New Everton Stadium - Hill Dickinson Stadium

[Connor]

Are they going to swerve the security on the dock wall off at any point? As far as I know no other premier league stadium has you frisked like that before even getting close to the stadium. Standing there getting frisked in the teaming rain as I’ve got my car keys in my pocket isn’t great.

No, because other stadiums have multiple angles of attack - so to speak. We just have the wall as an entrance so they’ll be there to ensure only ticketed fans are able to get in

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Without a shadow of doubt, everyone around me in the queue where frustrated yesterday, it won’t be long before noise is made. The club is aware of the problems, as we have had a number of emails from the club regarding it.

From a personal perspective I have a young family, stressful job and trying to build a business I haven’t the time to petition anyone just about petition my 4 year old.

I’m not even sure how to feedback tit he club, I’ll be damned if I’m sitting on hold for hours to speak to them. Does anyone know how we feedback to the club??

There been loads of noise mate - club statements within hours of full time and efforts to improve it don't happen without that amount of noise. It hit national papers, and there was a journalist yesterday taking a picture of the queue - no doubt there on the back of noise.

After 3 games now, I think the best bet is to spend money/time in town, get to the stadium last minute and if you want to use the voucher - use it after the match to get a pie or something for the way home. At Goodison you could always get served - it's 40+ mins in club view. I'd rather just be hungry or thirsty.

If you'd rather spend in the stadium, someone on twitter made a point that you can also leave club view by the terraces an go down another route - then you'll have quicker access to bars and more choice. Obviously though that's not club view so can't spend.

 

[PeterGet]

Interesting interview. He knew self deprecating was a thing, Mr Meis...

Really like this interview, he sounds like a great guy…

Whatever people think of the stadium, he has put everything into it..

 

[PhilM]

I thought yesterday was a lot better than the Brighton game - from someone who sits in the lower south

I got into the concourse about 25 mins before KO and it never felt too crowded, whereas it did the previous game

Was able to go the toilet and get out within about 90 seconds, if that. Was very swift.

The through pass system worked well and was flowing smoothly. I didn’t spring for the 7 quid sausage roll, but there was plenty of food being cycled in, drinks stocked, and all that good stuff

The only real issue I have is how long it takes to get out after the game. People taking it very slow leaving their seats and then the gates outside end up like a choke point. They need to lower the bollards in the middle of them and probably create some sort of flow system (if you’re going left to Sandhills, use this gate, right to town use another etc)

But I’m sure that’ll be fixed

This is a good point, and it's one that the club will look at. Right now, the majority of fans from the south and south of the west naturally funnel to gate A.

For both games, we've come from the south and went on a diagonal towards gate B and C, and we've quickly and comfortably got out of the perimeter.

Those who we've been near to have gone straight towards gate A (shortest route and in direct eye line) have been delayed in the congestion.

I think naturally, habits will change and people will recognise this and the crowd will spread out, but the club will likely intervene to speed up the process.

Overall, like yourself, I had another really comfortable experience: straight in, no wait for a pint before and at HT, and toilets queues were once again okay.

Even at HT, we again found a comfortable place to stand between the waterfront bars (near 209/210) and could see the TVs perfectly.

I found those who did queue the most stood on the side of the bar facing the pitch, whereas the other side is quieter, and went to the smaller toilets.

The urinals on the wings of the south stand are much larger and the queues shorter.

 

[PhilM]

Is there a bar called The Waterfront in the stadium, if so, whereabouts is it please?

Ignore everyone else saying no, because yes there is: it's the name for the long bar at the back of the south upper close to the glass.

 

[davek]

I find the whole business of people getting searched for food and drink and the heavy presence of stewards stopping fans of the club from getting near the ground a massive turn off.

Let them man those gates when there's a music event on the plaza all they want; but that stadium has to function like its fan-friendly otherwise it'll never be taken to our hearts in the way Goodison park was. It's just a fortress atm - for all the wrong reasons. And the people employed to keep it that way are bang out of order on many occasions with fans.

The club better learn some lessons quick before the novelty of that stadium wears off and people realise how shabbily they're being treated.

 

[davek]

This is a good point, and it's one that the club will look at. Right now, the majority of fans from the south and south of the west naturally funnel to gate A.

For both games, we've come from the south and went on a diagonal towards gate B and C, and we've quickly and comfortably got out of the perimeter.

Those who we've been near to have gone straight towards gate A (shortest route and in direct eye line) have been delayed in the congestion.

I think naturally, habits will change and people will recognise this and the crowd will spread out, but the club will likely intervene to speed up the process.

Overall, like yourself, I had another really comfortable experience: straight in, no wait for a pint before and at HT, and toilets queues were once again okay.

Even at HT, we again found a comfortable place to stand between the waterfront bars (near 209/210) and could see the TVs perfectly.

I found those who did queue the most stood on the side of the bar facing the pitch, whereas the other side is quieter, and went to the smaller toilets.

The urinals on the wings of the south stand are much larger and the queues shorter.

The quicker there's a walk away from the stadium via the shoreline the better. That'll make egress a lot easier.

 

[duncs pigeon]

I've noticed a real doubling down on his negativity in the past couple of weeks.

It's coincided with our good results in the league.

Make of that what you will.

Or that not many react to him as they used too

 

[duncs pigeon]

I find the whole business of people getting searched for food and drink and the heavy presence of stewards stopping fans of the club from getting near the ground a massive turn off.

Let them man those gates when there's a music event on the plaza all they want; but that stadium has to function like its fan-friendly otherwise it'll never be taken to our hearts in the way Goodison park was. It's just a fortress atm - for all the wrong reasons. And the people employed to keep it that way are bang out of order on many occasions with fans.

The club better learn some lessons quick before the novelty of that stadium wears off and people realise how shabbily they're being treated.

 

[Exeter_Gently]

Or that not many react to him as they used too

Maybe so...Pure desperation posting.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Made the mistake of trying the walk-through food kiosk thingy yesterday....as expected, massively overcharged for £31, when all I bought was a sausage roll.
Who the feck needs to be contacted about this?
Told myself I'd not buy anything at the ground, after reading reviews from previous game. Learnt my lesson, will be stashing my own in next time

Is it not a case of them taking x amount as like a deposit/holding charge and it will be refunded?

I'm in the trenches in club view though so no idea about all the trendy stuff elsewhere.

 

[PhilM]

No, because other stadiums have multiple angles of attack - so to speak. We just have the wall as an entrance so they’ll be there to ensure only ticketed fans are able to get in

There is also a level of responsibility for the club due to the alcohol licence that the club has to allow fans to drink outside the stadium.

At Goodison, the threshold was as you entered the turnstile, except for the fan zone where there was security present at the boundary.

The club need to ensure it doesn't become congested (exceeding the max number of people) and reduce the risk of anti-social behaviour.

Making sure people have tickets at this point helps reduce the risk of both, and it also allows for the required security checks.

 

[PhilM]

There been loads of noise mate - club statements within hours of full time and efforts to improve it don't happen without that amount of noise. It hit national papers, and there was a journalist yesterday taking a picture of the queue - no doubt there on the back of noise.

After 3 games now, I think the best bet is to spend money/time in town, get to the stadium last minute and if you want to use the voucher - use it after the match to get a pie or something for the way home. At Goodison you could always get served - it's 40+ mins in club view. I'd rather just be hungry or thirsty.

If you'd rather spend in the stadium, someone on twitter made a point that you can also leave club view by the terraces an go down another route - then you'll have quicker access to bars and more choice. Obviously though that's not club view so can't spend.

Asking with all seriousness here, what is your take on what most fans in your situation would want to happen? What could the club do?

Is the £10 credit the issue, with removing it helping reduce demand at the overstretched bars? Or do they need more food outlets, bar and staff?

 

[Connor]

This is a good point, and it's one that the club will look at. Right now, the majority of fans from the south and south of the west naturally funnel to gate A.

For both games, we've come from the south and went on a diagonal towards gate B and C, and we've quickly and comfortably got out of the perimeter.

Those who we've been near to have gone straight towards gate A (shortest route and in direct eye line) have been delayed in the congestion.

I think naturally, habits will change and people will recognise this and the crowd will spread out, but the club will likely intervene to speed up the process.

Overall, like yourself, I had another really comfortable experience: straight in, no wait for a pint before and at HT, and toilets queues were once again okay.

Even at HT, we again found a comfortable place to stand between the waterfront bars (near 209/210) and could see the TVs perfectly.

I found those who did queue the most stood on the side of the bar facing the pitch, whereas the other side is quieter, and went to the smaller toilets.

The urinals on the wings of the south stand are much larger and the queues shorter.

Yeah for the Mansfield game, we left via the gate furthest right that is closed pre-match (because its a car park), but we couldn't get to that yesterday. Having that open every game will help I'd say, but there are some other quick fixes too

Some folks, including oursleves, have already swerved trying to go through the Bascule Bridge stop/go system and just walking down Derby Road and across the strand into town. Feels easier

 

[Connor]

Also, doing 20,000+ steps every home game is going to go some way in making us the fittest fans around

The Merseyrail Workout Plan