Commercial failings

[Clampy]

Am I on the 'everything's great' thread?

Ah, that old chestnut. I wondered how long it would take.

[dave.woodhall]

Play-off tickets 'fiasco' (because I for one didn't have a problem buying mine and I don't suppose I'm in the minority), the above are a random list of complaints that could apply to virtually every club in the league. 

[Roysmert]

suppose so. you just feel it more at your own club, don't you?

fiasco because they went on sale, then stopped, then started again, now you've got people not knowing they're back on sale. Hardly organised is it?

[TopDeck113]

The general sense is that the club is belatedly dragging itself where it should be.  It certainly is on the playing side, so one would imagine that the owners will also get the right people to sort the commercial side.  That will certainly be so if come the next Bank Holiday Monday we're once again a Premier League club.

[dave.woodhall]

They stopped when the available stock ran out, then started again when the unclaimed season ticket ones became available.

[Fasth56]

Yesterday I took my own and sat on the Holte steps to have a drink. The current places to drink on my way to the ground are;

The Aston Tavern, £3 in and normally packed, difficult to get served.
Holte pub, I'm not a member of the Lions club.
The Holte Suite, by the time I arrive normally a queue.
The Ground, standing inside for an hour before kick off isn't of great appeal.

I think the club are missing a trick, alongside the burger wagon on the Holte car park, why not have a pop up beer wagon, selling just beer by the bottle.

The club could even put some seats around the perimeter of the car park.

[dave.woodhall]

I think the club are missing a trick, alongside the burger wagon on the Holte car park, why not have a pop up beer wagon, selling just beer by the bottle.

The club could even put some seats around the perimeter of the car park.

Fine yesterday. Not so good in January.

[London Villan]

The inside the ground thing is a weird one. They could make the concourses - particularly the Holte and the Trinity a lot more inviting. Tables, stools (these could be bolted down) more screens, better service, music... create a "pub/bar" environment within certain sections of the concourses.

[Ad@m]

There's also presumably licensing issues with selling booze outside the ground.

[cdbearsfan]

They seem to have started with that magic fill from the bottom pint thing, in the Lower Holte at least.

That should, hopefully, speed up service a bit.

[Clampy]

I think the club could look into finding another space for the Lions club members. That way, any season ticket holders who turn up and can't get in the Holte Suite could at least have the chance to go over the road to the Holte Pub.

[dave.woodhall]

The inside the ground thing is a weird one. They could make the concourses - particularly the Holte and the Trinity a lot more inviting. Tables, stools (these could be bolted down) more screens, better service, music... create a "pub/bar" environment within certain sections of the concourses.

You can't obstruct potential evacuation routes.

[London Villan]

I think the club are missing a trick, alongside the burger wagon on the Holte car park, why not have a pop up beer wagon, selling just beer by the bottle.

The club could even put some seats around the perimeter of the car park.

Fine yesterday. Not so good in January.

Plenty of pubs have "temporary" structures outside with heaters. It certainly wouldn't be everyone's idea of fun, but I think there would be a market for it. 

I'd certainly consider it. For years we have drunk in pubs a couple of miles away from the ground then parked-up and got into our seats about a minute before kick-off. However, parking has become so difficult that you have to arrive at least an hour before the kick-off to get a space. Which means a lot of hanging around, neither the Holte Suite or the Holte Pub are great, but if you could go inside the ground and have a decent experience then we'd do it. And spend money with the club.

[Clampy]

The inside the ground thing is a weird one. They could make the concourses - particularly the Holte and the Trinity a lot more inviting. Tables, stools (these could be bolted down) more screens, better service, music... create a "pub/bar" environment within certain sections of the concourses.

You can't obstruct potential evacuation routes.

In the away end at Leeds, they have a pub style room. I'm not sure that would work in the Holte the way it's laid out though.

[dave.woodhall]

I think the club are missing a trick, alongside the burger wagon on the Holte car park, why not have a pop up beer wagon, selling just beer by the bottle.

The club could even put some seats around the perimeter of the car park.

Fine yesterday. Not so good in January.

Plenty of pubs have "temporary" structures outside with heaters. It certainly wouldn't be everyone's idea of fun, but I think there would be a market for it. 

I'd certainly consider it. For years we have drunk in pubs a couple of miles away from the ground then parked-up and got into our seats about a minute before kick-off. However, parking has become so difficult that you have to arrive at least an hour before the kick-off to get a space. Which means a lot of hanging around, neither the Holte Suite or the Holte Pub are great, but if you could go inside the ground and have a decent experience then we'd do it. And spend money with the club.

It's a car park. It's needed for corporates and as I said last week, parking is one of the biggest problems we have and the council aren't going to let us lose a single space.