They’d had a few so maybe their maths was wrong!
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[Albion] The Terrace Opening this Saturday
- Thread starter Seagull Stew
- Start date
- Jun 27, 2012
- 15,375
I think - approval for these is dependent on it being a sell out.
Next year far more of our away games will be (normally) televised anyway, as the new rights deal kicks in.
Yeah, I’m sure we’ll see tweaks based on those two things.
I guess the other thing is that if we do get Europe again then we’ll see the return of points hunting.
brighton_tom
Well-known member
- Jul 23, 2008
- 6,280
It being the first match day it’s been open, a sunny Saturday, everyone excited for some cup quarter final drinking, and then turning up at its obvious peak of being busy isn’t really the time to judge how it will be long term. Was always going to be well overcrowded & teething problems yesterday.
A mixed experience for us. The screens, the music, the atmosphere is all a big plus and I'm grateful we've got an owner interested in improvements like this. Even if people don't want to use the place, it's there for those that do and decreases pressure on the other outlets so it still benefits everyone.
Congestion-wise outside, it was much the same as any other big game on a pleasant day when the old outlets were in place. Not great. At least now, rather than all the people blocking things up standing in seemingly endless queues, most have got a beer in their hand which must be a plus for the club. It's a shame the building couldn't have been orientated so those groups are stood at the train station end of the building where there seems to be a lot of space but presume there must be a reason...
The disappointment was the downstairs Collection Point. I envisaged a bar the length of the building and pretty easy process. Instead, it's a window about the size of the old Harvey's van. 5 or 6 staff serving (I thought they were very good in the circumstances, in contrast to other comments). There were only about a dozen beers ready to hand over from behind them, the rest being poured fresh but that's hardly surprising. It must have been like trying to bail out the Titanic. Next to the pump, a machine was churning out a constant stream of orders as they came in. Assuming order numbers are sequential, at about 1625, that was spitting out tickets 80+ orders ahead of the one I was collecting. You've got several drinks on most orders - impossible to keep up.
And then there's the app. Clunky would be kind. Logging in every time wouldn't be so bad, but having to go out of it to retrieve a one-time email passcode too - why? All on a flaky internet connection. As far as I could tell, they all get stuck at 1 minute to collection. So everybody had to go to the bar and queue regardless. Some people were putting in very big orders. The problem with drinks is that, unless you're an octopus, you've got to take loads of people to the bar/serving hatch with you. Compounded by the fact a table was taking up all the space where a queue could be, it was a very uncomfortable scrum - not helped by the nagging thought that you're going to collect the order you've already paid for around the time the teams come out.
There seemed to be no correlation between collecting the order and clearing it on the frozen app. Tony's bar bill must be massive today. Couldn't see what would prevent anyone from going up again with the same order or taking a photo of it to use repeatedly. Other than honesty, which is why we didn't
On the flip side of all that, even taking the cash collecting process out of the equation does save a lot of time. We were stuck in the crush for 10 minutes for our first beer (the uncertainty, perhaps, is what makes it most uncomfortable) and 20 for our second. The second time we did inadvertently swoop in from the side, not realising a lot of people with their backs to the bar watching the screens were also trying to collect drinks (backwards). That could have been a longer wait.
Compared to the old queues, those times aren't bad so maybe that's a success in a way, but the beer-buying was a far less pleasant experience generally. Constructive comments hopefully.
Congestion-wise outside, it was much the same as any other big game on a pleasant day when the old outlets were in place. Not great. At least now, rather than all the people blocking things up standing in seemingly endless queues, most have got a beer in their hand which must be a plus for the club. It's a shame the building couldn't have been orientated so those groups are stood at the train station end of the building where there seems to be a lot of space but presume there must be a reason...
The disappointment was the downstairs Collection Point. I envisaged a bar the length of the building and pretty easy process. Instead, it's a window about the size of the old Harvey's van. 5 or 6 staff serving (I thought they were very good in the circumstances, in contrast to other comments). There were only about a dozen beers ready to hand over from behind them, the rest being poured fresh but that's hardly surprising. It must have been like trying to bail out the Titanic. Next to the pump, a machine was churning out a constant stream of orders as they came in. Assuming order numbers are sequential, at about 1625, that was spitting out tickets 80+ orders ahead of the one I was collecting. You've got several drinks on most orders - impossible to keep up.
And then there's the app. Clunky would be kind. Logging in every time wouldn't be so bad, but having to go out of it to retrieve a one-time email passcode too - why? All on a flaky internet connection. As far as I could tell, they all get stuck at 1 minute to collection. So everybody had to go to the bar and queue regardless. Some people were putting in very big orders. The problem with drinks is that, unless you're an octopus, you've got to take loads of people to the bar/serving hatch with you. Compounded by the fact a table was taking up all the space where a queue could be, it was a very uncomfortable scrum - not helped by the nagging thought that you're going to collect the order you've already paid for around the time the teams come out.
There seemed to be no correlation between collecting the order and clearing it on the frozen app. Tony's bar bill must be massive today. Couldn't see what would prevent anyone from going up again with the same order or taking a photo of it to use repeatedly. Other than honesty, which is why we didn't
On the flip side of all that, even taking the cash collecting process out of the equation does save a lot of time. We were stuck in the crush for 10 minutes for our first beer (the uncertainty, perhaps, is what makes it most uncomfortable) and 20 for our second. The second time we did inadvertently swoop in from the side, not realising a lot of people with their backs to the bar watching the screens were also trying to collect drinks (backwards). That could have been a longer wait.
Compared to the old queues, those times aren't bad so maybe that's a success in a way, but the beer-buying was a far less pleasant experience generally. Constructive comments hopefully.
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Stuart Munday
Well-known member
I said ages ago I didn’t think the area was big enough for the benches, I think on a matchday remove them and have standing only.
Hotchilidog
Well-known member
- Jan 24, 2009
- 9,529
Went in after the game. We just ordered at the bar. It was fine. As opening days go I think it was a success for Terrace.
mile oak
Well-known member
- May 21, 2023
- 1,295
People turn up peak times for a reason
Terry Butcher Tribute Act
Well-known member
- Aug 18, 2013
- 4,110
While that is absolutely sensible, it will mean they don't sell any 16 quid burgers, I don't see how you can eat without getting a seat.
Really not sure about the downstairs layout, there was no real room to queue, let alone collect. When you got served, nowhere to go other than struggle to get your pints past the masses without getting a nudge and spilling it. What Boxpark has that the Terrace doesn't is space. Needs some sort of one way system I think but not sure people will follow that when pissed up.
They also need to think about the club shop queue when that comes into the mix, as it's only going to add to the pinch point. Maybe with 2 floors it won't need a queue so much.
When Barber said he wants fans’ departure from the ground to be staggered I didn’t realise he meant this.
Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 74,026
Reckon the Club are going to have to introduce pre-booked Terrace entrance slots at some point else they're just going to be overwhelmed by the sheer weight of numbers. The Palace beamback should be instructive in that respect
Some people were completely wankered.
- Oct 20, 2022
- 8,297
Sorry -Terrible idea.
What about those with mobility issues who really need the seating in that area?
It’s challenging enough accessing /negotiating attending matches without removing existing seating!
jackalbion
Well-known member
- Aug 30, 2011
- 5,914
I have to thank the club for the opportunity to go on stage (first time I have ever been on a stage!), it was a hard gig considering we’d lost on penalties and there were quite a few sound issues. I’m not sure if the format works that well on stage, but we gave it our best shot.
On the whole facility, I don’t think it will change my routine pre match, the Albert was a lot quieter which was nice, as was the WSU concourse. There seemed to be a lot of teething issues, but overall I think it will be a good facility for a certain type of fan, but just not for me.
Following on from the weird Hungarian, there did seem to be a problem with some absolutely battered lunatics, as someone tried to start a fight with my mum, for some reason, who very much fitted the corporate, I can do what I want because I have an Amex vibe. Maybe it just attracts these types.
On the whole facility, I don’t think it will change my routine pre match, the Albert was a lot quieter which was nice, as was the WSU concourse. There seemed to be a lot of teething issues, but overall I think it will be a good facility for a certain type of fan, but just not for me.
Following on from the weird Hungarian, there did seem to be a problem with some absolutely battered lunatics, as someone tried to start a fight with my mum, for some reason, who very much fitted the corporate, I can do what I want because I have an Amex vibe. Maybe it just attracts these types.
Stuart Munday
Well-known member
Based on how busy it was yesterday it was not the place to go if you had mobility issues, yes there should be some sort of priority seating but I imagine all the seats had been taken hours before kickoff anyway.
ATFC Seagull
Aberystwyth Town FC
On a personal level I wasn't that impressed and I think it will have a negative impact on my own personal match day experience - but I also get that it's all about opinions, other people have different priorities, and it will get better and also less busy with time.
Main issue for me was there just clearly wasn't enough bar serving space for the amount of people it needs to cater for. The actual bar itself can't be that much bigger than the one in Dick's, but it's effectively got an unlimited amount of people trying to get to it. Made worse by the fact it was quite enclosed, there was no queuing system and the benches made getting the bar tough.
I think they need to do away with the app/touch screens for drinks. They were so inundated that they were just pouring them to order anyway, so was absolute chaos at tiny drinks collection hatch and definitely not quicker or easier than just paying at the bar.
As I say it's all about personal preferences - I'm sure it will suit some people more than me. I like to arrive about 90 mins before kick off on my bike and get one or two beers outside. That used to be really easy with the old Harvey's bars, maybe queue for 5 mins or so - took 20 mins yesterday. And on the occasion I wanted to get there a bit earlier, there was always Dicks. I know there's the lager sellers outside but I can't be alone amongst the Albion fans as much preferring a pint of something decent!
Screens and a band again might be a massive attraction for some - personally I'm happy enough with seeing my mates and 90 mins of football to keep me entertained. And the Amex-only upstairs bit is an absolute joke.
I'm sure some people will be straight on with the "moan moan moan" or "how dare you criticise Tony and Paul" but that's my feeling - for me personally it's worse than what we had before. However I might be in the minority, I'm sure the club are thinking about a utilitarian "the greatest happiness for the greatest number" approach.
Main issue for me was there just clearly wasn't enough bar serving space for the amount of people it needs to cater for. The actual bar itself can't be that much bigger than the one in Dick's, but it's effectively got an unlimited amount of people trying to get to it. Made worse by the fact it was quite enclosed, there was no queuing system and the benches made getting the bar tough.
I think they need to do away with the app/touch screens for drinks. They were so inundated that they were just pouring them to order anyway, so was absolute chaos at tiny drinks collection hatch and definitely not quicker or easier than just paying at the bar.
As I say it's all about personal preferences - I'm sure it will suit some people more than me. I like to arrive about 90 mins before kick off on my bike and get one or two beers outside. That used to be really easy with the old Harvey's bars, maybe queue for 5 mins or so - took 20 mins yesterday. And on the occasion I wanted to get there a bit earlier, there was always Dicks. I know there's the lager sellers outside but I can't be alone amongst the Albion fans as much preferring a pint of something decent!
Screens and a band again might be a massive attraction for some - personally I'm happy enough with seeing my mates and 90 mins of football to keep me entertained. And the Amex-only upstairs bit is an absolute joke.
I'm sure some people will be straight on with the "moan moan moan" or "how dare you criticise Tony and Paul" but that's my feeling - for me personally it's worse than what we had before. However I might be in the minority, I'm sure the club are thinking about a utilitarian "the greatest happiness for the greatest number" approach.
SweatyMexican
Well-known member
- Mar 31, 2013
- 4,303
It was a great test for the club to see how it runs in reality.
I’m sure they’ll adjust some things going forward and it’ll be a decent stop pre-match.
I’m sure they’ll adjust some things going forward and it’ll be a decent stop pre-match.
Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 74,026
Always the case with Cup games at the Amex
Ffs…what did they say to your Mum?
METALMICKY
Well-known member
- Jan 30, 2004
- 7,433
After the the expected teething problems let's hope they have a rapid 'heads up' meeting this week as the Palace beam back next Saturday which I'm going to will be a big test with 600 supposedly going.