17/18 VNL - Barrow 2 - 2 Leyton Orient

[Bingo]

it looks to me that the club cant win people keep asking for the club to try things to get more people to go to games they lower the price and some complain that the match day receipts will be less than normal hopefully these new fans/people enjoyed the game and will come back

Totally agree! I wasn't having a dig when I said it wouldn't surprise me if gate receipts were down, Just making the point that the club probably lost money Despite the higher gate. Nice to see all the kids on the pitch at HT, a better atmosphere than there's been for quite some time and some good football too. Hopefully it'll entice a few 'floaters' to return. Good to see the club trying things like this. There hasn't been many positives around HS lately. Hopefully the club can build on yesterday (on and off the pitch)

The loss on gate receipts should be cancelled out by extracting more money once in - but we just aren't geared up for that - bars around the ground , decent food , good merchandise etc

[mr_grey]

Totally agree! I wasn't having a dig when I said it wouldn't surprise me if gate receipts were down, Just making the point that the club probably lost money Despite the higher gate. Nice to see all the kids on the pitch at HT, a better atmosphere than there's been for quite some time and some good football too. Hopefully it'll entice a few 'floaters' to return. Good to see the club trying things like this. There hasn't been many positives around HS lately. Hopefully the club can build on yesterday (on and off the pitch)

The loss on gate receipts should be cancelled out by extracting more money once in - but we just aren't geared up for that - bars around the ground , decent food , good merchandise etc

Agree with decent food...we can all state the pie gate situation...would anyone buy one..are the food kiosks part of the revenue or is it contracted in..first place I'd start if more fans ...buy more food,but do Barrow AFC see any of that?..bars around the ground cannot happen at this level as drinking in view of the pitch is not allowed .

[Bingo]

The loss on gate receipts should be cancelled out by extracting more money once in - but we just aren't geared up for that - bars around the ground , decent food , good merchandise etc

Agree with decent food...we can all state the pie gate situation...would anyone buy one..are the food kiosks part of the revenue or is it contracted in..first place I'd start if more fans ...buy more food,but do Barrow AFC see any of that?..bars around the ground cannot happen at this level as drinking in view of the pitch is not allowed .

You stick a bar under the main stand, one behind the popular side and one behind a wall for the away fans. I wasn't suggesting bars in view of the pitch.

If you could get a drink in a dry area away from the game (before and in half time) and some decent food it may attract more to come in the first place. More would have come yesterday but for the inclement weather.

[The Real Slim Azza]

The loss on gate receipts should be cancelled out by extracting more money once in - but we just aren't geared up for that - bars around the ground , decent food , good merchandise etc

Agree with decent food...we can all state the pie gate situation...would anyone buy one..are the food kiosks part of the revenue or is it contracted in..first place I'd start if more fans ...buy more food,but do Barrow AFC see any of that?..bars around the ground cannot happen at this level as drinking in view of the pitch is not allowed .

You should know. You are from the club

[barrowaberdeen]

A bit better bar arrangements are possible I think in the short term certainly. I don't want to jinx it but am hopeful on that. Anything that is tried has to be given proper time though!

Kiosks are rented out, the Orient fans were less than complementary re food. On that note (I was doing the programmes as we were short) the away end is in a hell of a state, even by HS standards. The floodlight is concreted in but no thought has been given to where the water would run off in a rainstorm so a grey puddle spreads out over the various bits of terrace at varying heights as you come in.

[spirit of 1990]

You stick a bar under the main stand, one behind the popular side and one behind a wall for the away fans.

All great ideas Charlie, the obvious place to build a bar would be under the main stand (spoke several times with Austin about this, and once with Andrew) the trouble is not many would bother with it from the main stand and you wouldn't get any walking from the pop side to visit a bar under there.

Away fans bar was tried and wasn't very well used, plus we had to put two (I think) security lads on the doors so away supporters couldn't walk back to watch the game with alcohol.

The Pop side is where we need a bar, we need to offer an alternative to all the lads & lasses who walk to either the X Bar or the soccer bar at half time. This is something that is quite close to being sorted in the coming months & will hopefully involve the Trust. There will be a lot of discussion going on behind the scenes on this because we need to get it right this time.

[spirit of 1990]

The floodlight is concreted in but no thought has been given to where the water would run off in a rainstorm so a grey puddle spreads out over the various bits of terrace at varying heights as you come in.

Absolutely right Steve, it's been left in a poor state but there was a reason for the concreted areas not being filled in to a level with the surrounding area. In the short term I think the best we can do is some sort of temporary filling to make it safe and look better.
The two floodlights on the pop side are totally different as a small wall has been built around them, I think that'll be a job for the ground maintenance lads next time we're down there.....they can't be left as they are because someone will end up falling in them, perhaps a cover or barrier around them will do.

[Bingo]

You stick a bar under the main stand, one behind the popular side and one behind a wall for the away fans.

All great ideas Charlie, the obvious place to build a bar would be under the main stand (spoke several times with Austin about this, and once with Andrew) the trouble is not many would bother with it from the main stand and you wouldn't get any walking from the pop side to visit a bar under there.

Away fans bar was tried and wasn't very well used, plus we had to put two (I think) security lads on the doors so away supporters couldn't walk back to watch the game with alcohol.

The Pop side is where we need a bar, we need to offer an alternative to all the lads & lasses who walk to either the X Bar or the soccer bar at half time. This is something that is quite close to being sorted in the coming months & will hopefully involve the Trust. There will be a lot of discussion going on behind the scenes on this because we need to get it right this time.

In terms of a bar under the main stand I suspect you don't know unless you try somewhere where you can stay dry get some decent food and a cuppa and a drink if you want it - all about adding comfort and enhancing the match day experience. Glad these things are at least on the agenda.

[spirit of 1990]

All great ideas Charlie, the obvious place to build a bar would be under the main stand (spoke several times with Austin about this, and once with Andrew) the trouble is not many would bother with it from the main stand and you wouldn't get any walking from the pop side to visit a bar under there.

Away fans bar was tried and wasn't very well used, plus we had to put two (I think) security lads on the doors so away supporters couldn't walk back to watch the game with alcohol.

The Pop side is where we need a bar, we need to offer an alternative to all the lads & lasses who walk to either the X Bar or the soccer bar at half time. This is something that is quite close to being sorted in the coming months & will hopefully involve the Trust. There will be a lot of discussion going on behind the scenes on this because we need to get it right this time.

In terms of a bar under the main stand I suspect you don't know unless you try somewhere where you can stay dry get some decent food and a cuppa and a drink if you want it - all about adding comfort and enhancing the match day experience. Glad these things are at least on the agenda.

I totally agree Charlie, but, I don't think you can just go throwing money at making a bar area under there for what would be a limited amount of supporters who'd actually use it. It wouldn't be a cheap job - Building, plumbing, electrical supplies, outfitting, decorating, staffing....somewhere on the Pop side would be a better use of resources I think, at least to start with.

[boyliegladbach]

http://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/mat ... /1-2849576

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[Soulboy]

Bar under main seating stand may not be taken up? The popular side appear to make up the majority of customers in X bar .
I agree that nearer facilities would help but reduce trade in X bar.
Only so many that use so where does the club want the trade ?
It's a shame that unlike other sports fans can't have a drink whilst watching the game.

[Bingo]

Bar under main seating stand may not be taken up? The popular side appear to make up the majority of customers in X bar .
I agree that nearer facilities would help but reduce trade in X bar.
Only so many that use so where does the club want the trade ?
It's a shame that unlike other sports fans can't have a drink whilst watching the game.

How many don't bother tho because they can't be arsed queing up / walking to the crossbar then up the stairs / missing some of the game

[geobarrovian]

The loss on gate receipts should be cancelled out by extracting more money once in - but we just aren't geared up for that - bars around the ground , decent food , good merchandise etc

Agree with decent food...we can all state the pie gate situation...would anyone buy one..are the food kiosks part of the revenue or is it contracted in..first place I'd start if more fans ...buy more food,but do Barrow AFC see any of that?..bars around the ground cannot happen at this level as drinking in view of the pitch is not allowed .

Drinking in view of the pitch is permitted providing you have visited the Barrow Arms and given it the big one prior to kick-off.

[glasgow_blue]

Bar under main seating stand may not be taken up? The popular side appear to make up the majority of customers in X bar .
I agree that nearer facilities would help but reduce trade in X bar.
Only so many that use so where does the club want the trade ?
It's a shame that unlike other sports fans can't have a drink whilst watching the game.

How many don't bother tho because they can't be arsed queing up / walking to the crossbar then up the stairs / missing some of the game

Me for 1, cba walking round and then having to queue and thereby having to down in 1 to get back for the 2nd half. I would definitely use a wee bottle bar behind the pop side

[mikemarshhewasgood]

Anyone remember going to Telford 07/08 season for the 2nd leg of the playoff semis. Might be wrong but I’m sure their support was buying beer at a bar in full view of the pitch at half time. I can remember them taunting us because with beer in their hands as we couldn’t get any. We got an escort out of the ground and out of the town befitting of royalty. Took over 1000 there that day, great day