[Albion] New fan zone - "The Terrace" [Opening 1/4/25 v Aston Villa]

[ROSM]

The Amex bit is only the mezzanine level.

Or, possibly, one section of the mezzanine level.

Having just watched one of the club's fly-through videos, it looks like there is more seating space upstairs than down, which would make it slightly lop-sided if Amex cardmembers (plus guests) have access to more space than everyone else.

It also looks like the stage area is upstairs so, again, it would feel a bit strange to exclude the bulk of fans from this.

The should prioritise Amex card holders by how long they've been a member (or how much interest they've paid Amex over the years )

 

[jackalbion]

The Amex bit is only the mezzanine level.

Or, possibly, one section of the mezzanine level.

Having just watched one of the club's fly-through videos, it looks like there is more seating space upstairs than down, which would make it slightly lop-sided if Amex cardmembers (plus guests) have access to more space than everyone else.

It also looks like the stage area is upstairs so, again, it would feel a bit strange to exclude the bulk of fans from this.

I get it from a business perspective, but I'm not sure I agree with this corporate level, who has this been built for? Brighton fans or Amex Card Holders? I know a couple of Amex card holders, but its not going to be enough to get most of my mates who I drink with after the game. Are they going to turn away 4 guests with one Amex card, seems completely abstractive for a large portion of fanbase, a lot of whom don't fit the bracket of people who have or ever will have an Amex Card.

 

[el punal]

I've got a feeling about this zone

If it’s erogenous then definitely.

 

[Insel affe]

"with the American Express Clubhouse you can enjoy the Fan Zone from an elevated position"

That's me in!

Hark @ Herr Hochnäsiger...

 

[Brovion]

'Melts Cafe'

That was a compromise. Apparently they were gonna call it the 'Bedwetters' Bar'!

 

[MattBackHome]

Yep all makes sense.

I'm so relieved that they've confirmed it will be a bar experience though. I was getting worried it would just be a normal bar.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I get it from a business perspective, but I'm not sure I agree with this corporate level, who has this been built for? Brighton fans or Amex Card Holders? I know a couple of Amex card holders, but its not going to be enough to get most of my mates who I drink with after the game. Are they going to turn away 4 guests with one Amex card, seems completely abstractive for a large portion of fanbase, a lot of whom don't fit the bracket of people who have or ever will have an Amex Card.

I presume they're hoping more fans will sign up for a card? Maybe this is the way if you cannot get all your mates in...10% discount on food and drink as well? Either this or just head to the Albert?

 

[Bozza]

I get it from a business perspective, but I'm not sure I agree with this corporate level, who has this been built for? Brighton fans or Amex Card Holders? I know a couple of Amex card holders, but its not going to be enough to get most of my mates who I drink with after the game. Are they going to turn away 4 guests with one Amex card, seems completely abstractive for a large portion of fanbase, a lot of whom don't fit the bracket of people who have or ever will have an Amex Card.

Only part of the place is for Amex cardholders - the rest is "general admission".

I'm going to ask the club the capacity split between the two areas.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Yep all makes sense.

I'm so relieved that they've confirmed it will be a bar experience though. I was getting worried it would just be a normal bar.

I'm pleased they're putting on a DJ set as well - conversation is over-rated

 

[Deadly Danson]

They can only show away games that have been selected for UK TV coverage.

It probably remains to be seen if they will open for the (rare) Saturday 3pm away games that are not being screened.

Ah, that's a shame. They'd make a killing if they could get around that.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Lost Boys Chicken is a good call, very partial to their wings, curly fries and rufio sauce at The Joker

Shame no Uncle Sams tho

 

[brighton_tom]

Only part of the place is for Amex cardholders - the rest is "general admission".

I'm going to ask the club the capacity split between the two areas.

Part of the upper floor? Or the entire upper floor?

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Overall very positive about this but it must be the most commercialised bar in the whole UK.

 

[Bozza]

Part of the upper floor? Or the entire upper floor?

I've already written about that above somewhere.

In short: you can interpret what the club have said either way. I'm asking that question too.

 

[chaileyjem]

Only part of the place is for Amex cardholders - the rest is "general admission".

I'm going to ask the club the capacity split between the two areas.

@jackalbion It looks like from the plans and the photos that this area , sorry the "American Express Clubhouse Area" is a smaller upstairs bit - its not a 2nd floor , its a "mezzanine" /balcony space . You can see it quite well in this new mock up video via

https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/pages/en/stadium-developments?srsltid=AfmBOoqGvomRjBhfdVQvCn7wdmUbgwbR2EALW5-_CM1CZ_4_lWSoLAe2

Looks like there's a bar and more tables up there and that's where the band or DJ "stage" will be .

THere's some new mock up pictures on that page . Here's the only one giving you a view of the upstairs.

 

[jackalbion]

I presume they're hoping more fans will sign up for a card? Maybe this is the way if you cannot get all your mates in...10% discount on food and drink as well? Either this or just head to the Albert?

I won't be heading there for pre game, why would I sign up for an Amex if I don't need one? They have the 10% discount, for food and drink, no bother with that. Personally when they said they were building a fan zone for people to enter, I was hoping there wouldn't be a restriction to entry for some areas, but it seems there is for some. It should be utilised by all fans all of the time.

 

[Hamilton]

Richard Campbell, Trading Director at Heineken UK said: “We’re delighted to be expanding our sponsorship of Brighton & Hove Albion FC by partnering together to create the new Heineken Fan Zone. Just like the team at the American Express Stadium we are always looking at how we can elevate the fan experience, and The Terrace will be the perfect place to do just that. We’re looking forward to seeing supporters old and new enjoying our beers and ciders whilst celebrating an Albion matchday.”

Maybe by not selling Heineken?

 

[Bozza]

@jackalbion It looks like from the plans and the photos that this area , sorry the "American Express Clubhouse Area" is a smaller upstairs bit - its not a 2nd floor , its a "mezzanine" /balcony space . You can see it quite well in this new mock up video via

https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/pages/en/stadium-developments?srsltid=AfmBOoqGvomRjBhfdVQvCn7wdmUbgwbR2EALW5-_CM1CZ_4_lWSoLAe2

I'm not sure if we're disucssing the same thing or not.

But from that video - which I'd already watched - the upstairs/balcony/mezzanine looks bigger than the downstairs probably because of all the back-office space taken up downstairs with kitchens and staff areas etc.

Also, as I said above, the stage is also on that level.

So, it would feel a bit lop-sided if the entire upstairs/balcony/mezzanine was for Amex cardholders (+guests), and downstairs was for everyone else, given "everyone else" will be a bigger group than Amex cardholders.

Anyway, I've asked the club the following questions. I'll provide feedback when I get a response:

1.⁠ ⁠Is the entire mezzanine level for Amex cardholders (+guests) or just part of that upper level?

2.⁠ ⁠⁠Of the 1,000 internal capacity, what’s the split between the Amex Clubhouse area and the general admission area?

3.⁠ ⁠⁠The fly-through video shows the stage as being on the mezzanine level - is that in a general admission area, or is it in the Amex Clubhouse area?

 

[jackalbion]

@jackalbion It looks like from the plans and the photos that this area , sorry the "American Express Clubhouse Area" is a smaller upstairs bit - its not a 2nd floor , its a "mezzanine" /balcony space . You can see it quite well in this new mock up video via

https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/pages/en/stadium-developments?srsltid=AfmBOoqGvomRjBhfdVQvCn7wdmUbgwbR2EALW5-_CM1CZ_4_lWSoLAe2

Looks like there's a bar and more tables up there and that's where the band or DJ "stage" will be .

Agree but I still don't agree with the principle of it, this has been built for the benefit of fans, not Amex cardholders. Its a relatively moot point, but I just know from experience at events like British Summer Time in London, that these 'Amex Exclusive queues' and 'Amex Exclusive Areas' just descend into complete farce. With huge queues in the normal queues while 5 or 6 staff stand there staring into space because nobody has an Amex.

 

[Bob!]

@jackalbion It looks like from the plans and the photos that this area , sorry the "American Express Clubhouse Area" is a smaller upstairs bit - its not a 2nd floor , its a "mezzanine" /balcony space . You can see it quite well in this new mock up video via

https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/pages/en/stadium-developments?srsltid=AfmBOoqGvomRjBhfdVQvCn7wdmUbgwbR2EALW5-_CM1CZ_4_lWSoLAe2

Looks like there's a bar and more tables up there and that's where the band or DJ "stage" will be .

THere's some new mock up pictures on that page . Here's the only one giving you a view of the upstairs.

View attachment 197460

So, the band's are upstairs, and Amex cardholders get exclusivity!

For the fans, but only the right ones?