[Albion] ST= Travel

[Bozza]

Nobody ever mentions though that to use Seagull Travel you have to potentially be picked up several hours before KO. Again if times a factor and you don’t have the luxury of…Same problem with P&R. Mill Rd Opened at 11am and unless you’re in it within first half hour you may well be stuck with a car you can’t park anywhere. Again, means leaving earlier as an exile so again this i.e.shite transport is a massive factor in giving up ST and/or following the Albion. You need the entire day and evening off to watch these days. Because our transport options are terrible.

Oh, I certainly get that too.

Even driving from Worthing, a home game can take up six hours all in. It kinda feels like an all-day event from here.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Maybe not entirely an older person thing, but certainly a "where you are in your life" thing.

If you use the train and are in no great rush to get away from the Amex then there is no issue, particularly if you like a drink and a post-game catch-up with like-minded others.

And that's how my matchdays were for the first 6 or 7 years of the Amex era: early train to Brighton, pub beers, train to Falmer, watch the game, down to the WSL or North concourses for post-match beers and wandering back to the train an hour or two later when the queues were long gone.

In those days, I had no issues at all with the transport provision.

Now I take my 14-y-o and although he'd be fine with the pre-match bit - he'd entertain himself on his phone, the post-match bit wouldn't be much fun for him, hence we drive and park.

So, if you have stuff you need to get home for and/or have kids or other dependents and/or have a distance to travel, the transport can be a pain unless you drive/park, use Seagull Travel or leave before the final whistle.

Kick off time and date is a big factor for me. My son’s now 18, we sit with my mate and his student sons and go to the pub with a mixed age group so that’s all good.

Saturday 3pm or 5.30 is great. Just go to the pub, go to the match, jobs a goodun. 12.30s at home I dislike. I’ve no inclination to start drinking heavily at 10am and feel I should get home to make the most of the rest of the day.

Sundays are a ball ache because of my job. I travel a fair bit and we also have clients in the Middle East who sometimes want a call on Sunday. I’ve missed Palace and Forest due to last minute work travel. Even if I’m here Sundays are generally worse travel wise, though doable.

Evening games are my bete noire. I might be away. If I’m not then I’ll generally have to bunk work at 4 to avoid the worst of the rush hour / football travel clash. And often won’t get home until nearly midnight, often with an early start next day.

I’ve no intention of giving up my ST and still love my away days when I can, but every time we get a match rescheduled to an evening a little bit of my Albion mojo dies inside me.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I think this is an older person thing, most people my age haven't really been in any mind to give up their season ticket as a result of the transport, in fact more and more of my mates are getting a season ticket. I think when people bemoan being replaced by some other 'PL fan' they're just getting replaced by someone younger. I don't think people giving up their season tickets, poor atmosphere etc is just a Brighton thing, its just football as a whole.

Younger, nosier fans replacing people chuntering about traffic is no bad thing IMO. It’s why I spent years brainwashing the boy.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Nobody ever mentions though that to use Seagull Travel you have to potentially be picked up several hours before KO. Again if times a factor and you don’t have the luxury of…Same problem with P&R. Mill Rd Opened at 11am and unless you’re in it within first half hour you may well be stuck with a car you can’t park anywhere. Again, means leaving earlier as an exile so again this i.e.shite transport is a massive factor in giving up ST and/or following the Albion. You need the entire day and evening off to watch these days. Because our transport options are terrible.

It depends on your pre-match routine (when i catch the train I am not one for risking getting to Brighton station much later than an hour before kickoff as SASTA cannot be trusted) and where you are travelling from - especially if you are not close to a station or, as posted earlier, those in places like Horsham have to change trains twice.

If I look at when ST would pick me up and when I would leave to get to the station, there isn't much difference going to a match but coming home, it saves me at least an hour.

 

[Arthur]

I’ve no inclination to start drinking heavily at 10am

Blimey.....you've changed.

 

[jackalbion]

I’ve no inclination to start drinking heavily at 10am

Pathetic really

 

[mile oak]

I think this is an older person thing, most people my age haven't really been in any mind to give up their season ticket as a result of the transport, in fact more and more of my mates are getting a season ticket. I think when people bemoan being replaced by some other 'PL fan' they're just getting replaced by someone younger. I don't think people giving up their season tickets, poor atmosphere etc is just a Brighton thing, its just football as a whole.

Yeah I can believe this but it also strikes me as quite sad that the football and going to the Albion is not as inclusive as the club portray they would like it to be.

 

[tomfitzz]

Pathetic really

I'm sure there is past form of proving himself wrong here

 

[mile oak]

Oh, I certainly get that too.

Even driving from Worthing, a home game can take up six hours all in. It kinda feels like an all-day event from here.

Good point made here - football used to be a Saturday afternoon thing and its become for many a whole day thing for home matches never mind away matches! Obviously that's not just an Albion thing but the transport and reliance of trains is a major contributory factor.

Regarding the possible transport withdrawal as part of your ticket I cant recall but when Falmer was agreed built etc was this guaranteed in anyway, what was said by whom about the transport included? Whilst I argue most fans are snookered having to use train transport I'm reading increasingly of fans taking other measure including walking where they can. There is if course limits on parking but could train subsidy removal move more fans to look at other modes of getting to the Amex and in turn move away from what was supposed to be a major factor in accepting the stadium built at Falmer? i.e. this back-fires!

 

[amexer]

On basis I would think transport is the biggest reason people do or consider giving up ST it is an important subject. I have not got to that stage. I live 10 milws away and about 6 hours out of day to watch a game. Without doubt transport takes the gloss of any game good or bad. Does not please me to hear PB say transport issues are out of there control. This may in part be true but would prefer him to say he is aware of problems and would communicate with suppliers of services. There is such a demand for PL games that cynical me thinks PB doesnt even care if people dont attend and use ticket exchange because he can make £10/15 on resales. Sorry but think PBs only objective is to increase income and reduce outgoings. His review of transport will be to look at latter. Because of original planning conditions I doubt if he will be able to give up free transport completely but may try and restrict areas. Desparatly need another P&R west of Brighton or Lewes but because of additional cost PB will try and avoid this
Having tried all forms of transport now use St. This is now very expensive at over £40 a game for 2 of us. I know several people who often go on coach trips cost of which is far more reasonble. Maybe time to put this service out to tender.

 

[schmunk]

Having tried all forms of transport now use St. This is now very expensive at over £40 a game for 2 of us. I know several people who often go on coach trips cost of which is far more reasonble. Maybe time to put this service out to tender.

They've only recently extended their 'official partner' status:

https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/pages/en/media-article/seagull-travel-extend-partnership

 

[HalfaSeatOn]

No intention of giving up ST, but if did I’d just go to the low category games that are of no tv interest. They’re more likely to be Saturday 3pm. Less frequency would possibly increase satisfaction and tolerance levels due to the treat factor but would need to accept I’d never see us win.

 

[Professor Plum]

Not for everyone I know but I cycle there now. Takes about an hour from Portslade, not racing it, just going at a steady pace .
I look forward to the ride as much as I do to the game.
Only down side is you got to get there early to be sure of getting a place in the decent bike rack.
I do wish they would add more decent cycle parking.

At SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga, where I used to go regularly when I lived in those parts, they had thousands of people cycling to the game. If I remember correctly they had capacity for 4,000 bikes. Maybe the location of the Amex is less bike-friendly, I don’t know, but it staggers me that a club like Brighton, in a green town like Brighton, doesn’t try to cater for cyclists more. It would relieve pressure on public transport and, as befits a sports club, would promote better health. It can’t be that expensive to install bike racks or railings. Every time I walk past those railings opposite the East Stand and see that sign saying ‘Bikes left here will be removed’ (or similar), it annoys me. Why exactly?

 

[jackalbion]

Yeah I can believe this but it also strikes me as quite sad that the football and going to the Albion is not as inclusive as the club portray they would like it to be.

There are also plenty of older people that aren't as bothered by the transport and don't want to give up their season tickets (my mum for example), this with all respect is a person by person thing. Most people I know while irritated by it, haven't quite got to the point where they are so fed up they aren't giving up their season tickets. I do think that a lot of the problems are just a willing, some people will not worry about so many of these issue and attempt to get to as many as possible and judging by season ticket sales, and renewals thats the vast majority. Yeah sure there are hiccups enroute but for some they don't mind and look forward to the game. Just would rather concentrate on the enjoyable aspects of following the club, rather than the inconvenient sides to it, which IMO have been far greater in the past (sitting for 90 mins in rain, etc).

 

[jackalbion]

I'm sure there is past form of proving himself wrong here

Certainly didn't have the same attitude at Liverpool away.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Pathetic really

Need to rename his account to Guinness Zero Boy

 

[mile oak]

There are also plenty of older people that aren't as bothered by the transport and don't want to give up their season tickets (my mum for example), this with all respect is a person by person thing. Most people I know while irritated by it, haven't quite got to the point where they are so fed up they aren't giving up their season tickets. I do think that a lot of the problems are just a willing, some people will not worry about so many of these issue and attempt to get to as many as possible and judging by season ticket sales, and renewals thats the vast majority. Yeah sure there are hiccups enroute but for some they don't mind and look forward to the game. Just would rather concentrate on the enjoyable aspects of following the club, rather than the inconvenient sides to it, which IMO have been far greater in the past (sitting for 90 mins in rain, etc).

Yes the ponchos at Withdean didnt quite cut it but at least the club cared enough to initially hand them out. TBH sometimes Id rather sit in the rain at Withdean for 90 mins knowing im not stood around in the rain before and after travel wise but as you say each to their own.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I’ve no inclination to start drinking heavily at 10am

If you have trouble waiting til 10am you're most welcome to join our wine club over in the park

 

[jackalbion]

Yes the ponchos at Withdean didnt quite cut it but at least the club cared enough to initially hand them out. TBH sometimes Id rather sit in the rain at Withdean for 90 mins knowing im not stood around in the rain before and after travel wise but as you say each to their own.

End of the day I just think a lot of people are still renewing, it’s all about your own patience, if you don’t want to be stood around in the rain there are plenty of other options, you can walk to the 49, I’ve done that before. You can get seagulls travel, ultimately in life you can’t have everything the way you want.

 

[Bozza]

If you have trouble waiting til 10am you're most welcome to join our wine club over in the park

BYOB(uckfast)?