Hospitality Area In The East Stand

[.:BigDaveInTheDungeon:.]

So I don't think it will break up the stand much more than the current disabled areas break up the current East Stand, and as it'll be full of Reading fans who will be paying a little extra to be able to get their beer without having to queue forever, it might even help the atmosphere.

I have no problem with these "fans" paying extra to get a beer. What I have a problem with is getting kicked out so that they can get a nice view of the pitch (presumably with no game in progress). What is wrong with a nice view of B&Q instead?

exactly, if they really want to look at the pitch then they can get it on a large screen tv. and it would cost less to put in.

I've been thinking the club have kept mentioning these plans are not finalised and could be subject to change, so what if they tell star that the plan right now is that this is a new drinking area for fans before and during the game, this keeps star onside for the time being as well as some as of the fans who may not be against this but are against something else.
then once the plans have been approved by the planning commitee they suggest a change, because they can make more money from executive boxes it is unrealistic not to build them rather than a expensive bar for supporters. It would only take minor changes to the current plans for this to happen but the money they would get increases alot.

at the end of the day the likes of Mr Howe do want the best for the club, but this is something that might although providing extra revenue and improving the bank balance of the club may have a hidden cost.
the men that run the club at the end of the day are business men and atmosphere comes second to profits, and yes we need profits to stay alive but the club is racking the money in right now thanks to the new tv deal and the new capacity will also bring in a fair amount once complete.
yes you may say the tv money could dry up, not any time soon though.

maybe i'm being paranoid about all this, maybe not. i'd rather just see the east stand as one big stand full of the everyday down to earth supporters rather than some business men who would be offended by people telling the ref/opposition players what they think of him.

[.:BigDaveInTheDungeon:.]

Madejski must be absolutely livid at the plans!

How much do you think he paid to get his name across the East Stand?
And you lot just moan about your seats and plaques.

i never thought of that, he must be warned!

[Coppelled Streets]

plus if you want to have a beer before the game in a nice place with carpet and soft chairs the jazz cafe already serves this purpose and is free to all current season ticket holders.

....and the plan is to double the number of people in the stand !

Sorry to be picky, but the East Stand isn't being doubled.
It's about a 6000 increase on an capacity of somewhere in the region of 8,000-9,000.

[STAR Liaison]

Boxes / padded seats, it will all have the same effect.

That's right - more money for the club to help them to keep on progressing.

Laughable.

With the revenue from Sky, our largest ever sponsors deal, this years bank balance (considering all the increased fan costs and club revenue yet a reaonsably small expenditure on players), yet again the deluded fan accepts RFC's treatment of the long term fan by citing the need for more money for RFC to continue progressing.

Explain the relevance of the increase in Sky money - surely all the other clubs in the premiership get that too so in competitive terms it is irrelevant. Personally I would like to see the whole idea of taking money from every direction to keep a few footballers in Bentleys to be a thing of the past, but it isn't. At the Fans Forum last night SC talked about the league in terms of money available and we have undoubtedly punched above our weight so far, but until there is a stadium extension (and if we want some of the new seats to be cheaper for to those outpriced surely we can allow some who have the money to contribute more) we will surely be constantly in the bottom third because our gate receipts put us there.

Maybe I am deluded but to be honest I think those (and I have no idea if you are on of them) who constantly spend JMs money paying Sidwell £25k a week or think we should spend quite a few million on his replacement are more deluded to think he will continue to plough money in and not expect those who come to watch to do the same. This idea of a hospitality area for East stand supporters seems a more innovative way of increasing the income stream than some.

[Jerry St Clair]

This story has made it onto the BBC site:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berk ... 563839.stm

[papereyes]

I think that story needs posting again ... again.

[bigmike]

Boxes / padded seats, it will all have the same effect.

That's right - more money for the club to help them to keep on progressing.

Laughable.

With the revenue from Sky, our largest ever sponsors deal, this years bank balance (considering all the increased fan costs and club revenue yet a reaonsably small expenditure on players), yet again the deluded fan accepts RFC's treatment of the long term fan by citing the need for more money for RFC to continue progressing.

Explain the relevance of the increase in Sky money - surely all the other clubs in the premiership get that too so in competitive terms it is irrelevant. Personally I would like to see the whole idea of taking money from every direction to keep a few footballers in Bentleys to be a thing of the past, but it isn't. At the Fans Forum last night SC talked about the league in terms of money available and we have undoubtedly punched above our weight so far, but until there is a stadium extension (and if we want some of the new seats to be cheaper for to those outpriced surely we can allow some who have the money to contribute more) we will surely be constantly in the bottom third because our gate receipts put us there.

Maybe I am deluded but to be honest I think those (and I have no idea if you are on of them) who constantly spend JMs money paying Sidwell £25k a week or think we should spend quite a few million on his replacement are more deluded to think he will continue to plough money in and not expect those who come to watch to do the same. This idea of a hospitality area for East stand supporters seems a more innovative way of increasing the income stream than some.

But why put hospitality in an area where you have to annoy some of your most Loyal support? Because the Club know that those are the fans who will be there through thick and thin. The same fans who wernt happy about paying the extra £200 last year however some people probably sold cars and took out loans to cover their tickets as they didn't have enough spare cash at the time.

Or am I being a little too suspicious?

[Behindu]

The same fans who wernt happy about paying the extra £200 last year however some people probably sold cars and took out loans to cover their tickets as they didn't have enough spare cash at the time.

Or am I being a little too suspicious?

If you have to sell a car to raise £200 you really aren't going to be paying £550 for a ST are you....

[Silver Fox]

But why put hospitality in an area where you have to annoy some of your most Loyal support?

Maybe they think their most loyal supporters, the wonderful east standers, are the most likely to take advantage of a premium members lounge?

[Y25]

I was like when i saw this on the official site

I think its a disgrace personally

I'm Y25 so hopefully are seats wont be affected but there is no need for the prawn sandwich brigade to spoil the East Stand

[bigmike]

The same fans who wernt happy about paying the extra £200 last year however some people probably sold cars and took out loans to cover their tickets as they didn't have enough spare cash at the time.

Or am I being a little too suspicious?

If you have to sell a car to raise £200 you really aren't going to be paying £550 for a ST are you....

Some familys still go do they not??? I know that the guy behind takes his 3 sons.. Some people have to fork out more than a months wages.

Not everyone in Berkshire earns massive amounts of money

[Russell Street]

I thought that area was going to be the new disabled area. Anyway, we're Row W!!! Cheerio you miserable barstewards who sit directly behind us!!!

That's all very well for you to say cos they sit in front of me....If I have to move and end up near them I will not be a happy bunny!

[Royal Lady]

I thought that area was going to be the new disabled area. Anyway, we're Row W!!! Cheerio you miserable barstewards who sit directly behind us!!!

That's all very well for you to say cos they sit in front of me....If I have to move and end up near them I will not be a happy bunny!

There's a spare seat right in front of me, that is not used by a ST holder. You could move there and be nearer your mum and dad too. Everyone's a winner! Except the miserable old sods behind me and in front of you!!!

[Top Flight]

Why can't they locate this hospitality area at the very back of the current east stand and then build a new tier of seating above the hospitality level. They could model it on Arsenal's club class level.......... The middle tier of the emirates.

Its an Fffing disgrace to tear out the middle of the East Stand for a hospitality lounge.

Its not right to move the most loyal and long standing fans. I am somewhere in the middle of the east stand and I will not be impressed if I have to be reseated and even if I'm not involved I don't think its right for my fellow long standing and loyal fans to be repositioned.

The back of the East Stand is too far away as far as I'm concerned. I don't want to sit that far back or even further in a new elevated section. I couldn't see jack sh*t up at Newcastle.

If they plan to remove the Jazz bar then they must find a replacement. I will be heavily Fffd off if they take away my jazz bar. I need a pint after the game for the car park to clear. I don't wanna be sitting in the car listening to Tim Dellor for 1 hour before we can get out the car park.

I am getting seriously annoyed by RFC at the moment.......... They need to think about their fans a little bit more. The whole product on offer in the premier league is not good competition. There is no promotion to challenge for, there is no title to realistically compete for...... Whats the Fffing point? We could now be subjected to 30 years of the mid table mediocrity that Coventry City fans had to endure before they were put out of their misery and relegated from the Premier League.

Bring back real football for F**ks sake! I think I might relocate to Spain and start supporting Hercules of Alicante or Elche or Malaga or Real Mallorca or someone like that and start sunning it in my Iberian Villa! F**K UK house prices and F**K overpriced football.

[Northern Git]

As I understand it from some random bloke at the club, who may or may not have something to do with the finance side of things, the area is ear marked for an ‘executive bar and eating area’ for supporters. Not, like the areas in the West stand, individual boxes with seating in front for ten people.

Suppose it will be a bit like the Platinum club at Newcastle in their Milburn Stand.
Separate entrance into bar / restaurant area. Direct access into the seats. Seats padded leather. Complimentary programme. Player / old player visits pre and post match. Pre-ordering of half time refreshments - bit like at the theatre. Been a couple of times (work for a Newcastle based company whose MD has seats in there) and its a nice way to watch football and have a few beers, especially the pre ordering half time drinks which is brilliant BTW – drinks waiting on a table – no queues!

But if you think it is going to be cheap – forget it. At Newcastle it costs and EXTRA £285.00 per season on top of the normal Milburn stand ticket prices - and that does not include any food!

So I suppose the question is are there 400 odd Reading supporters willing to cough up around £830 for a season ticket for that added bit of comfort and service? Suspect there are.

[paultheroyal]

Amazing what people would throw money at - and i reckon they would fill it.

[aardvark]

I'm all for expansion of the East Stand - more people can see games that currently sell out- maybe some cheaper tickets (is that what "imaginative pricing" means?). Some sympathy for those who get relocated by the hospitality thingy maybe - but only a bit. I'm sure the increased capacity stand will become a wall of noise (except when the away team score first).
I say enjoy the good times - we might do a Swindon/Barnsley/Leeds one day.

[.:BigDaveInTheDungeon:.]

so again why can't they build it in the south stand where the most loyal supporters won't be put out?

[The 17 Bus]

so again why can't they build it in the south stand where the most loyal supporters won't be put out?

why not have think about what you just posted, the clue might be in away fans.

[.:BigDaveInTheDungeon:.]

I'm all for expansion of the East Stand - more people can see games that currently sell out- maybe some cheaper tickets (is that what "imaginative pricing" means?). Some sympathy for those who get relocated by the hospitality thingy maybe - but only a bit. I'm sure the increased capacity stand will become a wall of noise (except when the away team score first).
I say enjoy the good times - we might do a Swindon/Barnsley/Leeds one day.

it won't become a wall of noise because it will have the section in the middle cut out of it and replaced with some rather vocal glass.
i notice there are no seats on the plans either so where will these padded seats mentioned in a previous post go or will they have to rip out more seats to create a encolsed area for the special few.