Lessons to be learnt from Sunday

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

Off the pitch, there are a couple of things I believe we can learn from Southampton.

1. Stewards - thought they were excellent - sit where you want, stand if you want to (towards the back)- can we have an unallocated seating section at Falmer?

2. Catering - maybe I was just lucky but before the game very minimal wait and at half time I was able to go to the toilet, get food and a drink before the game restarted.

3. Park and Ride - paid £5.00 per car - in other words you only paid for it IF you used it.

4. Ticket office. A couple of those we went with didn't have tickets before we got there - turned up, paid cash at the Ticket Office. Something that HAS to be possible at Falmer. All this about a 'Cashless Stadium' - we MUST make Falmer 'Cacual Fan Friendly'

 

[ali jenkins]

Off the pitch, there are a couple of things I believe we can learn from Southampton.

1. Stewards - thought they were excellent - sit where you want, stand if you want to (towards the back)- can we have an unallocated seating section at Falmer?

No we cant, hvng one of those would mean mking the capacity smaller!

2. Catering - maybe I was just lucky but before the game very minimal wait and at half time I was able to go to the toilet, get food and a drink before the game restarted.

3. Park and Ride - paid £5.00 per car - in other words you only paid for it IF you used it.

one of the conditions of using Withdean is that EVERY ticket has to include a travel voucher, its not something theclu add on to make money!!! Id imagine its the same at Falmer!

4. Ticket office. A couple of those we went with didn't have tickets before we got there - turned up, paid cash at the Ticket Office. Something that HAS to be possible at Falmer. All this about a 'Cashless Stadium' - we MUST make Falmer 'Cacual Fan Friendly'

We will not be able to 'pay on the gate' at Falmer, a cash-less stadium is the next closest thing!

 

[GT49er]

OK, so they might not want to deal with cash on the gate - but for ff's sake, why on earth can't they have some turnstiles where they can swipe your credit / debit card to let you in?

 

[skipper734]

They didn't do themselves any favours, creating a good atmosphere for us as away fans.
The park and ride was good, and I live here. Forced to pay cash for an over 60 and an under 16 ticket total of £27 on the gate.
There were some red plastic things in the stands, I don't know what they were for.
Just like proper football, way back when.

 

[skr80]

OK, so they might not want to deal with cash on the gate - but for ff's sake, why on earth can't they have some turnstiles where they can swipe your credit / debit card to let you in?

crazy if not!

 

[The Grockle]

OK, so they might not want to deal with cash on the gate - but for ff's sake, why on earth can't they have some turnstiles where they can swipe your credit / debit card to let you in?

The ticketless system will just be like using an Oyster card except it will be easier to charge them. I think the system will be much easier for 'casual' fans to attend games, you could simply charge the matchday ticket on the way to the game by text, online or just call the ticket office.

It will be as simple as ordering a pizza or topping up a mobile phone.

 

[ali jenkins]

OK, so they might not want to deal with cash on the gate - but for ff's sake, why on earth can't they have some turnstiles where they can swipe your credit / debit card to let you in?

Because thats still paying on the gate!

The plannin permission stated that we cant sell tickets on the gate, by cash, card or camells!

There are plans, I think, to try and get around this by having 'selling points' en-rute to the stadium but you cat do it AT the ground

 

[desprateseagull]

ok, lets buy up that Falmer pub (cant bear to name it), and setup a ticket counter..

 

[Billy Mays]

I don't understand why it's a condition of the planning app that there are no sales at the stadium on matchdays. In the leisure industry is any group of people shat on as much as football fans? It's ridiculous. Would a cinema or theatre survive if it treated it's customers that way? Not a criticism of the Albion but of the general crap football fans are forced to put up with.

 

[Bwian]

deleted

 

[Brovion]

Off the pitch, there are a couple of things I believe we can learn from Southampton.

1. Stewards - thought they were excellent - sit where you want, stand if you want to (towards the back)- can we have an unallocated seating section at Falmer?

2. Catering - maybe I was just lucky but before the game very minimal wait and at half time I was able to go to the toilet, get food and a drink before the game restarted.

3. Park and Ride - paid £5.00 per car - in other words you only paid for it IF you used it.

4. Ticket office. A couple of those we went with didn't have tickets before we got there - turned up, paid cash at the Ticket Office. Something that HAS to be possible at Falmer. All this about a 'Cashless Stadium' - we MUST make Falmer 'Cacual Fan Friendly'

Oh deary me are YOU going to get told off. Points 1, 3, and 4 are all good binfest material.

 

[Notters]

I reckon the stewards were only good this time because they didn't want to be seen wrestling people on tv. They were ANIMALS last time and I still don't ever want to go there again.

 

[Gwylan]

I don't understand why it's a condition of the planning app that there are no sales at the stadium on matchdays. In the leisure industry is any group of people shat on as much as football fans? It's ridiculous. Would a cinema or theatre survive if it treated it's customers that way? Not a criticism of the Albion but of the general crap football fans are forced to put up with.

Well, that's because cinema audiences don't tend to start fights with each other. At least I don't recall any past disturbances at the Odeon where the audience for Star Wars has spilled out in the foyer and got a bit tasty with the fans of Police Academy. Nor do I recall people coming out of the National Theatre having just seen Othello, charging over Waterloo bridge for a bit of fisticuffs with punters leaving Chicago,

I know that's unfair on 99 percent of football fans but that's the reason for the crazy restrictions that are placed on all clubs and it's no good moaning about it. You may as well ask why cricket fans can watch the game with a beer in their hands and football fans can't.

 

[Questions]

Well, that's because cinema audiences don't tend to start fights with each other. At least I don't recall any past disturbances at the Odeon where the audience for Star Wars has spilled out in the foyer and got a bit tasty with the fans of Police Academy. Nor do I recall people coming out of the National Theatre having just seen Othello, charging over Waterloo bridge for a bit of fisticuffs with punters leaving Chicago,

I know that's unfair on 99 percent of football fans but that's the reason for the crazy restrictions that are placed on all clubs and it's no good moaning about it. You may as well ask why cricket fans can watch the game with a beer in their hands and football fans can't.

Good post, though anyone who went to see Police Academy and thought it funny probably deserved a slap.

 

[cardboard]

If you want to go to Falmer you will either Park and Ride or get the train (well the vast majority anyway) you can buy a ticket at Brighton railway station or at any of the P and R sites.
Once you have been once you get a card. You then top it up as late as you want before kick off. Its very, very close to paying by cash.

 

[The Grockle]

If you want to go to Falmer you will either Park and Ride or get the train (well the vast majority anyway) you can buy a ticket at Brighton railway station or at any of the P and R sites.
Once you have been once you get a card. You then top it up as late as you want before kick off. Its very, very close to paying by cash.

I’d say it’s easier than using cash. No queuing at the game for the ticket office, straight to the turnstyles. The only time I can see it being a pain is when people buy a ticket for the first time when they will have to obtain their smart card.

Mark my words people will be praising this ticketing system in two years time, it will be modern, efficient and most importantly be easy to use.

 

[Arthritic Toe]

It is really helpful if neutral fans or people who happen to be staying in Brighton, or general 'not that interested in football' Sussex families can decide on Saturday morning to go watch a game in the afternoon. It is really important that such people are not put off by bureaucracy. If they cant buy on the gate, there must be a clear and simple way of getting a ticket (or e-ticket?). If they come that first time, are treated well and enjoy themselves, they will come again. Its an important way to grow the clubs fan base.

 

[Dandyman]

Off the pitch, there are a couple of things I believe we can learn from Southampton.

1. Stewards - thought they were excellent - sit where you want, stand if you want to (towards the back)- can we have an unallocated seating section at Falmer?

'

Agree - very good and sensible stewards.

 

[Notters]

Agree - very good and sensible stewards.

See my post above. Reports from other fans this season suggest otherwise.