18/03/09

Ultimately the decision is an attempt to make a family section that is attractive to younger fans coming to the ground and in time bring in new fans.

Bob Asprey (Chair MSC) Terry Burnett (Chair Junior Lions Chair) and myself all agree the move will only benefit younger fans as there is a lot more that can be offered to them in the West Lower in regards entertainment and interactivity with the players.

When elected representatives have to make judgement calls not everybody will be happy with the judgement call taken, but I believe the decision taken is the best for younger fans and we need to get more young fans to the club.

It was inevitable that some people would be annoyed at the move, but the decision was taken with the sole intention of making a better place for younger fans and their families. Last season I fought so the Family Enclosure was not changed, the reason I fought it as I felt it would not add any value changing it and it was being done for the wrong reasons, this time I am confident the move is happening for the right reasons.

Positives

The West Lower can be sectioned off making it more manageable on the concourses and it can be extended easily should the need arise.

The players warm up at the West Lower this will be great for the kids to get autographs/photo's

The dressing rooms are directly behind the West Lower, we want to have frequent visits into the new family section by injured and non playing players.

We want more kid friendly activities/kiosks available in the West Lower concourses.

Rumours

The current family enclosure ST holders will be forced to move

This is not the case as people in the East Lower will be able to purchase their own seats at last seasons price.

Negatives

People currently with West Lower seats will be asked to relocate, they have been offered discount prices to move to the West Upper.

People who have sat together for many years could be split up, although the option to move en masse to a different section at discounted prices is available, where possible everyone moving to the same area of the ground should they want to.

The letters being sent out in my opinion should have gone both to the current Family Enclosure ST holder as well as the West Lower ST holders as they are all impacted, this is a main area for complaint, this will be brought to the clubs attention, as the decision has been taken there is not a lot that can be do other than learn by the mistake, obviously if Bob, Terry and myself had known the exact timescale and that the current FE were not being informed first hand we could have perhaps enforced some changes, but due to our own work commitments we do not get to rubberstamp everything coming out from the club.

I am happy to answer any emails petergarston@hotmail.com, due to the amount of web sites I don’t have the time to answer every thread.

Pete