Hospitality Area In The East Stand

[Dirk Gently]

Nigel Howe was on Radio Berkshire this am confirming that anyone who does have to move will be compensated.

They also had the picture framer in Woodley who has been getting calls because whoever produced these leaflets put the wrong phone number on them

[STAR Liaison]

There was a widely publicised evening at the club where the plans were on show, the club and the architects were available to dicsuss any aspect of the plans and very few people actually went along to have a look.

At that session the club were open to all sorts of suggestions and (for example) disabled fans have been in long and detailed discussion about the facilities and I believe have had changes made.

I went to that, and believe I saw you there too, but the word that springs to mind is tumbleweed. The club officials must have outnumbered those looking at the plans.

Several of the points we made were well received by the architects and I would hope that the final plans are different in significant ways to those on show but as I understand it the internal works of the planning permission are definitely only outline at this stage of the planning process and hence vague and still open to change. This is why the club is being vague because decisions have not yet been made.

Can I yet again ask people to contact STAR direct with your points so that we can go to the club with representative details (info@star-reading.org). After all only one member has sent us an email about this so far and we spoke to several of those affected last night at the fans forum. And before you say we should contact you please remember we are all volunteers and the effort for you to write one email spreads the workload out significantly and is miniscule in comparison of asking us to contact everyone affected as we do not have access to the club's database

[Behindu]

I went to that, and believe I saw you there too, but the word that springs to mind is tumbleweed. The club officials must have outnumbered those looking at the plans.

To be fair the leaflet about the meeting did imply it was for businesses and 'interest groups' rather than individuals, but I gate crashed quite easily despite not being one of those !

The display material has also been in the Main Reception for weeks and there have been links to the planning submission around for quite a while.

I am sympathetic with people who are concerned about their seats and want to know more, but just think that
a) before panicing people need to wait and see what the plans really are
b) realise that the club DO welcome comments from fans and WILL listen
c) understand that the work is going to lead to some changes but from waht I can see the ground will be even better than it is now and for 99% of us will be another step 'forward '

[RoyalBlue]

I'd be interested in knowing how much the club believe they make per square foot of corporate hospitality compared to that they get from each square foot of ordinary supporter seating.

I wonder whether the difference in income per square foot is as much as people might assume.

Of course it is if not why have it?

Do the figures exist or is it just an assumption? Have they worked out what the normal supporter spends per head when they come to a game? I know they can sell corporate hospitality at what appears to be a high price but that hospitality is not cheap to provide and you can't cram in as many bums on seats.

Another take on the issue could be that they need to exploit both types of market. Perhaps they aren't confident that they can cram the stadium full of traditional supporters. Maybe CH doesn't make loads more money but it is a group of 'customers' who wouldn't otherwise attend and therefore provides additional income on top of that received from normal fans.

[Behindu]

I have no doubt that there will have been plenty of analysis of the various options - it's not as if JM has no business background !

The equation won't be as simple as how much does each type of fan spend on a match day though. Out of the Corp areas comes sponsorship / advertising etc and you'd have to factor in the 'relationship building' longer term potential.

Of course this could come from someone in the N stand as well, but if you look at the companies who have the corp boxes now you'll see lots of names who also contribute to the club in big ways.

With the new size ground there is loads of room for all types of fans to be part of things - to put in 38,000 bench seats and no paddedones would be crazy. If only they could find room for a few thousand standing places then we'd all be happy !

[Gregster]

If STAR have a line of communication open with the club on this already, I would think that the best course of action is to write to STAR so they can present this feedback to the club.

I've written and will also ensure I write also to the club. Although quite what impact any of this will have remains to be seen, the club's already stated it's intentions.

Kiss good bye to east stand atmosphere when these concrete boxes line the stand. Talk about breaking up the chance to have a superb one tier stand.

[Behindu]

Has it not already been stated that there is NOT a plan to put boxes in the East Stand....

[Gregster]

Has it not already been stated that there is NOT a plan to put boxes in the East Stand....

Symantecs. You're taking away long standing loyal supporters for those who can afford a privileged, hospitality seat.

Boxes / padded seats, it will all have the same effect.

[Wycombe Royal]

Boxes / padded seats, it will all have the same effect.

That's right - more money for the club to help them to keep on progressing.

[Behindu]

Not Symantecs - you were worried about breaking up the flow of the stand with boxes.

We don't know who the new set up will be aimed at. There are plnty of extremely Loyal fans who already take the option to pay more for a different type of experience atthe club. What makes you think that it won;t be long standing, salt of the earth fans who chose to pay an extra tenner a week in order to be able to have a lounge with some space and access to food on match days ?

I went to a game at Forest in a similar set up and it was all 'normal' fans - not people on a jolly.

If the club price it right I can see it being current East standers who fill the seats....

[STAR Voice]

If STAR have a line of communication open with the club on this already, I would think that the best course of action is to write to STAR so they can present this feedback to the club.

I've written and will also ensure I write also to the club. Although quite what impact any of this will have remains to be seen, the club's already stated it's intentions.

Kiss good bye to east stand atmosphere when these concrete boxes line the stand. Talk about breaking up the chance to have a superb one tier stand.

Gregster - have received the e-mail and will respond later today.

But just to correct a misapprehension. No "concrete boxes will line the stand". Although, as I keep repeating, the plans are not fixed, change regularly and won't be finalised until after planning permission is granted - this is a single area, for East Stand fans, rather than a line of boxes as in the West Stand.

So I don't think it will break up the stand much more than the current disabled areas break up the current East Stand, and as it'll be full of Reading fans who will be paying a little extra to be able to get their beer without having to queue forever, it might even help the atmosphere.

[Gregster]

Boxes / padded seats, it will all have the same effect.

That's right - more money for the club to help them to keep on progressing.

Laughable.

With the revenue from Sky, our largest ever sponsors deal, this years bank balance (considering all the increased fan costs and club revenue yet a reaonsably small expenditure on players), yet again the deluded fan accepts RFC's treatment of the long term fan by citing the need for more money for RFC to continue progressing.

One question - if they hiked STs up another £200 and again gave the reason 'money to progress the club' when do you begin to question the costs?

I understand the need to support the club but surely not at the expense of fans.......

Taken to an extreme, if they introduced these seats in further areas of the stadium each season (again pushing the increased revenue to fund the club line) , how can you not admit the fact that clubs are pricing the long term fans out? It's for good reason this very fact is making national headlines.

Reclaim the East Stand. It starts here

[Gregster]

If STAR have a line of communication open with the club on this already, I would think that the best course of action is to write to STAR so they can present this feedback to the club.

I've written and will also ensure I write also to the club. Although quite what impact any of this will have remains to be seen, the club's already stated it's intentions.

Kiss good bye to east stand atmosphere when these concrete boxes line the stand. Talk about breaking up the chance to have a superb one tier stand.

Gregster - have received the e-mail and will respond later today.

But just to correct a misapprehension. No "concrete boxes will line the stand". Although, as I keep repeating, the plans are not fixed, change regularly and won't be finalised until after planning permission is granted - this is a single area, for East Stand fans, rather than a line of boxes as in the West Stand.

So I don't think it will break up the stand much more than the current disabled areas break up the current East Stand, and as it'll be full of Reading fans who will be paying a little extra to be able to get their beer without having to queue forever, it might even help the atmosphere.

Thanks STAR, look forward to it. If there are misapprehensions, I'll be all too happy to be set right.

[Wycombe Royal]

Boxes / padded seats, it will all have the same effect.

That's right - more money for the club to help them to keep on progressing.

Laughable.

With the revenue from Sky, our largest ever sponsors deal, this years bank balance (considering all the increased fan costs and club revenue yet a reaonsably small expenditure on players), yet again the deluded fan accepts RFC's treatment of the long term fan by citing the need for more money for RFC to continue progressing.

One question - if they hiked STs up another £200 and again gave the reason 'money to progress the club' when do you begin to question the costs?

I understand the need to support the club but surely not at the expense of fans.......

Taken to an extreme, if they introduced these seats in further areas of the stadium each season (again pushing the increased revenue to fund the club line) , how can you not admit the fact that clubs are pricing the long term fans out? It's for good reason this very fact is making national headlines.

Reclaim the East Stand. It starts here

Why is it laughable? Just because one revenue stream has increased it doesn't mean you should look to increase other revenue streams as well. At least those in charge of the club seem to understand that fundemental business principle. So around 600 fans are going to have to move seat - they will be compensated and will have 6000 shiny new seats to choose from.

As for introducing these areas in other parts of the stadium they might well do if the demand is there, it isn't as if we are going to be short on seats in the stadium.

As for pricing the fans out - ourcurrent prices reflect the current level of demand against the capacity we have. If that situation was to change, which it more than likely will when the capacity increases, then more imaginative pricing structures may be used, including price reductions. But of course those fans that want to scaremonger don't look at the long term to see that.

Unfortunately for progress to happen, changes and sacrifices have to be made, and yes it can be disruptive to those affected. But changes HAVE to occur to move forward. Where would we be now if tough decisions hadn't been made over the past 16 years that have upset fans in the past?

Reserved Seating
Smoking ban
Ticket price increases
etc.........

[STAR Voice]

Especially as 600 is a way, way, high estimate.

I have no idea of the actual numbers (because no-one does yet!) - but even the bits of paper that were distributed on Saturday urging people to phone a picture-framer in Woodley to protest talked of just over 400 people.

[.:BigDaveInTheDungeon:.]

if what the star people say is right then this change in the stand sounds like an extension of the jazz cafe with a large glass window added so people can look at the pitch while they drink.

Nigel Howe this morning i thought was particularly vauge about the plans saying they still haven't been approved so they can't really say what it is and isn't.
the facts are if the architect has drawn something into the plans the club would have specified it in the design brief and so they must therefore know what they plan to do with this new area in the stand, also as this has been entered in for a planning application thousands would have been spent getting it to this stage already.
Just because the details on the leaflet given out are not in detail does not mean there are not more detailed plans, in fact if there aren't any more in-detail plans on the internal layout of the stand and changes to the extenal areas of the stand i would be very suprised and would recommend the club sack the contacters they have hired for this project.

whatever this box is going to be used for the most central area of support in the east stand will be lost and the area below it cut off from the area behind this hospitality area.

plus if you want to have a beer before the game in a nice place with carpet and soft chairs the jazz cafe already serves this purpose and is free to all current season ticket holders.

[Behindu]

plus if you want to have a beer before the game in a nice place with carpet and soft chairs the jazz cafe already serves this purpose and is free to all current season ticket holders.

Although there are already queues to get in and the plan is to double the number of people in the stand !

[M4 Junction 11]

Some ideas on what to include in the new concourses could be borrowed for the hospitality area.

[PieEater]

So I don't think it will break up the stand much more than the current disabled areas break up the current East Stand, and as it'll be full of Reading fans who will be paying a little extra to be able to get their beer without having to queue forever, it might even help the atmosphere.

I have no problem with these "fans" paying extra to get a beer. What I have a problem with is getting kicked out so that they can get a nice view of the pitch (presumably with no game in progress). What is wrong with a nice view of B&Q instead?

[TheLawnMowerMan]

Madejski must be absolutely livid at the plans!

How much do you think he paid to get his name across the East Stand?
And you lot just moan about your seats and plaques.