The World Famous City Ground - Home of the PROPER WORLD‘S OLDEST LEAGUE CLUB

[Frank Clark’s Tash]

Stands don't have to be rectangular.

Stands to reason

 

[Statto]

I can pretty much guarantee that as soon as you try to force this issue 1 or more will dig their heels and make it impossible.

These are people's homes and they have value for people that is often beyond financial compensation. When you add the compulsion, it makes it more difficult.

LFC made the mistake of thinking you could just buy people out. And when they realised it wasn't possible they ghettoised the area. That made it even harder because the residents then had a moral reason to resist. While from the outside, that resistance looks irrational, it's actually strengthening the determination to stay. It took over 12 years to get that resolved.

I'd hate Forest to become a club that does that.

Yes

But surely given that it's a long term strategy then a more patient approach will work too.

Realistically speaking the club needs to own pretty much the whole road, and realistically speaking unless you've settled down a lot of houses aren't occupied by the same people for decades on end, possibly not there at least.

So they just need to wait a bit, every time a house comes on the market the club buy it. It might take a while but eventually you will get them all.

I don't think it's really going to happen if you ask the owners of a house to move even if you pay them way over the actual market value or cover their costs in relocating.

How much that last situation would change if say the club ended up owning 6 or 7 of 8 homes and was renting them out (e.g. to academy players or young loanees like Garner) meaning you'd then have 1 or 2 left before you did it, then who knows.

And of course, owning the houses is only half the battle, presumably then you'd still need the planning permission (it'd just mean you didn't have all the objections from residents).

But actually, it's also evident that the stand is now constrained, taking up basically as much land as it can without raising the roof to level.

 

[DizzyBala]

Anyone else just willing to volunteer to tidy the old girl up a bit.
Like they've done a good job with the necessary renovations for the Premierleague but there's chipped paint on the stands, cobwebs and all kinds of shit on the seats and such.

I'd go down and pick up a paintbrush if they gave me some credit or something.

 

[football post]

Anyone else just willing to volunteer to tidy the old girl up a bit.
Like they've done a good job with the necessary renovations for the Premierleague but there's chipped paint on the stands, cobwebs and all kinds of shit on the seats and such.

I'd go down and pick up a paintbrush if they gave me some credit or something.

Get it done professionally. They could use the money we've donated from the away membership and bronze membership schemes.

 

[Notcher]

It was disappointing to see the Brian Clough Stand sign across the front had been allowed to turn pink. I thought they would have tarted that up at least with it being so prominent, and let's face it, the name of our inconic manager. The whole place needs a good jet washing and painting. I wasn't impressed, there's a lot of TLC that could have been done which has been left again

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[Morpeth]

It was disappointing to see the Brian Clough Stand sign across the front had been allowed to turn pink. I thought they would have tarted that up at least with it being so prominent, and let's face it, the name of our inconic manager. The whole place needs a good jet washing and painting. I wasn't impressed, there's a lot of TLC that could have been done which has been left again

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The Trent End side nearest the Trent Bridge should have been painted at a minimum as that’s the iconic view that was everywhere. Should have been gleaming.

 

[DizzyBala]

It's funny because imagine how many painters, window cleaners, power wash companies are Forest fans in the area that probably would do it for a discount, just to help the club they love.

 

[REDDERS78]

It literally make no sense not to clean it up a bit, non whatsoever. Its a real shame that this has slipped the net yet again.

Also the catering, im f***ing sick to death of how shambolic it is. Yesterday they ran out of water before HT. I mean, its water ffs. Buy 10k bottles of the stuff. Its as if they guess how many they will sell for each game..........Who the actual f*** is running it? Its the same in winter, running out of hot chocolate before kick off etc. Its not good enough. The fanzone was closed because they couldnt keep beer cold???? Its right up there with them not having any hot food a couple of seasons back because they forgot to put the oven on.

Its appaling, Ive travelled away for years with Forest and most Championship teams make a far better fist of basic shit. The staff are rude, dont know how to pour a pint, cant find anything, slow and not interested.

Get a proper catering structure in place and pay people properly, these kids they keep shoving in on minimum wage are just not up to the basics, its embarassing. Is the catering outsourced to someone?

Needs changing ASAP, sick of it now.

 

[Flaggers]

Oh - no water in the handwash upper Trent half time

 

[REDDERS78]

It's funny because imagine how many painters, window cleaners, power wash companies are Forest fans in the area that probably would do it for a discount, just to help the club they love.

Its not as if we dont have any money though, just pay people to get it done...........I dont get the problem.

 

[REDDERS78]

Oh - no water in the handwash upper Trent half time

Its basic man. People want to wash their hands ffs, maybe wipe their arse with actual toilet paper. Its digusting, the whole set up is so 1980s its untrue.

Im not a moaner, ive put up with it for a long time but Ive honestly had enough now. Whos controlling this? Are the club even aware?

How the f*** can they run out of basic items, sometimes before kick off?

Im properly pissed off now

 

[Strummer]

It literally make no sense not to clean it up a bit, non whatsoever. Its a real shame that this has slipped the net yet again.

Also the catering, im f***ing sick to death of how shambolic it is. Yesterday they ran out of water before HT. I mean, its water ffs. Buy 10k bottles of the stuff. Its as if they guess how many they will sell for each game..........Who the actual f*** is running it? Its the same in winter, running out of hot chocolate before kick off etc. Its not good enough. The fanzone was closed because they couldnt keep beer cold???? Its right up there with them not having any hot food a couple of seasons back because they forgot to put the oven on.

Its appaling, Ive travelled away for years with Forest and most Championship teams make a far better fist of basic shit. The staff are rude, dont know how to pour a pint, cant find anything, slow and not interested.

Get a proper catering structure in place and pay people properly, these kids they keep shoving in on minimum wage are just not up to the basics, its embarassing. Is the catering outsourced to someone?

Needs changing ASAP, sick of it now.

As a season ticket holder of many years before I emigrated, I have been saying this for years.

It is inexcusable, and a damning sign that Forest simply don‘t care about the matchday supporter.

And don‘t get me started on the standard of coffee at the City Ground.

 

[REDDERS78]

As a season ticket holder of many years before I emigrated, I have been saying this for years.

It is inexcusable, and a damning sign that Forest simply don‘t care about the matchday supporter.

And don‘t get me started on the standard of coffee at the City Ground.

The club have clearly attempted to improve certain aspects, in a PR sense we are light years away from where we were 5 years ago, but still a way to go.

The catering hasnt improved since I started going in 1985, and Im not joking.

 

[football post]

Totally agree regarding the catering. I haven't bothered for years as it's so expensive and of poor quality. Unfortunately I had to get a drink yesterday as it was so hot but they had run out of water so could only offer me coke. Oh and that was warm as they had only just put some in the fridge.
Back to normal next time, no more cash from me.

 

[Ashley]

As wonderful as yesterday was, I have to agree that our catering is still absolutely f***ing atrocious. Needs a complete overhaul.

 

[forestzoe]

LB stand. They knew the concourse was going to be cut in half for Forest fans. Did they install pumps for the beer on the 1 bar now open to us, where the one with pumps is now the away bar? Did they feck. So we now have the smaller of the 2 bars, with ONE small bottle fridge for all the cider, lager, bitter, soft drinks. Yeah that went well.

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[REDDERS78]

Thing is, I dont think people would mind paying if they felt it was value. They now do a sausage roll that is absulutely amazing, but as youd expect, its more expensive than the shit theyve served up for 3 decades.

Its as if the catering is totally detached from the club. Whoever is running it clearly has a massive staff turnover because they pay shit wages, they are generally pretty useless too, have zero customer service skills and youre lucky if they can find a bottle of coke.

The club needs to take it in house and employ a team of people to orchastrate the most basic of things. You could literally come up with improvements if you had a post it note and a broken pencil.

To say its representative of the club and the ground I'm amazed its not been looked it before now, let alone in the close season. Its 2022 ffs.

Im that mad, Im going to write to someone about it, f*** it.

Who at the club would deal with it do you guys think?

 

[forestzoe]

I'll add that the bar service at County's ground pre season was fab. Only 1 of the 2 bars open in our stand, but they were fast, friendly and the offering was decent, including mushy peas lol. The queues moved fast and you got a smile with your service. Take note Forest

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[Winnits]

To be fair, of all the things to have a moan about, that’s not too bad in the grand scheme of things

 

[REDDERS78]

To be fair, of all the things to have a moan about, that’s not too bad in the grand scheme of things

Im honestly not a moaner, I'll drink beer any which way it comes and never expect gourmet food, heaven forbid. Its just been grating on me for a long time and Ive had enough. To go into a new season and end up with the same abysmal catering has annoyed me.

Nobody is expecting perfection and I understand the reasons behind why its so poor but cmon, you can NEVER run out of water before HT, or forget to put an oven on, Weve just been given 180m ffs, spend 0.01% of it on making it a bit easier on families with kids. Put some toilet roll in the toilets, some hand cleaner........basic basic shit.

 

[Eddie Yates]

Thing is, I dont think people would mind paying if they felt it was value. They now do a sausage roll that is absulutely amazing, but as youd expect, its more expensive than the shit theyve served up for 3 decades.

Its as if the catering is totally detached from the club. Whoever is running it clearly has a massive staff turnover because they pay shit wages, they are generally pretty useless too, have zero customer service skills and youre lucky if they can find a bottle of coke.

The club needs to take it in house and employ a team of people to orchastrate the most basic of things. You could literally come up with improvements if you had a post it note and a broken pencil.

To say its representative of the club and the ground I'm amazed its not been looked it before now, let alone in the close season. Its 2022 ffs.

Im that mad, Im going to write to someone about it, f*** it.

Who at the club would deal with it do you guys think?

Try Harry Arter, he's got f*** all else to do

 

[Strummer]

Let me give you an example of the fare available at the stadium of my local side, where I shall be going at the weekend for the local derby against SC Frieburg:

Pizza (€4.50 for a large Detroit-style pepperoni)
Bratwurst (two flavours, €3.80 for a large, locally produced tasty sausage in a proper cob)
Gyros (€5, and fantastic)
Bretzeln and other breaded snacks (from €1)
Steak in a crusty cob {€4.20)
Fries, Chicken Nuggets, and other similar bits and bobs (from €4)
Decent quality local Bier (Stuttgarter Hofbräu, on draught, both in alcohol-free and proper varieties, €4.50 for a half-Liter)
local Hochland Coffee (from the Black Forest, and its really good)
various soft drinks, such as cola and lemonade

And that‘s just concessions within the stadium for the normal fan. I am probably sure I have forgotten a couple of things too. It is all run by one company who do all the catering (including the hospitality areas, which are very nice) and they have plenty of staff on hand so even in busy times (like half-time) you are not queuing long for a Bier.

Of course, there are street-vendors outside the ground too (as everywhere) offering bratwurst, Currywurst, and other street-food, but I am concentrating on the clubs‘ own offerings).

Interestingly, the club sought feedback from members and fans with an open consultation, when they last let out the catering contract three years ago, and took feedback on board to improve what was already a decent offering. They even organised a taste-test with the catering company and a bunch of fans for the new sausages they were to offer (the Stadionrot was developed by a local supplier, especially for the club).

If you provide it, people will pay for it, it is as simple as that. More so, if you offer decent prices and good service. Granted, the Mercedes-Benz Arena is a larger venue (full capacity is 60.000, but the reconstruction of the Haupttribüne for Euro 2024 will take this down to 50.000 for at least this season).

 

[Winnits]

Im honestly not a moaner, I'll drink beer any which way it comes and never expect gourmet food, heaven forbid. Its just been grating on me for a long time and Ive had enough. To go into a new season and end up with the same abysmal catering has annoyed me.

Nobody is expecting perfection and I understand the reasons behind why its so poor but cmon, you can NEVER run out of water before HT, or forget to put an oven on, Weve just been given 180m ffs, spend 0.01% of it on making it a bit easier on families with kids. Put some toilet roll in the toilets, some hand cleaner........basic basic shit.

No they’re legitimate concerns But in light of all the good stuff going on at Forest it’s the bit I’d have put at the bottom of the priority list this season too.

 

[chaospunx]

Oh - no water in the handwash upper Trent half time

Or upper bridgford

 

[football post]

Thing is, I dont think people would mind paying if they felt it was value. They now do a sausage roll that is absulutely amazing, but as youd expect, its more expensive than the shit theyve served up for 3 decades.

Its as if the catering is totally detached from the club. Whoever is running it clearly has a massive staff turnover because they pay shit wages, they are generally pretty useless too, have zero customer service skills and youre lucky if they can find a bottle of coke.

The club needs to take it in house and employ a team of people to orchastrate the most basic of things. You could literally come up with improvements if you had a post it note and a broken pencil.

To say its representative of the club and the ground I'm amazed its not been looked it before now, let alone in the close season. Its 2022 ffs.

Im that mad, Im going to write to someone about it, f*** it.

Whi at the club would deal with it do you guys think?

I'm sure we discussed this years ago as I can recall suggestions being made to use local suppliers for food and drink. I think also mentioned was the club utilising the facilities before the game to encourage people to come along and spend at the ground. With correct pricing and decent products on offer this should be easily implemented. Although I suppose if they can't get any beer in the fan zone we might be asking a bit too much.