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Supporters Club Forum
Birmingham City held one of its regular supporters club forums yesterday to answer questions posed by fans.
Some of the key points raised were:
- The club is considering the scrapping of grading matchday ticket prices for the new season and instead charging a flat rate for every game
- The club have confirmed that dropping the £5 matchday increase of ticket prices has had no discernible effect on matchday ticket sales; if anything they have dropped further
- The club is looking to extend the successful “Cookhouse” menu items throughout the stadium in the new year
My full notes on the forum can be accessed here.
Whilst Peter Pannu was not in attendance he has asked if delegates who were there collate questions for his attention in order that he may do his best to address them in a future piece in either the matchday programme or on the website, subject to legal and confidentiality issues. With this in mind, may I ask if you have something that you think he should answer you please email it to me in the next week – almajir@oftenpartisan.co.uk – for me to pass onwards to the club.
Tags: Supporters Club Forums
50 Responses to “Supporters Club Forum”
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I said it at the time about the £5 increase… It makes no difference because the reality all it was just another excuse for plenty of fans who didnt really want to see the blues enough.
As much as I moan about Sully & Gold their main stand point was cheap prices don’t really make the difference that fans assume it does.
Fair enough you can charge too much to. But it’s about striking a competitive balance.
Lets face it plenty of blues fans just don’t want to see blues as much as they make out.
A season ticket for an adult costs effectively £8 per week over a calendar year. Less than 20 Fags and half a pint of beer per week!!!
I can only speak for myself but that 50m quid pi?$ed me off enough to say im not going. Alot of people like myself are self employed, lose days through rain, have to work saturdays to make it up.
These were the key points the fans wanted to know about? Unbelivable. I despair.
Paul
Before you start despairing, cast your mind back to when I asked for questions for this meeting, and remember that I said that they talk about day to day stuff – they will not discuss on the pitch matters or what’s going on in Hong Kong…
Still despairing at your fellow fans?
That Cookhouse menu might be the making of a bright future for the club. Unreal.
Well yes.
Was there no anger? No anguish? No emotion?
Fecks sake I was expecting you to report back on a major rumpus not about whos making the pies next year.
I think you have missed the point again Paul.
The people at the meeting were the club’s day to day management staff. They have about as much effect on what goes on in Hong Kong as we do and sadly know about as much as we do about what is going on out there. Why on earth would you get angry at people who are trying their best for the club for something they absolutely have no control over?
Why on earth would you get angry at people who are trying their best for the club for something they absolutely have no control over?
I didn’t say that though did I. I just expected people to be venting about the shite we’re in. Given that shite it just seems surreal to me that a load of people are discussing who’s flogging the bovril next year.
Questions for Pannu will be a waste of time, he’ll just swerve the tricky ones which may be why he didn’t turn up.
I think they should retain graded match prices.
Further it should be more costly for casual matches for non season ticket holders, for example a single match ticket might be 25 quid but it might be 15 quid for a ST holder to bring one guest.
And big games, if we are in any (Wembley etc.), only ST holders should be allowed to buy tickets. Say a limit of 2 each to provide more incentive for us to retain our ST’s.
Fully agree with Mark’s first comment; far too many part time fans – unless you fancy a day out at Wembley or an away day in Europe.
With regards to the trust, they are fighting a losing battle. Too many people moaning about it but won’t join, and the people that are part of it are getting diddly squat from Pannu. I’ll still take my hat to anyone though that’s trying to do SOMETHING though.
United we stand and all that
KRO
Interestingly I emailed PP on Monday asking him to reply to a number of relevant questions including why he’s not communicating with the loyal supporters.
Todate no reply -and I’m not expecting one.
During the time of the Golds/Brady and Sulls I wrote to them on 3 occasions and received 3 replies.
Speaks volumes for what’s going on STA at the moment.
A compete shambles!
Couldn’t make the meeting yesterday so thanks for the report.
I can kind of see where Pauls coming from it’s one of the most pivotal times in the clubs history and the agenda is Balti Pies & Ticket prices for next year. A highly prosumtius meeting to say we’ll even be around next year. But I appreciate what those people are trying to do it just a shame we’re still being kept in the dark about the future of the club.
But the future of the club wasn’t on the agenda because (and I emphasise here) THERE IS NOTHING THE DAY TO DAY STAFF CAN DO ABOUT IT.
Getting angry at them would achieve nothing. “Venting” – which is another word for getting angry IMO would achieve nothing. Discussing it, debating it, talking about it until you’re blue in the face at one of those meetings would achieve nothing.
I fail to see how people can’t understand this.
I repeat once again, !!. We should all be bloody grateful about our back-room staff at St andrews, !!.
They quietly get on with running our club in very parlous times indeed,
Please send our grateful thanks to them all, Almajir, !!.
Most damning of all is the acknowledgment that..
The club confirmed that the national media no seemingly longer interested in the club due to us being in the championship etc which has affected how things get reported.
Which seemingly brings us round full circle , if you want a capacity crowd paying a decent ticket price , a good quality pitch, better facilities, & more interest being shown in the Club generally ,
BCFC need to be in the Premiership.
So sadly the long-term prognosis remains poor.
Was there any mention of the Zigic statue?
Alas, no.
You might want to talk to the Birmingham Mail, they’ve been on about a statue for days now
The Zigic statue was discussed , but at 6’7″ high it was deemed to be to expensive..with the current cost of bronze..
However Nathan Redmond at 5’8″ could be a goer…..
Ha ha – Great Minds :-)
We cant afford a Zigic statue, but we may just afford an Archie Gemmill.
So Pannu couldn’t turn up…..as if he was ever going to!!!
Clearly Paul Carter cannot grasp that these people have no influence on ownership or on the pitch matters. The people who hold these meetings (i have been to one previously 2 years ago) are a fantastic bunch who put 110% into improving everything about your experience with BCFC that is external to what happens on the pitch (< i reiterated that point because you seem to be having trouble with the first few times it was mentioned). Most importantly, they listen and act on feedback, so if your not actually going to contribute anything constructive and on topic, what is the value of your moan about what others have said?
Guys, in all fairness, if you read the full report. although I am not particularly excited by any of the output, this is a reasonable albeit low key endeavour to improve the off pitch match day experience. The problem we have here, is that in our current desperate plight, we are hanging on every initiative and communication from the club to contain the golden nuggets that will reverse the club’s fortunes, while day to day the club has to soldier on. This initiative is an attempt to engage fans in some of the more mundane operations which affect fans, so not really fair to knock those who are doing their best. If you want a “Blue Revolution” inspired mass demo, then you will have to organise one. This is not the raison d’etre of the Supporter’s Forum.
Any idea of the price of the bovril next year lads?
Me support hinges on it.
Thank feck someone bought it up.
Bovril , a Birmingham Tradition…
That was typical Carrott, [ God bless his cotton socks ]. Still cannot stop laughing, !!!.
The people who attended the meeting were told in advance that nothing about ‘on the pitch matters’, or the takeover could be discussed at the meeting, so let’s take ‘Sarcy Carters’ idea through to completion shall we?
“Right question one please”
“Er, yeah – I’d like to express my anger at the situation the board have put the club in, what plans are there to improve things?”
“Sorry, we can’t discuss that area, we told you that beforehand”
“Can we have question two please”
“Why don’t the team seem to play for a whole 90 minutes, often not getting going until they are a goal or two down?”
“Sorry, we can’t discuss that area, we told you that beforehand”
“Question three please”
“Can you reassure the fans that we will try to keep our best players when the window opens in January?”
“Sorry, we can’t discuss that area, we told you that beforehand”
You see where this is going don’t you Paul? There could have been two hours of this if you’d have had ‘your way’, but what would it have achieved? Feck all, that’s what !
The fans and the members of club staff present wanted to work together to discuss how to make the match day experience more positive for those attending.
You can sneer and mock all you like, but I think I’d prefer that to the kind of meeting they could have had, if you’d have had your way. (See above if it’s a bit of a hard concept for you to grasp)
KRO
Erm! Free Bovril and Pizza for season tickets holders now theres sweetner!
I know we all love our club but please, let’s not lose our sense of humour,our laconic brummie wit is what keeps us going through these dark times.
The sun will rise tomorrow, things will become clearer over the weekend I’m sure.
Merry Christmas to you all xxx
Hallelujah!
One person gets it.
The staff at the club are one of its strongest assets and why oh why would you want to piss them off with nonsense that is outside of their control. The uncertainty affects them more in the sense they could realistically lose their livelihoods with the what is going on, yet some expect them to be given shedloads of abuse for trying their best to improve the matchday experience for our fans??
How realistic and facetious is that??
Many bang on about the ‘missing thousands’ and how fickle they are, but look at the bigger picture; better experiences for those ‘once in a whilers’ will spread the word and create more positive attitudes.
The palaver going on off-field is in the hands of a couple of unpredictables who really do not think we can influence them much.
Why alienate the staff?? I sincerely hope that someone praised them and thanked them for their efforts on behalf of the fans, because some of us can feel and see the difference between the attitudes now and the dark and testing days of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Atahualpa;, Your words were more expressive than mine at 11-00, We would ideed be lost if we were without that band of people, !!.
All I can say it is just one big circus, i dont care whos to blame just sort it out, and tell us season ticket holders what the hell is going on, we deserve some answers.
This is going to be controversial but I think we have to accept the fact that so many people out there just don’t really care anymore. Firstly I want to state that isn’t me as my yearly calendar, holidays and social events and to a degree, even work schedule revolves around Birmingham City. However in the grand scheme of things if people have a taxing situation or a big change in lifestyle (e.g. a promotion at work / a new baby / moving out of the area / starting University / Unemployment) the first thing that is often sacrificed are their hobbies and recreational pastimes. Add to the fact that we’re not exactly pulling up trees on the pitch and there is the ownership uncertainty it’s not the most appealing thing to come back to for the pfan who has been dragged away and is toying with coming back again or even from time to time. I think for the missing thousands to come back the obvious in the boardroom and on the pitch needs to happen first.
Another controversial point is I don’t think we can class ourselves as a big club anymore. A 15k home average is miles off so many real big clubs in the division. If we’re brutally honest practically every other Midlands club (East and West) are all bigger than us at the moment – Walsall aside. My point is we have no divine right to be in the Premier League playing in front of 30k per week with champagne football. You have to earn that and build it up and right now we’re nowhere near it.
It tells a sad story that of the 9 season ticket holders that all sat together as mates and family in the first year of the Prem I’m the only one left………………….some people really do believe we should be playing with Messi and Ronaldo up front with a packed Stans………
I just wish they would admit it to themselves.
And while I’m ranting…….It does anger me all the jokers that come out just for the big game(s).
I saw some proper (IMO) scumbags at the Blackpool play-off semi who clearly only turned up for the biggest match of the season yet were no doubt moaning their heads off at the end when we didn’t get through. Most of them are probably the same people that have only come down for one big game a season since 1985 yet were outraged that true-Blue-die-hard-loyal-supporters like them couldn’t get multiple tickets for Wembley 91, 95 and 2011.
We Hear You, Ali Duncan!
I have a theory that many proper Blues fans were lost when we first got in to the Premier League, as strange as that sounds. I recall that Brady & co increased ST & ticket prices by about 50 % which p*ssed off fans who stayed loyal through the barren years. They were replaced by the Johnny Come Latelys who have drifted away over recent years. The old proper fans got out of the habit. Hence the poor crowds today. New ownership is the only hope to stop further decline, providing that fans can see genuine plans to move the club forward.
I can go along with that to a point but still the fact remains the filth seem unaffected by it.
Their support is massively down on what it was a few years ago.
The Baggies are a better barometer to check against , & they are doing fine.
Regularly get between 7k-10k larger crowds than us, but that is unsuprising as they have a superior product to sell..
If Paladini is the answer, you have to ask what the feck is the question! Answers on a postcard!
I know it all sounds frustrating, but in the face of such apathy towards the club, at least something is happening. I never thought the matchday £5 price drop would make that much of a big deal …at the moment, because those ‘on the fence’ supporters aren’t going to pay to see their team lose or draw, and I guess they have all been caught up in the negative hysteria surrounding LC and the lack of consistency.
Yet the core of the club’s season ticket holders remain, and in tough times are prepared to still support their club, with not a lot of reward or feedback.
It looks like we need a good balance of the hard core fan and those of us who come when we feasibly can but are not wedded to Stans cos of marriage, kids, job, distance etc.
Blues means a lot to me and if I lived nearer I would try and be there more but not as a season ticket holder as – like many forget – we all have lives outside of Blues that get affected if we over-commit to our beloved club.
The lucky ones are those with partners who give a shiny shit about football or single people. Enjoy it and cheer FOR me cos I can’t be there every week to contribute!
I agree we should’ve been more loyal as a club to those fans who turned up regardless during the dark days and not alienating them with higher ticket prices and attracting fatter wallets but occasional stay Glory Hunters who probably wanted to see us play Man Utd cos they secretly supported Man Utd!!!!
KRO
I would be interested to hear everyone’s opinion on how they would feel if Blues tried a scheme like either
A) Bradford City who made all season tickets £99 in the hope that the higher number buying would be equal revenue to roughly the 4/5k that would buy anyway (and would increase revenue further by catering and mercy sales, not to miss out better moral and support for the players playing in front of a bigger / louder crowd
B) hartlepool Utd who made the season tickets decrease in price based on a scale depending on how many people bought them
I’m not saying either could or would work at Blues but it would be pleasing, to me, if our new board considered the Bradford model as frankly I am annoyed at being at a half full Stans where practically every game the away fans outsing us. I do feel revenue would also increase from other areas.
Over to you…….
Both of those ideas were discussed at the meeting Ali.
Sounds like they are considering both options.
Retired and weary – spot on mate I too had a group of us on the rattler from Tamuff now just a couple of us – I also believe that Brady,s attitude at the outset of premier promised land defo fecked my mates off ie no deals on early st renewal but a letter saying gone up quid a game buy before july 31st or forfeit seat – charming !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
was anything said about hot water in the toilet sinks? they had that in cardiff and it reminded me why i don’t use the st. andrews loos.
For the record Peter Pannu was emailed by members of the Trust Board and we suggested it may be beneficial that he attended the meeting.We did recieve a response,and owing to his schedule he wouldnt have been able to fit it in.Our emails were acknowledged by Joanne Alsopp at the meeting and hence all groups were asked to email any questions to the club and PP would address them as Almajir stated subject to legalities etc.