A question about improving support

[Armitage Shanks]

Re: A question about improving support

J33 waste ground ? If going to build houses eventually but in the meantime Turn that into a free P+R

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Re: A question about improving support

A few general gripes:

1. Transportation to/from the stadium is truly horrendous. I cycled when I was back in the summer and security had cordoned off the cycle rack and moaned when I wanted to use it. The bus situation is a joke. No buses run near the stadium until around an hour after the game. The bus depot is 100 meters away FFS...

2. The general matchday "experience" is drab and boring. There is very little on offer underneath the stands and the prices are silly. (The music played always makes me laugh too - does the club not know anything about the demographics of the early arrivers at games? These are not teens into Taylor Swift, they're old farts.) I'm sure there are a lot of people on here who have been to a US sporting event at a newer stadium and been shocked by higher quality "experience".

3. I'm guessing the walk-up attendance on a match day is low. The reason for this is the club (and indeed most football clubs) have this all wrong - these are discretionary purchasers, not those who have no alternative for their $, like late flight bookers. The club should be discounting last minute customers, not penalizing them. Every empty seat is a wasted revenue opportunity with most costs of attendance being fixed.

If you offer discounts for last minute customers, lots of fans would leave buying tickets until the last moment, creating a big problem.

[superfeathers]

Re: A question about improving support

Some good ideas in here.
I have to say more / advertised supporters buses from the valleys would be good.
It’s a pain going if you want a few beers.
I generally drive because the transport links are so bad, but I can see why people who aren’t as fussed about being there won’t bother

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Re: A question about improving support

Some good ideas in here.
I have to say more / advertised supporters buses from the valleys would be good.
It’s a pain going if you want a few beers.
I generally drive because the transport links are so bad, but I can see why people who aren’t as fussed about being there won’t bother

Whenever Wales play rugby, Arriva and now Transport for Wales, make changes to get supporters home.

I know Cardiff City, or even Swansea, Wrexham etc don't generate that amount of passengers, but it's still an issue. I remember some years ago waiting for a train in Pyle on a Sunday. Every 2 hours. One turns up, 2 carriages, full of Man City fans. I couldn't get on it.

Would it be such a problem if train capacity could be increased when needed to get fans home safely, without hoarding them onto trains like cattle?

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: A question about improving support

Whenever Wales play rugby, Arriva and now Transport for Wales, make changes to get supporters home.

I know Cardiff City, or even Swansea, Wrexham etc don't generate that amount of passengers, but it's still an issue. I remember some years ago waiting for a train in Pyle on a Sunday. Every 2 hours. One turns up, 2 carriages, full of Man City fans. I couldn't get on it.

Would it be such a problem if train capacity could be increased when needed to get fans home safely, without hoarding them onto trains like cattle?

Man City fans on a train in Pyle on a Saturday morning ?

What's all that about

[JamesWales]

Re: A question about improving support

If you offer discounts for last minute customers, lots of fans would leave buying tickets until the last moment, creating a big problem.

Yeah thats the risk. Loads buy early cos it's cheaper but leave it until the day and some won't bother esp if weather is poor.

That said, I can also see how high match day prices put off potential casual fans too.

[superfeathers]

Re: A question about improving support

Whenever Wales play rugby, Arriva and now Transport for Wales, make changes to get supporters home.

I know Cardiff City, or even Swansea, Wrexham etc don't generate that amount of passengers, but it's still an issue. I remember some years ago waiting for a train in Pyle on a Sunday. Every 2 hours. One turns up, 2 carriages, full of Man City fans. I couldn't get on it.

Would it be such a problem if train capacity could be increased when needed to get fans home safely, without hoarding them onto trains like cattle?

I don’t even bother trying to get on in ninian park/Grangetown to get home anymore. Just too full. So if I’ve gone by train it’s the walk to town then wait. Fun on the way, but not the way home. I can see why people would be put off

[superfeathers]

Re: A question about improving support

Yeah thats the risk. Loads buy early cos it's cheaper but leave it until the day and some won't bother esp if weather is poor.

That said, I can also see how high match day prices put off potential casual fans too.

When I didn’t have a season ticket, I didn’t go a few times at the last minute because I felt a bit aggrieved paying match day prices. Not sure there’s much of a way around that though

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: A question about improving support

I don’t even bother trying to get on in ninian park/Grangetown to get home anymore. Just too full. So if I’ve gone by train it’s the walk to town then wait. Fun on the way, but not the way home. I can see why people would be put off

As in walking through Riverside to central ?

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Re: A question about improving support

Man City fans on a train in Pyle on a Saturday morning ?

What's all that about

No, it was a Sunday afternoon. Found it. Sunday 11 March, 2012. They won 1-0. 2pm kick off. I tried to get a train around 6pm from Pyle back to Cardiff and it was rammed with Man City fans going home. Given the nature of the game, why on earth did Arriva not put on extra carriages? Not just for me, but I reckon that train left Swansea like that and anyone from Neath and Port Talbot wanting a train were fecked. Crap service.

[Dave Blue]

Re: A question about improving support

When I didn’t have a season ticket, I didn’t go a few times at the last minute because I felt a bit aggrieved paying match day prices. Not sure there’s much of a way around that though

Keep them the same price as early ones I assume?

[superfeathers]

Re: A question about improving support

Keep them the same price as early ones I assume?

If you do that then people will wait and see if they fancy it on the day. If it’s pissing down you’ll lose a lot

[Dave Blue]

Re: A question about improving support

I am not doubting the loyalty of our away support I am saying it should be more and plenty of fans think so too

In these hard up times I don’t know who has the cash to give out £100 or more every other Saturday for an away trip.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: A question about improving support

In these hard up times I don’t know who has the cash to give out £100 or more every other Saturday for an away trip.

I agree

But how come most fans in the Championship who travel similar distances to us are doing so ?

[superfeathers]

Re: A question about improving support

As in walking through Riverside to central ?

Yeah, doesn’t sound much but when that’s before you start your actual journey, then a long walk the other end of the train (presuming they run ok) it’s a ballache going by public transport