I rarely used to buy alcohol or food in the ground. But as I am at Uni in Norwich and only go to a handful of games a season coinciding with Roland going, I have recently started buying a pint of piss water at half time.
It very much seems as slow as I remember it normally, and I can't help but think that we are doing the basics wrong.
Living in Norwich and one of my best mates being a season ticket holder I've been to about 3/4 games at Carrow Road. All those times I have bought a pint at half time and seen how better organized they are.
They have a proper queing system for Card and Cash Only with barriers separating them both. This meant that I was able to get a pint when the first half ended in the about 2 mins if that. Queues weren't massive and this despite the concourse being more smaller and compact than the ones at Charlton. Also they get bigger home gates than us.
One reason for this I think is everyone employed at Norwich in hospitality and catering whether concourses or lounges are contracted to the club. So Norwich trains them. This is know because I know people who work in hospitality there. At Charlton I presume that because the catering is outsourced that the staff on the concourse are employed through a big recruitment company which don't train it's staff and if they do not very well.
Also what they offer is a much better products for a cheaper price. All the normal pies, sausage rolls and a veggie option for much less than you see at Charlton and the beer they have on offer is better quality. They have Pravha, Becks, East Coast Ipa, Woodford's Wherry. I had a Pravha which was £3.30. Much less than what you would pay in a pub In Norwich let alone a football ground. While we have overpriced Fosters and John Smiths. It's like we're stuck in 2007.
I know Norwich has a different fanbase to us and one from witnessing I would not want necessarily at Charlton, as parts are very palace like. But we are a similar size and might even be bigger than them, so surely we should be looking at how other clubs such as them in the same size bracket manage their catering on the concourses.
If the club are thinking of going down the route of cheap season tickets, cheap tickets for certain games,then they need to get as much money as possible from other lines,drink and food outlets in the concourse should be a priority for them.
Those little extras are great. However they are expensive and Tottenham are a much bigger club than us with larger crowds and a purpose built stadium, making it easier to implement gadgets such as that. Also what's to suggest that would improve the speed of service? Would we train our staff to use them effectively?
Family next to us got back to seats on 62 mins having queued over 25 mins to get something to eat.
personally I go to a football match to watch football, not to wait ages to buy overpriced grub thereby missing a large part of the match .. I suggest 'the family' has got their priorities very wrong
I agree. Why not eat on the way to the ground or bring sandwiches. Agree with @Stig’s post too. Surely you go to football to watch the football.
Family next to us got back to seats on 62 mins having queued over 25 mins to get something to eat.
personally I go to a football match to watch football, not to wait ages to buy overpriced grub thereby missing a large part of the match .. I suggest 'the family' has got their priorities very wrong
What a hero Lincs.
I’m sure you don’t go to a football match with the intention of going a loo either so lets close the toilets as well.
They are open before and after the game. I understand kids might not be able to last but most men and woman should be able to go an hour and a half without a pee or three.
Family next to us got back to seats on 62 mins having queued over 25 mins to get something to eat.
personally I go to a football match to watch football, not to wait ages to buy overpriced grub thereby missing a large part of the match .. I suggest 'the family' has got their priorities very wrong
I agree. Why not eat on the way to the ground or bring sandwiches. Agree with @Stig’s post too. Surely you go to football to watch the football.
I leave the house at 10.30, get to the ground at 12.30 and then home at 7... people will soon piss and moan with me dragging my hamper into the ground.
Ban food and beer and youl find your season ticket to be £500 as the money has to come from somewhere.
Airman will probably confirm that a £20 ticket nets down to about £12 or something silly...they need these outlets in house,and also look at the quality of the products on offer.
I rarely used to buy alcohol or food in the ground. But as I am at Uni in Norwich and only go to a handful of games a season coinciding with Roland going, I have recently started buying a pint of piss water at half time.
It very much seems as slow as I remember it normally, and I can't help but think that we are doing the basics wrong.
Living in Norwich and one of my best mates being a season ticket holder I've been to about 3/4 games at Carrow Road. All those times I have bought a pint at half time and seen how better organized they are.
They have a proper queing system for Card and Cash Only with barriers separating them both. This meant that I was able to get a pint when the first half ended in the about 2 mins if that. Queues weren't massive and this despite the concourse being more smaller and compact than the ones at Charlton. Also they get bigger home gates than us.
One reason for this I think is everyone employed at Norwich in hospitality and catering whether concourses or lounges are contracted to the club. So Norwich trains them. This is know because I know people who work in hospitality there. At Charlton I presume that because the catering is outsourced that the staff on the concourse are employed through a big recruitment company which don't train it's staff and if they do not very well.
Also what they offer is a much better products for a cheaper price. All the normal pies, sausage rolls and a veggie option for much less than you see at Charlton and the beer they have on offer is better quality. They have Pravha, Becks, East Coast Ipa, Woodford's Wherry. I had a Pravha which was £3.30. Much less than what you would pay in a pub In Norwich let alone a football ground. While we have overpriced Fosters and John Smiths. It's like we're stuck in 2007.
I know Norwich has a different fanbase to us and one from witnessing I would not want necessarily at Charlton, as parts are very palace like. But we are a similar size and might even be bigger than them, so surely we should be looking at how other clubs such as them in the same size bracket manage their catering on the concourses.
It must help that Norwich is owned by one of the country's most famous caterers. It wouldn't reflect well on her, if these things weren't right in her own business.
Airman will probably confirm that a £20 ticket nets down to about £12 or something silly...they need these outlets in house,and also look at the quality of the products on offer.
And if a season ticket drops that down to £12 a ticket you probably need/hope that person then spends £50 on other stuff in the ground.
I understand the club are looking at bringing the catering back in house as part of the objective of increasing commercial income.
There are inherent problems with football stadiums but some other clubs do seem to do it better.
One of the great advantages of this is that we can get local staff, (students from Greenwich Uni maybe), on a regular basis so they will be trained and know exactly what’s what each time they are called in. They can then work the same outlet on an on going basis, with the same staff manning the same booth. It shouldn’t take them long to get the hang of it. As things stand, the staff seems to be different at each game. Simples!
Airman will probably confirm that a £20 ticket nets down to about £12 or something silly...they need these outlets in house,and also look at the quality of the products on offer.
And if a season ticket drops that down to £12 a ticket you probably need/hope that person then spends £50 on other stuff in the ground.
Not season tickets mate. But if they did these offers on a semi regular basis and also offered cheap season tickets they need to make money up in other forms. I would assume the idea of a full ground on these offers they would hope to see a decent up on food and drink revenues to offset.
I haven’t drunk beer at a game for a very long time however I do buy coke and coffee and I am often puzzled by the way the bars actually work. The only certainty at all Charlton games is that hundreds of thirsty fans will want a pint at half time but there never seems to be very many pre poured. It seems to be the pouring which take most of the time and it’s not exactly going to ruin the “beer” sold!
Airman will probably confirm that a £20 ticket nets down to about £12 or something silly...they need these outlets in house,and also look at the quality of the products on offer.
And if a season ticket drops that down to £12 a ticket you probably need/hope that person then spends £50 on other stuff in the ground.
Not season tickets mate. But if they did these offers on a semi regular basis and also offered cheap season tickets they need to make money up in other forms. I would assume the idea of a full ground on these offers they would hope to see a decent up on food and drink revenues to offset.
No I know, but a season ticket does drop the ticket price to £14 for example, or even less in the NL before cuts going elsewhere... so they do need money coming in over the bar to justify this. I'm sure all that will be/is considered. As you say, it's all well and good trying to fill the ground, but the extra income has to come from somewhere.
Can only use myself as an example, but if a season ticket in the covered in was £275, I'd be able to attend all 23 games and spend £50 a time on beer and food. If not, its 10 games a season spending £50 a time.
When have the club ever asked us fans what we want to eat? Who's the genius in charge of catering who thinks that football supporters want to eat rubbish burgers, hot dogs and pies in 2020?
they did the pre pouring for a bit but seem to have forgotten about it - good to hear its coming back within club control and i've always felt they could get the ale situation sorted better despite previous half hearted attempts - got to say crossbars and bartrams are great - not many clubs have facilities like those where you don't have to pay yearly up front - wonder whether crossbars will revert to that? hope not - there's queues out the door at the moment - not sure how but if more facilities like that could be opened up round the ground but there is definitely the market for it - maybe an increase in prices could stave off the yearly membership thing??
Always pretty surprised how many families buy food at ground. When we were taken when young we’d always have sandwiches etc pre made at home. Must cost a bomb for parents buying the whole family food, notwithstanding its pretty shite and over-priced.
Must admit I rarely bother with a pint at home games at half time now. It’s just not worth the effort.
they did the pre pouring for a bit but seem to have forgotten about it - good to hear its coming back within club control and i've always felt they could get the ale situation sorted better despite previous half hearted attempts - got to say crossbars and bartrams are great - not many clubs have facilities like those where you don't have to pay yearly up front - wonder whether crossbars will revert to that? hope not - there's queues out the door at the moment - not sure how but if more facilities like that could be opened up round the ground but there is definitely the market for it - maybe an increase in prices could stave off the yearly membership thing??
maybe some of the more peripheral facilities that are housed at the valley could be incorporated into the traing ground development and further fan bars opened up?
they did the pre pouring for a bit but seem to have forgotten about it - good to hear its coming back within club control and i've always felt they could get the ale situation sorted better despite previous half hearted attempts - got to say crossbars and bartrams are great - not many clubs have facilities like those where you don't have to pay yearly up front - wonder whether crossbars will revert to that? hope not - there's queues out the door at the moment - not sure how but if more facilities like that could be opened up round the ground but there is definitely the market for it - maybe an increase in prices could stave off the yearly membership thing??
maybe some of the more peripheral facilities that are housed at the valley could be incorporated into the traing ground development and further fan bars opened up?
Comments
There are inherent problems with football stadiums but some other clubs do seem to do it better.
It very much seems as slow as I remember it normally, and I can't help but think that we are doing the basics wrong.
Living in Norwich and one of my best mates being a season ticket holder I've been to about 3/4 games at Carrow Road. All those times I have bought a pint at half time and seen how better organized they are.
They have a proper queing system for Card and Cash Only with barriers separating them both. This meant that I was able to get a pint when the first half ended in the about 2 mins if that. Queues weren't massive and this despite the concourse being more smaller and compact than the ones at Charlton. Also they get bigger home gates than us.
One reason for this I think is everyone employed at Norwich in hospitality and catering whether concourses or lounges are contracted to the club. So Norwich trains them. This is know because I know people who work in hospitality there. At Charlton I presume that because the catering is outsourced that the staff on the concourse are employed through a big recruitment company which don't train it's staff and if they do not very well.
Also what they offer is a much better products for a cheaper price. All the normal pies, sausage rolls and a veggie option for much less than you see at Charlton and the beer they have on offer is better quality. They have Pravha, Becks, East Coast Ipa, Woodford's Wherry. I had a Pravha which was £3.30. Much less than what you would pay in a pub In Norwich let alone a football ground. While we have overpriced Fosters and John Smiths. It's like we're stuck in 2007.
I know Norwich has a different fanbase to us and one from witnessing I would not want necessarily at Charlton, as parts are very palace like. But we are a similar size and might even be bigger than them, so surely we should be looking at how other clubs such as them in the same size bracket manage their catering on the concourses.
Reading have a decent “food and beer village” not big but nice mix of food.
Brighton do it right for away supporters having a local, to the away team, beer and videos of the away team on tvs.
We could learn a lot from other clubs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiu_IX14wLI
Ban food and beer and youl find your season ticket to be £500 as the money has to come from somewhere.
Time for ESI to move on and get Michel Roux in.
They can then work the same outlet on an on going basis, with the same staff manning the same booth.
It shouldn’t take them long to get the hang of it. As things stand, the staff seems to be different at each game.
Simples!
But if they did these offers on a semi regular basis and also offered cheap season tickets they need to make money up in other forms.
I would assume the idea of a full ground on these offers they would hope to see a decent up on food and drink revenues to offset.
Can only use myself as an example, but if a season ticket in the covered in was £275, I'd be able to attend all 23 games and spend £50 a time on beer and food. If not, its 10 games a season spending £50 a time.
Must admit I rarely bother with a pint at home games at half time now. It’s just not worth the effort.
See how long before Henry bites