Fan Consultation Group - the minutes from the meeting

[Villafirst]

The whole ground needs a new speaker system. I know for a fact that the club looked at a new Bose system like Old Trafford,  but Doug wouldn't cough up the Million plus cost at the time. He went for a much cheaper system, as we hear or not hear today....

[West Derby Villan]

My daughter bought me a "paving slab" for my fiftieth. On recent inspection the writing is indecipherable along with about a dozen others. Will these be repaired

[Scratchins]

I'm joining the call for the online ticket office news to be updated. This morning if you log into your account it shows Huddersfield on sale tomorrow but I can find no mention on the official site although it has been on before.
A daily update would let us all know the state of ticket sales for all upcoming games.

[Cleybrooke]

The service in the Holte End bars is pathetic at best. Why don't they have beers ready to serve rather than pulling pints at points of sale when they know for a fact that there will be demand before the game and at half time?

I've mentioned this before. My son has a decent job in match day events at a rival club (yeah I know I felt sick when he told me) Thing is he don't make many matches at Villa Park these days. The last one we went together there was around 35k on the day. He saw the queues and was gobsmacked at the amateurish way they were doing things and the slowness of service. He watched as hundreds gave up and went back to their seats with money still burning a hole in their pockets. I told him to e-mail the club pointing out his observations and offer his services to sort out the catering mess we currently have on match days. I doubt Dr Tony has had chance to get involved in such hands on match day stuff. I'd like to know if he has any ideas about improving things.

Its absolutely astounding. I reckon the halftime revenue could be increased by 20% with an overhaul in the system. Again, ive said this before but ill never forget going to watch a game of aussie rules where they had (constantly moving) backwards and forwards queuing barriers which you walked down (like a ride at alton towers) they had 3 staff manning  high speed pint pouring machines  and a rolling desk that constantly had about 20 pints of each type of ale and size. U literally walked through, put whatever beers you wanted in a holder and carried on through to 4 manned tills. The whole process took no more than 2mins tops, no waiting for beers to be poured etc.

They did similar stuff for food but the lack of pressure from keeping the beer completely separate was the key thing as far as i could see

Funny enough my son said he could increase the kiosk revenue by 20/25% with ideas he has implemented at other places so I reckon your estimate is not far off the mark. And it's not just about profit margins it's about fan experience. People should be able to get served and have a drink and a bite,chat with mates and get back to the game without too much kerfuffle. I sometimes look in on away teams forums and our match day service comes in for a lot of stick which is so disappointing when you consider we play at one of England's most iconic stadiums. I went to Brighton this season and came away with nothing bur praise for how we were treated in the ground . Superb I thought.

It would appear that they made an effort to resolve of these issues on Saturday. By ensuring the entertainment on the pitch is so utterly woeful, the 15 minute half time window is extended by 10 mins either side giving the catering staff 35 mins to serve everyone. The chances of seeing anything interesting either side of half time are so remote you might as well enjoy your pie and pint. As such any estimates for increased revenue are over optimistic.

[Ad@m]

There were loads of people going down to the concourse after 30 mins on Saturday.  I genuinely question the point of going to the match if you're happy to miss more than a third of the game.

[mattjpa]

There were loads of people going down to the concourse after 30 mins on Saturday.  I genuinely question the point of going to the match if you're happy to miss more than a third of the game.

For alot of people, the half time social is one of the highlights of the day. I dont go that early, but If heading down on 30-45mins means taking a piss when i need it, getting a pie and a pint and being able to consume them at an enjoyable pace whilst watching 5-10mins of footy on tv and actually enjoying your half time break means you miss some live football then so be it. The alternative is being cattle herded down the stairs, queuing for the full half time with no guarantee of an actual drink at the end of it, all the bloody pies being sold out, queuing for a piss and then subsequently choking on fag smoke in there, chugging a pint in under 3minutes and missing the first 5-10mins of the second half anyway its not hard to see why people do it. The football is hardly scintillating atm either....

[Cleybrooke]

There were loads of people going down to the concourse after 30 mins on Saturday.  I genuinely question the point of going to the match if you're happy to miss more than a third of the game.

It's not actually possible to leave your seat at half time, buy and eat a pie and a pint have a pee and return to your seat without missing any live football.

[Clampy]

 

There were loads of people going down to the concourse after 30 mins on Saturday.  I genuinely question the point of going to the match if you're happy to miss more than a third of the game.

I've never understood why people can't go a couple of hours without throwing beer down their neck, especially away from home. The amount of people who stand in the concourse at away games during the game after drinking 3 hours before kick off always baffles me.

[montague]

The service in the Holte End bars is pathetic at best. Why don't they have beers ready to serve rather than pulling pints at points of sale when they know for a fact that there will be demand before the game and at half time?

I've mentioned this before. My son has a decent job in match day events at a rival club (yeah I know I felt sick when he told me) Thing is he don't make many matches at Villa Park these days. The last one we went together there was around 35k on the day. He saw the queues and was gobsmacked at the amateurish way they were doing things and the slowness of service. He watched as hundreds gave up and went back to their seats with money still burning a hole in their pockets. I told him to e-mail the club pointing out his observations and offer his services to sort out the catering mess we currently have on match days. I doubt Dr Tony has had chance to get involved in such hands on match day stuff. I'd like to know if he has any ideas about improving things.

Which is why there is always a mass exodus 10 minutes before half time

[cdward]

There were loads of people going down to the concourse after 30 mins on Saturday.  I genuinely question the point of going to the match if you're happy to miss more than a third of the game.

They gamble on the fact that, based on experience, they won't be missing much.

[amfy]

It is possible.

Jane heading off on 34 minutes to get them in makes it a lot easier!

Without her it requires more planning but I've achieved it many times!

[auntiesledd]

Has anybody suggested asking Tommy Elphick to stop banging his bonce on the post before the game starts? If he does it in a bid to play well ,it clearly isn't working anymore. 

Cheers Dave!

[brian green]

A chant went up from our part of the Holte Lower of "neutral supporters" at the 30 minutes exodus.

[wittonwarrior]

Have a look at the facebook page for north west villa there is a full minute of the recent meeting a few interesting points for debate over ticket distribution

[PeterWithe]

Has anybody suggested asking Tommy Elphick to stop banging his bonce on the post before the game starts? If he does it in a bid to play well ,it clearly isn't working anymore. 

Cheers Dave!

I think he stopped that nonsense when we all worked out that he wasn't actually any good and that banging his head on the goal posts wasn't going to convince anyone otherwise.