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General Category => Altrincham FC First Team => Topic started by: Strong summer needed on July 10, 2022, 08:41:11 AM
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Any official update on the fan zone?
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Would be nice to have an update....
Seen Macc are building a Fanzone.
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Seen Macc are building a Fanzone.
Yes, I saw that in the Macclesfield Express. Two headlines, side by side:
“MACCLESFIELD TO BUILD FANZONE” and “LOCAL FARMER LOSES SHEEP PEN”
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Seen Macc are building a Fanzone.
Yes, I saw that in the Macclesfield Express. Two headlines, side by side:
“MACCLESFIELD TO BUILD FANZONE” and “LOCAL FARMER LOSES SHEEP PEN”
😂😂 Brilliant!
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Would be nice to have an update....
Seen Macc are building a Fanzone.
Is it a cage where opposing fans can throw raw meat to them?
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Any official update on the fan zone?
Is it the new location for Boris Johnson's proposed £150k treehouse?
Corporate entertainment opportunities there, surely?
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Seen Macc are building a Fanzone.
Yes, I saw that in the Macclesfield Express. Two headlines, side by side:
“MACCLESFIELD TO BUILD FANZONE” and “LOCAL FARMER LOSES SHEEP PEN”
Love it
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A lot of people put a lot of money and it's very poor the radio silence on this
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A lot of people put a lot of money and it's very poor the radio silence on this
Agreed - very poor communication.
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A lot of people put a lot of money and it's very poor the radio silence on this
Agreed - very poor communication.
Maybe no news is bad news
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A lot of people put a lot of money and it's very poor the radio silence on this
Agreed - very poor communication.
Maybe no news is bad news
Well Ray, if it is, I want my money back. I paid for a memory of our Martin.
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No rush it was only due a year ago
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All the other refurbishments seem to have gone well the
Sponsers lounge the changing rooms etc maybe it's all nearly ready and the big reveal is coming
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A lot of people put a lot of money and it's very poor the radio silence on this
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THIS]
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Not good enough. Pissed off about the lack of effort for the fans.
We have progressed so much as a club and a huge credit goes to all those involved. However this small corner of the ground should have been priority, a long time ago.
It has been a joke and embarrassment from day one. It was actually much better with just the falling in shack. Half-time in the Community Sports Hall is not at all relaxing or enjoyable. It is a pain in the arse to buy average beer.
That corner was a relief on that chaos/demand and also very different. In my opinion a much better option for beer and atmosphere.
The fans are part of this turnaround and deserve much better on this project and corners shouldn't be cut. I am one of many who have put money into this.
Neutral fans came one game and they still laugh and give me sh*t about that so call Fanzone.
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The ground is a shambles to be frank. Broken terracing and trip hazards all over the place. Completely behind the times and doesn't match the club's on-field ambitions. I regularly use the path by the allotments towards the golf course and every time I see the back end of the ground I wonder if anyone who runs the club knows what a scene of dereliction it is.
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Still no toilets serving both seated stands either .
Stewards won't allow you to use the open end ones so the only option is at the far side of the Community Hall . Very poor tbh .
Why the old (very) former snack bar is still standing on the pop side god only knows , it's another eyesore and should have gone donkeys yonks ago ( and made a bit of room for a few more fans ! ) .
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When you've got mobility issues combined with the outflow after a couple of jars in the bar, it's a real problem. I used to prefer sitting near the front of the main stand on the family stand side but it's impossible now.
Getting old and knackered's not much fun (but better than the alternative I suppose!) 😉
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There hasn’t been working sewers on the pop side of the ground for decades now.
The imbalance presented by funnelling everything towards the CSH corner of the ground (turnstiles, toilets, snack bar, bar) is a real issue and as Ollie alludes to, we need something sorted on that side just to alleviate pressure on those that use the Main Stand/CSH who aren’t as mobile etc.
I don’t think the club in years gone by ever seriously thought about realising it’s potential crowds wise but the short sighted, rushed planning and focus on the CSH has also taken away a large amount of movement and space that used to be there in the mausoleum days.
I’ve long been an advocate of match day turnstiles at the golf road being the ones at the far end (would reduce Moss Lane queuing) but we don’t because we built new turnstiles 15 years ago. We might actually have to be pro active and say, no, we don’t HAVE to use them.
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Portaloos ?
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The problem with the family/sponsors/away stand is that away fans use the chequers end facilities, sponsors use the facilities in the lounge, and there is no space as I see it to fit in catering or toilets between that stand and the main stand because of the exit gate, turnstiles, programme sellers etc. The ordinary home fans in that stand and the chequers side of the main stand are in a very poor position as has already been mentioned.
If you allow home fans into the away section for a drink or a pee then you've got a logistical nightmare for the stewards (and I daresay the safety certificate wouldn't allow it anyway); time and time again I see disgruntled fans from both sides trying to get through that barrier and I don't envy the stewards one bit.
Short of getting relegated or having the funds to build a brand new stand to replace the two seated areas (which would cost a fortune), I don't see an ideal solution to this other than maybe make the smaller stand away fans and sponsors only? The layout of the ground is not fit for purpose in a league with the current attendances and clubs involved.
The point about taking pressure off the CSH corner is a very good one in my view.
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I’ve just read on the main site that the the fan zone is going to be now run by Alty FC has that been the norm throughout or was Libero going to run it?
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I’ve just read on the main site that the the fan zone is going to be now run by Alty FC has that been the norm throughout or was Libero going to run it?
Libero kicked out
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These new plans for the Fan Zone make me absolutely despair. Of course it makes sense on one level for the club to maximise revenue but if the intention is just to replicate the very poor beer selection from the CSH, that will backfire massively. It's so short-sighted not to see what value Libero and other independent food outlets could add to the matchday experience. More than that though, Libero seems to have done more than the club itself to at least try and get the Fan Zone up and running. So for us to boot them out now is really shoddy. Incredibly disappointing.
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These new plans for the Fan Zone make me absolutely despair. Of course it makes sense on one level for the club to maximise revenue but if the intention is just to replicate the very poor beer selection from the CSH, that will backfire massively. It's so short-sighted not to see what value Libero and other independent food outlets could add to the matchday experience. More than that though, Libero seems to have done more than the club itself to at least try and get the Fan Zone up and running. So for us to boot them out now is really shoddy. Incredibly disappointing.
thank heavens the fans didn't pay for it ..... Oh hang on
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Howabout if they do CSH beers at Libero prices :)
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What has happened to our Wainwrights too, no longer available on handpumps and the electric pump one is nowhere near as good in the CSH.
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What has happened to our Wainwrights too, no longer available on handpumps and the electric pump one is nowhere near as good in the CSH.
The Wainwright was giving me reflux at the end of last season, so I switched to the 61 Deep. Still not a hand pump obviously, but a decent enough beer.
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What has happened to our Wainwrights too, no longer available on handpumps and the electric pump one is nowhere near as good in the CSH.
The Wainwright was giving me reflux at the end of last season, so I switched to the 61 Deep. Still not a hand pump obviously, but a decent enough beer.
You should be on horlicks at your age mate 😎😂
Plus, if the second half is becoming tedious, it's helpful for nodding off!
PS. Works for me anyway 🙄 😊
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Why the old (very) former snack bar is still standing on the pop side god only knows , it's another eyesore and should have gone donkeys yonks ago ( and made a bit of room for a few more fans ! ) .
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It is now used as the stewards hut where they sign in and equipment issued
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Going to say the completely obvious : need good service and decent atmosphere and drinks - at reasonable (not Alty Market) prices.
The CSH ticks two of four boxes for me. I still go because Alty are my club. Libero tick three boxes, but also fail to get a full house. Would be great if it can be achieved.
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What has happened to our Wainwrights too, no longer available on handpumps and the electric pump one is nowhere near as good in the CSH.
The Wainwright was giving me reflux at the end of last season, so I switched to the 61 Deep. Still not a hand pump obviously, but a decent enough beer.
agreed about 61 deep. Is it just me or is £4.10 a pint (which 61 deep is) a big steep for a north west non league supporters bar or am I living in the past?
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Yes, and No in that order mate! 😉
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Why the old (very) former snack bar is still standing on the pop side god only knows , it's another eyesore and should have gone donkeys yonks ago ( and made a bit of room for a few more fans ! ) .
It is now used as the stewards hut where they sign in and equipment issued
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I preferred it when I could get a Bovril, and one of Bailey & Rogerson's excellent meat and potato pies. Then watch Jackie Swindells destroy another defence.
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I’ve just read on the main site that the the fan zone is going to be now run by Alty FC has that been the norm throughout or was Libero going to run it?
Libero kicked out
Jack. Who are Libero and what do they do?
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I’ve just read on the main site that the the fan zone is going to be now run by Alty FC has that been the norm throughout or was Libero going to run it?
Libero kicked out
Jack. Who are Libero and what do they do?
Libero are the craft beer bar in Altrincham Town centre, who have ran the original fan bar in the corner and then worked on the fan zone concept.
They've been asked to leave the fan zone project and Armstrong are now building it with the beer being done by the club rather than staffed and run by a local bar
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I’ve just read on the main site that the the fan zone is going to be now run by Alty FC has that been the norm throughout or was Libero going to run it?
Libero kicked out
Jack. Who are Libero and what do they do?
Libero are the craft beer bar in Altrincham Town centre, who have ran the original fan bar in the corner and then worked on the fan zone concept.
They've been asked to leave the fan zone project and Armstrong are now building it with the beer being done by the club rather than staffed and run by a local bar
Thanks for that update Jack. Let’s hope one way or another the fan zone opens sooner rather than later, especially as from what I read, lots of fans have put money in to support it.
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I’ve just read on the main site that the the fan zone is going to be now run by Alty FC has that been the norm throughout or was Libero going to run it?
Libero kicked out
Jack. Who are Libero and what do they do?
It’s a small craft beer bar in Kings Court in Altrincham town centre, run by a local lad Paul (was in my year at Alty Grammar) and it’s been there since 2018. It’s his bar who have supplied the beer for the previous more basic iterations of a fan zone in that corner of the ground (remember the beer garden tables and little pop up bar) and also sold beers in the CSH at selected home games last season-Aldershot & Wealdstone near the end of the season spring to mind. He also regularly uses Libero’s social media channels to promote the football club and offers a discount to Alty fans on home match days-one of the very few businesses in the town centre that goes out of their way to promote the football club IME.
Anyway, it was previously communicated and understood when the fan zone (eventually) opened that Libero would be supplying the beer. Clearly that is no longer the case and on a human level it’s a poor do for a bloke who has worked with the club a lot in the last few years and done a lot for us in bringing new fans in with his beer offering. The second point and I say this as a card carrying CAMRA member and someone who is into his beer, that IMO the beer offering in the CSH is terrible and has been for a long time. Paul brought stuff that I routinely drink from the new wave breweries in Manchester-Cloudwater, Pomona Island, Track etc-into the ground for the first time and it was heaven to actually drink high quality craft beers at Moss Lane.
I realise a lot of folk who post on here will be more than happy with the CSH offerings and of course that’s fine. Just a shame that the beer a lot of us now like drinking when out is unlikely to be part of the new offering in the fan zone as I assume Thwaites have got us over a barrel & the board are looking at the margins in the new FT era but if the beer offering is similar to the CSH then I think it wlll be an own goal for the club in the longer term.
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Thwaite surely can't be with us much longer. The CSH is about 5 or 6 years old isn't it?
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I’m surprised that the CSH is tied to a brewery I’m assuming that the CSH is owned by the club here.
Thanks for the update. From what you and Jack have said it does seem like the Libero bloke has been shafted somewhat.
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I’m surprised that the CSH is tied to a brewery I’m assuming that the CSH is owned by the club here.
Thanks for the update. From what you and Jack have said it does seem like the Libero bloke has been shafted somewhat.
I very much doubt that Thwaites have any ownership of the CSH. It'll be more likely a supply contract with them, or they lent us money, and so we have to use them to a certain degree of exclusivity.
Devil in the detail I guess. To be fair, Thwaites might have given us a very good deal that we couldn't turn down and others had to pay the price.
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People are rightly unhappy with this. The real disappointment for me is that the initial fundraising material and communication included local, independent, high-quality vendors as the centerpiece of the fan zone, of which Libero was prominently advertised: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/altrincham-fc-fan-zone/
While I'm sure it does make pure economical sense for the club to DIY, that's not what the fans bought into.
The development of a new Fan Zone at the J Davidson stadium is a collaborative project between Altrincham Football Club, Define Architects and Libero.
Altrincham FC is known for pushing boundaries and innovative thinking, and the vision for Moss Lane 2030 is an exciting glimpse into the ambitious future of the club. Phase one of the Fan Zone will begin this summer as a way to give something back to the loyal supporters and wider community.
Altrincham is a thriving, dynamic town with excellent local businesses and a strong community spirit. Providing an inviting space within the stadium for hospitality and retail vendors both on match days and beyond will vastly enhance the experience for the fans, and provide opportunities for the club itself.
All supporters of this project will be kept up to date with progress, and will be invited to get involved in future phases of the development.
The new Fan Zone will create an inviting space for match days and function hire, and will include a covered canopy area and three custom built pods to provide units for:
Libero pitch side craft beer bar.
Seasonal food vendor.
New home for the existing programme shop.
I do appreciate that COVID, the pitch being knackered, the Council etc have all likely pulled the club's resource away from the project but I always saw Libero as a bit of a glowing ember throughout that period, working as hard as they could to try and get some form of the project off the ground. They were certainly the most public-facing party involved - unfortunately, the club's communication on this has been poor throughout, noted in bold above is a commitment to keeping us up to date and involving us in 'future phases of the development.' And have we heard from Define Architects at all since the grand presentation at the Meet The Board event, a few years back now?
All the while, we've managed to launch a newly refurbished sponsors lounge and rip out the old Noel White Suite for the Vice Presidents, and clubs like Colne have started and completed projects of their own in shorter periods of time.
Ultimately, I'm just disappointed that the club appear to have shafted a business that flies the flag for us so well. I do hope the bridge hasn't been burned entirely.
As for the the fan zone, in whatever form it does finally take, it was created to drive footfall to the ground earlier, and generate more revenue from food and drink. I do not think it will achieve that aim if it is 'standard' bottled and canned options akin to the CSH. The fans who were interested in this project will likely to continue to drink in the town centre pre-game, probably at the bar that we could have had at the ground...
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People are rightly unhappy with this. The real disappointment for me is that the initial fundraising material and communication included local, independent, high-quality vendors as the centerpiece of the fan zone, of which Libero was prominently advertised: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/altrincham-fc-fan-zone/
While I'm sure it does make pure economical sense for the club to DIY, that's not what the fans bought into.
The development of a new Fan Zone at the J Davidson stadium is a collaborative project between Altrincham Football Club, Define Architects and Libero.
Altrincham FC is known for pushing boundaries and innovative thinking, and the vision for Moss Lane 2030 is an exciting glimpse into the ambitious future of the club. Phase one of the Fan Zone will begin this summer as a way to give something back to the loyal supporters and wider community.
Altrincham is a thriving, dynamic town with excellent local businesses and a strong community spirit. Providing an inviting space within the stadium for hospitality and retail vendors both on match days and beyond will vastly enhance the experience for the fans, and provide opportunities for the club itself.
All supporters of this project will be kept up to date with progress, and will be invited to get involved in future phases of the development.
The new Fan Zone will create an inviting space for match days and function hire, and will include a covered canopy area and three custom built pods to provide units for:
Libero pitch side craft beer bar.
Seasonal food vendor.
New home for the existing programme shop.
I do appreciate that COVID, the pitch being knackered, the Council etc have all likely pulled the club's resource away from the project but I always saw Libero as a bit of a glowing ember throughout that period, working as hard as they could to try and get some form of the project off the ground. They were certainly the most public-facing party involved - unfortunately, the club's communication on this has been poor throughout, noted in bold above is a commitment to keeping us up to date and involving us in 'future phases of the development.' And have we heard from Define Architects at all since the grand presentation at the Meet The Board event, a few years back now?
All the while, we've managed to launch a newly refurbished sponsors lounge and rip out the old Noel White Suite for the Vice Presidents, and clubs like Colne have started and completed projects of their own in shorter periods of time.
Ultimately, I'm just disappointed that the club appear to have shafted a business that flies the flag for us so well. I do hope the bridge hasn't been burned entirely.
As for the the fan zone, in whatever form it does finally take, it was created to drive footfall to the ground earlier, and generate more revenue from food and drink. I do not think it will achieve that aim if it is 'standard' botted and canned options akin to the CSH. The fans who were interested in this project will likely to continue to drink in the town centre pre-game, probably at the bar that we could have had at the ground...
Andrew, your comments and sentiment is spot on here, I do hope Libero can be part of the zone, I do not see why AFC can't have a bar also. The more people we keep happy plus new foot fall the better as the club strive increase revenue to help fund the FT football etc. I invested in the zone, and want it to be a success. The area needs to be appealing, so hope the makeover accomplishes this.
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Is there any way of getting our money back as what we initially invested in isn't going to happen?
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Is there any way of getting our money back as what we initially invested in isn't going to happen?
Work has restarted on the zone, there was a partly completed wooden fence erected between the ground and the zone visible on Saturday. Not sure what else has been completed. I imagine getting running fresh water, power etc is a task as well.
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Is there any way of getting our money back as what we initially invested in isn't going to happen?
Work has restarted on the zone, there was a partly completed wooden fence erected between the ground and the zone visible on Saturday. Not sure what else has been completed. I imagine getting running fresh water, power etc is a task as well.
I am sure that some of these utilities run under the pitch from the main stand, which adds another hurdle.
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Ultimately, I'm just disappointed that the club appear to have shafted a business that flies the flag for us so well. I do hope the bridge hasn't been burned entirely.
As for the the fan zone, in whatever form it does finally take, it was created to drive footfall to the ground earlier, and generate more revenue from food and drink. I do not think it will achieve that aim if it is 'standard' bottled and canned options akin to the CSH. The fans who were interested in this project will likely to continue to drink in the town centre pre-game, probably at the bar that we could have had at the ground.
Very strongly agree with this sentiment. I thought the Libero link-up was a big plus for the Club: good beer, local ind. company, likely to bring fans in earlier etc. As a general point, I think the Club needs to exercise care moving forward into the professional era, and they will need to tread carefully the fine line that separates the core fan base from the (new) corporate backers who may stipulate unpopular demands in return for their sponsorship. An interesting, local comparison might be to Sale FC who rebranded themselves as Sale Sharks in the run up to rugby going professional. There, the board marketed the Club aggressively to attract a larger crowd that they hoped would ensure their survival. While they have been successful in making the transition (propped up by RFU money?) I think the fan base has altered dramatically and would be unrecognisable from their time at Heywood Road. As we move into this new pro-era, we must be prepared to embrace change, but not forget our roots, what it is we stand for, and the reason why we chose to support Alty in the first place.
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I'm still cross, so I'm putting my money where my mouth is it, both on the fan zone and the make shift VIP zone which was a farce Apparantly on Saturday,
If the club want some hands on hospitality experience in various similar projects, I'd be happy to help get this sorted from a fans perspective.
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Ultimately, I'm just disappointed that the club appear to have shafted a business that flies the flag for us so well. I do hope the bridge hasn't been burned entirely.
As for the the fan zone, in whatever form it does finally take, it was created to drive footfall to the ground earlier, and generate more revenue from food and drink. I do not think it will achieve that aim if it is 'standard' bottled and canned options akin to the CSH. The fans who were interested in this project will likely to continue to drink in the town centre pre-game, probably at the bar that we could have had at the ground.
Very strongly agree with this sentiment. I thought the Libero link-up was a big plus for the Club: good beer, local ind. company, likely to bring fans in earlier etc. As a general point, I think the Club needs to exercise care moving forward into the professional era, and they will need to tread carefully the fine line that separates the core fan base from the (new) corporate backers who may stipulate unpopular demands in return for their sponsorship. An interesting, local comparison might be to Sale FC who rebranded themselves as Sale Sharks in the run up to rugby going professional. There, the board marketed the Club aggressively to attract a larger crowd that they hoped would ensure their survival. While they have been successful in making the transition (propped up by RFU money?) I think the fan base has altered dramatically and would be unrecognisable from their time at Heywood Road. As we move into this new pro-era, we must be prepared to embrace change, but not forget our roots, what it is we stand for, and the reason why we chose to support Alty in the first place.
Think Sale’s fan base altered dramatically due to the move from Heywood Road to the AJ Bell stadium in Salford. The difference in getting there from the wealthier Cheshire environs of Wilmslow, Alderney Edge, Altrincham was dramatically altered. Edgeley Park suited it very well but the AJ Bell May as wel be on the moon it’s that difficult to access.
So not really a true comparison although I know what you’re getting at.
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Ultimately, I'm just disappointed that the club appear to have shafted a business that flies the flag for us so well. I do hope the bridge hasn't been burned entirely.
As for the the fan zone, in whatever form it does finally take, it was created to drive footfall to the ground earlier, and generate more revenue from food and drink. I do not think it will achieve that aim if it is 'standard' bottled and canned options akin to the CSH. The fans who were interested in this project will likely to continue to drink in the town centre pre-game, probably at the bar that we could have had at the ground.
Very strongly agree with this sentiment. I thought the Libero link-up was a big plus for the Club: good beer, local ind. company, likely to bring fans in earlier etc. As a general point, I think the Club needs to exercise care moving forward into the professional era, and they will need to tread carefully the fine line that separates the core fan base from the (new) corporate backers who may stipulate unpopular demands in return for their sponsorship. An interesting, local comparison might be to Sale FC who rebranded themselves as Sale Sharks in the run up to rugby going professional. There, the board marketed the Club aggressively to attract a larger crowd that they hoped would ensure their survival. While they have been successful in making the transition (propped up by RFU money?) I think the fan base has altered dramatically and would be unrecognisable from their time at Heywood Road. As we move into this new pro-era, we must be prepared to embrace change, but not forget our roots, what it is we stand for, and the reason why we chose to support Alty in the first place.
Think Sale’s fan base altered dramatically due to the move from Heywood Road to the AJ Bell stadium in Salford. The difference in getting there from the wealthier Cheshire environs of Wilmslow, Alderney Edge, Altrincham was dramatically altered. Edgeley Park suited it very well but the AJ Bell May as wel be on the moon it’s that difficult to access.
So not really a true comparison although I know what you’re getting at.
I agree with you about the AJB, but I think EP had limited appeal to core fans too. The move from Heywood Road was made necessary to meet the demands of Premiership Rugby who stipulated ground size etc. If Alty meet the ambition expressed by the Board we will likely have to deal with a similar conundrum. TBH, I think this is a long way in the future, if at all, and what I was alluding to in my OP was the need to satisfy sponsors and attract larger footfall, without alienating the hardcore fans.
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Point of order.
This has got nothing to do with Thwaites.
Marston's relieved Thwaites of the Wainright brand in 2015. They also got Lancaster Bomber at the same time. The 61 Deep mentioned by One Foot in the Grave is a Marston's beer and is named after the depth of the well in the Burton brewery.
Marstons was merged with Carlsberg a couple of years ago. Carlsberg holds 51% of the stock and Marstons 49%.
As far as I can discern Marstons don't do any craft beers so it will all depend on what the relationship is with Marstons as to what they are at liberty to sell.
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Point of order.
This has got nothing to do with Thwaites.
Marston's relieved Thwaites of the Wainright brand in 2015. They also got Lancaster Bomber at the same time. The 61 Deep mentioned by One Foot in the Grave is a Marston's beer and is named after the depth of the well in the Burton brewery.
Marstons was merged with Carlsberg a couple of years ago. Carlsberg holds 51% of the stock and Marstons 49%.
As far as I can discern Marstons don't do any craft beers so it will all depend on what the relationship is with Marstons as to what they are at liberty to sell.
Its unlikely Marstons own the tender pouring for the fan zone as the Fan Zone came after the CSH contract.
If a fresh tender is going to be undertaken by the board, it is not uncommon for the club to dictate what products they want on each bar (Entry Lager, World or European Session Lager etc).
Given the money spent by AB, Molson Coors and Heineken to acquire sports club pouring rights, I'd be disappointed if we continued with Marstons beyond the original CSH contract, and if we did, even more disappointed if we ended up them running our flagshap craft beer bar, when Seven Brothers or Pamona themselves might jump at it.
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I'd be disappointed too to the point of ignoring the Fanzone.
Commercial realities kick in though. I have dealings with another club bar and the beer comes in at £1.30 a pint. If the CSH are selling stuff at £4 plus that is a hefty margin. The margin on craft ale won't be as big.
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These new plans for the Fan Zone make me absolutely despair. Of course it makes sense on one level for the club to maximise revenue but if the intention is just to replicate the very poor beer selection from the CSH, that will backfire massively. It's so short-sighted not to see what value Libero and other independent food outlets could add to the matchday experience. More than that though, Libero seems to have done more than the club itself to at least try and get the Fan Zone up and running. So for us to boot them out now is really shoddy. Incredibly disappointing.
Don't Dulwich Hamlet do something of the sort with good quality independent food and drink at Champion Hill? There was even a suggestion that some people come there more for this than the football. Certainly they have been getting the crowds in so they must be doing something right! Worth learning from?
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I'd be disappointed too to the point of ignoring the Fanzone.
Commercial realities kick in though. I have dealings with another club bar and the beer comes in at £1.30 a pint. If the CSH are selling stuff at £4 plus that is a hefty margin. The margin on craft ale won't be as big.
That's why the fan zone was created, to serve a market away from mass lagers..
Craft beer lovers are not shy of spending more, but are more niche.
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These new plans for the Fan Zone make me absolutely despair. Of course it makes sense on one level for the club to maximise revenue but if the intention is just to replicate the very poor beer selection from the CSH, that will backfire massively. It's so short-sighted not to see what value Libero and other independent food outlets could add to the matchday experience. More than that though, Libero seems to have done more than the club itself to at least try and get the Fan Zone up and running. So for us to boot them out now is really shoddy. Incredibly disappointing.
Don't Dulwich Hamlet do something of the sort with good quality independent food and drink at Champion Hill? There was even a suggestion that some people come there more for this than the football. Certainly they have been getting the crowds in so they must be doing something right! Worth learning from?
As someone who was a semi-regular at Champion Hill until Covid, the Dulwich Hamlet story is an intriguing one but not one we’d want to ape all aspects of. Often described as South London’s biggest beer garden, the number of people who went who clearly were not bothered by the game & would have struggled to name a single Dulwich player was problematic and a lot of long term fans became alienated to the point that they stopped going. The beer and food offering was absolutely sensational though it’s fair to say-that’s the bit I’d want us to ape. The demographics of the local area much more West Didsbury and Chorlton then Altrincham too I’d say.
What for me has always been clear is that we represent a town that is very well known as a food & drink destination now & that if we want to attract & retain new fans we have to reflect that at the ground too & that the Libero beers are very much in line with that.
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All I really want to say is that currently I VERY rarely eat or drink in the ground as it’s simply not to my taste. If we replicate the current CSH offering in the fanzone then we are just going to sell the same amount as now, something different is required to bring new customers.
I only get to a limited number of games each season but when I do I typically spend £30 or more in town beforehand, money that could be spent inside ML.
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Certainly things to be learnt from King's Court and Costello's. And there are the people who did up the Gardner's Arms who came in with a reputation for turning places around (as I remember). These are the sort of people we want to be speaking to.
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Is it the grand opening today ?
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Is it the grand opening today ?
Has Nelson got his eye back yet? It must be getting close
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Is it the grand opening today ?
Has Nelson got his eye back yet? It must be getting close
Cant be far off. They've built a wooden patio and got 3 finished huts.
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It'll be ready just in time for some nice outside drinking on a bitterly cold day 🙄
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Now if we could spend some of that £300,000 on those outdoor heaters...
I'd like to think it will be ready in time for Oldham. How long can it take to get it wired and pac tested?
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Is it the grand opening today ?
Has Nelson got his eye back yet? It must be getting close
Cant be far off. They've built a wooden patio and got 3 finished huts.
3 ? Only 2 huts in there jack.
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There are 3 huts to be fair, though I'm not sure that the old tea bar will be incorporated. We could do with some decent toilets there too.
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There are 3 huts to be fair, though I'm not sure that the old tea bar will be incorporated. We could do with some decent toilets there too.
There are 2 huts - fact. The old tea bar is outside of the fan zone and is a stewards control room.
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There are 3 huts to be fair, though I'm not sure that the old tea bar will be incorporated. We could do with some decent toilets there too.
There are 2 huts - fact. The old tea bar is outside of the fan zone and is a stewards control room.
Well if it's two that qualifies as a choice.
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There are 3 huts to be fair, though I'm not sure that the old tea bar will be incorporated. We could do with some decent toilets there too.
There are 2 huts - fact. The old tea bar is outside of the fan zone and is a stewards control room.
Well, in that case I trust that the following composer has been booked to perform the music at the eventual grand opening of the Fan Zone?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA8xTGP_M8g (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA8xTGP_M8g)
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There are 3 huts to be fair, though I'm not sure that the old tea bar will be incorporated. We could do with some decent toilets there too.
we certainly need some decent toilets and not those minging portoloos... But I won't hold my breath .... No pun intended
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There are 3 huts to be fair, though I'm not sure that the old tea bar will be incorporated. We could do with some decent toilets there too.
There are 2 huts - fact. The old tea bar is outside of the fan zone and is a stewards control room.
He's only got 1 shed ! ;D ;D
Well, in that case I trust that the following composer has been booked to perform the music at the eventual grand opening of the Fan Zone?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA8xTGP_M8g (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA8xTGP_M8g)
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https://altrinchamfc.com/blogs/news/fan-zone-update
Finally open for the Oldham home game I see. Good news, let’s see how it goes…
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The press release says "It has taken us a while to get there, but this is only the start of works on that side of the ground."
It will be interesting to see what plans we have for the Popular side, and associated timelines. Will we rebuild the Popular Side in the style of the ground redevelopment plans that were released a couple of years ago?
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Are we getting a fan zone ? First I have heard .... Next you will be telling me Chris senior is not coming back to the club
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Pleased to see it open again and hopefully for good this time. The full range of beers & a cider last night plus some softies & snacks. Pleasantly busy if not rammed before KO but looked v busy at HT & about 30-40 regulars stopped in at FT too. Good to chat to Messrs Esteva, Looney & Waterson post match too. Also good that nearly all the beer on offer is brewed in Manchester-need to support our city’s fine brewers.
I think we need some signage at the Golf Road turnstiles directing people towards it & maybe something on the exterior of the fanzone fence too. I hear the roof might be on by the time we play Eastleigh which would be great but we’ll see. Gradually improving though & a real revenue generator for the club on big nights when the CSH is rammed to help spread the queues.
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I didn't realise it was destined to have a roof. Good plan.
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Visited for the first time on Saturday and i wasn't impressed, its a great idea to have a fan zone but would like to know who designed it all. What's the raised area in the middle for?
Why is it all surfaced in decking an absolute nightmare in winter and hard to maintain, probably on the cheap to cover what's underneath knowing that it wont all be there long term is the answer? :o ;D
Its a good start to be fair if its a short term area and will help ease ques in the main bar , i hope the roofs are the contemporary sails (red ones)done correctly and not corrugated plastic.
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Visited for the first time on Saturday and i wasn't impressed, its a great idea to have a fan zone but would like to know who designed it all. What's the raised area in the middle for?
Why is it all surfaced in decking an absolute nightmare in winter and hard to maintain, probably on the cheap to cover what's underneath knowing that it wont all be there long term is the answer? :o ;D
Its a good start to be fair if its a short term area and will help ease ques in the main bar , i hope the roofs are the contemporary sails (red ones)done correctly and not corrugated plastic.
the sad truth is the fan zone has been an unmitigated disaster from it's inception
From what was shared as the vision quickly became a nightmare
From the closure of the ground and lost revenue. The ongoing barriers around the ground from that issue . The inflating costs associated to the fan zone works. The way libero were cast aside. Then the subsequent works delivered in the area to give an intial capacity of 100.
Looking at it it would have probably been better to have resurfaced the area rather than the small raised decking area we got.
As noted above at least it's finally open and trading finally but I do worry this is not the end of the saga and hope the decking does not become a slip hazard in poor weather
It would be good if we could get an update on other areas of the ground where all the temporary fencing remains
Onwards and upwards
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We need to quit moaning and start drinking.
it will take quite a while to recover the money laid out so far.
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We need to quit moaning and start drinking.
An excellent maxim to live by, Cheshire! 😉
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the sad truth is the fan zone has been an unmitigated disaster from it's inception
From what was shared as the vision quickly became a nightmare
From the closure of the ground and lost revenue. The ongoing barriers around the ground from that issue . The inflating costs associated to the fan zone works. The way libero were cast aside. Then the subsequent works delivered in the area to give an intial capacity of
Agreed. It’s an unmitigated amateurish shambles. But don’t forget the current board are more interested in revenue streams than piss streams. Installing toilets yields no revenue. The Fanzone is yet another way of emptying football supporters’ pockets, the goal of our board. Surely if you want a good beer in a hospitable environment then go to a pub/ bar, don’t expect a football club to meet your needs - but this board will try and meet them on the cheap and to the detriment of supporters who are actually interested in football.
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No moaning please....it is against the rules - unless you are a decrepit old git.
Any more and we will send the kids in for a game of tig ;D
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Visited for the first time on Saturday and i wasn't impressed, its a great idea to have a fan zone but would like to know who designed it all. What's the raised area in the middle for?
Why is it all surfaced in decking an absolute nightmare in winter and hard to maintain, probably on the cheap to cover what's underneath knowing that it wont all be there long term is the answer? :o ;D
Its a good start to be fair if its a short term area and will help ease ques in the main bar , i hope the roofs are the contemporary sails (red ones)done correctly and not corrugated plastic.
From what I’ve heard it will be a sail type roof yes.
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We need to quit moaning and start drinking.
it will take quite a while to recover the money laid out so far.
can we drink and moan ?
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We need to quit moaning and start drinking.
it will take quite a while to recover the money laid out so far.
I thought it was crowdfunded?
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It certainly was at the outset of the project but snowballing costs etc, etc.
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It certainly was at the outset of the project but snowballing costs etc, etc.
Forgive me if I'm being naive but I cant see what would have cost a huge amount? Maybe we could benefit with a cost update from the board?
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the sad truth is the fan zone has been an unmitigated disaster from it's inception
From what was shared as the vision quickly became a nightmare
From the closure of the ground and lost revenue. The ongoing barriers around the ground from that issue . The inflating costs associated to the fan zone works. The way libero were cast aside. Then the subsequent works delivered in the area to give an intial capacity of
Agreed. It’s an unmitigated amateurish shambles. But don’t forget the current board are more interested in revenue streams than piss streams. Installing toilets yields no revenue. The Fanzone is yet another way of emptying football supporters’ pockets, the goal of our board. Surely if you want a good beer in a hospitable environment then go to a pub/ bar, don’t expect a football club to meet your needs - but this board will try and meet them on the cheap and to the detriment of supporters who are actually interested in football.
"The Board are more interested in revenue streams than piss streams".
Well unless you're hoping for Owen Oysten to be recruited I should hope so.
"The Fanzone is yet another way of emptying football supporters’ pockets, the goal of our board."
I had a couple of drinks in the FZ on Saturday and don't remember being frog marched there by a Board member, I actually walked in myself, as did 100 or so others. After sampling what was on offer I plan to do so again. My money, my choice - crazy stuff.
"Surely if you want a good beer in a hospitable environment then go to a pub/ bar"
A football club providing a bar for it's fans has caught on in a quite a big way over the past, oh I don't know, 100 years or so?
IMHO there's a few things need to be done amongst which should be - obvs a roof which has been mentioned, some proper signage from the entrances to the FZ itself, a bit more softer landscaping (has a feel of an East European border guard post under those arc lights) etc. But, the beer is an alternative to that in the CSH and so offers another revenue stream to the club, which of course is a good thing.
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the sad truth is the fan zone has been an unmitigated disaster from it's inception
From what was shared as the vision quickly became a nightmare
From the closure of the ground and lost revenue. The ongoing barriers around the ground from that issue . The inflating costs associated to the fan zone works. The way libero were cast aside. Then the subsequent works delivered in the area to give an intial capacity of
Agreed. It’s an unmitigated amateurish shambles. But don’t forget the current board are more interested in revenue streams than piss streams. Installing toilets yields no revenue. The Fanzone is yet another way of emptying football supporters’ pockets, the goal of our board. Surely if you want a good beer in a hospitable environment then go to a pub/ bar, don’t expect a football club to meet your needs - but this board will try and meet them on the cheap and to the detriment of supporters who are actually interested in football.
"The Board are more interested in revenue streams than piss streams".
Well unless you're hoping for Owen Oysten to be recruited I should hope so.
"The Fanzone is yet another way of emptying football supporters’ pockets, the goal of our board."
I had a couple of drinks in the FZ on Saturday and don't remember being frog marched there by a Board member, I actually walked in myself, as did 100 or so others. After sampling what was on offer I plan to do so again. My money, my choice - crazy stuff.
"Surely if you want a good beer in a hospitable environment then go to a pub/ bar"
A football club providing a bar for it's fans has caught on in a quite a big way over the past, oh I don't know, 100 years or so?
IMHO there's a few things need to be done amongst which should be - obvs a roof which has been mentioned, some proper signage from the entrances to the FZ itself, a bit more softer landscaping (has a feel of an East European border guard post under those arc lights) etc. But, the beer is an alternative to that in the CSH and so offers another revenue stream to the club, which of course is a good thing.
Still rather drink in the Soviet floodlights than the CSH.
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I'm genuinely baffled why the board trying to bring more money into the club by opening more catering and hospitality is viewed as such a bad thing...
As for the fan zone project itself it has been very poorly managed and communicated at times, but I am glad it is now moving in the right direction.
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It certainly was at the outset of the project but snowballing costs etc, etc.
Forgive me if I'm being naive but I cant see what would have cost a huge amount? Maybe we could benefit with a cost update from the board?
Although the government are talking about 10% inflation anyone that has been to B&Q will know that basic things like sheet timber, cement and paint have leapt in price significantly more than 10%. Cheaper outlets are available but it's the same story. Lots of tradesmen complaining about the latest price increases.
So yes, I would expect that whatever the crowd funding raised wasn't enough.
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the sad truth is the fan zone has been an unmitigated disaster from it's inception
From what was shared as the vision quickly became a nightmare
From the closure of the ground and lost revenue. The ongoing barriers around the ground from that issue . The inflating costs associated to the fan zone works. The way libero were cast aside. Then the subsequent works delivered in the area to give an intial capacity of
Agreed. It’s an unmitigated amateurish shambles. But don’t forget the current board are more interested in revenue streams than piss streams. Installing toilets yields no revenue. The Fanzone is yet another way of emptying football supporters’ pockets, the goal of our board. Surely if you want a good beer in a hospitable environment then go to a pub/ bar, don’t expect a football club to meet your needs - but this board will try and meet them on the cheap and to the detriment of supporters who are actually interested in football.
I will just say I’m glad the board are in charge and not you.
Full time usually needs more and better income streams. Maybe you prefer Hucknall Town and 458 but I don’t.
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the sad truth is the fan zone has been an unmitigated disaster from it's inception
From what was shared as the vision quickly became a nightmare
From the closure of the ground and lost revenue. The ongoing barriers around the ground from that issue . The inflating costs associated to the fan zone works. The way libero were cast aside. Then the subsequent works delivered in the area to give an intial capacity of
Agreed. It’s an unmitigated amateurish shambles. But don’t forget the current board are more interested in revenue streams than piss streams. Installing toilets yields no revenue. The Fanzone is yet another way of emptying football supporters’ pockets, the goal of our board. Surely if you want a good beer in a hospitable environment then go to a pub/ bar, don’t expect a football club to meet your needs - but this board will try and meet them on the cheap and to the detriment of supporters who are actually interested in football.
Further to the other responses to this on here, I'm curious as to how you expect a football club to fund itself to play at a decent level without "emptying supporters pockets" or "revenue streams"?
If you are so adverse to this method, where should our income actually come from? Please do tell.
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With regard to the fan zone, beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder.
I actually quite like it - as long as it does its job and I can get a decent beer, quickly and at a good price - I don't really care what it looks like.
Drop it into the middle of the Northern Quarter, for example - and you'd have bearded types telling their mates 'I know this cool little beer garden hidden between a skip and a row of portaloos'...
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With regard to the fan zone, beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder.
I actually quite like it - as long as it does its job and I can get a decent beer, quickly and at a good price - I don't really care what it looks like.
Drop it into the middle of the Northern Quarter, for example - and you'd have bearded types telling their mates 'I know this cool little beer garden hidden between a skip and a row of portaloos'...
That is nonsense. Huge difference between a pop up in NQ and a permenant addition to a professional football club.
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Dulwich Hamlet have done this sort of thing quite well haven't they? Is there anything we could learn from them?