Issues surrounding food & beverages in NWQ, X block and car parking - Boxing Day

[OldBlueLady]

Comment from the Club as follows:

The decision to shut off the Northwest Quadrant yesterday was made in the interest of safety. We recognise, however, the disappointment this has caused many supporters and following a de-brief this morning, are already working on adapting our operation plan to ensure moving forward supporters in the Gilbert & Rose Stand are able to access the food & beverage units in the NWQ as previous.

We have seen some requests for X Block to be opened instead of the Solopress North Bank however due to multiple factors outlined by the Sports Ground Safety Authority we can’t, currently, open this block without removing capacity from other blocks- something which wasn’t possible due to the number of tickets that had already been sold in this stand (including season tickets and half season tickets).

In regard to the car park, the new layout, which was necessary to comply with flow rates also caused some discomfort. Due to the location of the visiting side’s coaches, parking for Blue Badge holders was relocated as close to the Main Stand as possible and complying with the 6% allocation recommended by the Government. Again, following our de-brief this morning we will continue to look at and refine our operation plan to ensure that supporters coming to and leaving Roots Hall can do so in the most stress-free way possible- this includes looking at the possibility of allowing supporters to leave via Fairfax Drive as requested.

We will be working on improving our communication around changes in advance of games moving forward and appreciate our supporters’ understanding as we continue to make the matchday experience at Roots Hall the best it can possibly be. We apologise for the inconvenience these changes would've caused yesterday.

 

[Lavender Blue]

In regard to the car park, the new layout, which was necessary to comply with flow rates also caused some discomfort. Due to the location of the visiting side’s coaches, parking for Blue Badge holders was relocated as close to the Main Stand as possible and complying with the 6% allocation recommended by the Government. Again, following our de-brief this morning we will continue to look at and refine our operation plan to ensure that supporters coming to and leaving Roots Hall can do so in the most stress-free way possible- this includes looking at the possibility of allowing supporters to leave via Fairfax Drive as requested.

It’s a shame that the stewards that I spoke to were unaware of changes to the blue badge parking, the whole situation was a farce. As someone that brings a friend in a wheelchair to the games, to arrive at the stadium yesterday at my normal time, to be told to go away and find somewhere else to park was an insult, I ignored him and carried on into the car park otherwise i wouldn’t have been able to attend the game, I have paid for the seasons parking and displaying a blue badge. The club can not just reduce parking without communication with the people that park there every week.
I am still incredibly annoyed at the treatment I received yesterday, and the reply from the club I received to the email I sent them after the game. To read that it caused some discomfort is again insulting. I was physically unable to push the wheelchair back up the incline after the game, to where I was forced to park, if it hadn’t been for an extremely helpful gentleman that saw my distressed and offered to help, I have no idea what I would have done.
I prey this won’t happen again, as the stress ruined the day for both of us yesterday.
The club needs to understand the difficulties involved in being\bringing a disabled supporter to the games, and not just push it aside.

 

[Strykr]

Decent statement from the club, taking things on board and being proactive.

I dont wish to cast aspersions but is it possible that despite the regime change, the older employees are still perhaps stuck in their old ways?

 

[OldBlueLady]

It’s a shame that the stewards that I spoke to were unaware of changes to the blue badge parking, the whole situation was a farce. As someone that brings a friend in a wheelchair to the games, to arrive at the stadium yesterday at my normal time, to be told to go away and find somewhere else to park was an insult, I ignored him and carried on into the car park otherwise i wouldn’t have been able to attend the game, I have paid for the seasons parking and displaying a blue badge. The club can not just reduce parking without communication with the people that park there every week.
I am still incredibly annoyed at the treatment I received yesterday, and the reply from the club I received to the email I sent them after the game. To read that it caused some discomfort is again insulting. I was physically unable to push the wheelchair back up the incline after the game, to where I was forced to park, if it hadn’t been for an extremely helpful gentleman that saw my distressed and offered to help, I have no idea what I would have done.
I prey this won’t happen again, as the stress ruined the day for both of us yesterday.
The club needs to understand the difficulties involved in being\bringing a disabled supporter to the games, and not just push it aside.

I get it, I really do. It's something I will fight for, the blue badge parking needs to be as close as possible to the stand along flat ground.

 

[Sufc.2008]

On the subject of catering, I’ve just seen on X the comparison of the two burgers now on offer at Roots Hall… and I can understand fans frustrations in the West of not being able to access the food truck!

Think we might have been missold the promise of better burgers from the club catering facilities!

Eat Street - £8



“New and improved Roots Hall burger” - £7

 

[North Banker]

A very welcome statement.

We have seen some requests for X Block to be opened instead of the Solopress North Bank however due to multiple factors outlined by the Sports Ground Safety Authority we can’t, currently, open this block without removing capacity from other blocks- something which wasn’t possible due to the number of tickets that had already been sold in this stand (including season tickets and half season tickets).

So it seems most likely that we're at the maximum capacity that is safe to enter via Shakespeare Drive with things set up as they are (either the safety regulations having changed since the West was built, or safety being impeded by disrepair/poor facilities). Explains why the only choice for expanding capacity was to open a new stand accessed from an entirely new entrance.

Doesn't rule out away fans going in the corner though, in fact it would save the car park charade.

 

[Supershrimper]

On the subject of catering, I’ve just seen on X the comparison of the two burgers now on offer at Roots Hall… and I can understand fans frustrations in the West of not being able to access the food truck!

Think we might have been missold the promise of better burgers from the club catering facilities!

Eat Street - £8

View attachment 35125

“New and improved Roots Hall burger” - £7

View attachment 35126

To be fair to the club i had one of the new burgers from the East Stand st the Hartlepool game. Far and away thd best burger I've had at Roots Hall. Was moisture, actually had flavour etc

Clearly not a patch on the Eat Street offering but still a marked improvement. Will be bringing my salad to pimp it up for the next home game.

 

[Smiffy]

@OldBlueLady Please as a follow up, could you ask if away fans could be housed in Blocks Y&Z, plus X if needed. With away fans entering via Fairfax Drive. Home fans then utilising the North Bank Blue seats and most of the yellow seats and entering via the East car park?

Perhaps put another burger stall out the back of the NB to cater for our fans and revamp the toilets?

 

[Lavender Blue]

A solution needs to be found so that no away fans are entering the north bank from the east car park, and the away coaches can be parked where they have always parked, or a suitable alternative away from the stadium, I have been to many grounds that don’t allow away fan coaches to park at the stadium and they have to find somewhere else.
It feels like someone has made an ill informed quick decision to open the north bank to home and away fans without doing proper research on the impact on the supporters.
I also felt that it would have been better to swap the fans around so home fans sit on the east side and away fans on the west side with the access via fairfax drive, this would negate the need for segregation in the east car park, I have no idea if that is possible, just throwing the idea out there

 

[OldBlueLady]

@OldBlueLady Please as a follow up, could you ask if away fans could be housed in Blocks Y&Z, plus X if needed. With away fans entering via Fairfax Drive. Home fans then utilising the North Bank Blue seats and most of the yellow seats and entering via the East car park?

Perhaps put another burger stall out the back of the NB to cater for our fans and revamp the toilets?

I'll ask, Smiffy, but I think they've already ruled this out. Can't remember if it was the Police or SAG that recommended this way. From my perspective, what you have now is identifying away supporters quite easily, so making them a target. Can you imagine Col U or Cambridge, and the potential?

A solution needs to be found so that no away fans are entering the north bank from the east car park, and the away coaches can be parked where they have always parked, or a suitable alternative away from the stadium, I have been to many grounds that don’t allow away fan coaches to park at the stadium and they have to find somewhere else.
It feels like someone has made an ill informed quick decision to open the north bank to home and away fans without doing proper research on the impact on the supporters.
I also felt that it would have been better to swap the fans around so home fans sit on the east side and away fans on the west side with the access via fairfax drive, this would negate the need for segregation in the east car park, I have no idea if that is possible, just throwing the idea out there

I know, it seems strangely thought out, and you're quite right about away coaches, I, too have been to many grounds where you can't park inside the ground.

 

[Smiffy]

I'll ask, Smiffy, but I think they've already ruled this out. Can't remember if it was the Police or SAG that recommended this way. From my perspective, what you have now is identifying away supporters quite easily, so making them a target. Can you imagine Col U or Cambridge, and the potential?

I know, it seems strangely thought out, and you're quite right about away coaches, I, too have been to many grounds where you can't park inside the ground.

Thanks Kay. They need their heads banging together. The NW corner is perfect in every way for away fans. It has gates, walls, own access, burger bar and toilets, room for coaches. It is utter madness the way they have managed it currently.

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

Thanks Kay. They need their heads banging together. The NW corner is perfect in every way for away fans. It has gates, walls, own access, burger bar and toilets, room for coaches. It is utter madness the way they have managed it currently.

Totally agree with @Smiffy - that makes by far the most sense meaning the Fairfax Drive entrance is away fans only.

The only downside is that we have to give up the Eat Street food truck and nice toilets to away fans though, and they'd have to sort a new Away fans ticket office somewhere nearer their turnstiles.

 

[Cricko]

Totally agree with @Smiffy - that makes by far the most sense meaning the Fairfax Drive entrance is away fans only.

The only downside is that we have to give up the Eat Street food truck and nice toilets to away fans though, and they'd have to sort a new Away fans ticket office somewhere nearer their turnstiles.

Eat street would have to close down if they were only serving a few hundred or less away fans.

 

[Smiffy]

Totally agree with @Smiffy - that makes by far the most sense meaning the Fairfax Drive entrance is away fans only.

The only downside is that we have to give up the Eat Street food truck and nice toilets to away fans though, and they'd have to sort a new Away fans ticket office somewhere nearer their turnstiles.

Yep, it would need a bit of work. But when done it would be perfect. Considering some grounds we go to have a flimsy mesh fence or a bit of rope as a segregation line, the lengths we go to for “supporter safety” is madness.

 

[Smiffy]

Eat street would have to close down if they were only serving a few hundred or less away fans.

Eat Street could relocate to the NE corner and cater for the North and East somehow. It would need a bit of planning, but that corner should defo be away fans. Get that sorted then mould the catering arrangements around it. Perhaps the away fans should get the in house catering from that hut in the NW corner.

 

[rigsby]

Thanks Kay. They need their heads banging together. The NW corner is perfect in every way for away fans. It has gates, walls, own access, burger bar and toilets, room for coaches. It is utter madness the way they have managed it currently.

What will they do with 500+ away fans?

 

[Smiffy]

What will they do with 500+ away fans?

X block or one block of the yellow seats. It could be done. We seem way OTT with our seg lines compared to many other clubs, certainly at this level.

 

[rigsby]

X block or one block of the yellow seats. It could be done. We seem way OTT with our seg lines compared to many other clubs, certainly at this level.

If you allow X block for away fans then you have to shut down W. Over 1000 away fans and half the West would be closed.

We would be better moving the family section to the NW and having that for away fans. With access from that side to the South lower for further away fans.

That way we can enter the North from RH car park and have home fans In 100% of the North, all the NW and 75% of the West.... Easier to police and steward easier to move around for catering and a possible fan zone behind the North and or into the car park in the NE corner.

 

[Smiffy]

If you allow X block for away fans then you have to shut down W. Over 1000 away fans and half the West would be closed.

We would be better moving the family section to the NW and having that for away fans. With access from that side to the South lower for further away fans.

That way we can enter the North from RH car park and have home fans In 100% of the North, all the NW and 75% of the West.... Easier to police and steward easier to move around for catering and a possible fan zone behind the North and or into the car park in the NE corner.

Point is there are several better options than the one implemented on Boxing Day?

 

[rigsby]

Point is there are several better options than the one implemented on Boxing Day?

But in fairness we are suggesting long term next summer type alternatives. Im happy that COSU have saved an unusable part of the ground and made the North available.

The fiasco with the catering can be sorted by the next game.

The vast majority wanted to remain at RH. We had decades of neglect as it was listed for demolition. That has made the refurb even harder than it should have been. We as fans have to live with inevitable problems and even make a few sacrifices to get there.

Remember to make an omelette you have to crack some eggs.