Next FAB meeting

[Pat Mustard]

Another vote for asking what is happening with the North Stand redevelopment, and why it was just dismissed in a throwaway comment in an interview rather than a proper statement.

I'd also like to ask if anything can be done to the ticketing system to stop so many single seats being left, especially in the family sections - I understand it's unavoidable to an extent, but in family areas there has to be a better system.  Currently we end up with effectively unsellable seats as adults can't buy without also getting a child's seat, but if you can't get two together then you will end up sitting miles apart.

[DB]

Can we please ask that the Nathan Dawe inspired pre match routine is cancelled with immediate effect. I’d like the crowd to make the atmosphere not the PA system and one blokes version of what he thinks is “spine tingling and atmosphere building” is just a load of noise, I’m at a Football match not a fucking nightclub. Also I know they have to play it but can we have the nonsense Premier League anthem played at the lowest possible volume so again the crowd can
Make themselves heard.

You're right, it's shit.  I remember thinking the same at Wolves last season - impossible to build an atmosphere because of ridiculously loud music and now we're doing the same.

But in the scheme of things whether we want to tie up a FAB meeting with this sort of stuff I'm not so sure.  I'd rather hear about redevelopment etc.

Agreed, I think the redevelopment and the badge should be the main talking points.

Redevelopment - if we're not building the stand, how are we going to compete long term especially as our FFP situation seems to be a bit close to the wire. Are they still planning to fit extra seats in, if so where, and have plans been drawn up/submitted yet? If we don't go ahead with a rebuild, are there any exploratory plans to look at a new stadium on a new site? How do we plan to be competitive long term in the top 7 with a stadium that will soon be in the bottom half of the Premier League size wise?

The badge - the whole situation has been really badly handled. How does the club plan to comply with FA rules over the matter seeing as absolutely nobody thinks that they have? Why have we ended up with a crap reworking of the Lerner badge when it was apparent that it really doesn't work as a main logo?

Seconded

[ChicagoLion]

Can we please ask that the Nathan Dawe inspired pre match routine is cancelled with immediate effect. I’d like the crowd to make the atmosphere not the PA system and one blokes version of what he thinks is “spine tingling and atmosphere building” is just a load of noise, I’m at a Football match not a fucking nightclub. Also I know they have to play it but can we have the nonsense Premier League anthem played at the lowest possible volume so again the crowd can
Make themselves heard.

Agree, its an assault to the ears and does nothing to help the atmosphere, in fact tit drowns it out.
Please make it stop.

[Brazilian Villain]

I can't be the only who thinks of Thunderbirds whenever Dave starts one of these threads.

[claret+blue ed]

Is anything being done regarding the traffic issues around VP following a match, appreciate that this isn't specifically down to the club, but surely they must be in conversation with the local authorities about making the experience better as it is sometimes taking up to 2 hours to get out of the area

[Risso]

Is anything being done regarding the traffic issues around VP following a match, appreciate that this isn't specifically down to the club, but surely they must be in conversation with the local authorities about making the experience better as it is sometimes taking up to 2 hours to get out of the area

It seemed especially bad after Forest. Took us 90 minutes just to get to the junction with Aston station.

[claret+blue ed]

Is anything being done regarding the traffic issues around VP following a match, appreciate that this isn't specifically down to the club, but surely they must be in conversation with the local authorities about making the experience better as it is sometimes taking up to 2 hours to get out of the area

It seemed especially bad after Forest. Took us 90 minutes just to get to the junction with Aston station.

It took me 2 hours just to get out of the Y International car park, probably an incident somewhere further up this week, but it's not been a great experience over the last 5 years or so

[Lsvilla]

My solution to (some of) the travel issues - make the Grosvenor Road / Queens Road / Church Road loop one way. All of the inside roads could still be serviced easily and would stop the bottleneck on Church Road in particular where you've got cars meeting head on when there is only room for one vehicle due to parked cars on both sides of the road. Would get everyone onto the Lichfield Road and away much quicker eg: Church Road at the lights left lane towards M6 right lane towards city centre.

[Skerra]

Agree entirely Peter

[claret+blue ed]

My solution to (some of) the travel issues - make the Grosvenor Road / Queens Road / Church Road loop one way. All of the inside roads could still be serviced easily and would stop the bottleneck on Church Road in particular where you've got cars meeting head on when there is only room for one vehicle due to parked cars on both sides of the road. Would get everyone onto the Lichfield Road and away much quicker eg: Church Road at the lights left lane towards M6 right lane towards city centre.

That sounds like it would certainly alleviate some of the issues around the area

I think someone mentioned that it seems to have got worse since traffic lights were installed on the Salford Circus roundabout, surely these could be taken out of the systems for a period of time on a matchday, I appreciate this is a local authority thing, but surely the club must talk to them about making the experience better for travellers

[Risso]

My solution to (some of) the travel issues - make the Grosvenor Road / Queens Road / Church Road loop one way. All of the inside roads could still be serviced easily and would stop the bottleneck on Church Road in particular where you've got cars meeting head on when there is only room for one vehicle due to parked cars on both sides of the road. Would get everyone onto the Lichfield Road and away much quicker eg: Church Road at the lights left lane towards M6 right lane towards city centre.

That sounds like it would certainly alleviate some of the issues around the area

I think someone mentioned that it seems to have got worse since traffic lights were installed on the Salford Circus roundabout, surely these could be taken out of the systems for a period of time on a matchday, I appreciate this is a local authority thing, but surely the club must talk to them about making the experience better for travellers

We said that on Saturday. Also relax the restrictions on the bus lanes, which you can't use until 7pm, and alter the traffic light durations at key junctions. Basically just get as many people away from the ground in the first hour as quickly as possible.  After a night game, people using the bus lanes make it noticeably quicker to get away. As above, I realise that a lot of this isn't in the control of the club, but there needs to be communication between the club, police and council.

[Gareth]

My solution to (some of) the travel issues - make the Grosvenor Road / Queens Road / Church Road loop one way. All of the inside roads could still be serviced easily and would stop the bottleneck on Church Road in particular where you've got cars meeting head on when there is only room for one vehicle due to parked cars on both sides of the road. Would get everyone onto the Lichfield Road and away much quicker eg: Church Road at the lights left lane towards M6 right lane towards city centre.

That sounds like it would certainly alleviate some of the issues around the area

I think someone mentioned that it seems to have got worse since traffic lights were installed on the Salford Circus roundabout, surely these could be taken out of the systems for a period of time on a matchday, I appreciate this is a local authority thing, but surely the club must talk to them about making the experience better for travellers

We said that on Saturday. Also relax the restrictions on the bus lanes, which you can't use until 7pm, and alter the traffic light durations at key junctions. Basically just get as many people away from the ground in the first hour as quickly as possible.  After a night game, people using the bus lanes make it noticeably quicker to get away. As above, I realise that a lot of this isn't in the control of the club, but there needs to be communication between the club, police and council.

Agree but no one is spending money on the way out so the club couldn’t care less once we leave the stadium grounds.  Definitely easier at nights with the bus lanes

[kippaxvilla2]

Are we moving to a 'bowl' over by the NEC?

[jon collett]

I am not sure it would be fair to disclose anything but I hope the Club are at least investigating the possible purchase of land at Aston Hall, grounds and Park given Birmingham City Council's expected sale of assets.

[Drummond]

My solution to (some of) the travel issues - make the Grosvenor Road / Queens Road / Church Road loop one way. All of the inside roads could still be serviced easily and would stop the bottleneck on Church Road in particular where you've got cars meeting head on when there is only room for one vehicle due to parked cars on both sides of the road. Would get everyone onto the Lichfield Road and away much quicker eg: Church Road at the lights left lane towards M6 right lane towards city centre.

That sounds like it would certainly alleviate some of the issues around the area

I think someone mentioned that it seems to have got worse since traffic lights were installed on the Salford Circus roundabout, surely these could be taken out of the systems for a period of time on a matchday, I appreciate this is a local authority thing, but surely the club must talk to them about making the experience better for travellers

We said that on Saturday. Also relax the restrictions on the bus lanes, which you can't use until 7pm, and alter the traffic light durations at key junctions. Basically just get as many people away from the ground in the first hour as quickly as possible.  After a night game, people using the bus lanes make it noticeably quicker to get away. As above, I realise that a lot of this isn't in the control of the club, but there needs to be communication between the club, police and council.

The thing about these ideas though, is that it benefits the whole community, and the police as well as the fans to dissipate crowds more quickly, with less frustration and anger building up. I just don't get why they don't sort it.