To answer your question, I m not sure if it includes access after the game - I would assume no, however i would assume people can still access as normal after the game even if you have not had the meal. ( better communication from the club would benefit all)
I also believe that the club does not promote the other lounges that are on offer. Over the last three months there has been other threads regarding the Heineken lounge( now the San Miguel lounge) Steve the SLO also got involved with promoting. If fans want to go somewhere for a quite drink to talk and discuss football etc then this is a great venue ( please don't start moaning it costs £10). For the cost of £10 you receive a free pint and pie which equates to approx. £8. The lounge can be used from 12.30 on a match day and is open until 1 hour after the game has finished. They also show live games prior to the 3pm kickoff. The lounge last year was under utilised, it was easy to get served at the bar and seats were always available. ( again don't moan about the cost of the pint at £5,50) There will be some fans that like this type of venue at these costs and some that would prefer to go to local pubs at a cost of circa £3.50-£4 - we all have choices - AVFTT readers, don't be negative about other fans choices.
You are correct in saying the club could promote these venues in a more positive manner. I also suggested to the club different ways they could market these venues better, which I'm sure fans would support more and which would increase numbers and increase a better financial turnover for the club, meaning all are winners.
Lets see if the south stand fans can support this venue in number this year
I was one of the fans adding a Heineken Lounge season pass to my season ticket for last season as well the previous two seasons.
Last season the club increased the cost by 50% from £10 per match to £15 per match, the drop off in attendance was dramatic and it only increased after the club realised their error and reduced the price to £10 per game.
As a result the numbers using the lounge increased but certainly did not return to the levels of the previous season, I’m sure the reason was because fans had got into a new “prior and post match routine”.
Did the Hospitality Team take notice of this and adjust this seasons pricing ? …….. their response was not to review the pricing policy and up the marketing of the facility at a slightly increased price, but to just announce it was only to open for selected games.
The selected games were going to be “high demand” games, I did ask a member of the Hospitality Team what constituted a high demand game and the response was “I cannot divulge BFC operating policy”…… I see the first home game has not been seen as a high demand game, if the first home game isn’t a high demand then WTF is ?
There is now the issue with The Corner Flag and the refusal to allow supporters to use the facility before and after the home games …………….
During the close season I have posted numerous times regarding the Heineken Lounge, emailed / spoken to people in Hospitality and spoken the SLO & BST members but to no avail, it seems to me the club decided a course of action and under no circumstances are they going to change.
I am impressed with this summers player recruitment and the improvements made to the ground, but unfortunately I and a number of fellow regular “South Standers” are very unimpressed with the way the Hospitality / Marketing Team have conducted their business in regards to the Lounge / Bar Facilities at the back of the south stand.
Finally ……. COYP!!!!! …… and I hope the club buys Tom Bloxom a pair of new calf muscles ……………
