Obviously it’s not the club deciding what stand to open and close it’s the council, I assume we did ask for the NWC to be opened but for the 20+ people who sat there it doesn’t make sense they need to open the middle for fans to have to best view and choice of seats. I’ve also got friends who sit in the south stand who say just how bad it is due to away fans sitting in there seat. If the club really wants to get it right they need to listen to the fans who pay to go every week and do something about both situations. Brilliant win today tho so I’d rather complain about this then the results!!
Not a particularly enjoyable experience in terms of getting into the game and also finding a seat.
One of the stewards said going into the ground that it was a joint club/council decision....
On the way out I grabbed the head steward and told him it was unacceptable to be herded into such a small space, it really was annoying not watched half a game. “Mick George” was sat behind us and left after 20 mins as he can’t climb the stairs and needed the toilet he had to argue with a steward in order to go through the gate in order to get round. Not even sure if he came back!! I do understand the numbers don’t excuse the whole of the stadium being opened but surely the central part is a better option
Just let us sit where we like. Had an awful experience today. Must have lost more in drinks and hotdogs than you saved in bar staff wages. Stop messing about and get back to normal
On the way out I grabbed the head steward and told him it was unacceptable to be herded into such a small space, it really was annoying not watched half a game. “Mick George” was sat behind us and left after 20 mins as he can’t climb the stairs and needed the toilet he had to argue with a steward in order to go through the gate in order to get round. Not even sure if he came back!! I do understand the numbers don’t excuse the whole of the stadium being opened but surely the central part is a better option
Same in the south stand had a season ticket for 15 years section c today was final straw I know our numbers have dwindled but I'm not buying a season ticket to sit with away fans when last year we were told they only supposed to sit in section a?! Today stewards were telling them to sit anywhere!! Surely it can't be that difficult we actually seem to make it harder to watch and enjoy the rugby these days
The club really need to get a grip on the seating. In the close season I switched my seat to 2 rows back in section C so I was not so isolated & closer to other Widnes fans
Today I arrived to find someone in my seat but as there was room I just sat nearby but was surrounded by Swinton supporters. Late in the first half another Widnes fan on my row went to speak to a steward. The Swinton ladies were saying he was aggressive. I turned round & said that they really should not be in the C section as away fans should be in section A&B they said the stewards told them they could sit anywhere so I showed them my season ticket displaying my section , row & seat number on it. At this the Swinton male fan behind me told me to shut up in no uncertain manner. So I went to the nearest steward to see what was being told to the away fans. To my surprise he said the head steward had informed the stewards to let away fans sit anywhere. Then a lady who I was informed was the head of security's wife said I' ll get him. He came & took me near the exit with more stewards & affirmed he was head of security & people can sit anywhere.
I live out of Widnes & chose the south stand as you are allocted a seat & am sometimes caughtbup in traffic. However it seems that seat is no longer allocated without me being told! Furthermore I was told I had been reported for being aggressive & would be thrown out if it was reported again & one was his wife! I do not know if he / she confused me with the other supporter but the club can easily sort this. Revert back to away fans being told to sit in A or B sections as only a few disobey that instruction. Also put stickers on the seats allocated to season ticket holders in the south stand as used to be the situation.
I sit in the South Stand, and it's not pleasant with the away fans, but the stewards tell them to 'sit anywhere' so they do. Not really their fault, but that's always likely to cause friction between the fans, and I'm getting to the stage that it's really not worth bothering going the game anymore. The Club and the Council are making it more of a chore to watch the game. See how they go about improving things for the next game.
We sat in Section B of the South Stand for years, then moved across further to Section C post relegation but we were increasingly surrounded by opposition fans- not that they were really any trouble, it was just a bit uncomfortable.
Then we moved to the North Stand because we could sit where we liked-now that has been taken away.
I don't know who has the final/biggest say on the stewarding and allocation but part of the problem the club has is that it allows it's own supporters to get a declining experience!
In terms of away fans I don’t think it’s hard to make them sit in a certain section of the ground but it’s a joke what happened to us sitting in the far corner. It’s the small things like that, that can make a real difference for a spectator from a viewing point. I know we all have different views about the club at the minute but just basic things like this we need to get right. Also sounds like the club happy to take season ticket Money but not do anything to help them fans out.
Thing is it's really disappointing that the club find new ways to upset fans by penny pinching when in reality it's detracting from how well the team is grinding out results that's what we should be talking about but instead the clubs short sightedness alienating more fans
Regarding the compressed seating areas in the north stand, in practical terms as a North Stand regular, it seems that the effort to encourage the north west corner has been seen as a priority at the expense of disrupting the majority of regular attenders.
I can see the benefits of encouraging a more expressive crowd presence and believe that the results would have had the blessing of most north standers.
However, for the non-north west group who regularly spread from the centre line outwards the experiment was disruptive and clumsy. Many, like me, have had Season Tickets for years and attend as families alongside others. Over the years the pattern grows and people sit in virtually the same seat for year after year, many arriving early to secure their seats. Disruption of these routines takes the risk of people certainly thinking twice about Season Ticket purchase.
Surely starting at the centre line area would have been a better option, still allowing for a ‘Choir Corner’ at the northern end.
As side issue the congestion when exiting from the ground was not a good experience at all and calls into question emergency exit should it ever be required.
The result was an enjoyable game that was not enjoyed.
But, cutting to the chase, the operation was seen as an attempt to reduce stewarding costs at the expense of unsettling a considerable number of the clubs loyal supporters. From the Forum pages the south stand was similarly discomforted, again at a time when the club are calling for bigger crowds!!!!
The club proudly praises its loyal supporter base but it shouldn’t be taken for granted!!!!
As your season ticket gives details of a allocated seat, could I suggest you contact Hamilton - as club CEO or whatever title he has - and point out he is failing in his duty by not ensuring you have the allocated seat you paid for.
It's his job to sort this mess out - not yours.
It's not up to the stewards to decide who sits where. If the stewards take their instructions from the Council, then Hamilton must immediately talk to his contact there and insist they give proper instructions to their employees and that allocated seats are what it says on the tin - seats which are allocated.
You - and all the other season ticket holders with an allocated seat - have a contract with the club, inasmuch as in return for a payment (the cost you have paid for your season ticket) the club gives you access to that allocated seat. Not to ANY seat in your block, but the seat named on your season ticket. The club, of which Hamilton is CEO (or whatever), have breached their side of the contract by not providing this allocated seat for you so all of you suffering the same problem can ask for your money back due to non-performance of the contract.
If Hamilton washes his hands of this mess by blaming the Council, then consider contacting the Chairman of the Board and bring him into the problem. It's the club's responsibility to honour the contract, they have failed to do so.
In real life, I would bet the Stewards didn't want conflict with the Swinton fans (I really hesitate to call them "fans" as they know what an allocated seat means) so took the line of least resistance by doing nothing.
This problem, unless sorted out by Hamilton NOW, could happen at each home game.
It might not be a bad idea to complain to the club Chairman anyway.
I hope this suggestion helps you.....
@sandgroper I couldn't agree more regarding leaving the ground, felt very ropey for a couple of minutes. Also took an age for us to get in the ground too.