Safety in the stand

[barrowfan]

Mention was made recently about away supporters standing in the stand after most of them came across from the standing area as it was raining. Not sure but apparently standing like that contravenes the ground safety regulations.

Yesterday the home area of the stand was pretty full which is great to see, but there didn't seem to be anybody checking tickets as people went into the stand. This means there could have been more in the home area of the stand than it will take and that could cause a safety problem or arguments about people not having a seat when they have paid for one.

I have already bought my stand ticket for the final game of the season to make sure I get a seat.

I just hope I can find one!

[BAFC_Official]

With the bigger crowds the stand is indeed getting very full, I think there was around 50 seats spare yesterday. We take measures to control ticket sales for the stand and we took extra care with it yesterday with the bigger crowd expected.

Just to give a bit of an idea of what we do:

- One of the reasons we take online tickets off sale a few hours before the game is to check how many stand tickets are sold and ensure that the number of tickets that go out to the turnstiles doesn't exceed the capacity of the stand.

- Yesterday (for the first time) we differentiated U21/U16 tickets between the stand and the terraces so we knew exactly how many of those age categories were entitled to a seat.

- Stewards should check tickets as people enter the stand and I did see them doing so yesterday, but I will pass this on as a reminder.

As we move towards some potentially huge crowds later in the season we will likely make the stand all ticket for some games. We have also started looking at the options for allocating seat numbers to each ticket in future, as well as different options for segregation in the stand when it is needed.

When decisions are made we will communicate what is happening as best we can, these crowds are obviously quite new to us and we're learning on our feet, boosting paracetamol sales at Asda in the process

Ryan

[Jonty]

Spot on Ryan. You’re doing a great job! Didn’t see you and Bluey together at the same time yesterday. ...Just had me thinking.

[McMark]

Yep it’s a nice headache to have though!

[barrowfan]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply Ryan.

I know it can't be easy for the stewards and it's a job I wouldn't like, but yesterday there seemed to quite a chunk of time when there were no stewards there at all. They could well have been called elsewhere of course to deal with a problem - so cannot be blamed for not being around.

As you say it's a new problem to have and a very nice one in many ways.

Not sure about allocating seat numbers, as people like to sit next to their mates. That may not be possible if their mates already have season tickets and have saved seats next to them. Mind their mates should buy a season ticket as well!!!

A nice headache to have. I have already bought my ticket for the final game of the season (and the others before then) and advised my mates to do the same.

P.S. I was in Asda this morning and wondered why there was no paracetamol on the shelves!

[BAFC_Official]

Spot on Ryan. You’re doing a great job! Didn’t see you and Bluey together at the same time yesterday. ...Just had me thinking.

Thanks John, we all sign a form promising never to disclose Bluey's identity, wasn't me though!

[Wintergreen]

Here is a further observation on this subject. Before kick off against Bromley there was a build up of supporters coming into the ground area from the nodding gate. One or two were getting a bit agitated as ingress to the terrace area was very slow due to people standing right across the top of the terracing, forcing supporters coming from the nodding gate to try and push through one-at-a-time.

Now it wasn't that much of a problem on the night; but I thought there was potential for a crush from the back if the more boisterous elements had decided to start pushing as kick-off approached and they found themselves stuck 3-abreast and practically gridlocked.

[BAFC_Official]

Here is a further observation on this subject. Before kick off against Bromley there was a build up of supporters coming into the ground area from the nodding gate. One or two were getting a bit agitated as ingress to the terrace area was very slow due to people standing right across the top of the terracing, forcing supporters coming from the nodding gate to try and push through one-at-a-time.

Now it wasn't that much of a problem on the night; but I thought there was potential for a crush from the back if the more boisterous elements had decided to start pushing as kick-off approached and they found themselves stuck 3-abreast and practically gridlocked.

Thanks Wintergreen, this is something that was noted and we will be looking at it this week, it also got busy in that area just after half time. I believe the stewards opened a gate around the front of reception to get some at the back of the queue in, but we will look at all options.

With construction of the new fanzone building now underway, the shortcut across the old five a side pitch is no longer possible, so this is definitely something that needs sorting.

[spirit of 1990]

We were talking about this today with Mike Forsyth, Mark H & Rob G. I think the opinion was it was made much worse yesterday because the TV vans were on the 5-a-side court and that meant people couldn’t walk across there as usually happens on match days. Having said that, how daft was it that people were stood on top of the terracing, which then caused the blockage instead of moving away from the gap.

In the coming months (and when the fan zone is built) there will be no access into the ground using that path and the gap in the wall will be closed off

[PerthBluebird]

Also noticed heaps off lads over the age off concession taking the mick and getting in for cheaper need to tighten up all this money lost

[BAFC_Official]

Also noticed heaps off lads over the age off concession taking the mick and getting in for cheaper need to tighten up all this money lost

Can you let me know which turnstile this was on? Thanks!

[PerthBluebird]

Pop side all over 21

[Sefton Aubergine]

Pop side all over 21

Noticed this myself a few games back... Drinking "Brewdog" at the back of the stand too!

[boyliegladbach]

The biggest problem for me at start was lack of reaction to what was going on. We were watching from pop side the queues by side of cross bar unable to get in due to people blocking the steps.
One steward moving people on would have sorted it but there wasn't one in sight

[behind the goals]

The players cage is rolled out far to early that is the problem down that end of the ground.