Thoughts from the away end.

[Bozza]

It's been discussed on here before - when going to an away game and driving a lot of football supporters do this:

1. No research, beyond getting the postcode of the destination ground.
2. Pop the postcode into the Sat Nav as they depart.
3. Aim to drive as close to the ground as possible, before...
4. Looking for parking.

As a club we really should be doing something to help away fans who drive. I think visiting fans always had a "Way to Withdean" leaflet, or similar, when they bought their tickets - why aren't we doing the same now?

I hope it's not because we really do not have any sort of positive message to tell them...

a) Park and Ride - bursting to capacity with home fans, travel voucher needed (in theory, anyway) and away fans don't have them.
b) On street parking - none, unless you want to park somewhere in the Worthing suburbs, give or take.

 

[Danny-Boy]

None of the replies on here mentiomn the toilets issue, surely that's a key one especially if you are selling a load of beer on-site.

What would happen if the stadium capacity were upped, where would the necessary new facilities be put?

 

[Springal]

Agree, gotta be a bit divvy to not know where the away end is. We are actually better than most grounds! Look on the back of the ticket!!!

 

[Thunder Bolt]

None of the replies on here mentiomn the toilets issue, surely that's a key one especially if you are selling a load of beer on-site.

What would happen if the stadium capacity were upped, where would the necessary new facilities be put?

The east stand is getting another layer which would have toilets on the concourse.

 

[Arthur]

You don't need to 'spend their lives glued to the internet' like any of the fl clubs go on the official website click on the club, then click on travel and then away fans travel and it is all explained there. 2mins max.

Yes lets advertise away fans free travel on p&r ride and then suddenly you may get 18,500 'away' fans. I'm sure if a confused looking fan in the away strip asks at the p&r they'll get on.

Best thing to do would be to add a £1 onto the away ticket price and have a couple of travel vouchers on there tickets.

Well you are going to say that because you are clearly one of the geeky fans I'm talking about. I've never gone on a opposition teams website to look up how to get to a ground as I've got common sense and have been traveling to games long before the internet was about. Having some where to park you car is not an unreasonable request IMO.

I'm not saying the park and ride should be free, I'm saying people should be able to rock up and pay on the day.

 

[Drumstick]

Well you are going to say that because you are clearly one of the geeky fans I'm talking about. I've never gone on a opposition teams website to look up how to get to a ground as I've got common sense and have been traveling to games long before the internet was about. Having some where to park you car is not an unreasonable request IMO.

I'm not saying the park and ride should be free, I'm saying people should be able to rock up and pay on the day.

I go by how much time I've got, If I've plenty I'll work it out when I'm there, If I'm rushing up to an away game I will spend 2mins the night before checking the OS as not to waste time and then moan as I'm unorganised.

 

[Notters]

I'm not saying the park and ride should be free, I'm saying people should be able to rock up and pay on the day.

Even though it would be impossible to get planning permission for any more car parking?

 

[Gwylan]

b) On street parking - none, unless you want to park somewhere in the Worthing suburbs, give or take.

That's not quite true though. There's plenty of space in Moulsecoomb and Coldean. There were some Barnsley fans on here a few weeks back who had done some research, asking what Coldean was like to park in.

Having said that, I saw traffic wardens in Coldean on Saturday issuing tickets like confetti - never, ever seen wardens in Coldean before.

 

[Storer 68]

Nice to know its not just us in he WSL that cant get a pie after 2.15pm.
f*** me, can anyone get a pie!!!
Surely the club should have sorted this out by now. The staffing and food kiosks are badly letting the rest of the stadium down(massive queues, lack of stock, piss poor really)..... apart from the 10 minute queues to have a piss

no problems in WSU. Full range of pies in the ovens, and Harveys available from the fab mini bars as soo as we recovered from the stairs. and at 2.20 !
Frighteningly well civilised experience!

 

[Bozza]

That's not quite true though. There's plenty of space in Moulsecoomb and Coldean. There were some Barnsley fans on here a few weeks back who had done some research, asking what Coldean was like to park in.

Having said that, I saw traffic wardens in Coldean on Saturday issuing tickets like confetti - never, ever seen wardens in Coldean before.

I know that and you know that.

However there is no way on earth the club can be telling visiting supporters about those areas being available for parking, and that was my point.

 

[Storer 68]

I can't recall ANY stadium that doesn't have signs directing away fans to the away end.

Except the Amex.

None at Wembley

 

[Gwylan]

I know that and you know that.

However there is no way on earth the club can be telling visiting supporters about those areas being available for parking, and that was my point.

Yeah, fair enough, just read your post again - totally valid points.

We certainly should be looking to coordinate more with opposition clubs, if people are buying their tickets from Nottingham F (or whoever), they should be told of the problems at the point-of-sale.

 

[Arthur]

Even though it would be impossible to get planning permission for any more car parking?

Firstly it's clearly won't be impossible. Secondly what's that got to do with anything? Away fans are still going to drive regardless.

 

[Bozza]

Yeah, fair enough, just read your post again - totally valid points.

We certainly should be looking to coordinate more with opposition clubs, if people are buying their tickets from Nottingham F (or whoever), they should be told of the problems at the point-of-sale.

Agreed. I know we don't want to be encouraging cars but I don't think an ostrich-head-in-the-sand mentality with opposed to visiting drivers is the way to go.

It's all very well giving away fans their own colours in the concourse, pictures of club legends, a familiar beer, nice pies, padded seats and friendly stewards but if they have an absolute nightmare getting to the ground they very possibly won't come back. And once the 'new ground' factor wears off we still want lots of opposing fans to come to the Amex and swell our transfer coffers.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Even though it would be impossible to get planning permission for any more car parking?

I think he means you should be able to turn up and pay on the day for P+R.

As Bozza says, we want away fans to come back.

What would be so hard about pointing those away fans that drive to the Mill Road P+R?

 

[Bozza]

What would be so hard about pointing those away fans that drive to the Mill Road P+R?

Isn't it already full with Albion fans, so much so that some have to go searching for parking elsewhere?

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Isn't it already full with Albion fans, so much so that some have to go searching for parking elsewhere?

Maybe, but I would have thought most away fans would be there fairly early?

If that's not suitabel direct them to Mithras House instead?

Either option is surely better than having away fans turn up at the ground looking for somewhere to park.

 

[Bwian]

Isn't it already full with Albion fans, so much so that some have to go searching for parking elsewhere?

Loads of on-street parking around Withdean these days

 

[somerset]

...........they should be told of the problems at the point-of-sale.

They are NOT problems, they are arrangements for goodness sake. I agree that the selling club should communicate the arrangements though, they used to for Withdean.

 

[Ian Bairds Fist]

love how the thread starter is just relaying some of the away views and then he gets flamed for it!! standard nsc.