The queues (9 Viewers)

[King Robins]

If the game wasnt on Sky it would have been delayed.. was ridiculous trying to get in today until they stopped searching people.

 

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[djr8369]

It's 2024 and I am shocked they cant programme lights to help traffic flow at specific peak times. Car park C needs an extra 20 seconds per change and the roundabout lights towards the city centre where it always backs up needs the same 20 seconds longer hold. It would ease congestion and stop 100s of cars idling which is a small but quick win from an emissions perspective.

Absolutely. I honestly think this would ease so many issues with car park C. There’s not much traffic going across the 444 but the lights favour it hugely. Understandable on a none match day.

 

[hamertime]

Absolutely. I honestly think this would ease so many issues with car park C. There’s not much traffic going across the 444 but the lights favour it hugely. Understandable on a none match day.

Went for a burger king after the game, came out and seen them all still trying to get out that car park. Fuck that

 

[Ashdown]

Turnstiles 42-45, snake queue looked long but moved well from 11.20. Had time for a pint and a chat with a mate on the concourse. Improvement can come from;
Not searching the elderly and young children too vigorously, making the F & B offerings cheaper in the stadium, maybe install some benches on the periphery where possible so people can put drinks down and have a seat. Drinks in your seats full stop would be civilised.

 

[ovduk78]

It feels like some of you were at a different stadium to me. We got to the stadium about 11:15 coming from Tescos, walked through the fan village and were in a queue of 3-4 at whatever number turnstiles are at blocks 26-27.

 

[SBbucks]

It feels like some of you were at a different stadium to me. We got to the stadium about 11:15 coming from Tescos, walked through the fan village and were in a queue of 3-4 at whatever number turnstiles are at blocks 26-27.

11:15? That’s way too early. I want to drink until 11:50 and walk straight in, why can’t the club/stadium accommodate that?
Useless turnstiles, stewards, searches, barriers, scanners, blah, blah, blah.
Repeat for every game…

 

[SBAndy]

Used the gate by blocks 15-16, long queue but was in within 5 mins or so. That was at about 11:35.

 

[Robinshio]

It feels like some of you were at a different stadium to me. We got to the stadium about 11:15 coming from Tescos, walked through the fan village and were in a queue of 3-4 at whatever number turnstiles are at blocks 26-27.

same - literally 3 people in front of me

 

[pusbccfc]

It feels like some of you were at a different stadium to me. We got to the stadium about 11:15 coming from Tescos, walked through the fan village and were in a queue of 3-4 at whatever number turnstiles are at blocks 26-27.

Well this is it.

For a 3pm kick off, the turnstiles are empty at until 2:30. There is then a huge surge and it overwhelms the system.

The queues were tiny against Wednesday up until 7:15.

 

[David O'Day]

What some people don't get is not everyone who turns up later is in the pub, some people have other commitments.

Also the delays are getting earlier, the Arena knows this true hence they are attempting things to reduce this.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

What some people don't get is not everyone who turns up later is in the pub, some people have other commitments.

Also the delays are getting earlier, the Arena knows this true hence they are attempting things to reduce this.

Some people have other commitments, and that's fine and understandable, but some just don't go in until the last minute because they're having a beer or whatever.

It's those others that are the problem, and are the one's that are criticised. I dare say they're also the ones complaining vigorously and shouting abuse at stewards when they can't waltz into the stadium 5 mins before kick-off when they've been stood outside for the past 30mins with no queues.

 

[David O'Day]

Some people have other commitments, and that's fine and understandable, but some just don't go in until the last minute because they're having a beer or whatever.

It's those others that are the problem, and are the one's that are criticised. I dare say they're also the ones complaining vigorously and shouting abuse at stewards when they can't waltz into the stadium 5 mins before kick-off when they've been stood outside for the past 30mins with no queues.

Bollocks, the issues aren't people turning up "5" minutes before kick off

If you read each and every match there are people experiencing a shit storm 30 or so minutes before kick off. You should not have to queue 30 minutes to get into a football stadium.

Also the issues happen at concerts in the Arena and unless we are accusing Harry Styles fans of being in the pub until 5 minutes before "kick off" that can't be the issue there.

The stadium doesn't have enough turnstiles for the capacity, this is a known fact. When it was built you could pop open the doors and hand scan but it seems that now that is frown upon due to events like the Euros final at Wembley. It's also not helped by the unused turnstiles under block 14.

The venue knows there is an issue and this why they are trying new methods of getting people in and controlling the queues but these failed and they had to resort to ditching security checks.

It is also interesting how other grounds which older facilities such as Wednesday managed to get just under 4k city fans in an run down stand that had about 5 individual turnstiles with no real issues.

So no the issue isn't people turning up with 5 minutes to go, if you turn up with 5 minutes to go you are walking into a queu where people have probably been waiting 20 or so minutes already.

Sorry but it's just fucking lazy to say it is all down to people turning but that late.

 

[chiefdave]

It is also interesting how other grounds which older facilities such as Wednesday managed to get just under 4k city fans in a run down stand that had about 5 individual turnstiles with no real issues.

This is an important point. There’s been quite a few ‘age of the stadium’ and ‘wouldn’t be like that if it was built now’ type posts yet far older stadiums don’t seem to have these issues

 

[skybluecam]

11:15? That’s way too early. I want to drink until 11:50 and walk straight in, why can’t the club/stadium accommodate that?
Useless turnstiles, stewards, searches, barriers, scanners, blah, blah, blah.
Repeat for every game…

I suppose I have to commit an extra 30 mins of my time on a saturday now because they can't organise a queue?

Having been to many stadiums around the country I've never seen queues like ours so they're clearly doing something wrong.

 

[Calista]

Deputy Response Manager was visible and trying to help keep things moving.

I shot the Response Manager, but I did not shoot the Deputy

 

[Ashdown]

Some of the issues compared to other stadiums may also relate to the fact that almost the entire crowd is effectively trying to enter through only three sides rather than all round the ground.

 

[David O'Day]

Some of the issues compared to other stadiums may also relate to the fact that almost the entire crowd is effectively trying to enter through only three sides rather than all round the ground.

For example at Wednesday there was say a 100 foot back wall of the Leppings Lane stand which has about 4 or 5 turnstiles and that twice managed to get 4000 fans in without issue.

It is because they did things like conduct the searches away from the actual turnstile, there was at one stage 9 or 10 stewards doing the searches and then letting you on to the stadium footprint. This meant that at no stage did the queues start to build up and you could basically walk straight the the turnstile.

 

[skybluecam]

Some of the issues compared to other stadiums may also relate to the fact that almost the entire crowd is effectively trying to enter through only three sides rather than all round the ground.

Shouldn't really be an issue. The east stand is the problem and I doubt anyone is using those turnstiles to access the north or west stands.

 

[David O'Day]

There's loads of really badly designed parts of the stadium though such as why the fuck are the toilets in places opposite the refreshments kiosks meaning there queues can sometimes form a wall of people blocking the concourse.

But that is another conversation.

 

[SBbucks]

I suppose I have to commit an extra 30 mins of my time on a saturday now because they can't organise a queue?

Having been to many stadiums around the country I've never seen queues like ours so they're clearly doing something wrong.

Two choices, get there earlier or accept you might have to queue. Not difficult.

 

[David O'Day]

Two choices, get there earlier or accept you might have to queue. Not difficult.

Bore off fella

 

[skybluecam]

Two choices, get there earlier or accept you might have to queue. Not difficult.

Or the club can find some competence.

Consistently go to away matches in the oldest, most cramped ends of stadiums with minimal turnstiles and never have to queue as long as I do at home.

 

[AOM]

The particular problem I experienced though was the recent change in the system of queuing in the North stand (not sure what the other stands are like), as it seemed to be multiple queues merging into one and the usual turnstiles were closed.
Once the crowd forced their way through the fences into their usual turnstiles, it seemed to work as normal.
Wouldn't be surprised if it reverts back to the original system for the next home game

 

[Robinshio]

we need to assume half the crowd arrive in the last 30 minutes, which can be 15000 people or 500 per minute
If a turnstile takes 10 seconds to pass through, that means we need 100 turnstiles

The biggest issues are
a . Mixed competency of stewards (an efficient one will even complain about the rubbish ones)
b. Paper tickets

I think everybody attending a game should be made to have a supporters card - if you are not a season ticket holder it is a one off purchase along with a ticket (with maybe an initial offer of a free one at the start of next season)

 

[SBbucks]

Bore off fella

Carry on queuing and moaning, it’s all the same to me. Not sure why you wouldn’t change your behaviour to adapt to circumstances though, it’s what most sensible people would do.

 

[WestEndAgro]

Why not let blocks 1,2,3 & 4 through the main entrance next to the Casino, we are almost corporate anyway , just ferry us through one of the many entrances in the main auditorium, no need for us to cause even a riple to the Prawn Sandwich mob.

 

[SBbucks]

Or the club can find some competence.

Consistently go to away matches in the oldest, most cramped ends of stadiums with minimal turnstiles and never have to queue as long as I do at home.

I’m sure it will improve over time as they get used to managing bigger crowds on a regular basis. In the meantime, my original answer of getting there earlier or risking queuing still stands.

 

[MusicDating]

Carry on queuing and moaning, it’s all the same to me. Not sure why you wouldn’t change your behaviour to adapt to circumstances though, it’s what most sensible people would do.

Do you genuinely think the club has currently organising queuing and entry in the most efficient way possible?!

 

[SBbucks]

Do you genuinely think the club has currently organising queuing and entry in the most efficient way possible?!

Of course not, there is always room for improvement and I’m sure the club are looking to do that. But in the meantime, common sense says that you adapt behaviour to meet the current circumstances rather than repeating the same behaviour and expecting a different outcome.

 

[MusicDating]

Of course not, there is always room for improvement and I’m sure the club are looking to do that. But in the meantime, common sense says that you adapt behaviour to meet the current circumstances rather than repeating the same behaviour and expecting a different outcome.

For evening games, it's pretty much impossible for me to get there more than 30 minutes before kick-off (and I suspect that applies to thousands of others), which should be more than enough time to get in to see kick-off.

 

[MalcSB]

Trouble with being retired is having far too much time on my hands.

17 posters have reported no issues with gaining entry in a timely fashion, only 11 have said they had problems. Average arrival time before kick off for the 17 is probably about 30 minutes - not clear at all for the 11.

 

[MalcSB]

we need to assume half the crowd arrive in the last 30 minutes, which can be 15000 people or 500 per minute
If a turnstile takes 10 seconds to pass through, that means we need 100 turnstiles

The biggest issues are
a . Mixed competency of stewards (an efficient one will even complain about the rubbish ones)
b. Paper tickets

I think everybody attending a game should be made to have a supporters card - if you are not a season ticket holder it is a one off purchase along with a ticket (with maybe an initial offer of a free one at the start of next season)

Someone who sounded semi informed suggested that turnstiles should get 10 per minute through, so you would need 50 turnstiles- assuming a constant flow of people uninterrupted by soggy poorly folded paper tickets.

 

[pusbccfc]

There's loads of really badly designed parts of the stadium though such as why the fuck are the toilets in places opposite the refreshments kiosks meaning there queues can sometimes form a wall of people blocking the concourse.

But that is another conversation.

One area of the stadium I'd never complain about is the toilets and concourse. Never once had to queue for it. Very few grounds can say that. The concourse is spacious too.

 

[David O'Day]

One area of the stadium I'd never complain about is the toilets and concourse. Never once had to queue for it. Very few grounds can say that. The concourse is spacious too.

So you have never tried to move p the concourse at half time then

Sound

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

It feels like some of you were at a different stadium to me. We got to the stadium about 11:15 coming from Tescos, walked through the fan village and were in a queue of 3-4 at whatever number turnstiles are at blocks 26-27.

For some reason people don’t move