FAO SLO and Julian Winter

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Paul Gardner No2

Well-known member
I have just listed to Julian, our new CEO on TTV saying all the right things which is good. Might I suggest now is the optimum time to gather customer's experiences of match days and work on a plan on how they can be improved (and communicate that plan with some accountability).

Personally there is one fundamental issue that needs addressing that spoils the match day experience for me, and dare I say it could/is putting off others from attending.

The issue (and its not a new one) surrounds the access to refreshments, particularly at half time.

Example:

Against Burton I went down onto the South concourse on 36 minutes, 9 minutes before half time, as my bladder is not what it used to be. As queues were already forming me and the wife decided to join them as she wanted a pie and a bottle of water. We got served after about 7 minutes. After only a couple of minutes in the queue it had already doubled and by the time we got served it was snaking round the back of the concourse. Once half time came there was little point in anyone joining. So with added time we missed a lot of live football that we'd paid good money to see.

Last year my season ticket was in the West but I purposely hadn't renewed my seat there due to the lack of access to the refreshments, which was always similar if not worse than the South. I only sat in the South this time as it's supposed to be the easiest to get served out of the 3 home stands. Apparently not!

The bug bear for me is this: As a fan, I no longer went down for any refreshments last year because I wasn't prepared to miss my football. The choices were simple - if you wanted a pie or a pint, or even a bottle of water - you either miss 6 to 7 minutes of the first half, or 6 or 7 minutes of the second half.

Specific Points:

1. For many, including myself, the traditional pie and a bovril, or a pint at half time was always part of the match day ritual. Last time you were able to do this comfortably I couldn't - as I was boycotting. So this problem has persisted for the past 3 years. It sours the match day experience!

2. Equally as important - whenever I see queues of people (some desperately) wanting to part with their money and no one is taking it off them, in my view, is corporate incompetence of the highest order. BFC are not awash with cash and to not realise sales potential, perhaps many multiples of what its currently taking is incredulous.

So sort it out and its a Win Win!

Solutions:

I realise there are staffing issues but maybe we could all come up with some suggestions - here's my two penneth:

1. The bottle bars were a resounding success the odd time they were open. Bring them back and even increase the kiosks. Have someone on there whose sole job is to open and pour, whilst another takes orders and money (i.e. not same person).

2. Offer circa £12.50 per hour. it's probably a 3 hour shift so this should make it attractive for staff retention. You will more than make up the difference.

3. Do a deal with local pubs and clubs such as The Armfield and The Phoenix Club (Bloomfield). Their staff come and work for half an hour at the Club over half time. The club pays them for a full hour whilst The Armfield and Phoenix Club save an hours wages. Club Wins, Local businesses Win and the individual staff Win as BFC will pay more for that hour.

4. Have pie-men with snacks and water available along the pitch side at half time so people can just reach over the railings to get those types of refreshments.

Come on the Pool - help us to help you!! Set a transparent target to increase match day revenue/customer satisfaction, publish plans to achieve, and lets see if you deliver.
 
I have never understood 'under ordering' of hot food at a football ground, they should NEVER sell out at half time. They should always have more than they need, if it's not a sell out after half time, 15 minutes into the second half a couple of staff should walk up the steps in the stands and sell any that were left over, that way people who didn't want to queue will probably buy one.

If then in the unlikely event they're still not all sold, they should be made available on the concourse close to the exit as people are leaving, so people can see them being sold, at a discounted rate, be that break even or even at a loss as they won't be sold anyway.
 
There are things that can be done to improve service, but they’re all probably minor. The problem is the bar areas are too small for the number of customers, and unfortunately there’s no way I can think of that they can be expanded. Maybe an examination of plans would show something, but I guess the cost would outweigh the benefits.
 
I've never understand why anyone would have a pint at half time. Even if you left your seat as the whistle went and someone else had pre bought ur pint. You have 15 mins to drink it and get back to your seat. I just don't see the point but each to their own.

I did think that now we play more injury time at the end of both half's so making the game longer there is some justification in making half time 20 or even 25 mins. Giving the players more recovery time for the second half.
That 25 mins then becomes half a chance of getting a drink and actually drinking it in time.
 
tangerine wonderland said:
I've never understand why anyone would have a pint at half time. Even if you left your seat as the whistle went and someone else had pre bought ur pint. You have 15 mins to drink it and get back to your seat. I just don't see the point but each to their own.

I did think that now we play more injury time at the end of both half's so making the game longer there is some justification in making half time 20 or even 25 mins. Giving the players more recovery time for the second half.
That 25 mins then becomes half a chance of getting a drink and actually drinking it in time.
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The additional game time already makes for a later finish. Adding time to the break exacerbates thst.
 
HighfieldSeasider said:
If then in the unlikely event they're still not all sold, they should be made available on the concourse close to the exit as people are leaving, so people can see them being sold, at a discounted rate, be that break even or even at a loss as they won't be sold anyway.
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Makes sense - They used to this in the distant past.
Dont know why they dont do it now.
You can watch the results on tv whilst eating/queueing as well 😉
 
BlackpoolFC said:
The idea that limited access to refreshments at a football match might stop someone attending is an odd one. Who really needs a pie at 3.45 in the afternoon??? Weird
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People who have been working and have to rush to get the game, we don't all work from home or do a Monday to Friday 9 to 5.
 
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