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

Future of the WFCG? What‘s your preference?


  • Total voters
    165

Redemption

Weepy gripe baby 👶
"self-appointed"
 

REDDERS78

Grenville Morris
Out of curiosity, how do you think the average fan will take to an improved catering service (managed internally) at a substantially higher cost?
I'm not sure who the question is directed at but I'll try and answer.

When you say "substantially higher cost", to whom are you referring?

Would it not be the clubs responsibility to have enough stock of items, provide hand wash and toilet paper, or are you suggesting the fans pay for the privilege? These are absolute basics and the costs would be absolutely nothing and a significant improvement on what is currently available. I don't see how or why fans would need to pay extra?

Or

Do you mean the fans absorbing the cost of the a reasonable standard of catering? Again, isnt it the least fans deserve? Put the the price of a pint up, put the price of a pie but JUST f***ing have them in stock. If you provide a good service with good staff people will pay for it, like they do at every single club with good facilities and staff.

If the suggestion by any fan or the club is that the current standard is acceptable and any improvement should automatically be subsidised by the fans to cover the entire cost of any improvements then Id ask you to go West Brom, Preston, Blackburn......virtually any team in the Championship and compare the prices and the service with ours.

I'll happily pay more for a beer or food if the service is good but I'm f**ked if I'm paying more for either for the ability to wash my hands, or be served a bottle of water. Its disgusting and unacceptable and the club need to get a grip of it quickly!
 

Morpeth

John Robertson
REDDERS78 is bang right and there’s simply no argument against it.

If you take no care in the catering side of things then obviously people will not use what there is and they’ll spend their money elsewhere.

I never buy food or drink at any ground and always spend it in a pub and burger van. That’s £10-20 gross from me gone. Multiply by X thousand and that’s the revenue you lose, not to mention good feeling. I might even stay after the match and spend another tenner too if the catering is good but not if you get a cold cardboard burger and stale buns along with a pissy pint of dark fruit cider as that’s all they have left.
 

Flaggers

May not be the best moderator on LTLF, but he's...
LTLF Minion
If there was acceptable beer in the concourse at reasonable price, they'd sell loads, before AND after the game if they set it up right.

Not being able to wash hands after a pee at half time, however, needs addressing immediately.
 

Statto

Free Kick Specialist
Is the catering still outsourced to a 3rd party?
probably. It is in most places to be fair.

If they can outsource to a company then they have better supply benefits of economies of scale with their purchasing of course.

But they still have to make it work, which clearly it does not.
 

Morpeth

John Robertson
If there was acceptable beer in the concourse at reasonable price, they'd sell loads, before AND after the game if they set it up right.

Not being able to wash hands after a pee at half time, however, needs addressing immediately.
It's piss poor.
 

REDDERS78

Grenville Morris
probably. It is in most places to be fair.

If they can outsource to a company then they have better supply benefits of economies of scale with their purchasing of course.

But they still have to make it work, which clearly it does not.
I think that is the problem. Its like me employing sub contractors to carry out works and not minotring what they have done. I mean surely in the name of sweet Mary someone can see the flaws here? Surely is not just outsourced and then not monitored?

The thing that makes me annoyed the most is that its not even difficult to improve, or costly if the bare minimum was to be met. If you are likely to use 30k bottles of water over a season, how can you run out? Youve got ONE f***ing job. Does someone bring it in the back of a car from another ground every week? "Yeah mate, 3 cases should be okay"

For so long Weve heard the outside world say how Forest are a ready made Prem club, able to make the step up etc and in terms of fansbase and ground yes, we are. In terms of matchday experience though we are probably comparable with Port Vale.
 

Strummer

Socialismo O Muerte!
LTLF Minion
I think that is the problem. Its like me employing sub contractors to carry out works and not minotring what they have done. I mean surely in the name of sweet Mary someone can see the flaws here? Surely is not just outsourced and then not monitored?

The thing that makes me annoyed the most is that its not even difficult to improve, or costly if the bare minimum was to be met. If you are likely to use 30k bottles of water over a season, how can you run out? Youve got ONE f***ing job. Does someone bring it in the back of a car from another ground every week? "Yeah mate, 3 cases should be okay"

For so long Weve heard the outside world say how Forest are a ready made Prem club, able to make the step up etc and in terms of fansbase and ground yes, we are. In terms of matchday experience though we are probably comparable with Port Vale.
That’d be an insult to Port Vale!

Seriously though, there are companies out there who do this stuff for a living. Why the f@ck Forest limp on with their current frankly shit offerings is beyond me.

It is literally turning down money.

I remember at the last Members‘ meeting of the VfB, the CEO, Claus Vogt, was telling us how much money the club had lost in matchday revenue during the pandemic, when matches were played behind closed doors at first, then with limited attendances (typically 20% of capacity).

And it was a tidy sum with a lot of zeroes on the end.

Forest must do better here.
 

REDDERS78

Grenville Morris
That’d be an insult to Port Vale!

Seriously though, there are companies out there who do this stuff for a living. Why the f@ck Forest limp on with their current frankly shit offerings is beyond me.

It is literally turning down money.

I remember at the last Members‘ meeting of the VfB, the CEO, Claus Vogt, was telling us how much money the club had lost in matchday revenue during the pandemic, when matches were played behind closed doors at first, then with limited attendances (typically 20% of capacity).

And it was a tidy sum with a lot of zeroes on the end.

Forest must do better here.
Are you a ST holder at Stuttgart mate? Its holds about 60k doesnt it?
 

Strummer

Socialismo O Muerte!
LTLF Minion
Are you a ST holder at Stuttgart mate? Its holds about 60k doesnt it?
I am a Mitglieder (Club member) so - along with 75.000 or so others - I „own“ the club.

I don’t have a Dauerkarte (Season Ticket) simply because my bonkers work/travel schedule means I’d miss too many matches (17 home games in the Bundesliga, almost always on the weekends).

The Mercedes-Benz Arena holds around 60.000 at full capacity, but this season the capacity is going to be limited to around 50.000 because of rebuilding work on the Haupttribüne (Main Stand) for the upcoming Euro 2024 Championship (Stuttgart is a host-City).

As a Club-member though, it is no problem getting tickets for home games I can attend as there is a priority window for members when tickets are released, and I’ve never missed out yet.
 

YellowBelly Red

Viv Anderson
Trent Bridge have a group of cleaners going around, cleaning and restocking. Bins are emptied on a regular basis. Never a problem.

Catering is varied and popular, as its been outsourced to various local concerns, who take great pride in doing a good job.

The one issue, is the beer. Like the City Ground, they sold out to a national brand and local independents are not allowed in.
 

Strummer

Socialismo O Muerte!
LTLF Minion
Trent Bridge have a group of cleaners going around, cleaning and restocking. Bins are emptied on a regular basis. Never a problem.

Catering is varied and popular, as its been outsourced to various local concerns, who take great pride in doing a good job.

The one issue, is the beer. Like the City Ground, they sold out to a national brand and local independents are not allowed in.
Over the summer on a trip back to Nottingham, I took my daughter to her first ever cricket match at Trent Bridge, the T20 against Derbyshire, which resulted in a thumping win for Nottinghamshire.

I found the food and beverage offerings were brilliant compared to the City Ground (she’s a fussy bugger when it comes to food, but we were in the Fox Road stand and they had some cracking pizzas on, which we both enjoyed.

I had a skinful a few pints of a rather nice pale ale, whilst she enjoyed apple juice, and when we went to charge our glasses, the entry to the bar areas was well organised, with plenty of staff on, and even at busy times we were never away from the action for more than a few minutes.

I would be embarrassed to take her to Forest, in comparison.
 

Flaggers

May not be the best moderator on LTLF, but he's...
LTLF Minion
Trent Bridge have a group of cleaners going around, cleaning and restocking. Bins are emptied on a regular basis. Never a problem.

Catering is varied and popular, as its been outsourced to various local concerns, who take great pride in doing a good job.

The one issue, is the beer. Like the City Ground, they sold out to a national brand and local independents are not allowed in.
And there's the mistake.

I'm pretty sure Mr W who owns the Trent Nav and other splendid pubs in the area could do a better job at forest with his eyes shut, and a superb job with his eyes open.

He, or someone in a similar position - Mr Shipstones or Mrs Castle Rock I'm sure would be delighted to get the chance, and it's be a **** sake better than the crap currently poured.

Fixed sum or percentage, Forest would make a shit load of money. I'm sure I'm right in saying that if there was good stuff INSIDE the city ground pre-match we'd all be happy handing our £ over a Forest bar rather than e.g. Wetherspoons across the road.
 

Morpeth

John Robertson
And there's the mistake.

I'm pretty sure Mr W who owns the Trent Nav and other splendid pubs in the area could do a better job at forest with his eyes shut, and a superb job with his eyes open.

He, or someone in a similar position - Mr Shipstones or Mrs Castle Rock I'm sure would be delighted to get the chance, and it's be a **** sake better than the crap currently poured.

Fixed sum or percentage, Forest would make a shit load of money. I'm sure I'm right in saying that if there was good stuff INSIDE the city ground pre-match we'd all be happy handing our £ over a Forest bar than e.g. Wetherspoons across the road.
It’s so obvious isn’t it.

What are the beer options these days anyway?

I nearly cried when I went to Sunderland ground recently. Truly awful selection of Carling Dark Fruits which I’ve never even heard of and some local sludge from Vaux.

I’d pay £6 or £7 in the ground for crafty stuff, no problem.
 

Strummer

Socialismo O Muerte!
LTLF Minion
Yes. I would much rather give money to Forest for Beer and food than Tim Martin, but Forest‘s offerings are frankly, shit.
 

Strummer

Socialismo O Muerte!
LTLF Minion
It’s so obvious isn’t it.

What are the beer options these days anyway?

I nearly cried when I went to Sunderland ground recently. Truly awful selection of Carling Dark Fruits which I’ve never even heard of and some local sludge from Vaux.

I’d pay £6 or £7 in the ground for crafty stuff, no problem.
Why should you pay so much, though?

The bars at my local side serve cracking quality local Biers for the equivalent of £3.80 a pint.

I cannot believe Forest could not do similar, if they wanted to?
 

Redemption

Weepy gripe baby 👶
It’s so obvious isn’t it.

What are the beer options these days anyway?

I nearly cried when I went to Sunderland ground recently. Truly awful selection of Carling Dark Fruits which I’ve never even heard of and some local sludge from Vaux.

I’d pay £6 or £7 in the ground for crafty stuff, no problem.
Madri
Carling
Cold River Cider
Atlantic Pale Ale

£5.50/pint iirc
 

Strummer

Socialismo O Muerte!
LTLF Minion

Flaggers

May not be the best moderator on LTLF, but he's...
LTLF Minion
[I know it's going over old ground but...]

If there was some kind of loyalty scheme in place, Forest would be able to track people's matchday habits quite well thanks to the NFC/RFID chips in season cards or barcodes on paper tickets.

They would know, for example that my dad and I usually get into the stadium about 45 mins before kickoff. If there was a worthwhile loyalty mechanism at each outlet, they'd know, because I'd scan my card here there and everywhere, whether or not I buy a pie, a programme, beer, sweets, coffee, whatever.

They would also be able to find out that I don't.

And they could then incentivise me... "Buy a pint, get a pie for half price" for example or "2 cups of coffee for £xx" - that sort of thing... something with a big profit margin on it, offered at what looks to me like a bargain price but still yields a chunk of profit for the club where currently they're getting nothing from me.

Incentivise buying merchandise from the shop.. "Double points if you buy a shirt AND a pair of socks". If the rewards of the scheme were worthwhile then - again - it's £ or more ££s

I know there are people on this forum who work/have worked with loyalty card schemes for a living and can testify to the benefits they bring to the operator if done properly.

There's a big pool of untapped money walking in and out of that stadium every matchday (and into the merchandise shop and website every day).
 

Flaggers

May not be the best moderator on LTLF, but he's...
LTLF Minion
All those mechanisms are too expensive to put in place for 40hrs per year.
They could open the concourses at e.g. 12 for a 3pm. A few extra tellys and they could show the 5.30 game involving 2 clubs who are now our Premier League rivals while selling beer, pies etc and be open till 8-9 pm or even later. Why not? Other pubs do....
 

sammy the snake

Jack Armstrong
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?
Lol honestly I'd address it to the main man himself. You are far more likely to get an honest reply.

My belief is that catering is on the list but way down the list. They'd argue there's plenty of local options to help the surrounding economy, and once the new stand is built they can concentrate on building revenues through quality catering. It's all about scale for the club mate
 

T.B.T.

Forum Princess
LTLF Minion
A small bottle of water at the City Ground was £2.00.

At Wembley, I could fill my water bottle free of charge.

Water to drink should be available at all times without needing to pay or queue, especially on such a humid and hot day.
 

Redemption

Weepy gripe baby 👶
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?
They let the contract to Levy PLC last year.

They're a global food supplier who have 50+ of the biggest USA stadia and arena. In the UK, they do Chelse, Villa, Cardiff, Leicester and a bunch of rugby, horse racing and other sports venues.

The Cardiff offer is one of the best in the UK.

So they know what they're doing.

But getting it all in place at Forest isn't happening yet.
 

Morpeth

John Robertson
A small bottle of water at the City Ground was £2.00.

At Wembley, I could fill my water bottle free of charge.

Water should be available at all times without needing to pay or queue, especially on such a humid and hot day.
I think it’s a choice rather than being too difficult, what with the current ground being a bit crap. I was at Wembley during the euros and water cost money and the beer and food were awful, almost inedible and priced at about £14 for a crappy burger. Different competitions had different rules.

Everything is doable though, it’s just that no one prioritises it.
 
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