Why is it so difficult....

[NorthwoodValiant]

12 minutes ago, jjvale_03 said:

I'd expect one of the highly paid execs at VP to do so. 

Which one's are those? How do you know they are highly paid? How much are they paid?

[smithie]

We've gone from feast to famine with stewards. At some games there were so many they were man-to-man marking the crowd and last night it was spot the steward. Spotting an effective one was even harder. 

On another point, what is happening with the club shop? It looked like a closing down sale last night with a huge reduction in stock on the shop floor. Is it going to be axed and go online? 

[corbanlovesvale]

2 hours ago, Jacko51 said:

What I can't understand is how the electronic turnstiles worked OK last year but are a problem this year??  

Programme problems again last night.  We were in the ground early and my better half went to the kiosk to get a programme.  The lass told him the club weren't doing programmes for evening matches any more.  He said, "That's odd, because we actually proof read it"!!

 

I bought a programme last night so the lass was wrong.

[Phil]

1 hour ago, JoeB2 said:

What has continually baffle me is the club is alright at tricky/complicated things but still, 5 years into this ownership, struggles to get the very nuts and bolts of it correct.

I can order a can of wine, pringles, and hot dog from my seat on my phone and waltz around to pick it up with no queue, but I have to be at a cup game 45 minutes in advance to guarantee expeditious entry and a seat which isn't overcrowded with lads stood in the aisles having a scrap.

1. The entire issue of 'the queue for the Hamil vs the fanzone' issue is solved by a few fences, some signs, and a steward with a megaphone. Cost about £100 all in and problem solved for good. Open every turnstile you can. 
2. The issue last night with how crowded the Hamil was would be to simply open half of the Railway Paddock. Might cost a few extra quid but is it worth putting casual fans off by making entry some form of trial to undergo? (on a separate note isolating the Crewe fans absolutely killed the atmosphere last night). If you're selling out having closed your biggest stand, you've perhaps misjudged demand.
3. The issues around queues in the ticket office is solved by keeping the ticket section open, having more staff on (including a couple to specifically answer phones) and very clearly put signs up for where to go for STs, match tickets, bus tickets. Sack off making people go into the shop.
4. Synectics car parking seems like a fiasco with folk getting charged and then not getting a space. Get the abacus out. Not tricky. Count the cars in. Don't oversell.
5. Bring back postage for tickets, whack a few quid charge on, and save several hundred from going up to the ground to get tickets. You then reduce matchday queues as folks needing to get away tickets have them posted and don't build up the queue, ensuring walk ups can get to the front quickly. 

None of these are tricky or expensive. I'm not asking anyone to spend money they haven't got. I stand by the point I've made for years that the club are happy to spend hundred of thousands on hospitality but run a Smurthwaite operation for the average fan. 

Quite right, I'm not sure we are League Two ready off the field let alone Championship!

[smithie]

1 hour ago, JoeB2 said:

on a separate note isolating the Crewe fans absolutely killed the atmosphere last night). 

Interaction and chanting between fans has no place in our cuddly, all-hold-hands football family dogma. 

[Jacko51]

29 minutes ago, corbanlovesvale said:

I bought a programme last night so the lass was wrong.

Which was exactly my point.  We had seen and read the full proof of the programme at the weekend so she was talking rubbish.  

[Smallthorne clampet]

4 hours ago, andy jones said:

From what I saw last night all the 6 turnstiles were open.

4,000 divided by 6 x 5 (seconds) comes out at 54 minutes to get 4,000 into the ground.

Santa you say there's 8 turnstiles I didn't see the other 2 not sure where they are but same maths mate 4,000 divided by 8 at 5 seconds per person it still takes 40 minutes.

So if everyone turns up 20 minutes before kick off it's still going to be 20 minutes after kickoff when the last get in.

The answer is to construct more turnstiles?

Hope my maths are right been a long time since I was at school. 

 

Showing my age now , but we got 50,000 CASH paying fans on the ground , on time , nearly 60 years ago v Liverpool - and this is progress !

[Smallthorne clampet]

3 hours ago, Santa said:

There are 4 pairs of 2 turnstiles. 1&2 are behind Tommys. 7&8 are nearest the gym. usually only 1-6 are open but some bright spark only opened 3-6 last night. 

A big problem is a lot matchday staff work at both vale and stoke ,  so  if both clubs are playing there is usually a staff shortage .

[trentvale]

This is overdue now - Vale need to listen to our views on many matters.

matt Hancock needs to get his act together as since his radio stoke interview a couple of weeks ago we have appeared to got worse.

 

[DenisW]

Showing my age now , but we got 50,000 CASH paying fans on the ground , on time , nearly 60 years ago v Liverpool - and this is progress !

Correct and I remember joining the queue for the Bycars at 6 for a 7:30 kick off, can't see today's fans queuing that long

[Smallthorne clampet]

2 hours ago, JoeB2 said:

What has continually baffle me is the club is alright at tricky/complicated things but still, 5 years into this ownership, struggles to get the very nuts and bolts of it correct.

I can order a can of wine, pringles, and hot dog from my seat on my phone and waltz around to pick it up with no queue, but I have to be at a cup game 45 minutes in advance to guarantee expeditious entry and a seat which isn't overcrowded with lads stood in the aisles having a scrap.

1. The entire issue of 'the queue for the Hamil vs the fanzone' issue is solved by a few fences, some signs, and a steward with a megaphone. Cost about £100 all in and problem solved for good. Open every turnstile you can. 
2. The issue last night with how crowded the Hamil was would be to simply open half of the Railway Paddock. Might cost a few extra quid but is it worth putting casual fans off by making entry some form of trial to undergo? (on a separate note isolating the Crewe fans absolutely killed the atmosphere last night). If you're selling out having closed your biggest stand, you've perhaps misjudged demand.
3. The issues around queues in the ticket office is solved by keeping the ticket section open, having more staff on (including a couple to specifically answer phones) and very clearly put signs up for where to go for STs, match tickets, bus tickets. Sack off making people go into the shop.
4. Synectics car parking seems like a fiasco with folk getting charged and then not getting a space. Get the abacus out. Not tricky. Count the cars in. Don't oversell.
5. Bring back postage for tickets, whack a few quid charge on, and save several hundred from going up to the ground to get tickets. You then reduce matchday queues as folks needing to get away tickets have them posted and don't build up the queue, ensuring walk ups can get to the front quickly. 

None of these are tricky or expensive. I'm not asking anyone to spend money they haven't got. I stand by the point I've made for years that the club are happy to spend hundred of thousands on hospitality but run a Smurthwaite operation for the average fan. 

Spot on !

[DazFred]

Bring back postage for tickets, whack a few quid charge on, and save several hundred from going up to the ground to get tickets.

 

I was charged postage for my STs then received an email telling me they weren't posting them.

[CAVALIER]

2 hours ago, Smallthorne clampet said:

Showing my age now , but we got 50,000 CASH paying fans on the ground , on time , nearly 60 years ago v Liverpool - and this is progress !

Plus those who entered via rope ladder

[Family Stand Terrier]

6 hours ago, vallyunt said:

Or open the paddock?

Sent from my CPH2195 using onevalefan mobile app
 

So glad they didn't. The Hamil was brilliant last night, especially 2nd half, and the penalties it made a massive difference. We've finally got a decent atmosphere thank god, and the Manager and players keep mentioning it.

Over time it needs more of the railway singers to move there too, stand up, plenty of singing.

So good to see the move paying dividends. 

[Family Stand Terrier]

OVF is horrific just lately. The moaning is off the scale. Into r3, 6th in L1, finally got us in the Hamil after years of asking, a great night with great atmosphere last night, moan moan f**king moan.

I got there last night at 7.15. Joined a long queue. A steward directed us towards a smaller queue closer to Tommy's. Took 5 mins get in. Worked perfectly. 4k sold out Hamil End and Vale fans turn up expecting stroll in at 7.40.