SEASON TICKET 'CONSULTATION'

A very well attended meeting received clarification of some issues relating to how season cards will be implemented next season.  Those expecting a genuine consultation might well have left disappointed although the re-introduction of unallocated seating already announced was clearly welcomed. 

We were treated to another viewing of the 3D ‘fly-through’ of the completed stadium.  I know the perspectives are a little skewed, but are some of the stairways into the arena really that narrow?  Anyway, we had some general remarks about how the family corner will work, with activities for children and also how there will be an area called the Marketplace.  I thought Ikea had already captured that idea, but maybe Bristol Sport is really pushing the boundaries for a leisure experience!

Steve Gorvett commented “The Premiership this season or the season after”.  No hostage to fortune there then.

To go through some of the questions raised and their answers in no particular order:

The Stand Formerly Known as the Lower Dolman will be in use for next season, so those who have been evacuated from it will be able to return to that area in its new form.  It will be covered by the new roof

The seating in the Upper Doman will remain as it is currently laid out, the rake and foundation make it impossible to change the spacing of seats for those with big bones.

The new West Stand (ex Williams) will probably not have unallocated seating.

The Dolman will not have an equivalent to the current Premier seating in the Williams, although there will be in the new West Stand.

The current front row seats of the Upper Dolman will not have the current increased leg room because the current walkway will not exist (and this is where the standing was supposed to go so I am even more convinced we won’t be seeing it at all.)

Those who enjoy the current exclusive Premier Lounge will not have the same facility after the rebuild, although something may be possible with the upper floor in the West Stand.

It isn’t known if the new Premier seating will be larger in size than current.

Parking generally remains an issue and has not been finalised.  Although the compound behind the new South Stand is not thought necessary, given the size of the new West Stand the amount of space the construction will require is not certain at this stage.  Efforts are under way to persuade the Council to open the Park & Ride on match days.  A pressure group is seeking to have the old Ashton Gate station behind reopened.  The club wants to introduce more shuttle bus services and invites suggestions for suitable routes.  The obvious one is from Temple Meads I would have thought.

Feedback on the prices for children’s season tickets was not positively received.  By which I mean the club stands by its policy of charging and appears to believe that a ‘free’ shirt is an amazing coup that will capture a customer for life.  I’m not entirely convinced.  Arguments that the number of evening games makes a season ticket pointless for younger children were not taken on board.

It was pointed out that rugby supporters will pay more per game than football fans.  An attempt was made to gloss over this point but on being challenged that it was hard to justify why rugby was more expensive for exactly the same seat there was some shuffling of feet and nervous glances and eventually a muttered admission that it was hard to justify (so hard that they didn't try).  Frankly I think that we are being taken for granted here and that there is some sort of underlying assumption about the relative purchasing power of rugby v football supporters.  I doubt this is really the case.  But the costs of operating a rugby match versus a football match are doubtless the same (in fact given that rugby requires less stewarding and probably generates larger food and bar sales rugby should be marginally lower).  If you include the players salary as a cost on a match by match basis there is simply no comparison.  Rugby supporters are being ripped off when directly compared with football.

Those wishing to find out which seats will be available when they need to move (mainly the current Williams-ites) can see a seating plan that shows this and the new ticketing system makes this clear.

Unallocated seating will be a permanent feature (let’s try to hold them to this).

It is possible to block book seating for those who wish to be in the same area.  This can be done online, by ‘phone or in person.  All names and addresses of those in the group are needed and one payment needs to be made at point of purchase.

All of those relocated from the Dolman retain the right to renew in the Priority 1 renewal period and can add new season tickets when doing so.

Bristol City badged soap dispensers will be removed.

Those who are currently Senior ticket holders or are eligible for the concession this season can still purchase these concessionary tickets even if they are too young for the new age limits.

The TV screen required for being in the Premiership will be located on the face of the Atyeo stand (on the roof above the seats).  Which means those in that stand won’t be able to see themselves on TV.

It is intended that Bristol Ladies will get to play at AG next season.  The match will be scheduled early in the season to avoid the scheduling pile up that prevented the match taking place this season.