At Your Place Meetings

Suspect that limited agenda for the commercial session is going to be rigorously enforced...

 

I suspect the woman who complained about the stewarding at QPR will be there.

 

I’m pleased the club is trying to address issues that directly impact fans, aside from the state of the team/squad, so long as that is done on another occasion. However, I do feel a better way to elicit views would be in the form of a fan survey so that more people could register their opinion.

 

And then all the replies could be ‘unrecoverable’ after some horrendous IT glitch that could be blamed on the Russians/Chinese/Iranians/North Koreans…..

 

The commercial one took place this week:

https://www.watfordfc.com/news/at-your-place-commercial-focused-event-round-up

Stuff in there about the deal with Mr Q, a renewal of Kelme's shirt contract for another 4 years, catering and naming rights for the stadium.

Oh and it wouldn't be a Watford fan event without two bizarre questions which seem to be focused on away fan facilities - the capacity of the Vic Rd End and why no beer is sold to away fans. Maybe people trying to find out for when our beloved Gooners next come to town?

 

A rare piece of unequivocally good news. A bit strange it has been dribbled out like this (just about) rather than announced. Presume that may happen at some point in the near future.

 

I believe we have sold the 4 yr revenue stream from this to MacQ for an additional £568k to add to the promotion war chest.

 

DNSYE attended and have promised to 'pod' about it.

 

I went to this last night having only ever attended one previously. Headed to the bar when I arrived to be told that my first drink was free, courtesy of the club- which was a nice touch. I took my seat and the event started.

Most questions revolved around stewarding and entering/exiting the ground. Many were unhappy about the level of aggression and force the stewards at the club seem to use, with one woman stating she was told she could only use one turnstile in the Elton John stand as that was the only one for females. She did then say a bit more about her unpleasant experiences but it’s probably a bit unfair to state those on here so I’ll refrain from doing so. The four blokes at the head of the table so to speak I think struggled with the questions thrown at them. I do get that you’re having to come up with an answer on the spot but that’s the way these things go.

One question was about post match and the free-for-all when it comes to exiting the ground and mixing with away supporters. Someone asked if the away contingent could be held in for 10 or so minutes whilst the home fans were allowed to go but that was shut down and described as “kettling” which I’m led to believe is illegal. A response was “well if you went to an away game and you were held in after would you be happy?” Which is a fair enough response in my eyes, I wouldn’t want to be kept in I’d want to leave and do whatever I need to do.

Another question was raised about away supporters being in the home end, especially hospitality, and celebrating (Southampton at home a few weeks ago was used as an example) and if there’s anything that can be done. The answer was no, not really. All that can be done is a stern reminder before they go in to behave themselves and if they don’t, they will be ejected. They said the only game we didn’t give any hospitality tickets to the away team (which we do every game as there’s sponsors etc) was Luton in 2022, but there were still some Watford supporters who gave tickets to Luton fans, so it’s very difficult to try and stop.

There were a lot of questions which I’m sure someone else will do a bigger write up about but overall it appears that most supporters are not enjoying the matchday experience and there is a lot than can be done to improve it. They said that our contract with our food supplier is constantly under threat due to the lax rules of food being taken into the ground for example.

All in all it was actually an informative evening. The club are evidently aware of our frustrations as supporters and are, in my opinion, at least trying to do something about it. Luther Blisset was there in his role as ambassador too, and he did well in being the ‘bridge’ between us and the powers that be.

 

The stewards are unnecessarily aggressive at Watford, no doubt about it. Obnoxious little oiks that snarl and look for aggro rather than try and prevent it. Irritating but as has been pointed out by them before “do what I tell you or you’re not going in”.

 

As in, the supplier is getting annoyed? Talk about tail wagging the dog…

 

So, the supplier of, frankly, not very good, expensive food doesn't want to face competition from people bringing their own sandwiches or finishing off their chips from the chippy?

Funny, innit, the sorts of people and companies that go on and on about capitalism being brilliant and how the market will decide don't like competition that much.

Here's an idea for them – improve the food, improve the service, and more people will pay for good quality stuff. Also understand human nature. The sort of person who brings in their own sandwich or a flask of tea is not suddenly going to drop £7 on a burger and £4 on a tea if you stop them bringing their own.

The food at Vicarage Road has been pretty much dreadful for the 40 years I've been going. I remember the gristly burgers steaming in their own juices on a lukewarm hot plate in the bottom corner of the Vic Road terrace. Years later there were the pink mechanically recovered sausage-style tubes half-shoved into a ketchup-filled baguette. Roll-a-dogs, I think they were called. I had one once and accidentally squeezed the baguette and a jet of ketchup landed on the coat of the woman in front of me. I spent the rest of the first half wondering whether to say something...

My Dad once bought a balti chicken pie in the Upper GT that had zero pieces of chicken in it. He realised after a couple of bites that there was nothing but sauce in it and removed the lid to take a proper look. When he took it back to complain he was told that he must've fished out all the chicken pieces and eaten them before returning to complain. We actually had a good laugh about that but he resolved never to buy anything in the ground again.

 

Exactly this. From looking at them I suspect they're mainly students who are trying to make a bit more on weekends/evenings.

The line of them that come out towards the end of the games is utterly ridiculous. There are young girls in there, let's be honest if there were to be a mass pitch invasion at the end of a mid season mid table Championship game, they wouldn't be able to stop anything (and nor should they be expected to on minimum wage). There's no deterrent there at all, it's an utter waste of money.

 

Correct I can honestly see myself smacking one of the scruffy bustards soon. The other week I was sitting in the LGT and the steward was kneeling right in front of me and I couldn't see the game properly, I asked him to lower himself and he said no.

 

I’m not having this. Say what you want about everything else, but I won’t hear a bad word about Roll-a-dogs. Those things were magnificent.

 

Naming rights of the stadium are up for grabs - are you thinking what I'm thinking?

 

This is how far our supporter base has fallen. Utterly embarrassing.

 

Genuinely should be a banning offence. Absolutely bizarre behaviour.

 

Banning? Hang the *****s!

 

It should be but pound to a penny it's corporate types, so no chance of the club banning them.

 

Fair enough - Duxbury at least making an effort and presumably he will kick his own “computer says no” drones up the backside.

 

I have never bought food at the ground for myself. But then I don’t quite get why people going go the cinema want to eat hotdogs when watching a film. I suppose the food offer raises enough money to make it worthwhile. Not sure that improving the vfm would see a huge increase in sales. For a 3pm kick off, I suspect a large proportion of the crowd don’t feel the need to buy food and drink in the ground.

As to the stewarding, I have not noticed them being particular aggressive or inefficient. Basically they will be people working at vicarage road, who will also routinely work the other major sporting and entertainment venues in and around London.

I personally am not that upset about the body searchers insisting you take your flat cap off either. It’s a bit of a deterrent to any would be hat bomber.

 

You jest (I think) but a hat bomb could take your scalp off.

Pat downs, jolly Irish fella?

In all seriousness, what are they half heartedly looking for? I had all manor of things in my coat pockets, a bottle, a phaaaat wallet, phone, bobble hat, keys, kids scarf he wasn't wearing. I'm like a utility belt on steroids. Pat down didn't want to see any of it. If I can fit a flare or weapon under my hat, it wouldn't get found on a pat down in my pockets. Had a pair of flares on me the other week, charity shop £2, wore them to a 70s fancy dress party.