[Albion] The Fan Advisory Board Thread

[dazzer6666]

improve the toilets in WSU, 6 sinks in the wrong place at the moment and 4 dryers again wrong place. too many NOT washing their hands.... Probably need more seated areas and more urinals . 4 deep at half time is really not healthy.

Employ handwashing inspectors?

 

[BHAryan]

With regards to atmosphere, I personally think we just don't have enough people willing to sing on a regular basis, only if the team are winning or a big game.
Atmosphere if often generated by the game, circumstances, opposition etc and can't be forced, we haven't got the fan base to have non stop singing from a whole stand. Sorry, I wish we did as I for one sing along week in week out and try to encourage it

 

[BN9 BHA]

I often get a little annoyed that the WSU is the worst concourse I’ve been on in the ground (and now done everywhere except away end) with terrible queue logistics and poor comparable choice of food, when there are so many Goldstone and Withdean fans there who kept going in the club’s darkest hours of need.

Then I look at the layout and height and understand that’s pretty much how it HAS to be.

Ultimately, we chose to go up there.

The middle of the concourse isn’t too bad as there is more space to queue, or get past the back of the queues if I’ve come up the steps at the South end.
I was in the upper tier at MK Dons when we took 7k there, the stadium also built by Buckingham and had a really good concourse layout, 100 times better than the WSU.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

The first kiosk (North end) is a very bad design fault, i very rarely go onto the concourse before the match and at half time. Probably the worst part of the WSU.
Doesn’t help having a tv screen in that area, as fans stand around watching in the same area of the queues and fans trying to make their way through the concourse from the stairs.

This was raised a few seasons ago and they stopped showing games on the screen nearest the top of the stairs which did ease the flow. Not sure why they started again but it created an easily avoidable bottleneck.

 

[BN9 BHA]

This was raised a few seasons ago and they stopped showing games on the screen nearest the top of the stairs which did ease the flow. Not sure why they started again but it created an easily avoidable bottleneck.

I mentioned the screen causing a bottleneck on a thread before, maybe 2019 and it was gone at the next game.
There also used to be a programme seller and someone selling lucky number type tickets in the first few seasons.

 

[amexer]

I know that Paul Barber has deflected questions about transport to and from the ground in the past. However, it has become the biggest difficulty about match day for many ( probably most ) people. It would be nice to know if the club acknowledge that and if there are any possible improvements being pursued. There are lots and lots of ideas on various threads on here.

Also, seriously, it would be well worth Paul Barber travelling to a game or two by P&R or train just to get a sense of why this is an issue to fans. ( I wouldn't be at all surprised if Tony Bloom would also be well up for this.) Hopefully it will piss down on the day he chooses........

This is mainly important because of the match day experience but surely the club and players would also prefer that the stands remain as full as possible until the end og games.

Agree Would at least like to think PB is aware of problems and discussions take place It is just not good enough for PB to say trains and buses are not there remit. Surely for large sumns they pay for train service a contract was signed with them offering a minimal standard for each game. Ridiculous to say nothing to do with buses. Club must be 100% in charge of P&R and again should expect minimum standard service. With no Mithras house ( They said this would be replaced) or bendy buses the service is now worse.

 

[Bry Nylon]

4 deep at half time

Coincidentally, also the title of one of @El Presidente 's 'niche interest' DVDs.

 

[Colonel Mustard]

I know that Paul Barber has deflected questions about transport to and from the ground in the past. However, it has become the biggest difficulty about match day for many ( probably most ) people. It would be nice to know if the club acknowledge that and if there are any possible improvements being pursued. There are lots and lots of ideas on various threads on here.

Also, seriously, it would be well worth Paul Barber travelling to a game or two by P&R or train just to get a sense of why this is an issue to fans. ( I wouldn't be at all surprised if Tony Bloom would also be well up for this.) Hopefully it will piss down on the day he chooses........

This is mainly important because of the match day experience but surely the club and players would also prefer that the stands remain as full as possible until the end og games.

Agreed, transport is the one and only gripe for me. Everything else is trivial. I wish I could still buy toffees and sherbert lemons at half time. Bottle tops, blah. I'll survive.

The root of my pissed-offness is not even the transport issue itself, but the total silence from the club to acknowledge that transport away from the Amex is a major problem that has a negative impact on the 'fan experience'. I want them to be making statements, requesting information, inviting suggestions, updating the fans on discussions they are having, whatever. Just don't freakin' ignore us and pretend that this crisis doesn't exist.

I seem to remember about a year or 18 months ago, receiving a questionnaire about transport which I dutifully completed, and made a number of suggestions. I didn't get an acknowledgement, and I've never been given any follow-up whatsoever. It was as if the survey was a check-in-the-box annual objective for some underling at the Amex. And the objective would have been to issue the survey and be seen to be consulting the fans and NOT TO ACTUALLY HELP RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

 

[Giraffe]

1) I concur that it’s ridiculous that tier 1 people can put tickets in their basket for tier 2 people pre the sale time.
2) I concur that it’s unfair that tier 1 often (not always) get given the crap blocks first. If the club have to sell block by block sell the best block first where possible. I know the club will say they do what the away team tell them but there has clearly been instances where this is non sensical.
3) bin fanzone. It has almost zero engagement, has been going for 12(?) years now and is old hat. Only good thing about the who prescribed build up is we don’t have to suffer this.
4) stop with the Mick Small birthday announcement joke. How many seasons now? Odd.
5) well done on everything else you do. It’s great.

 

[zeetha]

Can they ask the caterers to introduce a queueing system for the serving booths?
People queue straight outwards and are blocking people trying to make their way along the concourses.
It wasn’t too much of a problem in the North or on the odd occasion that I have been in the WSL as the concourses are that much wider, but after recently changing my ST to the WSU, where the concourses are narrower it is a right pain.

Same request for a queuing system in East Upper. I walk with a stick and often find it hard to get through from the lift to the stairs for my seat due to the queues for the kiosks going all the way to the back of the concourse. Would be good if there was a 'must be kept free' walkway section but realise that policing it would be difficult.

 

[Easy 10]

I would like to know, why Albion mugs sold in the shop aren't dishwasher friendly? People scoff at this honest request, but they're not cheap so a little protection in production, rather than me having to mod podge them would really help

Is washing up REALLY so hard ?

 

[Cotton Socks]

View attachment 170040

I'm just about to bring a six year old to join the BHAFC ride and if you think I'm going to be able to do YouTube vids practice in advance, to learn the words you're mistaken!! My Jnr's did that, I didn't, and still can't remember the words!
'We plough and sow and reap and mow, And useful men are we' (yes I did Google that) is not likely to stick inside a six year olds head. It's not the simplest of songs!
I request it to be switched to 'going up to win the cup' for cup matches, as that's how it always was.

 

[chaileyjem]

I know that Paul Barber has deflected questions about transport to and from the ground in the past. However, it has become the biggest difficulty about match day for many ( probably most ) people. It would be nice to know if the club acknowledge that and if there are any possible improvements being pursued. There are lots and lots of ideas on various threads on here.

Also, seriously, it would be well worth Paul Barber travelling to a game or two by P&R or train just to get a sense of why this is an issue to fans. ( I wouldn't be at all surprised if Tony Bloom would also be well up for this.) Hopefully it will piss down on the day he chooses........

This is mainly important because of the match day experience but surely the club and players would also prefer that the stands remain as full as possible until the end og games.

The idea that having Paul or Tony sat on a bench - which often comes up here - or shuffling along queues outside Falmer station preferably without an umbrella is a) something the FAB should legitimately lobby for or b) imagine it’s the solution to anything - the club have a staff of hundreds, they have cctv footage everywhere and real time data to monitor flow and in/outs of fans, timings etc - of course they’re aware and c) arguing that although they say they can’t control strikes or delays on the A27 is the same as saying they’re not engaged with the issue or working through improvements that are feasible is perplexing. .There’s an existing review of the transport scheme underway - which I believe the FAB are engaged with / reasons for last seasons survey and two recent examples - club recently faced down the PL over a Boxing Day fixture citing transport issues. The fanzone also is a considerable investment from TB - admittedly to help with catering income but also designed to ease transport flow and improve fan experience.

Specific issues re: P&R etc I’m sure are always welcome but wanting PB or Tony - who still travels to the odd away game on trains anyway - to wait for a bus or something . Really ?

 

[Eeyore]

I'm just about to bring a six year old to join the BHAFC ride and if you think I'm going to be able to do YouTube vids practice in advance, to learn the words you're mistaken!! My Jnr's did that, I didn't, and still can't remember the words!
'We plough and sow and reap and mow, And useful men are we' (yes I did Google that) is not likely to stick inside a six year olds head. It's not the simplest of songs!
I request it to be switched to 'going up to win the cup' for cup matches, as that's how it always was.

WokeWatch will be paying me a visit for this one, but as football attracts a lot of females these days I feel the 'men' thing can change. I'm renowned for the love of the word 'folk' so I think it's a great substitute.

I'll get my tin hat now for the outrage

 

[Colonel Mustard]

The idea that having Paul or Tony sat on a bench - which often comes up here - or shuffling along queues outside Falmer station preferably without an umbrella is a) something the FAB should legitimately lobby for or b) imagine it’s the solution to anything - the club have a staff of hundreds, they have cctv footage everywhere and real time data to monitor flow and in/outs of fans, timings etc - of course they’re aware and c) arguing that although they say they can’t control strikes or delays on the A27 is the same as saying they’re not engaged with the issue or working through improvements that are feasible is perplexing. .There’s an existing review of the transport scheme underway - which I believe the FAB are engaged with / reasons for last seasons survey and two recent examples - club recently faced down the PL over a Boxing Day fixture citing transport issues. The fanzone also is a considerable investment from TB - admittedly to help with catering income but also designed to ease transport flow and improve fan experience.

Specific issues re: P&R etc I’m sure are always welcome but wanting PB or Tony - who still travels to the odd away game on trains anyway - to wait for a bus or something . Really ?

Your first sentence is amazingly long. Those 113 words finally end with "....is perplexing" and a full-stop. Phew, I think I got there . But more important, are you saying that it's absurd that senior club management should try to experience what normal fans go through every home game?

Early in my career (1980s), i was encouraged to read books by a bloke called Tom Peters who was, and still is, regarded as being a pioneer of the customer service revolution. His thing was "Management by Walking About". It was a very simple concept -- that the very top management of businesses (even the biggest blue-chip companies) should make the effort to spend a little time on the shop-floor, or walking around their shops and offices and warehouses, preferably incognito, to experience what it's like to be a customer or lowly member of staff. And that in this way, they would gain a much sharper understanding of the challenges facing the business. Sadly, this superb idea seems to have gone out the window in the last few years. Witness the difficulty in actually contacting many large companies these days. Impossible to call them on the phone. Often no email or postal address available. Just an AI-style website FAQ with no obvious way to talk to a human.

Anyway, the point is... that asking senior managers to get their hands dirty from time to time should not be laughed off as a stupid waste of time. Checking CCTV, or dispatching eager young flunkies to go and witness the problems first hand, and ask them to submit a report about it, is a total cop-out. Moreover, I suspect that none of these monitors are elderly or disabled people, or women with a couple of kids.

I like so much about Albion and the way we operate. But the transport issue is a massive glaring failure. I'll emphasise what I said before, that the real frustration is that so little is said publicly. Yes, there was a survey. No, there has been no feedback or even acknowledgement that it happened, or any interim feedback. No "we feel your pain" statements from the club. Just total silence. The attitude is: "If we say nothing, it will go away."

It's a really hard problem to solve, we know. But let's acknowledge, as a club and community, that the problem exists. Let's talk about it openly, and let's come up with practical solutions, or at least gradual improvements.

 

[chaileyjem]

Your first sentence is amazingly long. Those 113 words finally end with "....is perplexing" and a full-stop. Phew, I think I got there . But more important, are you saying that it's absurd that senior club management should try to experience what normal fans go through every home game?

Early in my career (1980s), i was encouraged to read books by a bloke called Tom Peters who was, and still is, regarded as being a pioneer of the customer service revolution. His thing was "Management by Walking About". It was a very simple concept -- that the very top management of businesses (even the biggest blue-chip companies) should make the effort to spend a little time on the shop-floor, or walking around their shops and offices and warehouses, preferably incognito, to experience what it's like to be a customer or lowly member of staff. And that in this way, they would gain a much sharper understanding of the challenges facing the business. Sadly, this superb idea seems to have gone out the window in the last few years. Witness the difficulty in actually contacting many large companies these days. Impossible to call them on the phone. Often no email or postal address available. Just an AI-style website FAQ with no obvious way to talk to a human.

Anyway, the point is... that asking senior managers to get their hands dirty from time to time should not be laughed off as a stupid waste of time. Checking CCTV, or dispatching eager young flunkies to go and witness the problems first hand, and ask them to submit a report about it, is a total cop-out. Moreover, I suspect that none of these monitors are elderly or disabled people, or women with a couple of kids.

I like so much about Albion and the way we operate. But the transport issue is a massive glaring failure. I'll emphasise what I said before, that the real frustration is that so little is said publicly. Yes, there was a survey. No, there has been no feedback or even acknowledgement that it happened, or any interim feedback. No "we feel your pain" statements from the club. Just total silence. The attitude is: "If we say nothing, it will go away."

It's a really hard problem to solve, we know. But let's acknowledge, as a club and community, that the problem exists. Let's talk about it openly, and let's come up with practical solutions, or at least gradual improvements.

Ha. I’ll try some short sentences !!

I saw Barber sitting in the stands at Crawley yesterday watching the WSL game on the TV. He spends hours each year listening to fans in various boards and groups and chats and emails. Bloom funds a supporter services function to a level - higher than nearly any other PL club to help fans with ticketing and other issues. It’s hardly all automated and AI bots as testimony on NSC frequently illustrates etc. The FAB have already made some improvements with disabled facilities thanks to their lobbying. And the club have agreed to review transport issues with the FAB

Agreed - nothing wrong at all in expecting senior mgt to understand better the fan experience and directly too. . Lots of ways to do that and it’s extremely beneficial - Not sure though that’s really something that PB or TB or more importantly the senior staff who work for them - are guilty of - certainly compared to most clubs. And I’m not sure rather glib hopes that they should spend more time in the Falmer car park in the rain gets us anywhere - as if it’s only that which is preventing progress here.

Sorry. Some long sentences again !!

 

[Guinness Boy]

Your first sentence is amazingly long. Those 113 words finally end with "....is perplexing" and a full-stop. Phew, I think I got there . But more important, are you saying that it's absurd that senior club management should try to experience what normal fans go through every home game?

Early in my career (1980s), i was encouraged to read books by a bloke called Tom Peters who was, and still is, regarded as being a pioneer of the customer service revolution. His thing was "Management by Walking About". It was a very simple concept -- that the very top management of businesses (even the biggest blue-chip companies) should make the effort to spend a little time on the shop-floor, or walking around their shops and offices and warehouses, preferably incognito, to experience what it's like to be a customer or lowly member of staff. And that in this way, they would gain a much sharper understanding of the challenges facing the business. Sadly, this superb idea seems to have gone out the window in the last few years. Witness the difficulty in actually contacting many large companies these days. Impossible to call them on the phone. Often no email or postal address available. Just an AI-style website FAQ with no obvious way to talk to a human.

Anyway, the point is... that asking senior managers to get their hands dirty from time to time should not be laughed off as a stupid waste of time. Checking CCTV, or dispatching eager young flunkies to go and witness the problems first hand, and ask them to submit a report about it, is a total cop-out. Moreover, I suspect that none of these monitors are elderly or disabled people, or women with a couple of kids.

I like so much about Albion and the way we operate. But the transport issue is a massive glaring failure. I'll emphasise what I said before, that the real frustration is that so little is said publicly. Yes, there was a survey. No, there has been no feedback or even acknowledgement that it happened, or any interim feedback. No "we feel your pain" statements from the club. Just total silence. The attitude is: "If we say nothing, it will go away."

It's a really hard problem to solve, we know. But let's acknowledge, as a club and community, that the problem exists. Let's talk about it openly, and let's come up with practical solutions, or at least gradual improvements.

Tony Bloom often gets the train with fans to away games. I’ve also seen him on the train from Lewes to Falmer on a home game day (admittedly one of of the earlier ones, I guess he has stuff to do at the ground).

Suggesting he and Paul are out of touch when it comes to transport is, frankly, odd.

Are these sentences simple enough for you?

 

[Zeberdi]

Anyway, the point is... that asking senior managers to get their hands dirty from time to time should not be laughed off as a stupid waste of time. Checking CCTV, or dispatching eager young flunkies to go and witness the problems first hand, and ask them to submit a report about it, is a total cop-out

I guess you forgot this

Chairman saves the day for Albion fans on delayed flight

The chairman of Brighton and Hove Albion has saved the day for fans whose flight was three hours delayed meaning they could have missed kick-off.

www.theargus.co.uk

I can’t think of a football club Chairman anymore invested in a ‘hands on’ approach to management than Tony Bloom but then again, not all football club Chairmans also experience what it’s like to be a fan or travel on trains with them

 

[BNthree]

I'm just about to bring a six year old to join the BHAFC ride and if you think I'm going to be able to do YouTube vids practice in advance, to learn the words you're mistaken!! My Jnr's did that, I didn't, and still can't remember the words!
'We plough and sow and reap and mow, And useful men are we' (yes I did Google that) is not likely to stick inside a six year olds head. It's not the simplest of songs!
I request it to be switched to 'going up to win the cup' for cup matches, as that's how it always was.

We don’t sing that second verse so don’t need to know anything about ploughing or mowing

 

[Rookie]

Ask a world famous DJ to help with the pre and post match music / atmosphere, sure there must be one in the Brighton area …