New Layout of Cricket Field

[Row x]

Taken me a week to see this and reply so apologies.

But in the Longside Upper near me there are about 4 guys within talking distance who are EXTREMELY wobbly, walk with a stick, and shuffle about slowly when they walk.

I don’t know what their route on is, but if it is from Belvedere Road they will now have a distance that, simply, they will not be able to do, from what I witness. So it isn’t just the lower tiers.

I shall make a prediction that the bottleneck near the club shop will lead to tragedy. There are several ways it could happen, particularly to very old people. The young and middle aged struggle to imagine life when old, and I suspect this has happened here, a misjudgement due to not consulting with that demographic.

I'd love to know what route they take to get to the upper level, how many stairs?.
If they really are that bad either way out of the ground poses the same problem, I don't think the walk past the cricket ground is easy, and has a few bottlenecks.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

The biggest bottleneck is in the toilets at half time especially if someone releases a foul stretching odour from a cubicle which can often lead to a bit of a stampede as people push to the exit for fresh air.
Hopefully something Pace and co are looking into with regards to an air freshening system.

[CrosspoolClarets]

I'd love to know what route they take to get to the upper level, how many stairs?.
If they really are that bad either way out of the ground poses the same problem, I don't think the walk past the cricket ground is easy, and has a few bottlenecks.

Quite how some fans take the journeys they do is indeed baffling, they must love the game or the view so much they push themselves to get there because they look out on their feet by kick off.

All I was pointing out was their existence, and that it makes full collaboration vital or the law of unintended consequences will kick in, potentially tragically.

It’s the lack of collaboration that has puzzled so many people (personally my view is I’d like away fans in the Longside and a full standing CFS for Clarets, so I’m not wedded to the status quo).

[claret wizard]

I might be way off here. I think some of these changes might have been forced on the club. It came up when the changes were first mentioned around the manager safety after the Chris Wilder situation last season. Having also seen a number of games last year with police horses charging around Belvedere Rd, traffic incidents and unsavoury situations both pre match and post match with opposition fans enroute to or from their end. Maybe the Police have said, “you need to segregate “. So the club are putting a best spin on this with the changes? These changes sort out issues both in and outside the stadium, and we get a new light tunnel thrown in!

[Row x]

Quite how some fans take the journeys they do is indeed baffling, they must love the game or the view so much they push themselves to get there because they look out on their feet by kick off.

All I was pointing out was their existence, and that it makes full collaboration vital or the law of unintended consequences will kick in, potentially tragically.

It’s the lack of collaboration that has puzzled so many people (personally my view is I’d like away fans in the Longside and a full standing CFS for Clarets, so I’m not wedded to the status quo).

There would be no way on earth I'd be in the upper tier if I was that bad on my pins. Imagine if the stand needed to be evacuated quickly. They'd either hold everyone up, or more than likely trampled over, which is a greater threat than the tragedy you're predicting by the club shop.

I don't think there would have been any benefit in any collaboration with fans regarding the movement of fans, however those affected should have been informed before they bought the tickets, if the plans were in place at that stage, or at the earliest opportunity.

The problem with away fans in the longside is that you'd be moving all the home fans in that area, more than likely to an area of the ground they'd probably like to avoid.

[1fatclaret]

There would be no way on earth I'd be in the upper tier if I was that bad on my pins. Imagine if the stand needed to be evacuated quickly. They'd either hold everyone up, or more than likely trampled over, which is a greater threat than the tragedy you're predicting by the club shop.

I don't think there would have been any benefit in any collaboration with fans regarding the movement of fans, however those affected should have been informed before they bought the tickets, if the plans were in place at that stage, or at the earliest opportunity.

The problem with away fans in the longside is that you'd be moving all the home fans in that area, more than likely to an area of the ground they'd probably like to avoid.

You don’t have to be “that bad on your pins” to be seriously affected by this. From the belvedere road entrance to the ground, all the way around the ground to the cricket field end of the longside, is not far off half a mile. No problem for the vast majority of people but a huge inconvenience. For others though, that extra mile walk might just be the final straw.

Can you imagine any other business in the world that would do this after long term commitments have been made in terms of season tickets and have still not formally announced it 4 days before the first affected game. It’s horseshit.

[Cardclaret]

The problem with away fans in the longside is that you'd be moving all the home fans in that area, more than likely to an area of the ground they'd probably like to avoid.
[/quote]

The way they just have In The CFS.

[Row x]

The problem with away fans in the longside is that you'd be moving all the home fans in that area, more than likely to an area of the ground they'd probably like to avoid.

The way they just have In The CFS.
[/quote]

Not really
Whatever the rights and wrongs of moving fans in the cricket field stand, it's the same stand, similar view and same fans.

Move from the Longside to a totally different stand, totally different view, which personally I prefer side on, than behind the goals, amongst fans they'd probably prefer to avoid.

[Row x]

You don’t have to be “that bad on your pins” to be seriously affected by this. From the belvedere road entrance to the ground, all the way around the ground to the cricket field end of the longside, is not far off half a mile. No problem for the vast majority of people but a huge inconvenience. For others though, that extra mile walk might just be the final straw.

Can you imagine any other business in the world that would do this after long term commitments have been made in terms of season tickets and have still not formally announced it 4 days before the first affected game. It’s horseshit.

Off the top of my head, yes. Most holiday companies.

[1fatclaret]

What?

[Culmclaret]

I live miles away’ getting onto the motorway quickly is my aim. This will add 10 minutes to get to my car, I guess I’ll just have to leave a lot earlier as will many others no doubt.

Same for me. A 270 mile drive home. This will mean that I will almost certainly join the ranks of the outcasts who leave before the final whistle!

[KlyBfc]

There would be no way on earth I'd be in the upper tier if I was that bad on my pins. Imagine if the stand needed to be evacuated quickly. They'd either hold everyone up, or more than likely trampled over, which is a greater threat than the tragedy you're predicting by the club shop.

I don't think there would have been any benefit in any collaboration with fans regarding the movement of fans, however those affected should have been informed before they bought the tickets, if the plans were in place at that stage, or at the earliest opportunity.

The problem with away fans in the longside is that you'd be moving all the home fans in that area, more than likely to an area of the ground they'd probably like to avoid.

We sit in block 1 of the longside upper and have had our seats for 15 years now. Theres 5 of us (family members) together. My Dad’s hip and knee have seriously started to aggrivate him and cause him discomfort over the last 18months and this will cause him extra pain as we will have to change our route and parking spot. We didn’t have a choice on moving as this was announced after we had renewed and getting 5 together in a decent spot is almost impossible. He has almost confirmed this will be his last year as a season ticket holder.

I wouldnt be suprised if away fans were to become split betwen the longside upper and lower tiers in block 1 (maybe 2). It would mean blocking off inside and outside but it splits the away fans like at villa. Also you can hardly hear the cricket field stand in block one upper anyway and so the atmosphere is hard to get going. With all of the home fans in the CFS they may be able to enter via by the bar area and harry potts way like used to happen. This also would mean a little less congestion at the back of the longside for home fans as less would need to leave via the club shop exit, though it would be a bit more packed on leaving the cfs.

[ChorltonCharlie]

Congestion has been a problem at the ground after games for some time now, which was made even worse when they started fencing in all the media vehicles. Somewhere in the region of 16,000 people have had to disperse from the ground footprint through 2 reasonably narrow exits. For some time I’ve felt that they should add additional gates for exits in the grounds permitter. With these changes, there’d seem to be even more need for that as we move to around 14,000 exiting the perimeter through only 1 exit. You’d like to think the SAG have already been involved in the change.

It may not be in place for the start of the season, but the club should work with the council to create a main exit to the east of the training centre. Just needs an exit with a wide walkway outside the ground skirting the play area to join up with Holcombe Drive. Add in a couple of extra exit gates behind the Jimmy McIlroy Stand to allow easier/quicker exits for the people wanting to head towards the Brownhill Ave and Brunshaw Road areas, and many of the issues would be pretty much removed, and may actually even see an improvement on previous years.

What we really can’t have is 14,000 fans all being funnelled through a ~7.5m exit.

[clarets1978]

Taken me a week to see this and reply so apologies.

But in the Longside Upper near me there are about 4 guys within talking distance who are EXTREMELY wobbly, walk with a stick, and shuffle about slowly when they walk.

I don’t know what their route on is, but if it is from Belvedere Road they will now have a distance that, simply, they will not be able to do, from what I witness. So it isn’t just the lower tiers.

I shall make a prediction that the bottleneck near the club shop will lead to tragedy. There are several ways it could happen, particularly to very old people. The young and middle aged struggle to imagine life when old, and I suspect this has happened here, a misjudgement due to not consulting with that demographic.

Seriously speaking if they are that bad on their feet with a walking stick, they maybe should contact the club about ambulant disabled seating, so not in the wheelchair sections but in more accessible areas of Turf Moor for their situation. I get that they may want to stay where they are but its worth a suggestion for their own comfort

[littlemissclaret]

Same for me. A 270 mile drive home. This will mean that I will almost certainly join the ranks of the outcasts who leave before the final whistle!

Me too x4.

[Alan Young]

Complete lack of communication to fans all the way through the process. The little people just aren’t important to these owners. Will no doubt be asking us to create a better atmosphere before long though.

[fidelcastro]

The biggest bottleneck is in the toilets at half time especially if someone releases a foul stretching odour from a cubicle which can often lead to a bit of a stampede as people push to the exit for fresh air.
Hopefully something Pace and co are looking into with regards to an air freshening system.

Don't hold your breath!

[beddie]

Having read various threads about the possibility of being re-routed on our exit from the ground I emailed the club to clarify what the situation was. We sit in the JHL - North stand and walk up past the cricket club to Belvedere road. We always leave just before the final whistle as we’re not the quickest walker. I received a reply yesterday 19/8, here is their reply.

“ Further to your email regarding exiting the ground on match days this season.

There will be formal communications issued tomorrow. These will be available on our socials media pages and website”.

[thingandwhere]

The comms about all this have certainly been muddled by BFC. With this in mind, I’ve been asked by BCC to share this:

Seen a few questions on here about whether the cricket club is open on Saturday and the changes to how home fans are being routed around the ground. Just to be clear — yes, we’re open as always and, same as you, we’re having to work around the new access arrangements too. We’re in the same boat as fellow Clarets.

To make it worth the extra couple of minutes’ walk, we’ve gone bigger this season with the launch of our Cricket Field Fan Park. From 10.30am v Sunderland you’ll find:
• Serrano’s Deli Pizza
• Ground Up grilled cheese & smash burgers
• Ninja Coffee
• La Sicilia ice cream & desserts
• The usual pie & peas in the clubhouse
• 4 bars, Sky Sports, kids’ games, parking and post-match offers

Plenty of you already join us before and after the match — we’ve just added more choice, more space and a proper fan park feel to it. Home and away fans welcome, family friendly, and still the same place next door to the Turf.

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone back in for the first home game of the season.

[ClaretTony]

Having read various threads about the possibility of being re-routed on our exit from the ground I emailed the club to clarify what the situation was. We sit in the JHL - North stand and walk up past the cricket club to Belvedere road. We always leave just before the final whistle as we’re not the quickest walker. I received a reply yesterday 19/8, here is their reply.

“ Further to your email regarding exiting the ground on match days this season.

There will be formal communications issued tomorrow. These will be available on our socials media pages and website”.

So someone who has politely asked gets that reply. Communication from our club is just appalling.

For what it's worth you won't be allowed to walk off down Ormerod Yard (by the cricket club) from what I've been told.

[ClaretTony]

It’s a shame all football supporters can’t walk down the same path.

Blame the knuckledraggers!

This change will adversely impact me too, very unhappy if this happens.

They can walk down the same path at most other grounds - we were even able to do it at Ewood last season.

[ClaretTony]

I might be way off here. I think some of these changes might have been forced on the club. It came up when the changes were first mentioned around the manager safety after the Chris Wilder situation last season. Having also seen a number of games last year with police horses charging around Belvedere Rd, traffic incidents and unsavoury situations both pre match and post match with opposition fans enroute to or from their end. Maybe the Police have said, “you need to segregate “. So the club are putting a best spin on this with the changes? These changes sort out issues both in and outside the stadium, and we get a new light tunnel thrown in!

I can assure you none of this was forced on the club

[Poulton-le-Claret]

Posted on the website now - access route for home fans

[claret wizard]

Email confirming closure of Omerod Yard to home supporters just landed.

[ngsobob]

Presumably the cricket club will be away fans only? They'll lose custom.

[RVclaret]

Presumably the cricket club will be away fans only? They'll lose custom.

Home fans welcome they’ve just announced.

[thingandwhere]

The cricket club is most definitely for home and away fans.

[ICL]

The cricket club is most definitely for home and away fans.

I’m in the North Stand Upper. What is my route to and from the cricket club now?!

[ClaretTony]

I’m in the North Stand Upper. What is my route to and from the cricket club now?!

It’s being discussed on this thread

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=82704

[BleedingClaret]

The comms about all this have certainly been muddled by BFC. With this in mind, I’ve been asked by BCC to share this:

Seen a few questions on here about whether the cricket club is open on Saturday and the changes to how home fans are being routed around the ground. Just to be clear — yes, we’re open as always and, same as you, we’re having to work around the new access arrangements too. We’re in the same boat as fellow Clarets.

To make it worth the extra couple of minutes’ walk, we’ve gone bigger this season with the launch of our Cricket Field Fan Park. From 10.30am v Sunderland you’ll find:
• Serrano’s Deli Pizza
• Ground Up grilled cheese & smash burgers
• Ninja Coffee
• La Sicilia ice cream & desserts
• The usual pie & peas in the clubhouse
• 4 bars, Sky Sports, kids’ games, parking and post-match offers

Plenty of you already join us before and after the match — we’ve just added more choice, more space and a proper fan park feel to it. Home and away fans welcome, family friendly, and still the same place next door to the Turf.

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone back in for the first home game of the season.

I appreciate your effort but every away fan will be in that vicinity
A home fan that accesses you from behind the North stand would now have to trek all the way round through every away fan before the match all the way back round the cricket and football ground if in the Longside and all that again through the departing away fans after the game and then back again to their car after that
It’s not going to work for home fans
You’ll likely make your takings from away fans but I can’t see how it works for home fans.
I can’t see it being pleasant for home cricket fans if you have a cricket game on the day of football home games

[thingandwhere]

I appreciate your effort but every away fan will be in that vicinity
A home fan that accesses you from behind the North stand would now have to trek all the way round through every away fan before the match all the way back round the cricket and football ground if in the Longside and all that again through the departing away fans after the game and then back again to their car after that
It’s not going to work for home fans
You’ll likely make your takings from away fans but I can’t see how it works for home fans.
I can’t see it being pleasant for home cricket fans if you have a cricket game on the day of football home games

Not sure if you come in to the cricket club on football days (hi, I'm Paul by the way, in case we know each other), but away fans are usually here in big numbers anyway so it's no different in that respect.

The only thing that's changed is a longer walk around because of these new rules about away fans only being allowed to use Ormerod Yard (alongside our drive).

Literally everything else is the same as you can still drive to the club or access us on foot.

[BleedingClaret]

Some frail people in the upper tiers would likely freeze to death if wet through on a cold rainy winters night game in the lower tiers as some seem to be suggesting that if they’re fit enough to get up to the top tier then they’re fit enough to walk around a football and cricket ground twice!
They’d rather climb the stairs than freeze to death

[BleedingClaret]

Not sure if you come in to the cricket club on football days (hi, I'm Paul by the way, in case we know each other), but away fans are usually here in big numbers anyway so it's no different in that respect.

The only thing that's changed is a longer walk around because of these new rules about away fans only being allowed to use Ormerod Yard (alongside our drive).

Literally everything else is the same as you can still drive to the club or access us on foot.

Hi Paul
No we don’t know each other and yes I do come in from time to time.
I just think it will be a dominance of away fans that makes it uncomfortable for home fans and then add in the maybe walking all the way round to get to you through all the away fans and then having to do the walk again when you’re actually 100m from the turnstile in my case but you’re not allowed to nip through?
Wish you all the best but this whole thing is ill thought through.
I personally think they may see a way of giving a chunk of the Longside hospitality to away fans and the seating in blocks 1 & 2 at least of the Longside lower
It could be about their route to the hospitality dollars of away fans and f@ck everyone else
That could be the real reason behind this
For a lot of big city teams on the Prem and only 2k away allocation you could likely sell all the hospitality in our ground to them
It’s no secret a growing number of Burnley folk are being priced out

[NL Claret]

Some frail people in the upper tiers would likely freeze to death if wet through on a cold rainy winters night game in the lower tiers as some seem to be suggesting that if they’re fit enough to get up to the top tier then they’re fit enough to walk around a football and cricket ground twice!
They’d rather climb the stairs than freeze to death

If you are frail how do you get to your seat in the Upper? My dad gave his seat up as he couldn’t get to it. Also it can be freezing in the Upper and when you are frail is also a big risk to your health. In his last few years of having an ST he stopped going during the Winter.

Also from your last post, I’ve been in the cricket club when I’ve been in minority (or it felt like it) and I didn’t feel intimidated in the slightest and not long smuggled an WBA fan into the 110 club, he was in minority (only Baggie in there) however he didn’t feel intimidated at all.

[brexit]

You are all missing the obvious, to bankrupt the cricket club so that the land can be bought for the new CFS.

[BleedingClaret]

If you are frail how do you get to your seat in the Upper? My dad gave his seat up as he couldn’t get to it. Also it can be freezing in the Upper and when you are frail is also a big risk to your health. In his last few years of having an ST he stopped going during the Winter.

Also from your last post, I’ve been in the cricket club when I’ve been in minority (or it felt like it) and I didn’t feel intimidated in the slightest and not long smuggled an WBA fan into the 110 club, he was in minority (only Baggie in there) however he didn’t feel intimidated at all.

My main point is that old blokes sit in the upper tiers partly because the lower tiers aren’t fit for purpose on a cold wet winters night
Just reacting to those suggesting that that means that they can then be considered fit enough to walk an extra km before and after the game possibly in rain and within a crush of people

On the Cricket Club
I don’t think the couple of hundred or so away fans that mixed with the couple of hundred home fans, with thousands of home fans passing by, will be the same as the lesser numbers of home fans that will be likely to go to Cricket Club now with 2k plus away fans in that vicinity with no passing home fans
We’ll see

[NL Claret]

My main point is that old blokes sit in the upper tiers partly because the lower tiers aren’t fit for purpose on a cold wet winters night
Just reacting to those suggesting that that means that they can then be considered fit enough to walk an extra km before and after the game possibly in rain and within a crush of people

On the Cricket Club
I don’t think the couple of hundred or so away fans that mixed with the couple of hundred home fans, with thousands of home fans passing by, will be the same as the lesser numbers of home fans that will be likely to go to Cricket Club now with 2k plus away fans in that vicinity with no passing home fans
We’ll see

The old blokes sit in the upper tier because they bought their ST in there 28 years ago, aged 45+. I don’t think you have sat up there on a cold wet winter night , I can think of a couple of games when I thought hypothermia was about to set in, Stoke in the PL Vokes late goal, Peterborough Jay Rod late equaliser.

[BleedingClaret]

The old blokes sit in the upper tier because they bought their ST in there 28 years ago, aged 45+. I don’t think you have sat up there on a cold wet winter night , I can think of a couple of games when I thought hypothermia was about to set in, Stoke in the PL Vokes late goal, Peterborough Jay Rod late equaliser.

I’m in block 3 Longside upper every game
Roof barely works for us I know

[Somethingfishy]

I appreciate your effort but every away fan will be in that vicinity
A home fan that accesses you from behind the North stand would now have to trek all the way round through every away fan before the match all the way back round the cricket and football ground if in the Longside and all that again through the departing away fans after the game and then back again to their car after that
It’s not going to work for home fans
You’ll likely make your takings from away fans but I can’t see how it works for home fans.
I can’t see it being pleasant for home cricket fans if you have a cricket game on the day of football home games

Burnley are at home to Darwen (last day of the cricket season) when we play Liverpool at home. Should be interesting

[GetIntoEm]

I think if sitting in the cold for 90mins at the football is going to kill you then you're not safe to be at a football match, regardless of which tier you're in

[blatherwickstattoos]

Holcombe drive way out is still ok I’m guessing ? They really need to make a larger exit or add an extra one heading in that direction past the memorial gardens

[BleedingClaret]

I think if sitting in the cold for 90mins at the football is going to kill you then you're not safe to be at a football match, regardless of which tier you're in

You know I was exaggerating but it is 100% accurate to say that a fan of a certain age would have to weigh climbing up to the top tier against getting ****** wet through and paying for it in pounds and influenza

[BleedingClaret]

I think if sitting in the cold for 90mins at the football is going to kill you then you're not safe to be at a football match, regardless of which tier you're in

Let’s take the roof off the Bob Lord and see how the occupants of the directors box react to getting soaked

[NL Claret]

Let’s take the roof off the Bob Lord and see how the occupants of the directors box react to getting soaked

Stand roofs and the weather are not biggest issue facing older spectators who want to watch PL football.

[alwaysaclaret]

Stand roofs and the weather are not biggest issue facing older spectators who want to watch PL football.

I'd imagine it will be pretty equal amongst other big issues. Can't imagine them wanting to get soaked.

[Row x]

I think if sitting in the cold for 90mins at the football is going to kill you then you're not safe to be at a football match, regardless of which tier you're in

I know its personal choice, but I would never pick a seat in the Longside, regardless of age. The weather always blows into that stand, and when it's sunny you can't see.

[RickyBobby]

Holcombe drive way out is still ok I’m guessing ? They really need to make a larger exit or add an extra one heading in that direction past the memorial gardens

They need to put some lights in the memorial garden, especially since now more people will be going that way. During winter and after night games it is dangerous.
Do the club own the garden?

[BleedingClaret]

They need to put some lights in the memorial garden, especially since now more people will be going that way. During winter and after night games it is dangerous.
Do the club own the garden?

They also need to widen the path

[NL Claret]

I'd imagine it will be pretty equal amongst other big issues. Can't imagine them wanting to get soaked.

Say the club did away with concessions or raised the price (again) for OAPs which prices them out? They won't be getting soaked at home. OAPs don't spend much at the ground, price them out and get fans who will spend in the shop and on over priced food and drink.

Look at what other clubs are doing re concessions. PL clubs don't like the price cap for away fans so how can they claw some cash back.

The CF switch has to be purely financial. Can only charge £30 however they are a captive audience and will spend more therefore provide them with more opportunities to spend.

[Sheedyclaret]

Holcombe drive way out is still ok I’m guessing ? They really need to make a larger exit or add an extra one heading in that direction past the memorial gardens

Yes this is where I normally exit it’s quite crowded at the best of times after a match god knows what it will be like Saturday total farce from the club