TurfCast - Director of Fan Experience, Russell Ball

[Vegas Claret]

Interesting stuff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9Y_rxMLRJY

[randomclaret2]

Good watch

[Vegas Claret]

Good watch

yeah it's excellent

[TsarBomba]

Tried to watch a bit of it today, but ran out of time.

What were the salient points? Anything on safe standing?

[Vegas Claret]

Tried to watch a bit of it today, but ran out of time.

What were the salient points? Anything on safe standing?

right at the end, last 5 mins. He couldn't say tbh because it's not his call but I get the feeling we will, it would make sense for it to be the Cricket Field and he doesn't know when

[TsarBomba]

right at the end, last 5 mins. He couldn't say tbh because it's not his call but I get the feeling we will, it would make sense for it to be the Cricket Field and he doesn't know when

Thanks for that, just had a listen re the bit around safe standing.

Slightly positive news, although his answer was a little cryptic. Appreciate though it’s not his decision and area of responsibility.

It just makes sense to put it in, and as mentioned, fans already stand there anyway. Shrewsbury were the first to put safe standing in, and that was 5 years ago. So what are waiting for?

[Papabendi]

Had dealings with Russell last season around an away game and found him to be a nice bloke.

[Cooclaret]

Americans and now a southerner…

Some people/top clarets will be frothing at the mouth…

[bfc-njr-2017]

Thanks for sharing this on here, Vegas Claret. We enjoyed the chat. (this is Nathan from TurfCast by the way)

[Chester Perry]

Americans and now a southerner…

Some people/top clarets will be frothing at the mouth…

Russell Ball has been part of the ALK set-up since before the take over, like Paul Jenkins. It is probable he is another member of the ownership group. His appearances in 'Mission to Burnley' tend to be either in meetings or talking to Morgan Edwards.

His background is in Estate Agency, he sold his to one of the big ones.

[123EasyasBFC]

Russell Ball has been part of the ALK set-up since before the take over, like Paul Jenkins. It is probable he is another member of the ownership group. His appearances in 'Mission to Burnley' tend to be either in meetings or talking to Morgan Edwards.

His background is in Estate Agency, he sold his to one of the big ones.

He mentions in the podcast that he has know Pace for over 30 years and adds that he’s known him longer than Pace other partners,

Also said Stuart hunt has moved his family to the UK so he can have more of a hands on role at the club

[claretandy]

So because 1 girl on the FAB complained as to why the women have a separate Instagram account, pace decided to amalgamate them ? Wow, I hope that he doesn't make any other knee jerk reactions.

[Billy Balfour]

So because 1 girl on the FAB complained as to why the women have a separate Instagram account, pace decided to amalgamate them ? Wow, I hope that he doesn't make any other knee jerk reactions.

Shocking decision. My life will never be the same again.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Watched this now, I’d recommend it, the guys do a good job and the main words I would associate with Russell Ball are authenticity. sincerity and ambition.

I assume he knows Alan from the church with it being a 30 year relationship, so there must be a very strong bond there, that one of his main pals has been put in charge of “fan engagement” is a positive and they seem genuine, caring folk.

Some good progress but also a few head scratching omissions. Personally I don’t see how they could spend millions on the fanzone without changing the harsh, headache inducing lighting in the gym to LED (and the concourses), that would save energy costs and make those areas feel far more welcoming to the substantial minority like me who get migraines from raw fluorescent tubes (meaning I cannot go in). My point being, we could all come up with a list of hundreds of things important to us, and Russell seems to have a process to gather all that, filter it and prioritise it. That’s fairly basic business operations but also pleasing it is in place.

I’d also observe that much of the talk (not just in this podcast) is about the newly refreshed hospitality areas. 95% of us don’t work for a business able to use it or have the wealth where that is an option, and the only changes I have seen so far in the longside upper are donner sausage rolls, and overpriced really poor quality lager. So I’d like to know how we can reach the aim of being the “number 1 fan experience in football” and overtake the likes of Hull in the “normal” catering stakes. I haven’t yet heard specifics on that and how Levy are helping deliver it. Just having self order terminals won’t do it.

I’m generally praising though, cautiously.