Supporters forum minutes and questions - 20th July (1 Viewer)

[Greggs]

Any news on the drains that fill your nostrils with particles of shit everytime you walk past?

 

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[MalcSB]

Other priorities if I’m being overly fair
Come on if I’m not

They were given the questions before the meeting, and it’s been raised before. It was a prepared answer, not an off the cuff response. You are being overly fair.

 

[SBT]

Any news on the drains that fill your nostrils with particles of shit everytime you walk past?

What you get up to in your own kitchen is no-one else’s business, my friend

 

[AOM]

Thanks Pete

Improvements to the concourse sound promising.
Can see large queues continuing to be an issue, but this seems to be a problem at every big venue I've been to

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Thanks Pete

Improvements to the concourse sound promising.
Can see large queues continuing to be an issue, but this seems to be a problem at every big venue I've been to

That answer seemed to be and minutes don’t say it as I thought it did

arrive early
There’s data and power outside the concourse so if supporters want something and turn up there are things they can be done

 

[chiefdave]

It’s not great to hear that the stadium design means it can’t comfortably accommodate a capacity crowd.

They could have an app and allow pre-ordering for half time. Obviously would need a working signal / WiFi but it works well at Edgbaston

 

[shmmeee]

It’s not great to hear that the stadium design means it can’t comfortably accommodate a capacity crowd.

They could have an app and allow pre-ordering for half time. Obviously would need a working signal / WiFi but it works well at Edgbaston

What exactly is wrong with it and how has it changed since sold out games? Did it get filled for a women’s game?

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

What exactly is wrong with it and how has it changed since sold out games? Did it get filled for a women’s game?

It was over the 2 games

 

[shmmeee]

It was over the 2 games

We’ve had sell outs since it opened though, or near as dammit. So something must have changed. Was it Wasps changes? Regulation changes? Mental a stadium that age can’t have capacity crowd but somewhere built in the 50s can.

 

[chiefdave]

What exactly is wrong with it and how has it changed since sold out games? Did it get filled for a women’s game?

I suspect the answer is the number of people stood in the concourse drinking beer. If those people could take their pint back to their seat at half time there would be a lot more room

 

[Grendel]

What exactly is wrong with it and how has it changed since sold out games? Did it get filled for a women’s game?

Yes and obviously for concerts they get 40,000 in but not that end I guess

 

[Grendel]

I assume the issue is the segregation in the concourse at that end

 

[shmmeee]

I suspect the answer is the number of people stood in the concourse drinking beer. If those people could take their pint back to their seat at half time there would be a lot more room

Or into mahoosive smoking area

 

[fernandopartridge]

Are they going to continue to sell draught Mahou next season?

 

[AOM]

Are they going to continue to sell draught Mahou next season?

Wasn't it Madri they had on tap or was this after the season finished?

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Dave has given a further clarification

• Clarification: The Arena has a dedicated away end, which was designed as such and is stewarded as such. The Club fully complies with and is aware of the league rules regarding minimum allocations to away clubs, in terms of the number of tickets given – we apologise this was not clear in the meeting. We often give Clubs above this amount, as the demand exists from most visiting Clubs in the Championship and this creates revenue for the Club, and the home demand has not required alternative arrangements.
• 
  
• Using any unused areas of the Away end for home support has significant impact currently on the overall stadium capacity, due to segregation and use of barriers both in the bowl and in the concourse. Safety regulations and views of external agents have evolved since the stadium was designed and opened, which we have to adhere to. We are constantly working with, and challenging where appropriate, these arrangements and views, which are made with everybody’s (home and away fans) safety in mind.
• 
  
• Vs Middlesbrough, 11 and 12 were opened but we were required by the Safety Officer to close Block 10 for segregation, with 8 and 9 opened for away fans. The capacity in Block 11 and 12 is all that the segregated concourse can hold safely as is the capacity in the concourse of blocks 8 and 9 – thus killing over 2000 seats in the bowl. As noted elsewhere within the meeting, concourse capacity at the Arena also creates concerns for home supporters too and that is something that is more difficult to manage safely in smaller spaces such as the South Stand.
• 
  
• Against Birmingham City a sell out was declared at 30,175 – by using the South Stand for home fans too, the sell out figure was reduced vs Middlesbrough to 28,874.
• 
  
• As this is a topic members of the Supporters Forum have an interest in, the Club will arrange for the next meeting of the Forum to be at the Arena so representatives are able to view the South Stand concourse and barriers themselves and talk with safety officials from the Arena regarding the safety restrictions that are in place.

 

[Broken Hearted Sky Blue]

Thanks Pete

Improvements to the concourse sound promising.
Can see large queues continuing to be an issue, but this seems to be a problem at every big venue I've been to

 

[chiefdave]

At least the club are engaging on this which has to be a positive.

The question has to be if you can't safely have more than 30,175 in the stadium how did they have an attendance of 32,128 for the England Women's match earlier this year?

 

[David O'Day]

At least the club are engaging on this which has to be a positive.

The question has to be if you can't safely have more than 30,175 in the stadium how did they have an attendance of 32,128 for the England Women's match earlier this year?

That's a good point, it would also be good to clarify the 3000 away tickets as Leeds say on their site it is 2000.

 

[wingy]

Do Cardiff and Leicester for example have these issues?

 

[SHUNT31]

At least the club are engaging on this which has to be a positive.

The question has to be if you can't safely have more than 30,175 in the stadium how did they have an attendance of 32,128 for the England Women's match earlier this year?

t’s bullshit.

Every other club manages it. Went to a Leicester game last year and there was 32,000 inc 3,000 Everton fans. No blocks for segregation just a line of stewards in the footwell.

The SAG are just OTT with it all.

 

[shmmeee]

At least the club are engaging on this which has to be a positive.

The question has to be if you can't safely have more than 30,175 in the stadium how did they have an attendance of 32,128 for the England Women's match earlier this year?

No segregation is there? I’m guessing that’s part of it. No home and away ends means just open everything.

I could have sworn the whole point was the away end could be segmented off, seems it was designed with a 6k away end which is fucking mental TBH. Who gives 20% of their ground over to away fans permanently?

 

[fernandopartridge]

Wasn't it Madri they had on tap or was this after the season finished?

No it was Mahou at the Boro game

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

 

[Hiraeth]

Anyone know anyone who is looking for a role as a Safety Officer with experience of managing a football stadium where whole blocks aren't shut off for segregation? Frasers Group hiring Safety Officer in Coventry, England, United Kingdom | LinkedIn

 

[MusicDating]

No segregation is there? I’m guessing that’s part of it. No home and away ends means just open everything.

I could have sworn the whole point was the away end could be segmented off, seems it was designed with a 6k away end which is fucking mental TBH. Who gives 20% of their ground over to away fans permanently?

But with no segregation, there would be more people in the concourse, which is apparently too small for that number of people? Makes no sense to me. Will be interesting to hear the feedback from the next session at the CBS.

 

[MalcSB]

Dave has given a further clarification

Looks like Dave has read post on here, and smacks of “oops, caught out telling porkies - what other excuse can we come up with”.

If safety regulations have changed so significantly since the stadium opened, why hasn’t every club in the country been similarly affected. I hope whoever visits the stadium, as offered, can be critical and challenge whatever bullshit is offered as a justification - and that includes the need to reduce capacity by 2,000 if those blocks are used for home supporters.

He is right to say that there hasn’t generally been a need to use those blocks (other than and individual’s personal wishes) but that will be tested this season.

 

[Grendel]

Boddy hasn’t misread the rules and assumed it was 10% capacity or a minimum of 2,000 has he?

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

Boddy hasn’t misread the rules and assumed it was 10% capacity or a minimum of 2,000 has he?

It does appear that this is the case
However the issue of the away end and make up of the stadium does need unpacking

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

Coventry City Supporters Forum
Agenda for Meeting on the 20th July 2023 @ 5.00pm (On Zoom)

1. Apologies for absence
Pat Raybould, Laura Smith, Michael Garlick, Alan Ludford

2. Approval of the minutes from the previous meeting
All agreed
3. Matters arising from the previous meeting not covered on today’s agenda
EDI – SG will pick this up during her agenda item
Train timetable changes – Was discussed at the SAG but CCFC and Arena are progressing this with the authorities to push for action to be taken

4. EDI (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion).
SG – Football leadership diversity code of practice – emphasis on gathering and publishing fan data as well as how recruitment takes place within the club. Particular emphasis on LGBTQ+ and disabled supporters. SD is looking for any supporters who are interested in having a role. Communications will follow to ask for supporters to get involved. Distribution to be done via Supporters Forum Group.
EDI Code of practice has a zero tolerance policy on match day with clear signposting of sanctions. Working very closely with the police


5. Safeguarding – Kirstie – safeguarding lead for club – Updated all the guidance – 2 safeguarding stewards on match days. Going through the new EFL guidance that she is working through and will report these changes

6. Safe Standing at the CBS Arena – consultation
DB announced a month ago that CCFC were looking at introducing safe standing at the arena. At the start of last season licensed standing was allowed within stadia in Great Britain. Looking at the area 13, 14, 15 and 16 in the upper sections as there have been issues with overcrowding and persistent standing.
At the point now where we are looking to facilitate this. In terms of construction there is a 6 month lead time. Looking at giving themselves a season to get this right. At a recent SAG meeting it was agreed to install this in May 2024.
Andrew Walster (City Council – Street scene and regulatory services) – person who signs safety certificate for the stadium. Working closely with club and arena and been working on the persistent standing issue in these areas. His personal opinion is that it would be expanded to other areas as and when needed.
Practically the seats will be there to be used but a rail will also be there
Martin Girvan (Deputy head of Inspectorate, Sports Ground Safety Authority) – talked about other grounds including locally at Wolves, Birmingham, and Aston Villa. Many fans don’t understand the challenges of why we are doing what we are doing. He explained there are circumstances with a relatively small force, in the upper 15 rows, would not take much force to collapse forward.
Not looking to stop people standing but stop people standing unsafely. As you come lower down the forces needed are higher, so the hazard is not as prevalent.
The risks are made up of the gradient of stand, age demographics and number of people standing in the area. Work with the club where the number of seats where people can stand incrementally means it’s not necessary to stand anywhere outside of this area.
Some people stand because they want to, others stand because they can’t see without standing.
DB said his initial thoughts are in blocks 13, 14, 15 and 16 from Row U upwards – 2200 seats in total. Other clubs are looking at installing safe standing in the away ends and this forms part of the published criteria. This doesn’t have to be straight away.
Steve Moloney – Who pays for the railings? CCFC are paying for the installation. Is an agreement required from Frasers to install safer standing? Yes and they’ve been supportive. It was initially identified by their stadium safety officers.
PG asked about how many seats would be lost moving seating to rail seating. Looks like CCFC might lose 50 or so out of 2200 seats initially being looked at.
MG – Capacity of stadia is based on the number of people that can get out of the stadium safely not necessarily number of seats in the stadium
Once the railed seats go in is that the seats will be sold as standing areas.
CH asked what were the next steps for CCFC on this issue? DB advised that they will be writing to every person who is currently a season ticket holder where the intention is railed seating to ask their thoughts.
[email protected] will be available for thoughts and questions
It was agreed that all Supporters Forum groups wouldshare the CCFC communication on Safe Standing issued with the minutes of the meeting and ask for supporters feedback using the above e-mail address.

7. Club up-date & responses from pre submitted questions from forum members
On separate sheet
8. Family Zone up-date
MH – Last year we had 749 indiviudal children attend the family zone area last season. Planning is ongoingfor2023-24. Several email conversations and meetings with Pat Raybould – significant plans will be shared once they are able to.


9. AOB
Jim Brown – Former players have a successful website with tens of thousands of visitors every month. Looking for a web master who would be interested in being a volunteer web master for the former players website. He will share a job spec for the person they are after.
Jim Brown – He runs the clubs archives – programme collection going back to the 1950’s. He’s looking for away programmes from 2005 years. If anyone has a they’d like to donate then please contact him
CH – Asked about how the club might refurbish and or maintain the bricks at the arena – DB – Confirmed that the club will look into how this can be done.


10. Proposed date of the next meeting:

DB to send out a date in due course.

Great work Pete much appreciated.

 

[Skybluedownunder]

[mention]Sky Blue Pete [/mention]at the next meeting can you ask the clubs aware of Covcept and in future can they please engage him for kit designs.

Personally I think at the end of the season they should post three home and three away kits for the fans to choose but don’t reveal the answers of what’s the most popular, but whatever wins is what is released. At the end of the day it’s us the fans who buy it so we want something we are going to guarantee we like, I’m sure if this was to happen they would sell a lot more kits. It still leaves the suspense as nobody knows what the favourite one was

Please raise it big man xx


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SBT]

But with no segregation, there would be more people in the concourse, which is apparently too small for that number of people? Makes no sense to me. Will be interesting to hear the feedback from the next session at the CBS.

It sounds like the issue is that the away concourse can only be segregated off at certain points - so you can put home fans in unused seats in the away end, but there’s nowhere for them to go in the concourse.

If there’s no segregation then the whole concourse is open to everyone, so the problem goes away.

 

[Gynnsthetonic]

It sounds like the issue is that the away concourse can only be segregated off at certain points - so you can put home fans in unused seats in the away end, but there’s nowhere for them to go in the concourse.

If there’s no segregation then the whole concourse is open to everyone, so the problem goes away.

Change the design of the concourse would be an option in the future, then we can have the option of giving them 2k, 3.2k and 4.5k

 

[Calista]

No segregation is there? I’m guessing that’s part of it. No home and away ends means just open everything.

I could have sworn the whole point was the away end could be segmented off, seems it was designed with a 6k away end which is fucking mental TBH. Who gives 20% of their ground over to away fans permanently?

Change the design of the concourse would be an option in the future, then we can have the option of giving them 2k, 3.2k and 4.5k

You'd hope this would be possible with a modest investment, which would pay for itself in terms of maximising ticket sales (as well as improving the PR side of things)

 

[Grendel]

It does appear that this is the case
However the issue of the away end and make up of the stadium does need unpacking

Whet a clown

 

[Balli001]

We definitely now have questions for the next meeting anyway.
Can they confirm that the ticket and shirt shambles will no longer happen again moving forward?