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Current state of the SOL and surrounding area.

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Yes mate. I didn't go on it but apparently it was quite positive, and hopefully the club will communicate a bit about it shortly.

One thing that I wasn't aware of is that apparently there's a facilities team every match, so if people find things that aren't working they can tell a steward who will inform the facilities team. How well it works I couldn't comment on mind, because like presumably about 99.99% of the support I didn't realise it was a thing!

 

I have been going up to Murryfield for the rugby for a few years now and the that is organised is so much better.

They have a large area between the gates and the actual stands in which you can move about have a drink eat from a large range of different street food venders and get served!

The only way that could work at the SOL would be to give up a lot of the car parking at the ground and use that from about two hours before the game and an hour after, with large screens showing other games. The turnstiles would be about 50 to 100m from the stands but once through you would be able to move around the whole stadium.

One thing which allows it to work for rugby is that fans of both teams mix without tension, even when pissed.
 
Wonder why it wasn't made a few yards wider, surely wouldn't have cost much more

Bad planning. The concourses at Roker were narrow (to the extent they existed at all), but that didn't matter because the only things sold were Bovril, tea and pies. The architects failed to realise the impact of selling beer, and so musy Bob Murray. because it wasn't picked up at that stage.
 
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Bad planning. The concourses at Roker were narrow (to the extent they existed at all), but that didn't matter because the only things sold were Bovril, tea and pies. The architects failed to realise the impact of selling beer, and so musy Bob Murray. because it wasn't picked up at that stage.
I'd guess that, just like most of the last 70 years at SAFC the issue was financial. As we know Murray was an accountant and wanted to balance the books, he also had a vision for the AOL so likely couldn't afford a bigger SOL and AOL, mind that siad if you look at other grounds built in 90's none have big concourses. It was only when Arsenal moved that a new generation of Football grounds appeared.
 
Yes mate. I didn't go on it but apparently it was quite positive, and hopefully the club will communicate a bit about it shortly.

One thing that I wasn't aware of is that apparently there's a facilities team every match, so if people find things that aren't working they can tell a steward who will inform the facilities team. How well it works I couldn't comment on mind, because like presumably about 99.99% of the support I didn't realise it was a thing!

Anything going to come public about the clubs piorities on work to be done around the stadium yet mate do you know? or could RAWA not communicate any info?
 
I dont really get the complaints about the concourses.

Yes its a pain by standards of the newer stadiums that have pushed things to new levels but its a 25 year old design. One of the relatively earlier 'new stadiums' following the Taylor report.

Is it any better at Reading, Bolton, Boro/Derby Southampton etc that are a similar age
 
I dont really get the complaints about the concourses.

Yes its a pain by standards of the newer stadiums that have pushed things to new levels but its a 25 year old design. One of the relatively earlier 'new stadiums' following the Taylor report.

Is it any better at Reading, Bolton, Boro/Derby Southampton etc that are a similar age

Half time can be horrendous at Boro due to the queueing. I don't bother going for a pint now, just have one before. It is better this season as Boro have added pop up bottle bars everywhere to take the load off the normal bars.
 
I dont really get the complaints about the concourses.

Yes its a pain by standards of the newer stadiums that have pushed things to new levels but its a 25 year old design. One of the relatively earlier 'new stadiums' following the Taylor report.

Is it any better at Reading, Bolton, Boro/Derby Southampton etc that are a similar age
Our concourses could be better.
But in comparison to Wigan,Bolton,Burnley,sheff wed.sheff utd,Leeds,Huddersfield off the top of my head, all of league 1 teams they are fantastic. I don’t always try at half time on aways so can’t be sure of everyone.
One of our issues is the quality of staff being as thick as shit or hugely disinterested. I find the process of being served rather than the standard of concourses a bigger problem.club can’t really help fans standing like they are the only people in the building causing jams all over. Could it be better yes! Could it be worse yes
 
Our concourses could be better.
But in comparison to Wigan,Bolton,Burnley,sheff wed.sheff utd,Leeds,Huddersfield off the top of my head, all of league 1 teams they are fantastic. I don’t always try at half time on aways so can’t be sure of everyone.
One of our issues is the quality of staff being as thick as shit or hugely disinterested. I find the process of being served rather than the standard of concourses a bigger problem.club can’t really help fans standing like they are the only people in the building causing jams all over. Could it be better yes! Could it be worse yes

Yep the staff are to a man, morons.
 
Half time can be horrendous at Boro due to the queueing. I don't bother going for a pint now, just have one before. It is better this season as Boro have added pop up bottle bars everywhere to take the load off the normal bars.
If your struggling to get served with an average of 25,000 in the place you've got no chance really.
 
Yep the staff are to a man, morons.
Sad but true. This is a little thing but
It’s time wasted. I asked for a Samson 3 times on Friday everytime they give me a carling or whatever it is. When the queues back to the bog wall it’s just not helpful. Not expecting the lass to remember me really,but it was the same one 3 times so if any brain activity was present you’d think she may have formed a slight memory
 
Concourse in the away end at Cardiff on Monday was brilliant. Plenty of room to move around, largest toilet areas and railed queueing areas at the bars.
Amazing what a difference it made compared to QPR and most others in the league including the SOL.
I agree, unfortunately the SoL concourses lose space because the pitch is below ground level, and also with the walls being inset from the roof the concourses aren't as wide as they could have been.

Mind, while I think our ground could do with some cleaning up we had a wander round the Principality Stadium the other day and that looks a reet clip. Didn't think much of Cardiff's ground either, despite being ten year newer.
 
A Friends of the SOL’ would be a good idea imho.

I’d quite happily give a Saturday morning or two voluntarily to do low skill maintainance jobs such as giving a lick of paint, litter pick, jet wash and tidy the surrounding area as I’m sure others would do.

Unfortunately all Davison is interested in is ailienating supporters at the moment not getting them onside sadly.

Im not comfortable with a business selling 30k increased price season tickets allowing fans to do diy on the stadium. Should have ample budget to keep it a reasonable standard.
 
I'd guess that, just like most of the last 70 years at SAFC the issue was financial. As we know Murray was an accountant and wanted to balance the books, he also had a vision for the AOL so likely couldn't afford a bigger SOL and AOL, mind that siad if you look at other grounds built in 90's none have big concourses. It was only when Arsenal moved that a new generation of Football grounds appeared.
Coventrys is rather big.
 
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