Attention: Please take a moment to consider our terms and conditions before posting.

Away fans housed in West Stand Upper - Testing in 25/26 season

1468910

Comments

  • I can’t see the argument against cutting waste and inefficiency and applaud the sense in testing the theory of having fans in that area.

    Early rounds of Cup games seem an obvious time for instance. 

    If we can iron out issues who knows when the ability to utilise this area would be advantageous. When we have sold out the South stand for instance. For me we just get on with the testing and await the results.
  • I always thought the Jimmy Seed would be the logical area for this but when we were looking to expand the ground in our Premier League days, weren't we looking at the East (Alan Curbishley) stand first?
  • se9addick said:
    This is irrational, but fans (particularly relatively hardcore, ST owning fans) of football teams are irrational by nature. There’s nothing rational about our love for a professional sports organisation…

    …so with that prelude over, even though I know it’s irrational, I would be annoyed if I got moved out of my long held ST seat even if for a couple of games a season to accommodate away fans. There’s something about the emotional attachment of having a spot in the stadium that feels like yours. The people around you, the view, the route to my seat - all of it connects me to something really important. 

    The goodwill of the fans of this club, after the decade+ of dross that we’ve had to endure is nothing short of extraordinary and we underestimate it at our peril. 
    This made me think that for fans at big clubs like Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal etc who have a ST near the away fans, if the game is then sold out in home areas for a big FA Cup game when the away team get a huge allocation, they must then lose their seat completely.

    Seems a bit harsh, but i guess they are made aware of that when buying.
  • This doesn’t smack of rich owners, does it?
    All a bit weird. The timing is strange too when the team is doing so well. 
  • We don't sell out the other 3 stands as it is so why would we want to start moving people from already partially filled stands 🤷‍♂️.
    Ah I dont not agree, just saying it would be good to have home fans in there. If the JS and cupboard were full of vocal home fans, The Valley would be very noisy.
  • Redrobo said:
    I can’t see the argument against cutting waste and inefficiency and applaud the sense in testing the theory of having fans in that area.

    Early rounds of Cup games seem an obvious time for instance. 

    If we can iron out issues who knows when the ability to utilise this area would be advantageous. When we have sold out the South stand for instance. For me we just get on with the testing and await the results.
    Waste what waste? 
  • Then ‘test’ what exactly?

    What do they need to learn we dont already know?
    Don't disagree.

    I don't think it stacks up for various reason, as I pointed out to them, but this is what I was told.

    I feel that they thought some people were making big leaps to "closing stands" or "relocating whole (home) stands" when they isn't their plan.

    My view is when they look at the detail, the costs and the upheaval, it won't happen for a league game and then never again.
  • Valley11 said:
    This doesn’t smack of rich owners, does it?
    All a bit weird. The timing is strange too when the team is doing so well. 
    You could argue that a lot of rich people don't become rich by wasting money. And having an entire stand for 3k+ people open when the away team brings 300 probably falls in the category of wasting money.

    As i've said earlier though, for me personally i'd rather keep the away end open.

    @Airman Brown could probably advise us on what the rough savings would be.
  • No it says:

    For a few games next season against clubs with smaller away support, we may close the Jimmy Seed Standand temporarily place away fans in the south end of the West Stand Upper. 


    Yes but I think that relates to the temporary trials as it goes on to talk about maybe putting home fans in there 
  • Sponsored links:


  • edited March 21
    Who was this email/letter (?) sent to ? Just fans who it might by affect ? 
  • Markg2004 said:
    Everyone will have their reasons and many won't agree on why and just accept people should move regardless.

    After years of match-by-match tickets I got my first season ticket in the West Upper with Grandparents. They didn't follow football much but wanted to spend time with me, it was where they wanted to sit whilst taking me, a youngster. I have then only had a season-ticket there even though they are not with us anymore. I have sat all around the ground but that is where we sat, and I still do. I follow the same football rituals we did when I was going match by match and with a season-ticket with them. I do them now with my oldest.

    Sometimes people have reasons and it doesn't bother us that is is 'boring' or 'SO empty'. We do things we want to do for our own reasons.

    For what it is worth, I probably will renew in the same seats I've always had in the West Upper. I will see what the club propose and see how it works if it works. I get the reasoning and want The Valley to hold a great atmosphere. I'm not against moving necessarily and appreciate they have reached out before renewing but you cant be sure of everything and just accept it. 

    Saying all of the above, this season we've had an increase in free tickets around us and those that attend under those incentives don't always care about the football. A few times we've had seat slamming all the way through and shouting for another team (not even the team we are playing) so it hasn't been as it used to be and affected the enjoyment of the match. This could be the kick needed to move, potentially.

    And after I posted the above, I feel like @se9addick posted as well.
    Absolutely. I actaully quite like that there aren't too many other fans around up there! It has been more popular recently and if it starts getting busier around me then thats fine with me too.  I've sat there since 1998 and I quite like moving to a different area of the ground for some games. Sitting near the home dugout or the tunnel is fun on the occasions I have decided to move or for cup games but I always like going back up to West Upper block P!
  • edited March 21
    No from me.

    Next they cut one of the arms off the football shirts to save a few bob
  • Hotel Duchetelet
    Well, that'll give us a new chant:

    Welcome to the Hotel Du-chat-elay
    Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
    when Godden’s scored a brace
    Plenty of room at the Hotel Du-chat-elay
    Any time of year (any time of year)
    the owner won’t be here!

  • Waste what waste? 
    Money dear boy, money.
    I think one can reasonably conclude that the purpose of such an exercise is to test the theory that when an away Club are expected to bring only a few fans you can relocate them to the West Stand, which will ultimately save money by not opening the JS stand.
    The trial may not be successful, but no harm in finding out.
  • edited March 21
    If they are that skint they need to shut the away stand then we are deeper trouble than we think we are .

    First charltonTv then the Jimmy Seed. Be charging for the toilets next
  • It all seems a silly idea. Extremely silly even.
  • Sponsored links:


  • I'm one of those ST holders affected. My seats have a great view and whilst not rammed its still busy'ish on Saturday matchdays. I was set on renewing but this is making me reconsider. I'll renew if I'm able to relocate at the same price to another part of the West Upper (maybe nearer to the NW quadrant).

    As goes the Jimmy Seed stand. I would love to see / hear Home fans in there. I really displike the idea of playing matches in a 3-sided ground however infrequently. Maybe the JS stand is a good place to relocate the 16-20 "Youth" section and also to offer slightly cheaper Adult home tickets to grow home attendances. Would really like to see safe standing for home fans installed in that part of the ground (but appreciate that the Clubs non ownership of the ground is a factor discouraging that happening).

    Basically, I won't be happy if forced to decamp from my West Upper seat every so often and it will make me reconsider renewing.

     
  • Redrobo said:
    Money dear boy, money.
    I think one can reasonably conclude that the purpose of such an exercise is to test the theory that when an away Club are expected to bring only a few fans you can relocate them to the West Stand, which will ultimately save money by not opening the JS stand.
    The trial may not be successful, but no harm in finding out.
    exactly - a hoo ha from some about nothing 
  • tallboy said:
    I'm one of those ST holders affected. My seats have a great view and whilst not rammed its still busy'ish on Saturday matchdays. I was set on renewing but this is making me reconsider. I'll renew if I'm able to relocate at the same price to another part of the West Upper (maybe nearer to the NW quadrant).

    As goes the Jimmy Seed stand. I would love to see / hear Home fans in there. I really displike the idea of playing matches in a 3-sided ground however infrequently. Maybe the JS stand is a good place to relocate the 16-20 "Youth" section and also to offer slightly cheaper Adult home tickets to grow home attendances. Would really like to see safe standing for home fans installed in that part of the ground (but appreciate that the Clubs non ownership of the ground is a factor discouraging that happening).

    Basically, I won't be happy if forced to decamp from my West Upper seat every so often and it will make me reconsider renewing.

     
    did the 16-20 section ever actually happen? did anybody actually sit there? 
  • edited March 21
    This made me think that for fans at big clubs like Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal etc who have a ST near the away fans, if the game is then sold out in home areas for a big FA Cup game when the away team get a huge allocation, they must then lose their seat completely.

    Seems a bit harsh, but i guess they are made aware of that when buying.
    Their season ticket wouldn't cover cup games, so there isn't any 'relocation' involved. Sure they might be annoyed that they can't buy their season ticket seat, but that wouldn't be anything new to them. 
  • edited March 21
    CAFCTrev said:
    Their season ticket wouldn't cover cup games, so there isn't any 'relocation' involved. Sure they might be annoyed that they can't buy their season ticket seat, but that wouldn't be anything new to them. 
    There is though, it may not be a financial matter but people still get psychologically attached to 'their' seats.  I was at the Under 21 game on Tuesday, sat (as was everyone else) in the Directors Box. I still had a little moment, looking up at 'my' seat in the North Upper, thinking how nice it would be to watch the match from there - even though the only padding on my seat is the cellulite which I always bring with me ;).
  • I was one of those that used to sit in the JS for most matches I went to in the first season back. It was where you tended to end up if you laid on the day. Having sampled about half the away ends in the country over the years, I think it's one of the best anywhere. Good view, good atmosphere. If this experiment was to turn into a longer-term plan to have home fans in the JS and away in a corner of the West I wouldn't have a problem with that. Let's see how it goes. But looking after away fans well is a positive for the club - we bring more money in if more away fans turn up and it adds to the atmosphere in the games. So unless we can actually fill it as a second home end I'm not sure it would be a benefit overall.
  • edited March 21
    Redrobo said:
    Money dear boy, money.
    I think one can reasonably conclude that the purpose of such an exercise is to test the theory that when an away Club are expected to bring only a few fans you can relocate them to the West Stand, which will ultimately save money by not opening the JS stand.
    The trial may not be successful, but no harm in finding out.
    I am not sure what you would learn from a trial that you can’t deduce from a desktop exercise if it’s about money. You don’t need to do it to understand the costs.
  • tallboy said:
    I'm one of those ST holders affected. My seats have a great view and whilst not rammed its still busy'ish on Saturday matchdays. I was set on renewing but this is making me reconsider. I'll renew if I'm able to relocate at the same price to another part of the West Upper (maybe nearer to the NW quadrant).

    As goes the Jimmy Seed stand. I would love to see / hear Home fans in there. I really displike the idea of playing matches in a 3-sided ground however infrequently. Maybe the JS stand is a good place to relocate the 16-20 "Youth" section and also to offer slightly cheaper Adult home tickets to grow home attendances. Would really like to see safe standing for home fans installed in that part of the ground (but appreciate that the Clubs non ownership of the ground is a factor discouraging that happening).

    Basically, I won't be happy if forced to decamp from my West Upper seat every so often and it will make me reconsider renewing.

     
    It is a trial not a decision.
    The letter to affected fans includes an invitation and a telephone number for those who wish to discuss how it affects them and it maybe a good idea to give them a call and explain your concerns.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Roland Out Forever!