Miserable Nights (and Days) at CCS

Why are all the food/beverage offerings:

a. shit;
b. ludicrously overpriced?

What the feck were "festive fries" at GBP 6.50 a pop? How much was a cup of Bovril? (Rhetorical.)

Why force punters to open their coats on a freezing night before entry?

Why is there no post-game public transport?

Never mind the dire football, the whole experience is miserable. If the club want to seriously compete for discretionary spending dollars they need to wake up big time. There are many things they have control over other than the football and they are doing an appalling job at it.

Madri ?

The little coffee shop in the Ninian concourse sells lovely coffee.
The rest is rubbish though.

There is post game public transport.
Shuttle buses run before and after matches https://www.cardiffbus.com/ccfc-shuttle-bus
There are trains from Ninian Park.

It is pretty poor though I don't think we are worst than most. The prices seem a little more competitive this season although I honestly probably spend less than £15 all season on food and drink in the ground so it doesn't impact me.

I think the band in the canton stand (is that happening this season) is very good, the rest is poor.

Particular annoyances in no particular order;

Lack of seating in concourses for those who need it
Shit and overpriced food and drink (even if that is the norm for sporting events if doesn't mean the club has to do it)
No cash sales
Weird new double queuing system which isn't a total failure but is still just weird.
No attempt to get people before the game or keep them after. Why no tables and chairs and opportunity to watch a game in comfort with food and drink?

Transport wise we have better options than most but there is zero co-ordination with TfW on times or services or advertising of those services.

Oh I'll add...poor parking for disabled visitors.

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

It is pretty poor though I don't think we are worst than most. The prices seem a little more competitive this season although I honestly probably spend less than £15 all season on food and drink in the ground so it doesn't impact me.

I think the band in the canton stand (is that happening this season) is very good, the rest is poor.

Particular annoyances in no particular order;

Lack of seating in concourses for those who need it
Shit and overpriced food and drink (even if that is the norm for sporting events if doesn't mean the club has to do it)
No cash sales
Weird new double queuing system which isn't a total failure but is still just weird.
No attempt to get people before the game or keep them after. Why no tables and chairs and opportunity to watch a game in comfort with food and drink?

Transport wise we have better options than most but there is zero co-ordination with TfW on times or services or advertising of those services.

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No idea what you mean by double queuing.

Not sure you are right about zero co-ordination with TfW on times. There are trains in both directions from Ninian Park not long after matches finish.

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Originally Posted by RichardM

No idea what you mean by double queuing.

Not sure you are right about zero co-ordination with TfW on times. There are trains in both directions from Ninian Park not long after matches finish.

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You queue to order at a machine then take the ticket to the counter, no?

The train timetables never change to suit games (unless I'm mistaken) and I've never seen much evidence of additional carriages, let alone services or any great attempt to encourage greater use of sustainable transport. I can't ever recollect an advert in the ground or programme for example.

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

You queue to order at a machine then take the ticket to the counter, no?

The train timetables never change to suit games (unless I'm mistaken) and I've never seen much evidence of additional carriages, let alone services or any great attempt to encourage greater use of sustainable transport. I can't ever recollect an advert in the ground or programme for example.

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Only in the family stand is the double queuing thing as far as I know.

It wasn't in canton or ninian last I saw anyway.

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Originally Posted by Father Dougal

Only in the family stand is the double queuing thing as far as I know.

It wasn't in canton or ninian last I saw anyway.

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Ah, fair enough. It doesn't not work...but it's a bit odd.

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

You queue to order at a machine then take the ticket to the counter, no?

The train timetables never change to suit games (unless I'm mistaken) and I've never seen much evidence of additional carriages, let alone services or any great attempt to encourage greater use of sustainable transport. I can't ever recollect an advert in the ground or programme for example.

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Still no idea what double queuing is.
I agree, more carriages after games would be good, but I don't need adverts in the ground or programme to walk to the station and get on a train.

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

You queue to order at a machine then take the ticket to the counter, no?

The train timetables never change to suit games (unless I'm mistaken) and I've never seen much evidence of additional carriages, let alone services or any great attempt to encourage greater use of sustainable transport. I can't ever recollect an advert in the ground or programme for example.

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the issue of co-ordination of train timetables with mid week fixtures has been raised at SLO meetings and to be fair to the club they have approached TfW. From what I can gather TfW have not been particularly sympathetic towards the Club’s requests and they are not as co-operative as Cardiff Bus are. Perhaps when all the South Wales Metro works have been completed and the new rolling stock is in place things might change but I get the impression that the Club feel that they have been banging their head against a brick wall.

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Originally Posted by Hilts

Madri ?

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Yorkshire lager, owned by Coors never been anywhere near Spain.

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

Lack of seating in concourses for those who need it
Shit and overpriced food and drink (even if that is the norm for sporting events if doesn't mean the club has to do it)
No cash sales .
No attempt to get people before the game or keep them after. Why no tables and chairs and opportunity to watch a game in comfort with food and drink?

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This is why we now go in one the lounges. Otherwise we get in as late as practical and go straight to our seats. I can’t remember ever eating in the stadium.

"double queuing" seemed to cut down queues marginally last season. Tricky to compare this year as the attendances are dropping. I can understand this being seen as "weird" when it's quiet, but you see the benefit as it picks up. Not sure of the issue with this.

Do other clubs fans not have to open their coats? Has always seemed a fairly reasonable 10 second loss of warmth to me.

I've never understood the continual criticism with regards food prices. KO's traditionally are 3pm which isn't a traditional mealtime. I strongly recommend one burger van in particular on sloper road (ninian park side), which is much cheaper alternative and will tie in better on the way to the ground. I've a bit more sympathy on the beer front, so either leave it a bit later before leaving the pub or get a 1927 and at least you get something closer to your moneys worth.

It's hard to argue against charging a genius a premium for their lunch when they get in the ground starving at 2:50pm?

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Originally Posted by The Bloop

The little coffee shop in the Ninian concourse sells lovely coffee.
The rest is rubbish though.

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No such thing as lovely coffee:xmashehe:

Having experienced Compass Catering at the Patent Office, I resolved never to buy food or drink from the new ground and have to stuck to the promise. Being honest,while I appreciate that it can get awkward if you’ve got young kids to look after, I’ve not got a great deal of sympathy for those who complain about food prices when there’s an Asda, Marks and Spencer and a Subways all within a five minute walk.

I’ve mentioned before that the trend towards ever later kick off times combined with extra time/penalties in Cup ties means that it only needs one train cancellation for you to be in trouble if you have a second one to catch - as it is, there has been the very occasional league game when I didn’t get in the house until around a quarter to twelve.

I remember when we were first in the Premier League, the reason given why they couldn’t run trains with more carriages for football games was that the platforms at many of the stations in Cardiff and in the surrounding areas were too small. That cannot be the case at Ninian Park though surely and, at least, they could run a shuttle from Ninian Park to Cardiff Central every ten minutes or so for half an hour or so to keep the platform clear and the trains less jam packed - of course, crowded platforms and trains are less of a problem these days!

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

The train timetables never change to suit games (unless I'm mistaken) and I've never seen much evidence of additional carriages, let alone services or any great attempt to encourage greater use of sustainable transport. I can't ever recollect an advert in the ground or programme for example.

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This was the same when Arriva ran the trains. However, as a train user to and from games from Aberdare, apart from a little overcrowding initially, I rarely have problems using the trains.

For midweek games, I dare say the cost of making lots of changes and getting everything ready as normal for the following day's early morning commute would be hugely prohibitive.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

That cannot be the case at Ninian Park though surely and, at least, they could run a shuttle from Ninian Park to Cardiff Central every ten minutes or so for half an hour or so to keep the platform clear and the trains less jam packed - of course, crowded platforms and trains are less of a problem these days!

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Not possible.

Where do they get some spare trains from to run this? Train operators generally run every train they have available, it's not as if they have spares lying around. It's why there are cancellations when there are problems. Trains are far too expensive to not run. What services should they cancel to run this, or if the suggestion then is to split a few trains, how do you propose to rejoin them later?

Kick off times are even more changeable now so how would that be included in the timetable? Then there's the issue of changing platforms for other trains just to accommodate an extra few services to Ninian Park etc.

Putting a shuttle bus on is easy. Creating the same with a train is a far bigger exercise and almost certainly not worth the cost and effort just for a short amount of passenger discomfort.

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Originally Posted by RichardM

There is post game public transport.
Shuttle buses run before and after matches https://www.cardiffbus.com/ccfc-shuttle-bus
There are trains from Ninian Park.

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I've waited in vain for a shuttle bus after the game. There might be one waiting for the first crowd, but after that it's a lottery.
Very unreliable.

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Originally Posted by RichardM

No idea what you mean by double queuing.

Not sure you are right about zero co-ordination with TfW on times. There are trains in both directions from Ninian Park not long after matches finish.

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two carriage trains heading out towards Dinas, Barry, Bridgend is simply not enough after a game, it's even worse on a Saturday because you also have those heading home from work/the city centre..

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

Not possible.

Where do they get some spare trains from to run this? Train operators generally run every train they have available, it's not as if they have spares lying around. It's why there are cancellations when there are problems. Trains are far too expensive to not run. What services should they cancel to run this, or if the suggestion then is to split a few trains, how do you propose to rejoin them later?

Kick off times are even more changeable now so how would that be included in the timetable? Then there's the issue of changing platforms for other trains just to accommodate an extra few services to Ninian Park etc.

Putting a shuttle bus on is easy. Creating the same with a train is a far bigger exercise and almost certainly not worth the cost and effort just for a short amount of passenger discomfort.

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I agree, Transport for Wales can hbe useless it's hard to blame them for the lack of carriages due to the whims of Sky Sports.

That said, good of City to start reducing the pressure on public transport by dwindling crowds and continuing to playing shiit.

At least they're reducing their carbon footprint.

Open coat policy is my biggest bug bear.
We are shit it's pissing down and cold I've made the effort to leave the pub for another inevitable home defeat and I've got to unzip my coat to enter the ground.
A) I'm not a criminal I'm a deluded football fan.
B) What the feck does it achieve?

Platforms on the line through Ninian Park have been lengthened for the new electric trains that have started running on some services. These are four carriages. Hopefully they will be on the post match services soon.

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Originally Posted by Jordi Culé

That said, good of City to start reducing the pressure on public transport by dwindling crowds and continuing to playing shiit.

At least they're reducing their carbon footprint.

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:hehe:

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Originally Posted by insider

Open coat policy is my biggest bug bear.
We are shit it's pissing down and cold I've made the effort to leave the pub for another inevitable home defeat and I've got to unzip my coat to enter the ground.
A) I'm not a criminal I'm a deluded football fan.
B) What the feck does it achieve?

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Just wear some women's lingerie underneath your coat. They won't ask again.

Nothing to do with the City but have you seen the state of Grangetown station? Its dystopian I expect Winston Smith to be waiting next to me.

I guess it takes more traffic than Ninian Park, surely in our H&S world a footbridge over the road to the platform is the call. Its a disaster every game

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Originally Posted by RichardM

There is post game public transport.
Shuttle buses run before and after matches https://www.cardiffbus.com/ccfc-shuttle-bus
There are trains from Ninian Park.

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Thanks, I never knew. What's the stop for a return journey to the transport interchange after a game from CCS - the info doesn't say?

I used to live in Penylan and there were zero route 1 and 2 buses after a night game from CCS. You could barely get one after a 3pm kick off game.

It's all grim. Roaming around after a night game looking for public transport.

I had a season ticket for OL (Lyon) for a couple of years when I lived in France. Myriad post-game transport options. I've been to a few Hertha Berlin games too where the price of public transport is included in the match ticket and there are myriad options from the stadium's own station after games. (I shan't bore everyone with tales of American sporting stadia experiences.) In comparison, CCS = a truly miserable experience.

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Originally Posted by The Bloop

The little coffee shop in the Ninian concourse sells lovely coffee.
The rest is rubbish though.

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I bought an Americano (basically a small black coffee) for 3 or 4 quid. Probably Nescafe and hot water and a rip off.

Miserable.

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Originally Posted by az city

Thanks, I never knew. What's the stop for a return journey to the transport interchange after a game from CCS - the info doesn't say?

I used to live in Penylan and there were zero route 1 and 2 buses after a night game from CCS. You could barely get one after a 3pm kick off game.

It's all grim. Roaming around after a night game looking for public transport.

I had a season ticket for OL (Lyon) for a couple of years when I lived in France. Myriad post-game transport options. I've been to a few Hertha Berlin games too where the price of public transport is included in the match ticket and there are myriad options from the stadium's own station after games. (I shan't bore everyone with tales of American sporting stadia experiences.) In comparison, CCS = a truly miserable experience.

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The return busses go from near the Fred Keenor statue

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Originally Posted by RichardM

The return busses go from near the Fred Keenor statue

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Ta. I appreciate the reply.