Access for home fans

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Has anyone thought to contact other clubs in premier league to see how they manage their bottlenecks?

[Conroy92]

The thing here for me is that it completely goes away from the match day experience.

There are two things that stand out. That the club wants all fans going past the club shop and fan zone. It's an attempt to sell more.

And secondly. How many of you are already thinking about leaving a minute or two early. ALK preached about wanting a stadium full for 90 minutes yet they've just given half of the ground a reason to leave 5 minutes before time to avoid the dangerous squeeze through one gate.

It shows again that there not bothered about you being there and watching the game. All they care for is the money for your ticket and trying to flog you as much merchandise and refreshments as possible.

Harsh reality.

[Carport]

And what about safe egress for:

North East Accessible Stand: This stand includes over 80 wheelchair bays, some at pitchside, along with personal assistant seats. Additionally, it has 28 ambulant supporter seats on Level 1, accessed by three small steps.

[jrgbfc]

Its not a great way to start the season. Going to be hard enough without needlessly ******* off your own supporters.

[claret wizard]

To be fair, it's only harder for those coming in who used the Ormerod Yard driveway and you've still got unbeatable pricing waiting for you if you walk the extra 30 seconds down to our main gate from the traffic lights

But jokes aside and in my solely personal opinion (i.e. not as spokesperson for BCC here), all these plans are designed to get punters spending more over the BFC bar and their facilities and less in the nearby pubs and clubs as a result. We are most affected on the face of it but the Culvert pubs (who we obviously are friendly with and we support each other) will have had their customer dwell time and spend cut pre match as a result of this too.

I’m surprised that the licensee on the FAB didn’t bring this up in their private meeting.

[DCWat]

Landing this now, a few days before the first home game must mean that there’s a **** hot, dogs ******** of a signing being announced tomorrow!

In all seriousness though, it won’t just impact those now being made to walk right around the ground. Those exiting the CFS and Bob Lord, who don’t head towards the town centre, will create even more congestion, going against the flow of the majority.

This will, I have no doubt, end up with trouble and / or injuries to fans and that’s ignoring the obvious bottleneck at the Jimmy Mac gate.

[WalkdenClaret]

It's all well and good Pace thinking all fans going to Fanzone, but you've lost 100% of CFS fans going there anymore. Likewise many home fans in CFS and JH used the cricket club for a decent and good value pint and pie. No more, hope they continue to do well from away fans only but as thingandwhere points out, not only they, but other pubs and food outlets losing 20 mins. Feel for all those less mobile and having to find convenient parking etc.

Hope all goes well, but with this, and the CFS ticketing nightmare, what should be an exciting first day of the season already feels frustrating and worrisome.

[Steddyman]

Also, just seen this, which is competition for the fanzone (as far as Alan in concerned). Perhaps this is his way of cutting off that competition?

https://x.com/bfsc12/status/19582385553 ... 6QKwfgixkA

[beddie]

I’ve read the statement sent out by the club several times and I still can’t work out exactly what the club have gained or are trying to achieve by doing this. I wondered if it’s to increase sales in the club shop but I just don’t see that working to the level they might be expecting. I understand that companies are in business to make money and to do that changes are inevitable, not always to everyone’s satisfaction but in this instance it just doesn’t make logical sense to me.

[claret wizard]

Not sure what you mean by trouble. If you are talking home & away fans then they all leave together at every other away ground.

Guess you didn’t see the police horses funning up and down Belvedere Rd last season Tony. Trying to segregate fans, and failing.

[wilks_bfc]

I’ve read the statement sent out by the club several times and I still can’t work out exactly what the club have gained or are trying to achieve by doing this. I wondered if it’s to increase sales in the club shop but I just don’t see that working to the level they might be expecting. I understand that companies are in business to make money and to do that changes are inevitable, not always to everyone’s satisfaction but in this instance it just doesn’t make logical sense to me.

Club shop sales might increase for the first game, but that may be because it could be the first time some fans have been able to get there

[Conroy92]

God forbid anything ever happens but in terms of a sporting arena that holds 20,000 plus people. Should there not be alternative routes available should there be emergency situations such as fires, terrorist attacks ect. Sounds a bit extreme but I would have thought they would all have to be considered in this day and age. There is a very worrying feeling about any potential stampede through that gate should people have to evacuate the stadium quickly.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Odds on Sunday morning nothing has really happened apart from it taking a few minutes longer for some to walk back to your car/bus station/ pub of choice….. let’s hope we win!

[claret wizard]

Sorry it’s rball@burnleyfc.com - not sure where I got the a from

You were thinking arse**** Tony. Easy mistake to make.

[GetIntoEm]

God forbid anything ever happens but in terms of a sporting arena that holds 20,000 plus people. Should there not be alternative routes available should there be emergency situations such as fires, terrorist attacks ect. Sounds a bit extreme but I would have thought they would all have to be considered in this day and age. There is a very worrying feeling about any potential stampede through that gate should people have to evacuate the stadium quickly.

Come on. If there's a fire or a terrorist attack do you really think someone is going to be telling you it's away fans only that way

[Steddyman]

Here me out, how about this as an alternative?

IMG_0404.jpeg (291.54 KiB) Viewed 808 times

[Carport]

Ive emailed the club head of safety and security, supporter liaison officer and disability liaison officer.

I suggest as many of us as can also contact the club to register our concern.

[Conroy92]

Come on. If there's a fire or a terrorist attack do you really think someone is going to be telling you it's away fans only that way

It's if these routes are going to have obstructions between them though isn't it. A locked gate for example would prove a problem. I presume there must be a method to prevent us using it.

[Conroy92]

Or why don't we just claim to be away fans and just go down it with no colours on?

[GetIntoEm]

It's if these routes are going to have obstructions between them though isn't it. A locked gate for example would prove a problem. I presume there must be a method to prevent us using it.

If there was a locked gate how would the away fans leave?

In all reality there's probably not going to much stopping people from going where they want to go

[TommyPicks]

Or why don't we just claim to be away fans and just go down it with no colours on?

This idea also came to my mind. I don’t know if I’m being too simplistic but what’s to stop you walking down the side of the cricket club if you’ve no colours on?

[boyyanno]

If there was a locked gate how would the away fans leave?

In all reality there's probably not going to much stopping people from going where they want to go

I don't think he means a gate at the end of Omerod, does he not mean some form of barrier/separation between the end of the JH and the start of the Cricket Field?

It's already been narrowed by the TV stuff. They're making a new player area- it's not feasible to use stewards to block it off surely.

[ksrclaret]

Odds on Sunday morning nothing has really happened apart from it taking a few minutes longer for some to walk back to your car/bus station/ pub of choice….. let’s hope we win!

Hi SHP. I feel bad for you that you've posted three times now on a similar theme and nobody has responded to you, so here is a response. UTC!

[LlandennyClaret]

Ive emailed the club head of safety and security, supporter liaison officer and disability liaison officer.

I suggest as many of us as can also contact the club to register our concern.

Don’t hold your breath

[GetIntoEm]

This idea also came to my mind. I don’t know if I’m being too simplistic but what’s to stop you walking down the side of the cricket club if you’ve no colours on?

Nothing.

It's only a flow plan. Nobody is going to be checking or stopping people

[TommyPicks]

Nothing.

It's only a flow plan. Nobody is going to be checking or stopping people

People will just end up doing that then. Especially after a few weeks when folk cotton on to it.

[GetIntoEm]

Here me out, how about this as an alternative?

IMG_0404.jpeg

Even quicker just straight up the path adjacent to the ormerod yard path

[BillyHamilton9]

Doug Metcalfe is Director of operations & safety officer. Im pretty sure he will have been heavily involved in this latest utter s***show. If you have some questions fire them at d.metcalfe@burnleyfc.com but don't expect a reply. He's as arrogant as they come.

[Somethingfishy]

Here me out, how about this as an alternative?

IMG_0404.jpeg

Thats where I was thinking they could put a gate or alternatively have one at the back of the fanzone and a path along the grassy area that leads past the car park at the bottom of Holcombe Drive? Fans could enter/exit through the fanzone too...they'd love that idea. Surely they have a duty to give as many sensible means of exit as possible rather than the chaos that's going to ensue behind the JM stand?

[GetIntoEm]

Do we not seem to be making a mountain out of a molehill here?

[LlandennyClaret]

Doug Metcalfe is Director of operations & safety officer. Im pretty sure he will have been heavily involved in this latest utter s***show. If you have some questions fire them at d.metcalfe@burnleyfc.com but don't expect a reply. He's as arrogant as they come.

Don’t know why, but got a feeling from one of the club videos that he may not be in that position too much longer .

[CrosspoolClarets]

I fear a tragedy this season, i.e. a preventable death.

The thing with those is they never seem likely but the law of averages means unforeseen things happen periodically. If 14,000 people containing many frail elderly are exiting at the same time 19 times that is only 1 in 250,000 people for whom something tragic has to happen. Trust me, it will.

Which is of course the importance of the safety officer, the wider officials, the consultation etc.

For me, it is less dramatic. On the way in I will cease my 1 pint in the New Brew’m and 1 pint in the fanzone with a Haffners. Instead I’ll stay in town and walk in directly. On the way out it will make my journey home much longer (I get back at 7:30pm) so I shall have to drag the family out bang on the whistle if not before. Freed from Desire shall become Freed from The Turf.

But the main thing is, why? And the equally important question, if the brain-powers cook up this kind of farce, what confidence do we have that they make correct judgements on coaching or playing staff? Put it this way, I have less confidence in the season now than I did before. But hey, those away fans now directly behind the goal will make a real racket, and it’ll be a great day out, right?

[Steddyman]

I suspect this is a deliberate effort by the club to stop fans from using the Cricket Club match-day facilities, rather than the fanzone. If that is the case there will be a hard barrier preventing access to the Longside from that entrance.

[dvalley69]

Or why don't we just claim to be away fans and just go down it with no colours on?

They'd surely have a steward at some point checking tickets. Or a fence/barrier then you ain't getting past that, or an airport style security entrance.

[dvalley69]

What needs to happen is people make videos, take photos, etc. of the chaos over the course of the season, and bombard the club with tweets, emails and even hand-written messages on cardboard so our dodgy American laughable saviour can see the hurt, distrust and anger we're feeling. It should not just be swept under the carpet. They are becoming like sly politicians, typical US business sleazes trying to make a sham out of our people and the club just for more money. And the way they've gona baout it just stinks, absolutely no consideration or communication with the heartbeat of our club.
I can't attend games anymore but if I could I'd be making myself heard over this for all the points raised so far in this thread. Ultimately, there is no way this has passed a health & safety test. It truly stinks!

[Dassey]

I feel sorry for the cricket club. Me and a few friends occasionally go in before the game and have been regulars post match for several years. We certainly won't be turning right at the lights post match into the away fans to detour to the cricket club when we can get to the miners etc a lot quicker and safer by walking straight ahead. Pre match prob the same as it's gonna be difficult to judge timings to walk all the way around to the Longside upper turnstiles when it used to take a couple of mins from the cricket club. I won't be tempted by the over priced fan zone or match day inflated park view prices.

[Conroy92]

Do we not seem to be making a mountain out of a molehill here?

It is exactly this attitude towards health and safety concerns in the past that have resulted in some of the greatest tragedies.

[CardyTheClaret]

Let's say it's 1-1 on Saturday, an afternoon kick off, a close finish so not many leave early. 5 minutes later you've got around 14,000 people leaving via this. It will probably all be fine, it'll certainly take a while though.


exit.jpg

That gate IS open after the game, isn't it?

[Taffy on the wing]

The thing here for me is that it completely goes away from the match day experience.

There are two things that stand out. That the club wants all fans going past the club shop and fan zone. It's an attempt to sell more.

And secondly. How many of you are already thinking about leaving a minute or two early. ALK preached about wanting a stadium full for 90 minutes yet they've just given half of the ground a reason to leave 5 minutes before time to avoid the dangerous squeeze through one gate.

It shows again that there not bothered about you being there and watching the game. All they care for is the money for your ticket and trying to flog you as much merchandise and refreshments as possible.

Harsh reality.

The IKEA approach.

[RammyClaret61]

The previous boards are just as complicit. It’s over 20 years now since I moved from the Longside upper across to the Bob Lord. The simple reason, the bottle neck on the club shop corner. It’s not new, it’s never been improved. Also is that stupid kerb still running the length of the car park behind the Longside? I did my ankle on that, and I’ve seen many go flying when stumbling down it because in a crowd and especially night games. Very hard to see.
With the stupid closing of Ormerod yard, 100% of fans from both Longside & Jimmy Mac need to exit via that narrow gate. Up until now, I would’ve said about 40% would go via ormerod.
The other thing is with a mass of people now all heading up HPW. The traffic lights will need to be off longer. Everyone going one way, whereas before those leaving via ormerod would disperse several ways. Into the cricket club, right up Belvedere rd, across and into the side streets.
Just thinking about it, it’s just so stupidly inconvenient.
Those in the Longside blocks 1,2 & 3. Even if they leave with a couple of minutes to go. At some point the final whistle goes, they’re still going to be at the back of the queue to exit. From their seats to the cricket club will now be best part of an hour. It use to be 10 minutes. Well done Mr Pace on enhancing the fan experience at Turf Moor!!

[jrgbfc]

This idea also came to my mind. I don’t know if I’m being too simplistic but what’s to stop you walking down the side of the cricket club if you’ve no colours on?

I'm assuming there will be some kind of fence/barrier in place?

[wilks_bfc]

The more I think about it the the more I think the club have done it thinking it’s going to increase those going to the Fanzone.

They’ve probably thought, “if we’ll channel everyone home fan in the same direction, they’ll use it more”, but I’m not sure they’d get many more in pre match anyway, and in fact may lose.

Pre match routines are tradition and that is going to now change for a hell of a lot of people - more than they have thought.

For those fans approaching TF from Brunshaw Rd direction, if they previously used the fanzone they still would with now difference, with the exception of those in the CFS. Are they now more likely to turn left to FZ to then have to return, against the flow of traffic, to get to their new seat in the CFS, or veer slightly left to Park View?

The big impact is from those approaching from town/HPW/Belvedere direction. Previously would have been able to simply walk don Ormerod Yard to it, then proceed to their seat

Those in CFS aren’t now likely to walk past the turnstile around the ground then have to return, against the tide of those arriving, back to the CFS, likewise those in the BLS and to a lesser extent JMc

The only increase I could envisage is post match. You always hear the announcement that the FZ is open after the game, but tbh I’ve hardly ever seen many people walking across to it afterwards.
Maybe they are hoping people will use it to wait for most of the traffic to die down.

[thingandwhere]

I’m surprised that the licensee on the FAB didn’t bring this up in their private meeting.

Not sure who you mean?

[wilks_bfc]

Not sure who you mean?

I’m assuming he means Justine from Royal Dyche

[claret wizard]

Not sure who you mean?

https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/mor ... ters-clubs

https://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/peo ... me-4030595

[claret wizard]

The only increase I could envisage is post match. You always hear the announcement that the FZ is open after the game, but tbh I’ve hardly ever seen many people walking across to it afterwards.
Maybe they are hoping people will use it to wait for most of the traffic to die down.

Fanzone post match has about 10 people in and then shuts at halftime of the later game.

[Tribesmen]

I see everyone's point on this issue .
My take on it is see what happens on Saturday as the problem point is the corner of the club shop .
Now most will turn right and head to town it's when fans are going the other way when you have a problem kind of going against the tide .
The police may get involved with stopping people to let say 1000 out then let 5000 while holding back the others , kind of best wait and see . Think of huge clubs in London where I have seen this happen with 60,000 people .One thing for sure most are going to take more time to get home from now on .
Good Luck All .

[wilks_bfc]

Fanzone post match has about 10 people in and then shuts at halftime of the later game.

So they want you to stay but don’t let you watch the full game?

You couldn’t make it up

[GetIntoEm]

Not sure why everyone is ignoring the fact that people who would normally come from cricket club or fire station end DONT need to walk all the way round the ground. Just walk through the houses and brings you out at the Jimmy Mac stand.

Suppose it doesn't fit the narrative tho

[KlyBfc]

Not sure why everyone is ignoring the fact that people who would normally come from cricket club or fire station end DONT need to walk all the way round the ground. Just walk through the houses and brings you out at the Jimmy Mac stand.

Suppose it doesn't fit the narrative tho

Whilst i haven’t moaned about it really, and only raised the fact its all been decided ao late weve had no chance / choice to move seats. We come from the Royal Dyche and sit in block 1 of the longside upper, so by your way we have to walk up past the cricket club / away end, then down through the houses along the fence to almost the corner of the bee hole and then turn and back up the longside. It’s practically most of the way round the ground. Whilst for most of our group it’s nothing more than a hinderance, for one it is a lot longer / for those who find walking difficult / painful. Let alone how awkward it is getting across to and turning back round that fence is when thousands are exiting at full time.