The queues (12 Viewers)

pusbccfc · Feb 7, 2024

Worst yet last night. A bad mix of people arriving late, soggy printed tickets and the usual overzealous checks.

They put barriers up to stop the queues moving too far out and that helps at the bars but created a lot of frustration for some. It got quite tense when people had missed kick off and were nowhere near in the stadium. Stewards panicked and stopped searching and checking tickets.

I previously argued people are turning up late but there's clearly something else. They check the bags too late. At other stadiums, they have a table or stewards at the start of the queue checking which then allows people time to get their ticket ready at the turnstile. At the CBS, stewards are searching right up by the door.

@Sky Blue Pete I know this has been discussed multiple times but I don't think the unopened turnstiles under Block 14 have been mentioned. Clearly, SAG have never been keen on fans entering there as it's past the (stupid) fence. Surely reopening these has to be something on the radar soon.

The early food and drink deals aren't enough to get people in early. Does anyone really want a stadium pint at 1pm?

Sky Blue Harry H · Feb 7, 2024

pusbccfc said:
The early food and drink deals aren't enough to get people in early. Does anyone really want a stadium pint at 1pm?

I agree -trying to lure people in over 6 hours before kick off is ridiculous

Mucca Mad Boys · Feb 7, 2024

My brother got to the stadium at 19:20-25 and still missed KO - he said there was a 15m period where queue seemingly did not move at all.

I parked up at Christ the King at 19:40, walked to the turnstile and nearly got in before him.

Middlesborough in the playoffs and Oxford Utd in the cup were like this too.

pusbccfc · Feb 7, 2024

Sky Blue Harry H said:
I agree -trying to lure people in over 6 hours before kick off is ridiculous

Or an hour after kick off on Sunday...

Cheylesmore ITK · Feb 7, 2024

Both games at Wednesday there able to get around 4k in to the away end with minimum fuss using about 4 or 5 turnstiles.

Check away from turnstile then you can walk up easily and get through.

cornoccfc · Feb 7, 2024

Mucca Mad Boys said:
My brother got to the stadium at 19:20-25 and still missed KO - he said there was a 15m period where queue seemingly did not move at all.

Definitely this - literally was only 1 person getting through in a minute (this was around gates 18/19)

It got to around 7.35pm, and it suddenly stated moving like turnstile queues should

Not just paper tickets not scanning, saw phones doing the same, with readers flashing red

ccfctommy · Feb 7, 2024

It's gotta be a thing with the paper tickets and the phones. It was the same Vs Oxford.

Saddlebrains · Feb 7, 2024

Still stand by my view that the place has never had enough turnstiles

Cheylesmore ITK · Feb 7, 2024

ccfctommy said:
It's gotta be a thing with the paper tickets and the phones. It was the same Vs Oxford.

it's bad every game

robbiekeane · Feb 7, 2024

pusbccfc said:
Worst yet last night. A bad mix of people arriving late, soggy printed tickets and the usual overzealous checks.

They put barriers up to stop the queues moving too far out and that helps at the bars but created a lot of frustration for some. It got quite tense when people had missed kick off and were nowhere near in the stadium. Stewards panicked and stopped searching and checking tickets.

I previously argued people are turning up late but there's clearly something else. They check the bags too late. At other stadiums, they have a table or stewards at the start of the queue checking which then allows people time to get their ticket ready at the turnstile. At the CBS, stewards are searching right up by the door.

@Sky Blue Pete I know this has been discussed multiple times but I don't think the unopened turnstiles under Block 14 have been mentioned. Clearly, SAG have never been keen on fans entering there as it's past the (stupid) fence. Surely reopening these has to be something on the radar soon.

The early food and drink deals aren't enough to get people in early. Does anyone really want a stadium pint at 1pm?

Our guy just ripped our barcode off for us and gave us back the paper in the end.

Never understood why it’s a self scan situation, it never speeds things up, most other big sporting events you show your barcode and someone’s there with a scanner to ping you through. One person per gate getting used to how a scanner works versus expecting 20k people each to use it seamlessly

MTK · Feb 7, 2024

I’m getting old and crotchety probably but the queues at every game are really starting to annoy me. When crowds are regularly bigger, surely as a venue you need to find new ways to check and admit people in good time, whether that’s different processes, more staff, opening more gates, and understanding what would make people go earlier. For many it won’t be a cheap pint, you have to drink standing up.

pusbccfc · Feb 7, 2024

Saddlebrains said:
Still stand by my view that the place has never had enough turnstiles

It does, but they closed 2/3 of them under block 14.

Reopen them and it would help massively.

Frank Sidebottom · Feb 7, 2024

I sit in block 21.... saw large queues down that side of the stadium and walked round to the North stand and got straight in.

pusbccfc · Feb 7, 2024

Ironically, it's one of the easiest stadiums to get out of after a game.

Some away grounds can take 15 minutes to leave.

If there isn't enough turnstiles, or the checks are required to be that strict, they need to find a better way of getting people in earlier.

Sky Blue Pete · Feb 7, 2024

pusbccfc said:
Worst yet last night. A bad mix of people arriving late, soggy printed tickets and the usual overzealous checks.

They put barriers up to stop the queues moving too far out and that helps at the bars but created a lot of frustration for some. It got quite tense when people had missed kick off and were nowhere near in the stadium. Stewards panicked and stopped searching and checking tickets.

I previously argued people are turning up late but there's clearly something else. They check the bags too late. At other stadiums, they have a table or stewards at the start of the queue checking which then allows people time to get their ticket ready at the turnstile. At the CBS, stewards are searching right up by the door.

@Sky Blue Pete I know this has been discussed multiple times but I don't think the unopened turnstiles under Block 14 have been mentioned. Clearly, SAG have never been keen on fans entering there as it's past the (stupid) fence. Surely reopening these has to be something on the radar soon.

The early food and drink deals aren't enough to get people in early. Does anyone really want a stadium pint at 1pm?

It was mad
Our turnstile there were no searches done
Sent email to sag and club

Sky Blue Pete · Feb 7, 2024

Frank Sidebottom said:
I sit in block 21.... saw large queues down that side of the stadium and walked round to the North stand and got straight in.

Did the same but didn’t get straight in - did see first goal though
Why do people queue at block 16 end - madness

Kingokings204 · Feb 7, 2024

I missed the opening 2 goals also. Arrived at 7.30pm which admittedly is later than I would like but still. The crowd was 10k down on a sell out and literally nothing seemed to be moving. As the OP said it was a mixture of things and the rain didn’t help. Fans were getting a bit irate to say the least.

Better planning and staffing needs to be put in place. It was a joke last night and needs sorting.

Skybluecol · Feb 7, 2024

We are singers corner but went around the club shop way to get in at the family stand as seemed little sales yesterday pm. It was madness and steward told us they'd been a "turnstile malfunction"
For every turnstile? It really does need looking at....my concern is that the people who make changes don't actually see the problems 1st hand....hope I'm wrong

SBT · Feb 7, 2024

pusbccfc said:
Does anyone really want a stadium pint at 1pm?

Yeah go on then, I’ll have a Camden Pale Ale please

Sky Blue Pete · Feb 7, 2024

New chief executive said he’d look and they have cameras

Skybluecol said:
We are singers corner but went around the club shop way to get in at the family stand as seemed little sales yesterday pm. It was madness and steward told us they'd been a "turnstile malfunction"
For every turnstile? It really does need looking at....my concern is that the people who make changes don't actually see the problems 1st hand....hope I'm wrong

ccfctommy · Feb 7, 2024

Cheylesmore ITK said:
it's bad every game

I left the Gas at 7.25 and was in for teams coming out versus Bristol City. the first game when they used those barriers. I do think its a paper ticket/phone thing.

Also, the stewards seem to search you once at the turnstile and not the queue before, which may help.

Grendel · Feb 7, 2024

pusbccfc said:
Worst yet last night. A bad mix of people arriving late, soggy printed tickets and the usual overzealous checks.

They put barriers up to stop the queues moving too far out and that helps at the bars but created a lot of frustration for some. It got quite tense when people had missed kick off and were nowhere near in the stadium. Stewards panicked and stopped searching and checking tickets.

I previously argued people are turning up late but there's clearly something else. They check the bags too late. At other stadiums, they have a table or stewards at the start of the queue checking which then allows people time to get their ticket ready at the turnstile. At the CBS, stewards are searching right up by the door.

@Sky Blue Pete I know this has been discussed multiple times but I don't think the unopened turnstiles under Block 14 have been mentioned. Clearly, SAG have never been keen on fans entering there as it's past the (stupid) fence. Surely reopening these has to be something on the radar soon.

The early food and drink deals aren't enough to get people in early. Does anyone really want a stadium pint at 1pm?

20 minutes to get in having got there at 7.20 and loads behind me when I got in - yet the West Stand wasn’t full. It is poor.

edgy · Feb 7, 2024

7.15pm, 4 people in the queue for the first North Stand turnstile we came across. People do realise you can use any turnstile, right?

I was the only cause of delay, as the rain on my screen was messing with the barcode scan.

MalcSB · Feb 7, 2024

I was later than usual, my 1 hour drive having taken nearly 2 and a half because of road works, the accident on the M69 and reduced speed on M6. Walked straight in through north stand turnstiles at 7:15 although a guy in front was having trouble with a paper ticket. This was the usual issue with him having folded down the dotted lines and the ticket being too big for the scanner - surely that can be put right.

Appreciate other people will also have been held up because of traffic issues, but those choosing not to turn up until 15 minutes before KO have to take some responsibility for delays getting into the stadium.

shmmeee · Feb 7, 2024

The formatting of the paper tickets seems from the outside like an obvious easy win that would require no cost or staff training. @Sky Blue Pete did we ever ask if a better printed ticket format is possible? I can’t believe they’re forced by ticket master to a certain size for print at home.

SBAndy · Feb 7, 2024

It’s 100% the manual tickets that are the issue. Every game this season which has seen issue has been when paper tickets have been in circulation en masse. Middlesbrough first game, Oxford cup and now last night. Added to the fact it was raining so I would assume people wouldn’t get their tickets out to fold until at the gate.

As shmmeee says, the formatting of the tickets is a problem. If you fold along the dotted lines they don’t fit in the scanner. The security checks, etc I see as a secondary issue as they’re happening at every game and it’s only the ‘paper ticket’ games I’ve seen real issues.

Sky Blue Pete · Feb 7, 2024

shmmeee said:
The formatting of the paper tickets seems from the outside like an obvious easy win that would require no cost or staff training. @Sky Blue Pete did we ever ask if a better printed ticket format is possible? I can’t believe they’re forced by ticket master to a certain size for print at home.

It’s an excellent point

Marty · Feb 7, 2024

There are no issues, you just aren't turning up early enough and spending £12 on a pint and chips. Apparently

AJB1983 · Feb 7, 2024

Got there at 710 as the teams were warming up. No issues, straight in.

Re the printed tickets, people do know you don’t have to print them and can just scan them from your phone? I’d imagine the vast majority of people can do that?

Sky Blue Pete · Feb 7, 2024

AJB1983 said:
Got there at 710 as the teams were warming up. No issues, straight in.

Re the printed tickets, people do know you don’t have to print them and can just scan them from your phone? I’d imagine the vast majority of people can do that?

Worth reminding and I always print and it takes seconds to get through just not for everyone

skyblueelephant76 · Feb 7, 2024

SBAndy said:
It’s 100% the manual tickets that are the issue. Every game this season which has seen issue has been when paper tickets have been in circulation en masse. Middlesbrough first game, Oxford cup and now last night. Added to the fact it was raining so I would assume people wouldn’t get their tickets out to fold until at the gate.

As shmmeee says, the formatting of the tickets is a problem. If you fold along the dotted lines they don’t fit in the scanner. The security checks, etc I see as a secondary issue as they’re happening at every game and it’s only the ‘paper ticket’ games I’ve seen real issues.

I arrived early and only had two people in front of me (both with paper tickets). They spent 5 mins trying to get them to work and were then told to try another turnstile.

After they moved it took me 4 attempts to get in with my season ticket. The whole system isn't reliable.

pusbccfc · Feb 7, 2024

edgy said:
7.15pm, 4 people in the queue for the first North Stand turnstile we came across. People do realise you can use any turnstile, right?

I was the only cause of delay, as the rain on my screen was messing with the barcode scan.

The queues were longer in the North Stand by 7:30

pusbccfc · Feb 7, 2024

AJB1983 said:
Got there at 710 as the teams were warming up. No issues, straight in.

Re the printed tickets, people do know you don’t have to print them and can just scan them from your phone? I’d imagine the vast majority of people can do that?

That wasn't working towards the end

MalcSB · Feb 7, 2024

Marty said:
There are no issues, you just aren't turning up early enough and spending £12 on a pint and chips. Apparently

The £12 is optional, but if you don’t turn up early enough don’t moan that you miss kick off.

Bertola · Feb 7, 2024

Rocked up about 7:15 last night and got through pretty smoothly compared to recent weeks. It seems to be the luck of the draw with which turnstile you get, but that shouldn't be the case

It's shit, the ground always has issues with big attendances, whether that's for Football or concerts. IT's as if the ground isn't capable of actually holding its attendance

The queues (12 Viewers)

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