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SoL To Undergo Multi-Million-Pound Investment Programme

I was down there today and it looks like a lot needs doing to have the bit between sheepfolds and the sol ready for next weekend. At the moment you have to walk around what remains of the Edward Thompson building to get to the ground.
 

Angelos said:
I was down there today and it looks like a lot needs doing to have the bit between sheepfolds and the sol ready for next weekend. At the moment you have to walk around what remains of the Edward Thompson building to get to the ground.
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The underpass to the riverside won't be done till December if that's what you are talking about
 
Cack Stottie said:
Take this as your invite then, you're welcome to come along with me to the next one!

You're right, time will tell, but I can't help but feel like the experience as a whole was really positive and that the club are serious about listening and improving. I think now we've got a Premier League budget it's changed the scale of how quickly they can do stuff.

One of the big things I raised that I feel needs tackling is the fact that people routinely leave their seats from 35 minutes onwards - and I'm one of these people at most home games - to get a pint because if you don't, you haven't got a chance of getting one at half time in time to get yourself back to your seat. Thousands of people do it and they are thousands that are not in their seats supporting the team before and after half time.

The club really need to think seriously about improving the speed at which kiosk service happens on the concourse. The E-Bars have been a really smart addition but it's not enough - if they need to line every single spare space with them in order to facilitate the demand then they should do it. Presumably they cannot build more kiosks but there need to be alternatives explored.

One other thing that was put to the club was about opening up outdoor space and putting bars out there, like loads of other clubs do (went to loads of away games last season where this was the case). If they haven't got room on the concourses themselves, open up areas outside that people can use with pop up bars and so on. Seems a no brainer to me.

I know getting a beer at the match isn't a priority for most people, but it is for many and particular where I sit in the SWC it's almost impossible to spend your money on the concourse unless you leave your seat well before half time and, thus, you're not up there supporting the team.
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I hope your right and I'd love to come along , out of curiosity if nowt else.

You are 100% correct about the early leaving . At half time it is directly related to the congestion/crushing in the concourse and the ridiculously slow service at the kiosks. It's all very easily reminded , as you've said.

I've never understood why they don't pull 5000 pints 90% full during the first half - 30 mins onwards, and just have someone topping them up constantly and the queues start.

It doesn't help that the staff, god bless them, are gormless , feckless children who look like rabbits in the headlights , every single game. The Minimum wage gig economy is never going to attract staff who can work at pace , even if it's only a 30 minute window of the shift. That needs addressing, or put proper bar managers on each bar and orchestrate the whole thing so the pints keep getting sold at a much higher rate per minute.

One thing they could do immediately, with the dark nights approaching, is admit the strobe light show was a mistake and drop it. They can't pursue changes that make fans stay in Thier seats longer , whilst also putting a public message out ordering a small section of fans to leave the stadium before the end of the game. The whole premise is absurd and it adds fuck all. The darkness and the fog horn pre match has worked , it's a great addition. But fans don't need to be treated like shit for that to work

Also, The lack of atmosphere isn't exclusive to Sunderland.. it's a problem throughout British football . We need to bare that in mind. You'd need fundamental safety reforms to change it - I.e unreserved standing , and cheaper tickets , that are easier to get
 
Cack Stottie said:
Take this as your invite then, you're welcome to come along with me to the next one!

You're right, time will tell, but I can't help but feel like the experience as a whole was really positive and that the club are serious about listening and improving. I think now we've got a Premier League budget it's changed the scale of how quickly they can do stuff.

One of the big things I raised that I feel needs tackling is the fact that people routinely leave their seats from 35 minutes onwards - and I'm one of these people at most home games - to get a pint because if you don't, you haven't got a chance of getting one at half time in time to get yourself back to your seat. Thousands of people do it and they are thousands that are not in their seats supporting the team before and after half time.

The club really need to think seriously about improving the speed at which kiosk service happens on the concourse. The E-Bars have been a really smart addition but it's not enough - if they need to line every single spare space with them in order to facilitate the demand then they should do it. Presumably they cannot build more kiosks but there need to be alternatives explored.

One other thing that was put to the club was about opening up outdoor space and putting bars out there, like loads of other clubs do (went to loads of away games last season where this was the case). If they haven't got room on the concourses themselves, open up areas outside that people can use with pop up bars and so on. Seems a no brainer to me.

I know getting a beer at the match isn't a priority for most people, but it is for many and particular where I sit in the SWC it's almost impossible to spend your money on the concourse unless you leave your seat well before half time and, thus, you're not up there supporting the team.
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Don’t know if we could do it but I’m sure at Everton’s new ground they basically lay loads of stuff out, you scan a card to get in and just pick up what you want and it charges you for what you take. I know some tin foilers would hate that mind
 
tunstallhill said:
I hope your right and I'd love to come along , out of curiosity if nowt else.

You are 100% correct about the early leaving . At half time it is directly related to the congestion/crushing in the concourse and the ridiculously slow service at the kiosks. It's all very easily reminded , as you've said.

I've never understood why they don't pull 5000 pints 90% full during the first half - 30 mins onwards, and just have someone topping them up constantly and the queues start.

It doesn't help that the staff, god bless them, are gormless , feckless children who look like rabbits in the headlights , every single game. The Minimum wage gig economy is never going to attract staff who can work at pace , even if it's only a 30 minute window of the shift. That needs addressing, or put proper bar managers on each bar and orchestrate the whole thing so the pints keep getting sold at a much higher rate per minute.

One thing they could do immediately, with the dark nights approaching, is admit the strobe light show was a mistake and drop it. They can't pursue changes that make fans stay in Thier seats longer , whilst also putting a public message out ordering a small section of fans to leave the stadium before the end of the game. The whole premise is absurd and it adds fuck all. The darkness and the fog horn pre match has worked , it's a great addition. But fans don't need to be treated like shit for that to work

Also, The lack of atmosphere isn't exclusive to Sunderland.. it's a problem throughout British football . We need to bare that in mind. You'd need fundamental safety reforms to change it - I.e unreserved standing , and cheaper tickets , that are easier to get
Click to expand...

I think the biggest issue in the South West Corner is the lack of space to be honest. Open up the space outdoors and stick shitloads of E-Bars out there and you will solve a lot of problems. They can be wheeled in and out quickly.
 
halfpast3 said:
Don’t know if we could do it but I’m sure at Everton’s new ground they basically lay loads of stuff out, you scan a card to get in and just pick up what you want and it charges you for what you take. I know some tin foilers would hate that mind
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Two-tier serving system. Turn right to pay with untraceable pennies or write out a cheque for a pint and take 15 minutes or so; turn left to have your retina scanned and have your ideal pint experience uploaded to your digital ID chip.
 
tunstallhill said:
I hope your right and I'd love to come along , out of curiosity if nowt else.

You are 100% correct about the early leaving . At half time it is directly related to the congestion/crushing in the concourse and the ridiculously slow service at the kiosks. It's all very easily reminded , as you've said.

I've never understood why they don't pull 5000 pints 90% full during the first half - 30 mins onwards, and just have someone topping them up constantly and the queues start.

It doesn't help that the staff, god bless them, are gormless , feckless children who look like rabbits in the headlights , every single game. The Minimum wage gig economy is never going to attract staff who can work at pace , even if it's only a 30 minute window of the shift. That needs addressing, or put proper bar managers on each bar and orchestrate the whole thing so the pints keep getting sold at a much higher rate per minute.

One thing they could do immediately, with the dark nights approaching, is admit the strobe light show was a mistake and drop it. They can't pursue changes that make fans stay in Thier seats longer , whilst also putting a public message out ordering a small section of fans to leave the stadium before the end of the game. The whole premise is absurd and it adds fuck all. The darkness and the fog horn pre match has worked , it's a great addition. But fans don't need to be treated like shit for that to work

Also, The lack of atmosphere isn't exclusive to Sunderland.. it's a problem throughout British football . We need to bare that in mind. You'd need fundamental safety reforms to change it - I.e unreserved standing , and cheaper tickets , that are easier to get
Click to expand...
I think the problem stems from letting a company that is obsessed with profit and couldn't give a shit about experience, run the bars and food kiosks. Never understood why we don't rent them out individually to pubs,brewery's,restaurants etc.Surely the independents would be over the moon with the footfall for a few hours.
 
Cack Stottie said:
I think the biggest issue in the South West Corner is the lack of space to be honest. Open up the space outdoors and stick shitloads of E-Bars out there and you will solve a lot of problems. They can be wheeled in and out quickly.
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If we are talking about just half time would they even make a profit on that?

By the time you have the purchase of X amount of extra E bars, the upkeep on them, labour of getting them wheeled out and fences up etc?

I’m not sure it would be cost effective enough for them to do it honestly. It would definitely ease congestion though, I’m just not sure it’s something they would go for
 
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gramw said:
If we are talking about just half time would they even make a profit on that?

By the time you have the purchase of X amount of extra E bars, the upkeep on them, labour of getting them wheeled out and fences up etc?

I’m not sure it would be cost effective enough for them to do it honestly. It would definitely ease congestion though, I’m just not sure it’s something they would go for
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They do this in the Hilton Hotel and Sheepfolds after games for short periods mind. The ones in the Hilton are only there for about half an hour
 
Brian Griffin said:
Our corporate issues will only really be addressed properly if we do the east stand and whack a load of boxes in.

That’s a big opportunity in itself and relatively cheap to do based on our architecture.

The bigger and better more expensive job is to build a steeper kop end on the south stand- I’d also personally look to move the stokoe statue and have an outdoor fan area there, only accessible with a match ticket that would alleviate the concourse problems in the south and east stands - would also allow the smokers a proper place to fag.
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Outdoor fan areas are a waste of time IMO.

Can only be used when the weather is alright, unsure why anyone would want to stand outside in the cold paying OTT prices for a pint in a plastic glass.

They should invest in the concourses instead.
 
SAFCTEES said:
Outdoor fan areas are a waste of time IMO.

Can only be used when the weather is alright, unsure why anyone would want to stand outside in the cold paying OTT prices for a pint in a plastic glass.

They should invest in the concourses instead.
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Just put canvas shelters up and it will be fine
 
SAFCTEES said:
Outdoor fan areas are a waste of time IMO.

Can only be used when the weather is alright, unsure why anyone would want to stand outside in the cold paying OTT prices for a pint in a plastic glass.

They should invest in the concourses instead.
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You'd be surprised at how many people actually do at other grounds all around the country. Weather doesn't really matter to vapers/faggers
 
SAFCTEES said:
Outdoor fan areas are a waste of time IMO.

Can only be used when the weather is alright, unsure why anyone would want to stand outside in the cold paying OTT prices for a pint in a plastic glass.

They should invest in the concourses instead.
Click to expand...

It's only for 15 minutes at half time. It's not somewhere to go and chill out , just space to smoke , space to spread out a bit so you aren't getting squashed on the concourse. Most grounds around the country have these already.

It would instantly solve the smoking problem in the toilets , and the over crowding on the concourse

You could then add temporary bars out there that just sell one thing , pints or bottles of lager for instance . It would make people stay in their seats longer , and allow people to spend more money
 
halfpast3 said:
Don’t know if we could do it but I’m sure at Everton’s new ground they basically lay loads of stuff out, you scan a card to get in and just pick up what you want and it charges you for what you take. I know some tin foilers would hate that mind
Click to expand...

Can't comment on Everton, but they 100% have them at Wembley. Seen them at the Oasis gigs in the summer. Not sure there'd be enough space though mind.

Seems loads of people were moaning about overcharging aswell.
 
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The light shows they did last winter were decent and it was good that the club done something new, hopefully they continue this year.

I echo what others have said, there needs to be a better/quicker option for drinks. I'm in the PC and they have done away with the stupid single file queue which is good but they need to have pints 3/4 pre poured ready for half time.
 
tunstallhill said:
It's only for 15 minutes at half time. It's not somewhere to go and chill out , just space to smoke , space to spread out a bit so you aren't getting squashed on the concourse. Most grounds around the country have these already.

It would instantly solve the smoking problem in the toilets , and the over crowding on the concourse

You could then add temporary bars out there that just sell one thing , pints or bottles of lager for instance . It would make people stay in their seats longer , and allow people to spend more money
Click to expand...
We went to a Bundesliga 2 match at Duisburg, and there was a turnstile area set back from the stadium which allowed a much bigger area for fans to have a drink and some food pre match and at half time. There was always the option to go into the concourse or standing area if the weather wasn't good. But it's was just the increased space that made for a more relaxed experience at half time for grabbing a drink and a loo break etc.
 
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