Stadium Management - improving or declining?

[john@staustell]

Possibly related to why there wasn't a fll house, I don't know. But I made a few observations on Saturday, having not been up for a while, which stand out for me, having been loosely in the venue management/presentation/service game for the last umpteen years. Just wondering if anyone else has noticed or what people think:

1) City Square. Positive - the service seems spot on. Negatives - rampant price inflation not present in the general economy. Also mud and weeds under at least one of the tables/stands - clear evidence that no one can be bothered even giving it a thorough summer clean, let alone a brush-up between matches. Is anyone in charge of appearance?

2) Concourse (top level CB) - similar inflation. Less chips per pound!!. Clueless staff. 3 staff for 4 tills. Ran out of Stella and Cider just before KO which couldn't be solved - seemed to be remedied at half time though - so clearly someone came along and changed a barrel or two. Unable to deal with a request for a half pint.

3) Outside food outlets - most puzzling. Now all the concessions have been swept away for some lovely City branded kiosks. Plan was to get some food on the way out to avoid stopping on the motorway. This would have been possible before but guess what? All shut up with 50,000 people walking past. Presumably where the concessions would stick around to make a few quid the club can't pay staff to hang on for a couple of hours. Had to make do with a lousy hotdog at the Velodrome, which is another story, but at least theri bar opens now.

Shouldn't things be improving, not declining?

[BlueinBosnia]

3) Outside food outlets - most puzzling. Now all the concessions have been swept away for some lovely City branded kiosks. Plan was to get some food on the way out to avoid stopping on the motorway. This would have been possible before but guess what? All shut up with 50,000 people walking past. Presumably where the concessions would stick around to make a few quid the club can't pay staff to hang on for a couple of hours. Had to make do with a lousy hotdog at the Velodrome, which is another story, but at least theri bar opens now.

This is something that's always been a bit paradoxical to me. When I've turned up, it's always been a priority to get into the ground before kick off. On the way out, I've got time to browse around and hang on until the crowd/traffic thins out a bit. If there were a few things open, maybe more people who think like me would loiter around. It might also go some way to preventing the rush to get out before final whistle. However, I'm not sure if policing regulations, etc., might stop this from happening.

[South Stand Balti]

I think your summary is about right, St John. I can only assume that selling food after the game isn't profitable. The Coty square is great but the weather doesn't help. The biggest issue for me is the rip off prices, which tends to be the case at most venues now. These things don't affect my attendance though. I generally just eat elsewhere etc. The stadium is fantastic and so are the facilities compared to yester year, but they really do need to address the pricing.

[City64]

Much better to spend time in the city center before the game .

[john@staustell]

Much better to spend time in the city center before the game .

Difficult for us logistically I'm afraid

[Nickyboy]

Much better to spend time in the city center before the game .

And miss the first ten minutes of the match

[Nigels Tackle]

Much better to spend time in the city center before the game .

And miss the first ten minutes of the match

and then blame everyone else but yourself for it

[City64]

Much better to spend time in the city center before the game .

And miss the first ten minutes of the match

and then blame everyone else but yourself for it

Could always be a boring cunt spend no money and bring some butties and a flask just to hold up every city fan who is out on the piss enjoying life .......

[Hutch's Shoulder]

I've also noticed the inside if the concourse and toilets on East Level 2 are starting to look a bit shabby. A new coat of paint in the toilets and additional covering of bare concrete in the concourse would help, we've been in the stadium a while now and done of the newness has worn off.

And fix the areas outside the ground where the original paving has subsided and allows big puddles to collect when it rains.

[Hazy2]

Much better to spend time in the city center before the game .

And miss the first ten minutes of the match

and then blame everyone else but yourself for it

Give it a rest.

[South Stand Balti]

Balti pies are now off the menu inside the ground!! I was very disappointed to find that out tonight. I wouldn't mind but I had been saving up for ages.

[ENIAM NAM]

Balti pies are now off the menu inside the ground!! I was very disappointed to find that out tonight. I wouldn't mind but I had been saving up for ages.

You will have to change your name to South Stand Chorizo and Bean

[bigblue]

Balti pies are now off the menu inside the ground!! I was very disappointed to find that out tonight. I wouldn't mind but I had been saving up for ages.

You will have to change your name to South Stand Chorizo and Bean

Sounds like a special argie request. Not bad, but nowhere close to a balti

[South Stand Balti]

Balti pies are now off the menu inside the ground!! I was very disappointed to find that out tonight. I wouldn't mind but I had been saving up for ages.

You will have to change your name to South Stand Chorizo and Bean

Lol