The question was about the fan experience alone. What have they not done that they said they would. We could debate the other stuff but that is not what I asked for. Not supporting em. Just puzzled as to what MT was referring to. As BMW said what would he like to see in respect of the comment. (I do know that an indoor fanzone /club was asked for at the fan engagement meeting. I don't know if it would be considered.) I have issues with the way the people in charge see things. The fan experience not being one of em.
I know it was about the fanzone. That's why the quote from them is about fan experience. It just so happened that the quote also included them mentioning other things which they have failed on too. Personally I think they need to spend some cash and bud the east stand mezzanine to give us excellent facilities but while we they are for reasons unknown refusing to buy the land which they claimed would be done within 6 months we all know that it's not going to happen. It's all linked really
I think we're too quick sometimes to dismiss improvements if they're not exactly to our own liking. Regardless of your opinion on the FanZone, it's helping us entertain around 400% more fans on a Match Day than we ever could over the last five seasons. You've got player interviews, Reds Report, Dave Cooper, live music from local artists. Other than not being indoors and having a better food offer I'm not sure it's a million miles away (you could argue that million miles is the fact it's outdoors though .......). We've also seen live music at two of the games in the last two years. Both times the weather got the better of plans and they had to perform from the West Stand rather than on the pitch. Again, a local band though. I'm all for a good board bashing when it comes to recruitment, but for me it feels like there has been improvements made. The conversation then is are they good enough or not.
I think the fanzone is fantastic. I just think it's poor that supporters have had to really lead it rather than the club who if they were willing to invest more than a token amount could create something really fantastic, instead you do the best that you can with what you have available but they take all the credit (as I see it anyway). What bad weather caused the band to be tucked away again on Saturday? It wasn't raining, wasn't windy, was dry. Perfect weather wasn't it?
It’s not that far away. The kids zone (ozone) is great they just need to look at selling better produce. For instance I went in against Swansea and they where selling coors light for £4 a bottle and it wasn’t even chilled just straight out of a crate. The outdoor fanzone just needs a more robust structure/setting. Otherwise really it’s only good for Aug/sept and then April onwards. I think my anger is aimed at the owners really. I love what the supporters trust have done to get this going but the club should be doing all it can with investment - I genuinely thought thought the owners are here to improve Barnsley fc in-fact I’m not angry. I’m just disappointed.
The pitch was too wet to be using it pre-game because of the rain the day before (I think). I think there's loads of improvements you could make to the FanZone, but they all come with a cost. That's why it was always pitched as something that would continue to improve over time, which I think it has, just in line with the weather getting worse frustratingly (and our results!). I think there are costs that people on the outside probably don't appreciate as they're not things you actually see, but having the electrical work done wasn't cheap, additional security each game, hiring portaloos, some of the fixtures and fittings. The Trust hasn't paid for all of that.
The company that have the catering contract for the concourse run the O'Zone Kids Club. So lump that issue in with the frustrations around availability of food and drink at half time.
BFCST Delighted to Announce Opening of Reds Fan Zone Barnsley Football Club Supporters’ Trust are delighted to announce a partnership with Barnsley FC that will see the new Reds FanZone launch this season, opening from 12pm this coming Saturday for the Championship opener against Fulham. After five successful years adapting the previously named Preedy’s Bar in to Redfearn’s Bar, the time has come to enhance the fan experience even further and move Redfearn’s Bar to the new Reds FanZone in the East Stand Car Park. The success and popularity of Redfearn’s Bar has been built on the support of the volunteers who work tirelessly every match day, and the fans that would regularly visit, donate their BFC memories, or even jump on the mic to interview former players or entertain the crowd. That connection to the supporters and the town will continue on Saturday with live music from local artist Tom Masters, on stage interviews with fans and players hosted by Dave Cooper, Cask Ale from Barnsley favourites Acorn Brewery, and the friendly faces of BFCST members pouring you a range of Craft Beer from BrewDog, Cider, Gin and Soft Drinks. BFCST have committed to delivering supporters an enhanced match day experience through significant investment in this partnership with the club. The Reds FanZone capacity will be 300 people, with seating for approximately 40-50, with 80% of the area covered by a 12m x 8m marquee and giant umbrellas. The club will be providing 2-3 street food trucks that will regularly rotate, toilet facilities, and will support with special guests throughout the season. We’re also pleased to announce that BFCST and Barnsley FC have agreed that all profits from Redfearn’s Bar this season will be reinvested in to the match day experience, other fans’ projects, and good causes. This means that Redfearn’s Bar will no longer exist in the current O Zone venue and will be replaced on match days with a more family orientated environment for our future generation of supporters, to build on the success of the ‘Family Zone’ in the East Stand Upper (more information on this will be released on Wednesday 31st July). This will fall under the management of the club but BFCST will be there to support with making this another place to be proud of at Oakwell. BFCST Chairman Alan Bloore commented, ‘This is an exciting time for Barnsley supporters as we enter another season in the Championship. We’re excited to build on the amazing success of Redfearn’s Bar over the last five years and to partner with the club on moving to the new FanZone setup to create a fantastic pre-match experience for fans of all age groups’. Barnsley Football Club Chief Executive Officer, Dane Murphy added ‘We are proud to launch our new FanZone, together with members of the Barnsley Football Club Supporters’ Trust. We want people of all ages to continue enjoying their visits to Oakwell and we hope that this fan friendly area will only add to supporters’ experience.”’
They have done minimal to improve the match day experience, support for the fantastic volunteers to support the fan zone yes , getting people to come earlier and stay longer no ! New hand dryers a lick of paint and a mural in the Ponty, we still have awful catering and a 24” plasma scoreboard , can’t come early and watch live games before hand, not that I’d want to sit in the cold, catering is woeful and I’d need binoculars to see
If they ever do decide to put something more permanent together, I'd say the space between the East Stand and Ponty would be decent.
And I could be wrong but as redfearns was catered by the supporters trust but is now catered for by the company who does the stands it is logical to say that our current owners have entered into more business with them
You are wrong. We were always allowed to use that facility by the catering company. They weren’t happy about it but the club fought our corner on that one. Same reason why the Trust don’t pour the beer in the FanZone exclusively. Carling and Coors is managed by the catering company