be there!

This may well be an unpopular post but this is an inarguably fact.

 

[Ian Benjamin]

As a frequenter of Block W, what made Saturday such a great atmosphere was not only the number of people in the ground but also the proximity of the away fans. Move most of Block W into the North Bank and the noise will increase due to not only the natural acoustics of the North Bank but also rhe away fans so close.

 

[It'sGrimUpNorth]

I know certain people on here share the same view as @Tommy2holes holes that the North Bank thing has been done to death, but I really do think there is an appetite for it now.
I love watching football from behind the goal, nearer the away fans and under a roof that generates more noise. Bring it on!!

 

[HertfordshireBlue]

HOWEVER, if due to overcrowding someone was hurt it would be the fault of the supporters who shouldn't be there. If someone knowingly goes into an area of the ground that they have no right to be in, because they don't have a valid ticket, then they are in the wrong. It would be them causing the overcrowding. No one else, and not the club, even if requests for additional 'singing area' space had not been acted upon. Yes people want to be there, yes they see their mates there, yes their mates may well call/txt them and say the stewards have now gone come and join us...

But they are not entitled to be there!

This may well be an unpopular post but this is an inarguably fact.

I don’t necessarily agree at all, yes it’s the fans’ fault for the overcrowding in the block and I know they shouldn’t be there but isn’t that the point of stewards in the first place? To stop people moving seats, being 3 deep and to assist crowd safety alongside stadium rules? Go to most other grounds in the league they’re checking your ticket before you even leave the concourse let alone the 3 searches before even getting into the ground..

Furthermore if an old boy is crushed 3 deep in block W and becomes injured in wild celebrations you can’t just entirely blame that on other fans moving into the block, especially if a steward knows of this.

 

[londonblue]

I don’t necessarily agree at all, yes it’s the fans’ fault for the overcrowding in the block and I know they shouldn’t be there but isn’t that the point of stewards in the first place? To stop people moving seats, being 3 deep and to assist crowd safety alongside stadium rules? Go to most other grounds in the league they’re checking your ticket before you even leave the concourse let alone the 3 searches before even getting into the ground..

Furthermore if an old boy is crushed 3 deep in block W and becomes injured in wild celebrations you can’t just entirely blame that on other fans moving into the block, especially if a steward knows of this.

I guess the issue is whether people should take responsibility for their own actions, or blame others.

 

[Target man]

I don’t necessarily agree at all, yes it’s the fans’ fault for the overcrowding in the block and I know they shouldn’t be there but isn’t that the point of stewards in the first place? To stop people moving seats, being 3 deep and to assist crowd safety alongside stadium rules? Go to most other grounds in the league they’re checking your ticket before you even leave the concourse let alone the 3 searches before even getting into the ground..

Furthermore if an old boy is crushed 3 deep in block W and becomes injured in wild celebrations you can’t just entirely blame that on other fans moving into the block, especially if a steward knows of this.

Agree to a point but the stewards can only do so much. Certainly should be checking tickets as fans go in, though it's easy for fans to move when they have passed through checks. Stewards are not paid enough or supported enough to deal with threats from one or more supporters who will not listen, and it's not so easy as to eject them from the ground without police presence. I speak from experience.

It sounds like it is a cultural problem in that area, which is therefore difficult for minimal stewards to deal with, so the Chief steward should be increasing steward presence in that area and placing the correct stewards also. Fans equally know they shouldn't be doubling up and should take some responsibility, sitting where their ticket suggests, according to the terms and conditions.

This is exactly the sort of issue that should be emailed to the club in the feedback email, and passed onto the fans advisory rep.

 

[EnglandShrimper]

Untill they open X block it will keep on happening. Serious risk of injury if its not sorted out soon!

 

[BoyWonder2]

I don’t necessarily agree at all, yes it’s the fans’ fault for the overcrowding in the block and I know they shouldn’t be there but isn’t that the point of stewards in the first place? To stop people moving seats, being 3 deep and to assist crowd safety alongside stadium rules? Go to most other grounds in the league they’re checking your ticket before you even leave the concourse let alone the 3 searches before even getting into the ground..

Furthermore if an old boy is crushed 3 deep in block W and becomes injured in wild celebrations you can’t just entirely blame that on other fans moving into the block, especially if a steward knows of this.

100% it’ll be on the fans.

Someone was in my seat on Saturday, so I asked him to move and he did. I don’t understand why it only appears to be football that people seat wherever they want?

When I get on a plane, go to the cinema, go to a show or whatever, I seat in the seat I’ve purchased.

I don’t buy the whole want to seat with friends. The guys I go with have their seats, and because I went a season (Covid one) where I didn’t buy my season ticket with them, I lost it. I now have a seat elsewhere, with two season tickets for my boys (one has been once this year and the other not at all). I actually quite like actually being able to watch and analysis the game instead of talking with my mates. We have a beer before and walk back to the car together.

 

[BEERMONSTER]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1854135393609974194

 

[JCB]

Great news about the facilities. Should go some way to relieving the stress on the bar in the west stand

 

[Smiffy]

100% yes with the caveat that it is "unallocated" seating, standing is allowed unchallenged and tickets are made cheaper there. It's only successful if reasonably full. So make it cheaper and easier to stand there, get it packed out and create an atmosphere. Do that and it will be worth extra points over the season.

 

[sufc4life21]

I don’t necessarily agree at all, yes it’s the fans’ fault for the overcrowding in the block and I know they shouldn’t be there but isn’t that the point of stewards in the first place? To stop people moving seats, being 3 deep and to assist crowd safety alongside stadium rules? Go to most other grounds in the league they’re checking your ticket before you even leave the concourse let alone the 3 searches before even getting into the ground..

Furthermore if an old boy is crushed 3 deep in block W and becomes injured in wild celebrations you can’t just entirely blame that on other fans moving into the block, especially if a steward knows of this.

The block itself is to small for the amount of people who want to contribute towards the atmosphere. The North Bank is the best place for those who want to create atmosphere. 1, it's bigger area, 2, it's behind the goal. Personally I think the blue voice is currently wasted where they are at present.