How could home matchday experiences be improved?

[Citizen's Nephew]

Re: How could home matchday experiences be improved?

This is one area that the club (and most British clubs) are so far behind. Surely a benefit of TfW is that things like this should be easier.

I can't say I have ever seen an advert in a programme or at the game detailing all the various train options to fans. Ninian Park and Grangetown are both within 15 mins walk and between them link up to most of south Wales. There should be a huge promotion on this from the club, TfW and the Welsh Govt to try and hit sustainability targets etc.

It also can be a laugh on the trains - gets fans mixing and singing, is usually a bit less stressful than driving and probably leads to more beer sales in the ground too!

It’s way more complicated for those of us with mobility and/or disability issues. There’s no provision and public transport is pretty intimidating a lot of the time. I find travelling in the UK much harder than other European countries and have had some horrific experiences. If I didn’t live so close to CCS I wouldn’t bother going tbh.
To emphasise how bad it is, I can get to see Newport County on a decent train from Cardiff Central in comfort with facilities a lot easier than CCS especially on a school night. I’m talking specifically as a disabled person here.

[JamesWales]

Re: How could home matchday experiences be improved?

It’s way more complicated for those of us with mobility and/or disability issues. There’s no provision and public transport is pretty intimidating a lot of the time. I find travelling in the UK much harder than other European countries and have had some horrific experiences. If I didn’t live so close to CCS I wouldn’t bother going tbh.
To emphasise how bad it is, I can get to see Newport County on a decent train from Cardiff Central in comfort with facilities a lot easier than CCS especially on a school night. I’m talking specifically as a disabled person here.

Totally agree on this tbh. My father is heavily disabled and the current state of the trains make their effective use only more difficult for people; more trains, better advertised and (of course) improvements in access are only positives.

Disability actually is one of the principle reasons behind a couple of the points I made. The lack of seating in the concourse is really very bad. As is the discouragement from perhaps staying behind a little after and waiting for crowds to leave. Somewhere moderately comfortable to sit and wait for crowds to disperse would be a big help.

More generally, I think many have an opinion that disability equals a wheelchair. The clubs offer for wheelchairs semes okay (parking aside, which isnt always ideal). It's offer for those with mobility issues is less good IMO.

Of course, it's impossible for everyone to be comfortable in a large crowd in a British winter but there are some improvements to be made, and more seating is a key one for me. I know it's something that makes my dad attending football matches very much more difficult.

[RichardM]

Re: How could home matchday experiences be improved?

Many, including myself, grumble about the home matchday experience but how could it be improved for you as fans?

I'll start. I'd like better quality lager, beer and cider in all areas of the ground. Also at better prices.

I'd also introduce stadium cards, these could be in the same way as membership/season ticket cards also (although not everybody is a member or ST holder),that are used to pay much like they do in some foreign grounds.
Much quicker experience at drink and food outlets as it involves the customer getting their food and drink, placing a card and accepting the charge at the counter. No change to be messed about with. Cards can be topped up by machine or online.

Debit and credit cards work as you describe, why would I want another card?

[Tuerto]

Re: How could home matchday experiences be improved?

Debit and credit cards work as you describe, why would I want another card?

Maybe the club could add a discount if a supporter loaded up a club card, if not, i've always found that expired cash cards are wonderful in shape and flexibility when it comes to filling small cracks and grouting intricate tiled areas, so all is not lost.

[Hilts]

Re: How could home matchday experiences be improved?

Totally agree on this tbh. My father is heavily disabled and the current state of the trains make their effective use only more difficult for people; more trains, better advertised and (of course) improvements in access are only positives.

Disability actually is one of the principle reasons behind a couple of the points I made. The lack of seating in the concourse is really very bad. As is the discouragement from perhaps staying behind a little after and waiting for crowds to leave. Somewhere moderately comfortable to sit and wait for crowds to disperse would be a big help.

More generally, I think many have an opinion that disability equals a wheelchair. The clubs offer for wheelchairs semes okay (parking aside, which isnt always ideal). It's offer for those with mobility issues is less good IMO.

Of course, it's impossible for everyone to be comfortable in a large crowd in a British winter but there are some improvements to be made, and more seating is a key one for me. I know it's something that makes my dad attending football matches very much more difficult.

I dont believe a lot of disabled fans are taking advantage of the extra season ticket they are entitled to for an assistant.

My mate goes with his Dad and now has a free ticket after buying one for years.

The disabled fan has to show he is entitled to certain benefits or I believe get a GPs letter and the assistant will be included in the price of his ticket.

[gabbsthenewt]

Re: How could home matchday experiences be improved?

Get Ali back on the speaker system would be a big start...there's no whipping up of the crowd, completely thoughtless. I was at IFK Gothenburg in August - a 15,000 capacity ground yet the atmosphere is 10x. They have a traditional club anthem sung by the whole stadium a few minutes before kick off, really starts things going - in a similar spirit we should reinstate hey jude and someone getting the crowd bouncing.

[TWGL1]

Re: How could home matchday experiences be improved?

Remember those football buses put on to bring fans from all over South Wales to Cardiff City home games

Saturday and midweek games

They would have been great if the club had actually paid the bus companies but they didn't so that was the end of that

Well done City

And yet you moan about our crowds , especially midweek games :hehe:

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: How could home matchday experiences be improved?

And yet you moan about our crowds , especially midweek games :hehe:

Well this might have helped ?

But the club fecked it up by not paying the bus companies

It's self explanatory if you are able to read

[City123]

Re: How could home matchday experiences be improved?

Get Ali back on the speaker system would be a big start...there's no whipping up of the crowd, completely thoughtless. I was at IFK Gothenburg in August - a 15,000 capacity ground yet the atmosphere is 10x. They have a traditional club anthem sung by the whole stadium a few minutes before kick off, really starts things going - in a similar spirit we should reinstate hey jude and someone getting the crowd bouncing.

We just have to look at the Wales games, fan favourite songs pre match to get people going, not the insipid shite that gets pumped through the speakers at Cardiff games