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Post by ThrobsBlackHat on Aug 31, 2014 18:56:41 GMT 1
It's ridiculous that on a match day you have to go to the ticket office on the one side of the stadium.
If you want to go in the West stand, and approach from Sainsbury's, it is such a pain.
None of this stuff really matters to the hardcore support but it annoys the heck out of casual fans.
And many season ticket holders forget just how irritating it is.
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Post by davycrockett on Aug 31, 2014 19:14:33 GMT 1
On the subject of ticket prices.... Make sure you buy in advance for Hartlepool. My ticket states it's £20 on advance but a stunning £25 on the day. Wow thats dynamic! bet they don't get queue's at 2.45 p.m on Saturdays
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5888
Aug 31, 2014 19:19:25 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2014 19:19:25 GMT 1
So, you walked there late, had to que? missed first 3 mins so buggered off?? more the fool you!! He said he were no nearer the front and so who knows how long he would needed to have queued and how much he would have seen of the game if he had waited. It is an irritation. Way back when you would have fans who are queuing distributed amongst each turnstile entrance. Now we have what? One window? Maybe two windows? It is a pain in the arris. Appreciate it is what it is but hardly surprising to me that people simply can't be arsed with it... Get what you saying, but still a little short on Sympathy tbh.... people know the game kicks off at 3, still don't buy a ticket off the many methods available, on line, phone or whole sorts of other methods, then wait till last safe moment, and squeeze in another pint.
Then whinge like mad cause no cash turnstiles. which again is imposed, but one that I actually agree with.
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5888
Aug 31, 2014 19:32:39 GMT 1
Post by stuttgartershrew on Aug 31, 2014 19:32:39 GMT 1
He said he were no nearer the front and so who knows how long he would needed to have queued and how much he would have seen of the game if he had waited. It is an irritation. Way back when you would have fans who are queuing distributed amongst each turnstile entrance. Now we have what? One window? Maybe two windows? It is a pain in the arris. Appreciate it is what it is but hardly surprising to me that people simply can't be arsed with it... Get what you saying, but still a little short on Sympathy tbh.... people know the game kicks off at 3, still don't buy a ticket off the many methods available, on line, phone or whole sorts of other methods, then wait till last safe moment, and squeeze in another pint.
Then whinge like mad cause no cash turnstiles. which again is imposed, but one that I actually agree with.
Harsh that mate. I don't think he is after sympathy and I don't think there is much moaning going on either. I didn't get that from his post at all. Just explaining what came about today. You're right of course, if you get yerself organised and the like you can certainly save yourself hassle. But many, including myself, really haven't altogether adopted to what football is today. I'm just used to turning up on the day a short time before kick off and paying at a turnstile. Old habits die hard.
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5888
Aug 31, 2014 19:43:19 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2014 19:43:19 GMT 1
What would be interesting is for the club to put out CCTV still images of the queues in 5 min intervals from about 14.30 up till kick off, you would be a little surprised at the length of it at different times with quite a few turning up in the 10 mins between 14:40 and 14:50 then are surprised they miss kick off!!
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5888
Aug 31, 2014 19:45:57 GMT 1
Post by jamo on Aug 31, 2014 19:45:57 GMT 1
It is undeniable that for casual fans it is a ball acher at times watching a home game
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5888
Aug 31, 2014 20:13:18 GMT 1
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Post by jonbond on Aug 31, 2014 20:13:18 GMT 1
I think one of the main problems is that the ticket office staff for whatever reason are pretty damn slow at getting the queue through . There is something wrong when it's quicker to get a ticket in the away end which I know someone who did that
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5888
Aug 31, 2014 20:47:32 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2014 20:47:32 GMT 1
It is undeniable that for casual fans it is a ball acher at times watching a home game Really?? people join longer ques at the post office, bank and so on, think your being a little melodramatic.
Just he slightest little bit of organisation and its really quite simple!!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2014 20:55:46 GMT 1
It is undeniable that for casual fans it is a ball acher at times watching a home game Really?? people join longer ques at the post office, bank and so on, think your being a little melodramatic.
Just he slightest little bit of organisation and its really quite simple!!
An Out of town ground with minimal parking and few facilities nearby. Then you have a ridiculous design of the access points plus of course having to queue up to get a ticket and then potentially queue up again to get through turnstiles. Yes the ground is really convenient for someone who decides on the morning of the game to go
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Post by jamo on Aug 31, 2014 21:47:03 GMT 1
It is undeniable that for casual fans it is a ball acher at times watching a home game Really?? people join longer ques at the post office, bank and so on, think your being a little melodramatic.
Just he slightest little bit of organisation and its really quite simple!!
People go the bank, post office etc because they have to or need to. Casual fans go to a football game because they want to. When that process is clunky, unhelpful and expensive it helps to form ones opinions.
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Post by Matster on Aug 31, 2014 22:01:06 GMT 1
How about if the flexi ticket was a chargeable card and could be swiped at a specific turnstile in each stand then the punter gets told a seat number and their flexi card gets deducted one voucher. It could simply be topped up by visiting the ticket office, by text or online.
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Post by ThrobsBlackHat on Aug 31, 2014 22:19:29 GMT 1
I might want to go to the cinema.
If I had to park at Shirehall and catch a bus to the cinema, then walk to the greenhous showroom to buy a ticket, it's a bit more of a pain.
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5888
Aug 31, 2014 22:19:36 GMT 1
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Dale likes this
Post by onthepitch on Aug 31, 2014 22:19:36 GMT 1
It's so dumb at the moment, even if you buy online you still have to pick up a paper ticket!?!? Has anyone used the Passbook app on iPhone or similar? It's very cool, you basically pay online for a ticket and receive a unique QR Code that displays on your phone (those square barcodes you see on things). It is then scanned to gain entry. I've used it when flying and it works seamlessly. I imagine it could be a really cool and quick way of getting into the ground on a match day and cut out the need to queue up / pick up a paper ticket. Alternatively I suppose a kind of credit card ticket could be used? You would be able to pay online or on the phone and they would add the game to your card, then it could be swiped/scanned to gain entry... Pie in the sky. One day they'll figure it out though...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2014 22:22:37 GMT 1
All these wonderful systems are great, are you prepared for the price hike to install?
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5888
Aug 31, 2014 22:26:28 GMT 1
Post by pughywasfree on Aug 31, 2014 22:26:28 GMT 1
I emailed Matt Williams about a month ago complaining about my experience of the ticket office and he informed me of all the things he is trying to do to improve the problems.
The casual fan will always fan will obviously always find something to moan about. One minute it's that they have to pay more if they decide they want to go on the day and the next they are moaning that the cues are to long. Never happy.
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5888
Aug 31, 2014 22:36:24 GMT 1
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Post by onthepitch on Aug 31, 2014 22:36:24 GMT 1
All these wonderful systems are great, are you prepared for the price hike to install? Poor argument, progress is 'usually' designed to save money. With a full online system we would save money on paper and ink, and could lay off those people in the ticket office. With an avatar like yours, I know you'll like the sound of that! ;P
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Post by Jonah on Aug 31, 2014 22:39:07 GMT 1
All these wonderful systems are great, are you prepared for the price hike to install? Remember the days when you could pay at the gate Downie ? Today's technology makes it easier so why should it be more expensive and take longer??
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5888
Aug 31, 2014 22:45:36 GMT 1
Post by lenny on Aug 31, 2014 22:45:36 GMT 1
Definitely have experienced more hassle these few games as a non-STH. Missed the first couple of minutes of the Accy game - I normally book online (although doing so in my own name was a mighty hassle - I have an account from my ST but couldn't activate it, eventually got around it by chucking in my middle name as an additional forename) but was waiting for my mate to confirm attendance before I got them which wouldn't happen til the last possible minute. When it conspired he couldn't make it, I left the Darwin at about half past and thought 20 minutes or so would be adequate to get a ticket - my incorrect choice of queue meant that it wasn't.
Maybe 4 queues for the 4 windows would be better than 3 for 4 which we have at present? One cash turnstile in each stand with a lump of tickets left back? The idea of no choice of seat after 2:45 or something is a good one - just pick a block, or even stand. Still, I'm sure the club will fix it, they've been bang on with fans' problems since MW came in.
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Post by mattmw on Aug 31, 2014 23:32:31 GMT 1
Think there are a number of factors behind the reduced attendances including
1. General cost of games. Towns prices are ok but watching league football is still expensive and a lot of people are still struggling financially, especially families. Some offers to keep them coming are needed.
2. Hassle of getting tickets and to the game. Don't think either are too bad if your organised, but there is certainly a perception getting a ticket on the day is tough and its hard getting to the ground. Again more publicity explaining how to get to a game as a casual supporter are needed
3. Let down on last two seasons. Much as I'm enjoying this season I do leave games wondering why this investment didn't happen two years ago - we really did p**s the previous promotion up the wall and with the ongoing issues like the loggerheads and match day experience not being great, it's hard to invest confidence in the club set up. Long way to go to win confidence back
4. League two isn't glamour. Nice as it was to see us knock 4 past Accrington and ease past Luton the league isn't a particularly attractive one. Certainly wins will bring people back but it looks a poor league this year and without attractive games other alternatives will appeal to people. Especially mid week games when the champions league is on the telly
Really think it will be some time and probably a promotion before we see us average 5500 home fans at games. Hopefully the clubs budgeted for much lower crowds this year
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2014 12:46:40 GMT 1
All these wonderful systems are great, are you prepared for the price hike to install? I could almost accept that argument at an old ground but this is supposed to be a modern state of the ground. Yet it is has made life a lot more expensive and inconvenient for the average fan. If we compare: | Gay Meadow | New Meadow | Price | Standing - £13 Sitting - ? | £20 | Choices of watching a game | Standing where you want or sitting down | Sitting down | Getting a ticket | Turning up and paying at the turnstyle | Purchasing in advance to guarantee your seat or turning up before kick off, queuing to get a ticket and then queuing to get in the ground | Access/Exit | A single point of access/exit | A single road and a 'short cut' down a dark narrow alleyway | Getting to the ground | A short walk from the town centre/train station/bus station
| A taxi/bus from the town centre/train station/bus station Buses from various pubs
| Parking
| Nearby public car parks and on street parking
| Private car parks nearby
| Facilities Nearby
| Numerous pubs, cafe's, chip shops etc in the town centre, Coleham and Abbey Foregate
| Two pubs within 10-15 minute walk One bar for home fans by the away entrance A out of town retail park
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Do you accept that for the average fan, it looks more inconvenient for someone wanting to go to a Shrewsbury Town match?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2014 13:18:57 GMT 1
Think you are getting the opinion that all STFC fans live in Shrewsbury, a majority of the fans have been getting in and out of games for years who live outside the town, well before the stadium move.
Like i say, i really think there are 3 or 4 people who actually look for the negatives rather than the positives, and will slate the club on the new ground, but it really is better than the old ground.
If people want to go, then there is without little fuss, plenty of ways to get to the ground, places to park, and can have a beer. Personally, i find it a lot easier, and can be home within 25 minutes of getting back to my car.
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5888
Sept 1, 2014 13:41:37 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2014 13:41:37 GMT 1
It's ridiculous that on a match day you have to go to the ticket office on the one side of the stadium. If you want to go in the West stand, and approach from Sainsbury's, it is such a pain. None of this stuff really matters to the hardcore support but it annoys the heck out of casual fans. And many season ticket holders forget just how irritating it is. It's ridiculous that on a match day you have to go to the ticket office on the one side of the stadium. If you want to go in the West stand, and approach from Sainsbury's, it is such a pain. Why is it ridiculous?? it takes about 3 minutes to walk,what about the fact that now we dont have to train part time casual staff to do cash handling course, insurance for that? and the cash is all kept in one place with secure approachs. now we just need somebody to be able to tear of the strip of a ticket.... Seriously getting knickers in a twist for a 3 minute walk. honestly i am gobsmacked by the lasiness of people, but then that just sums up how people want everything handed on a plate. Another opinion is that i reckon we lost support due to playing and entertainment values, and that our support overall has increased since the ground move which really places into context this argument. What was average attendance in out last season at GM? and then compare it 2 seasonns ago....
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Post by ThrobsBlackHat on Sept 1, 2014 13:58:55 GMT 1
It wasn't an argument until you got involved. It was a list of ways it could be improved. To you, it's about sheer laziness. Ok, but guess what, people don't have to come and watch football. We need to make it easy for them. Supermarkets don't need to give you a trolley, but you buy more stuff when they make easy for you. If someone is elderly, injured, disabled or has small children then the walk under the underpass, then having to walk to the very far side of the stadium, to have to come back exactly the same way to their seat is certainly an irritation, and possibly the hurdle that prevents them going.
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5888
Sept 1, 2014 15:43:12 GMT 1
Post by venceremos on Sept 1, 2014 15:43:12 GMT 1
I might want to go to the cinema. If I had to park at Shirehall and catch a bus to the cinema, then walk to the greenhous showroom to buy a ticket, it's a bit more of a pain. But isn't that true of any football ground? Which football league grounds have the parking and entrance convenience of a multiscreen cinema? Then again, you generally pay through the nose at the multiplex to watch endlessly recycled versions of the same trashy films - and effectively pay a premium for your parking if you buy massively overpriced refreshments. I prefer to find parking and walk to the Old Market Hall myself but each to his own. If you've got the money and the inclination, you can buy season tickets for the car park and the football. It must be a pretty smooth transaction then. Personally, I don't think that's great value and prefer to park and walk but that's all part of going to the match for me. I was in town on Saturday morning so called in at GM at 1:00 and all the ticket windows were open. I swapped some flexi ticket vouchers and my season ticket for match tickets together, bought a programme and was off to the pub in no time. I've occasionally been in the queue just before kick off but accept that's down to me not being able to get organised earlier. It's just how things are done now, not just here but everywhere. It's a shame if that puts off anyone so much that they give up but then people have different reasons for going anyway - habits change, life changes. Anyway, strikes me the flexi-ticket vouchers (which I think are a great innovation) are going to contribute to heavier demand at the ticket office on match days. If you exchange a voucher for a ticket there's no changing your mind, so it's no wonder people delay until match day before committing. No easy answer, although the South Stand get-what-you're-given section for latecomers seems a good one.
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5888
Sept 1, 2014 15:43:31 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2014 15:43:31 GMT 1
;)Well not really an argument is it, its discussion.....
But terms such as ridiculous due to have a walk for 3 minutes out of your way, making it easier for new supporters, really if they decide they want to go for the first time, they will arrive at a point in the ground, ask where they can buy a ticket and do just that, they wont know what happened at the last ground as they have never been there.
It will be just the way things are, people are looking at what they had and comparing, at Leicester I had to walk past the entrance, 200 yards to buy a ticket and walk back, I had a Cpl of people with me, and said, just wait there till I get back, no hardship, no saying "ahh wish they had cash turnstiles" just plain and simply got on with it.
I would suggest that anybody that goes to modern day new football stadiums will have exactly the same issues, very few now have cash turnstiles.
Anybody with elderly and disabled just need to get in touch with the club and they will help, just ask Matron, those with young kids, exercise is good for em!!
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5888
Sept 1, 2014 15:57:34 GMT 1
Post by venceremos on Sept 1, 2014 15:57:34 GMT 1
Blocks 6 & 7 seem much less well attended than when we were family standers a few years ago. Not sure why that should be - the pricing's more generous there than anywhere.
Bit of a worry for the future that. I suspect it might be a combination of some falling off of interest in football (feels like gates are lower generally) and the insidious tentacles of Sky/BT and the Premier League squeezing the life out of lower level football.
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5888
Sept 1, 2014 16:23:24 GMT 1
Post by El Huracán!!!! on Sept 1, 2014 16:23:24 GMT 1
To be fair the argument is hardly valid (if there is or is not a problem), from what I know of the club at the moment, there is a real drive to improve the service and speed at the ticket office and the whole ticket issue in total. its IS recognised as a problem, the club have received numerous complaints and the SP have raised it as an issue with the new CE. Its not a few people moaning, its something that the club know is an issue at times and are now trying to sort.
Any ideas are welcome I would guess, personally for me not giving people a choice in the last half an hour seems the way forward, but that would annoy some people i guess.
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5888
Sept 1, 2014 16:25:00 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2014 16:25:00 GMT 1
Could well be a number of younger regulars accompanied by adult family members have come of age. We were regulars in the Family stand but moved over to the West Stand from the beginning of the 2012/13 season
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5888
Sept 1, 2014 16:31:19 GMT 1
Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2014 16:31:19 GMT 1
To be fair the argument is hardly valid (if there is or is not a problem), from what I know of the club at the moment, there is a real drive to improve the service and speed at the ticket office and the whole ticket issue in total. its IS recognised as a problem, the club have received numerous complaints and the SP have raised it as an issue with the new CE. Its not a few people moaning, its something that the club know is an issue at times and are now trying to sort. Any ideas are welcome I would guess, personally for me not giving people a choice in the last half an hour seems the way forward, but that would annoy some people i guess. Yep, the club could do their bit, but also the individuals also need to be realistic in there expectations.
But how about a starter, 2 queues, 1 for cash 1 for card, then have it Disney style using 5 or 6 pieces of Ped Barrier, at the moment you jump into 3 or 4 queues and it gets frustrating sometimes because 1 queue can move quicker than the others. The club could also place signage that if you join the queue after a certain time, there is a danger you will not be served in time for kick off.
people should also be encouraged to arrive earlier. Why is it a problem at the moment though?? possibly unrealistic expectations from customers by turning up later than should be realistically possible given the resources available.
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Post by ThrobsBlackHat on Sept 1, 2014 16:47:10 GMT 1
It's just about removing barriers for people.
Making it easier.
Then more people will come.
The more of a ball ache it is, the less someone will bother.
I'm delighted they removed the match day extra charges and if queuing is an outcome so be it.
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