Only 250 quid to [jump the queue for*] the Seven Stars Sports bar.. [* = get in to]

[dazzer6666]

I would (but wont). I know of many who will knowing the kind of clientele there is in there (no kids). I pay a lot more than £250 extra to stay in a 'kids free' hotel with no queuing up for anything for 14 nights so £250 for 23 games is cheap. Still wont though.

Same here. Don't usually drink on match days but if I did I'd be quite happy to pay another £20 a month for this rather than trying to balance a pie and a pint on a cold concourse whilst looking at a tv screen 10 yards away (even accepting that our concourses and facilities are vastly better than most other clubs). It's basically the 'premium economy' to the 1901 'business class'......

 

[jamie the seagull]

I can tell you if I was on holiday with my family I sure as shit would not be replying to anything that hasn't come from Bloom or Hughton and certainly not a fan pissing and moaning about having to pay to get into a bar. So, yeah, what a guy.

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

When you earn £500,000 per year you are never on holiday..you answer every call and email..might be the recruitment team!

 

[Norman Baker suck my lozenge]

Barber missive says Tony Bloom covering a £1.5 million per month loss by the club!

http://www.seagulls.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/7-stars-brighton-hove-albion-3202774.aspx

I'd be interested to find out what the monthly losses were before Barber became CEO.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Scotty Mac]

Average away fans traveling with the Albion is around 2000 and so it is my expectation that most on here don't know how well off they are at the Amex.
I visited a few aways last season and whilst some had fair facilities there were some that were awful. Charlton with a new ground had two blokes serving from an outside bar. With the new grounds being built out of town there are rarely any nearby pubs.
Certainly I don't recall any bandstands and outside ale and chippy bars any where else. Our concourse is second to none regarding layout but if I could get quicker service pre-match and half time I'd spend more. My Mum would like a seat and I often ask a kid to move so she can sit in the window sill.

We are probably in the top five for concourses in the division. Off the top of my head, Cardiff, Rotherham, Wolves, Wigan and Birmingham are all amicable. Must have been more drunk than I thought at Preston this season as have no recollection of it.

The difference of course being that at every other ground in the Championship you are using it briefly pre match and at half time so the standard of facilities aren't overly important. They aren't there to try and keep you there after.

The Amex is unique in that they want you to stay behind to smooth the flow of people leaving. And in mid winter drinking in a glorified concrete bunker that doubles up as a wind tunnel isn't exactly enticing

I wasn't making any point. I still don't see why the club are doing this. I don't see the need for the sarcasm.

 

[Gazwag]

All they have to do is say there are some special blue and white pokemon creatures inside and it will sell out

 

[Captain Sensible]

Typical 'cap in hand' excuse that every company comes out with when it closes something the public were enjoying, due to costs. I don't believe the Albion were ever losing money on it. They just might not have been making as much as they wanted. Football has been good, stadium 90% full, it's the perfect time to piss a minority of fans off. But the worry for me is, it's the thin end of the wedge. Where next? Travel subsidy? Harveys? Price increase and closing earlier?
The point is, the 7 stars is inside the stand, Sodexo staff it and stock and sell from it, there is no loss making. Barber just wants more cash, end of. His grovelling excuses on such a public stage have really exposed him as being a cost cutting axe man with no idea how to generate cash apart from put up prices and cuts.
Very very poor from Barber and as a dad of 2 that used the place with the Mrs, he's pissed 4 STH's right off!!!! To start a season disgruntled doesn't help, it makes me wonder why I pay the club 2k a year. Honestly if we don't all enjoy this next coming season, I'll be re thinking my season tickets.

 

[pastafarian]

Our concourse is second to none regarding layout but if I could get quicker service pre-match and half time I'd spend more.

This situation(at least with regards to half time) could be easily remedied.
Abolish the law that says we cant drink in our seats.It is incredibly out of date and not fit for purpose.Let people buy a beer when they want and take it back to their seat.......like how other sports fans can who are not demonised.

 

[Notters]

I’d love to know how the club analysed whether or not this bar was profitable (as if that should be the only consideration). Surely no area of the stadium can be considered on its own? The people using the bar had already bought tickets for the game, and it was part of their match day experience. Will they come to as many games now they don’t have a place to meet others? Is the memorial garden profitable? How about the steps to the West Upper?

The comments [MENTION=14365]Thunder Bolt[/MENTION] has received from the club re seating beggar belief. This is desperately needed, particularly between the station and the car parks and the ground for those who can’t walk far in one go. At any other ground you’d have walls and things to sit on, but there is nothing save the memorial garden, and I know this is putting off some people from attending. As stated previously, the club originally promised the earth – free use of stadium rooms for meetings and birthdays, etc., for season ticket holders, for example. I don’t see how rinsing fans for all they are worth will help make them money in the long term.

 

[Brovion]

I’d love to know how the club analysed whether or not this bar was profitable (as if that should be the only consideration). Surely no area of the stadium can be considered on its own? The people using the bar had already bought tickets for the game, and it was part of their match day experience. Will they come to as many games now they don’t have a place to meet others? Is the memorial garden profitable? How about the steps to the West Upper?

....

The 'profitability' is a red herring and I can't believe people have fallen for it (Well, I can actually). The fact is in order to generate some more income the club wanted to introduce another class between STH and 1901; '1901 lite' if you will. These people will get their own lounge, not quite up to 1901 standards but a cut above the concrete concourses. Now where to put it .... Dicks? Naa, that's quite iconic and also that's where all the gobby fans go, too much trouble. Leave that battle for another day. Seven Stars Bar? Ideal. We've already re-branded that once We'll just say that it's being re-imagined as the previous incarnation didn't work due to operational problems, logistical constraints, staffing issues, admission problems, etc. Oh dear people have seen through that and we're looking a bit money-grabbing. Ok, re-emphasise the 'operational problems' bit but add the fact that we're losing billions, that should swing it.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I’d love to know how the club analysed whether or not this bar was profitable (as if that should be the only consideration). Surely no area of the stadium can be considered on its own? The people using the bar had already bought tickets for the game, and it was part of their match day experience. Will they come to as many games now they don’t have a place to meet others? Is the memorial garden profitable? How about the steps to the West Upper?

The comments [MENTION=14365]Thunder Bolt[/MENTION] has received from the club re seating beggar belief. This is desperately needed, particularly between the station and the car parks and the ground for those who can’t walk far in one go. At any other ground you’d have walls and things to sit on, but there is nothing save the memorial garden, and I know this is putting off some people from attending. As stated previously, the club originally promised the earth – free use of stadium rooms for meetings and birthdays, etc., for season ticket holders, for example. I don’t see how rinsing fans for all they are worth will help make them money in the long term.

It was a pain in the arse anyway. Crap bar service, always ran out of Harvey's. We used to go in as the kids liked it, but to be honest, you either had to be in there around 12.30 or pretty much leave before the FT whistle to get in there after. Then you'd queue for 30mins to get a beer. Too much aggro. Swan, beer around Brighton Station, concourses all preferable really. We have one fans bar as Dick's, I don't begrudge the club looking at this as more of a members bar. It isn't rinsing anyone if they are prepared to pay it. I don't go to a football match to be provided with plush bars. It was always a bonus, not a basic requirement as it were. Would be happy to see a few bench seats around the walls of the concourses, that would make amends.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I’d love to know how the club analysed whether or not this bar was profitable (as if that should be the only consideration). Surely no area of the stadium can be considered on its own? The people using the bar had already bought tickets for the game, and it was part of their match day experience. Will they come to as many games now they don’t have a place to meet others? Is the memorial garden profitable? How about the steps to the West Upper?

The comments [MENTION=14365]Thunder Bolt[/MENTION] has received from the club re seating beggar belief. This is desperately needed, particularly between the station and the car parks and the ground for those who can’t walk far in one go. At any other ground you’d have walls and things to sit on, but there is nothing save the memorial garden, and I know this is putting off some people from attending. As stated previously, the club originally promised the earth – free use of stadium rooms for meetings and birthdays, etc., for season ticket holders, for example. I don’t see how rinsing fans for all they are worth will help make them money in the long term.

It's worth mentioning the benches in the Memorial garden, were paid for by the fans.

 

[Bozza]

It was a pain in the arse anyway. Crap bar service, always ran out of Harvey's. Then you'd queue for 30mins to get a beer. Too much aggro.

Sounds like the same story as the concourses a lot of the time...

Club: buy more stuff from us (we're losing money and you want us to buy good players)
Fans: we're trying but your staff are crap and they often run out of what we want.

 

[Dick Swiveller]

It's worth mentioning the benches in the Memorial garden, were paid for by the fans.

If more benches are needed, it could be a good memorial option as well. Enough seafronts and scenic walks have memorial benches. Could be a good crowdfunding opportunity to put in much needed seating as well as memorialising fans. Whether or not the club should be providing them is another matter but there was a lot of interest in the stones when the Amex was built so there may be some appetite for the fans to fill the breach again.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Typical 'cap in hand' excuse that every company comes out with when it closes something the public were enjoying, due to costs. I don't believe the Albion were ever losing money on it. They just might not have been making as much as they wanted. Football has been good, stadium 90% full, it's the perfect time to piss a minority of fans off. But the worry for me is, it's the thin end of the wedge. Where next? Travel subsidy? Harveys? Price increase and closing earlier?
The point is, the 7 stars is inside the stand, Sodexo staff it and stock and sell from it, there is no loss making. Barber just wants more cash, end of. His grovelling excuses on such a public stage have really exposed him as being a cost cutting axe man with no idea how to generate cash apart from put up prices and cuts.
Very very poor from Barber and as a dad of 2 that used the place with the Mrs, he's pissed 4 STH's right off!!!! To start a season disgruntled doesn't help, it makes me wonder why I pay the club 2k a year. Honestly if we don't all enjoy this next coming season, I'll be re thinking my season tickets.

Understandably pixxed off, but a 'man with no ideas'? Kinda blows your whole post to pieces.

 

[Martlet]

As a regular user of the 7 Stars with the family last year, I'm pretty disappointed about this - but can understand some of the reasons. A lot of people used it as somewhere nice to take families, watch TV and eat their packed lunches - with no entrance fee or requirement to buy a drink.
That the food offering was so poor - limited to pies and sausage rolls, which often ran out anyway - didn't exactly help.

As has been said earlier, what the club seems to want to do is turn it into a business-class lounge for STHs and scrap the concept of a family lounge altogether. I may well have considered paying the £250, if I was able to take a guest or two (ie my 9-y.o) in as well - but to charge him £250 to use it, when his ST only costs £100, is patently ridiculous.

With kids prevented from going into Dick's as well - if the club want people to turn up early / stay later, they should do a lot more to improve the concourse experience. I'd challenge anyone to try to have something to eat & drink, with two kids - and nothing other than the floor to rest drinks on.

 

[Ernest]

If you went to Withdean you didn't need lounges, you couldn't even get a beer and now people moan about the slightest THING.

 

[drew]

If you went to Withdean you didn't need lounges, you couldn't even get a beer and now people moan about the slightest THING.

Have to agree, probably for the first time ever, with something Ernest has posted.

 

[Bold Seagull]

With kids prevented from going into Dick's as well - if the club want people to turn up early / stay later, they should do a lot more to improve the concourse experience. I'd challenge anyone to try to have something to eat & drink, with two kids - and nothing other than the floor to rest drinks on.

Concourse Challenge 2016

I like it.

You Must:
1. Order 2 pints, 1 soft drink, and 3 pies within 20mins of arrival.
2. Transport all items yourself to nearest condiment station, apply condiments and retrieve forks and napkins.
3. Distribute items accordingly.
4. In the absence of shelving, consume your pint, and eat pie without putting anything down.

Points awarded:
i. 1 point for every minute under the 20mins ordering time.
ii. 5 points for clean transit to condiment station
iii. 25 points for no spillage successful consumption of pie and pint.

Points deducted:
a. 1 point for every minute over the 20mins ordering time.
b. 5 points for any spillage of drinks in transit
c. additional 5 points for any spillage that hits a 3rd party.
d. 5 points for any food or sauce spilt upon clothing
e. 10 point deduction for the wrong use of bin for general waste or recyclable waste.

A badge of achievement is awarded for any score over 25 points. 'North Stand Chat Concourse Master'.

 

[wigman]

If you went to Withdean you didn't need lounges, you couldn't even get a beer and now people moan about the slightest THING.

Corporate hospitality at the Withers was a portakabin.

 

[Icy Gull]

If you went to Withdean you didn't need lounges, you couldn't even get a beer and now people moan about the slightest THING.

And there you have the difference between a club fans feel part of and one where making money is the prime motivation and the fan is a customer of a business. We all knew it would come to this if we wanted to compete outsides Division Three.