Fanzone Closed Till Bolton Match

[Bombadel]

literally the biggest England games for generations.

England played in world cup semi 3 years ago? Or do you just mean cause people are going apeshit for some reason this time?

“People going apeshit for some reason” could have something to do with. The nostalgia related to beating and knocking out Germany for the first time in a magor tournament since 66. Best chance of winning it since 96, semis and final at Wembley with the easiest route on paper. 3 years ago we met a very good Croatia team, but now there’s a very really possibility of getting to the final. Arguably a better team now than 3 years ago

[PRR]

England played in world cup semi 3 years ago? Or do you just mean cause people are going apeshit for some reason this time?

“People going apeshit for some reason” could have something to do with. The nostalgia related to beating and knocking out Germany for the first time in a magor tournament since 66. Best chance of winning it since 96, semis and final at Wembley with the easiest route on paper. 3 years ago we met a very good Croatia team, but now there’s a very really possibility of getting to the final. Arguably a better team now than 3 years ago

It’s just the Euros, calm your jets.

We by no means have the best quality team or players in the tournament but Southgate has played to our strengths and got his tactics spot on. Maguire and Stirling have been standouts in some overall average performances. And that lad from Leeds played well first game.

[Bombadel]

“People going apeshit for some reason” could have something to do with. The nostalgia related to beating and knocking out Germany for the first time in a magor tournament since 66. Best chance of winning it since 96, semis and final at Wembley with the easiest route on paper. 3 years ago we met a very good Croatia team, but now there’s a very really possibility of getting to the final. Arguably a better team now than 3 years ago

It’s just the Euros, calm your jets.

We by no means have the best quality team or players in the tournament but Southgate has played to our strengths and got his tactics spot on. Maguire and Stirling have been standouts in some overall average performances. And that lad from Leeds played well first game.

It’s a major tournament we’ve waited 5 years to compete in. If we get to the final it will be remembered and talked about for decades. It’s not just the Euros, this, my friend. Is…. Football!

[Steeley]

It’s just the Euros, calm your jets.

We by no means have the best quality team or players in the tournament but Southgate has played to our strengths and got his tactics spot on. Maguire and Stirling have been standouts in some overall average performances. And that lad from Leeds played well first game.

It’s a major tournament we’ve waited 5 years to compete in. If we get to the final it will be remembered and talked about for decades. It’s not just the Euros, this, my friend. Is…. Football!

Absolutely.
Also beating Germany is literally the first time I've seen us beat anyone actually decent in a tournament knock out in my life time. Usually we scrape past the Sweden's of the world and crash out to anyone half decent.
Point is it's a bloody opportunity to open a literal football fan zone at a stadium and we have it closed for a major international tournament cos seemingly there's no one to work on a bar that only serves bottles anyway...

[boyliegladbach]

It’s a major tournament we’ve waited 5 years to compete in. If we get to the final it will be remembered and talked about for decades. It’s not just the Euros, this, my friend. Is…. Football!

Absolutely.
Also beating Germany is literally the first time I've seen us beat anyone actually decent in a tournament knock out in my life time. Usually we scrape past the Sweden's of the world and crash out to anyone half decent.
Point is it's a bloody opportunity to open a literal football fan zone at a stadium and we have it closed for a major international tournament cos seemingly there's no one to work on a bar that only serves bottles anyway...

Especially after a shit year of no football, last summer was a write off, sat at home watching videos asking us for money whilst showing us the progress being made with our money at the fanzone.

Then we hear "We took the decision to do it properly rather than temporarily"
Then, follow England at the euros
Then there's no draught, no staff and apparently the big screen isn't very good.

Then it closes.

[PRR]

It’s just the Euros, calm your jets.

We by no means have the best quality team or players in the tournament but Southgate has played to our strengths and got his tactics spot on. Maguire and Stirling have been standouts in some overall average performances. And that lad from Leeds played well first game.

It’s a major tournament we’ve waited 5 years to compete in. If we get to the final it will be remembered and talked about for decades. It’s not just the Euros, this, my friend. Is…. Football!

I’m all for people enjoying football and finding a bit of joy, I’m just not feeling the collective Euro boner in my strides that some are.

[SayitagainSam]

If Harry can open the door at 6pm tomorrow, I'll be there with bottle-opener in-hand, cash-box and a £50 float. I'll turn the TV on. Perthbluebird can wait on tables. Supporters will enjoy a great night and the profits can pay for some paint. Will turn off the lights as I leave. That was easy!

[PerthBluebird]

If Harry can open the door at 6pm tomorrow, I'll be there with bottle-opener in-hand, cash-box and a £50 float. I'll turn the TV on. Perthbluebird can wait on tables. Supporters will enjoy a great night and the profits can pay for some paint. Will turn off the lights as I leave. That was easy!

Deal ill use me teeth

[barrowfan]

And boyliegladbach can do some cheerleading as he's such a happy soul.

[MisterPleasant]

“People going apeshit for some reason” could have something to do with. The nostalgia related to beating and knocking out Germany for the first time in a magor tournament since 66. Best chance of winning it since 96, semis and final at Wembley with the easiest route on paper. 3 years ago we met a very good Croatia team, but now there’s a very really possibility of getting to the final. Arguably a better team now than 3 years ago

It’s just the Euros, calm your jets.

We by no means have the best quality team or players in the tournament but Southgate has played to our strengths and got his tactics spot on. Maguire and Stirling have been standouts in some overall average performances. And that lad from Leeds played well first game.

On a scale where Newbarnsboy is 1 and Wasting beer by throwing it in the air is 10, I'd say that's a solid 8.5

[spirit of 1990]

We feel the need to clear some things up:

Yes the Trust said we were going to open for all the England games however during the 3 games it became apparent we just didn't have the resources or capacity to do so. We can only apologies that we couldn't deliver what we wanted to.

The events were volunteer run and we struggled at times to get enough because most were football fans who want to watch the game themselves. We also found enthusiastic amateurs are no substitution for technical knowledge and experience if challenges or issues happened.

The Fan Zone never had the potential that we are seeing done successfully elsewhere due to the size and limited covid capacity.

The digs or issues aimed at Harry are unfair. He is working extremely hard to restart multiple facilities (Crossbar, Corporate, Fan Zone, Food Outlets, Away Bar etc) that have lay dormant or deteriorated since March 2020 including brewery agreements, food suppliers, purchasing equipment and employing staff. He has a huge task to get all of this in place.

This is alongside most of the main building being a building site.

We are happy to discuss any of this further, please get in touch with us at info@bluebirdstrust.co.uk

Thanks for trying to clear this up but I still have a couple of questions, I know you gave the Trust e-mail address but as I know of a lot of of people have raised these points I think it’s only fair they are put on here rather than private. This is not trying to knock in any way whatsoever what has been done by volunteers but are genuine questions.

1/ Why were the Trust involved, were you asked or did you volunteer to run it?
2/ If you volunteered why did no one think that volunteers would want to watch the games on the screens?
3/ Why were the club not running this with FT bar staff? surely that would have made sense.
4/ I can honestly say the last couple of years in the X Bar has been the best I’ve EVER seen it run, why was Simon Dutton not asked to continue or even run both, surely that would have made sense.
5/ Did anyone ever consider renting one, or two vans with the screens on the back as done elsewhere and utilising not only the fanzone but the west terrace?
6/ Was any professional advice taken on the screen we have, ie size and suitability for a fanzone?
7/ Probably the most important question, can we expect a professional service at the Bolton friendly (hopefully a very good sized gate) when the staff will have had absolutely no experience in running the bar as a match day concern?

As I say, genuine questions because all we can see is other clubs and businesses making money whilst we don’t.

[Jonty]

We feel the need to clear some things up:

Yes the Trust said we were going to open for all the England games however during the 3 games it became apparent we just didn't have the resources or capacity to do so. We can only apologies that we couldn't deliver what we wanted to.

The events were volunteer run and we struggled at times to get enough because most were football fans who want to watch the game themselves. We also found enthusiastic amateurs are no substitution for technical knowledge and experience if challenges or issues happened.

The Fan Zone never had the potential that we are seeing done successfully elsewhere due to the size and limited covid capacity.

The digs or issues aimed at Harry are unfair. He is working extremely hard to restart multiple facilities (Crossbar, Corporate, Fan Zone, Food Outlets, Away Bar etc) that have lay dormant or deteriorated since March 2020 including brewery agreements, food suppliers, purchasing equipment and employing staff. He has a huge task to get all of this in place.

This is alongside most of the main building being a building site.

We are happy to discuss any of this further, please get in touch with us at info@bluebirdstrust.co.uk

Thanks for trying to clear this up but I still have a couple of questions, I know you gave the Trust e-mail address but as I know of a lot of of people have raised these points I think it’s only fair they are put on here rather than private. This is not trying to knock in any way whatsoever what has been done by volunteers but are genuine questions.

1/ Why were the Trust involved, were you asked or did you volunteer to run it?
2/ If you volunteered why did no one think that volunteers would want to watch the games on the screens?
3/ Why were the club not running this with FT bar staff? surely that would have made sense.
4/ I can honestly say the last couple of years in the X Bar has been the best I’ve EVER seen it run, why was Simon Dutton not asked to continue or even run both, surely that would have made sense.
5/ Did anyone ever consider renting one, or two vans with the screens on the back as done elsewhere and utilising not only the fanzone but the west terrace?
6/ Probably the most important question, can we expect a professional service at the Bolton friendly (hopefully a very good sized gate) when the staff will have had absolutely no experience in running the bar as a match day concern?

As I say, genuine questions because all we can see is other clubs and businesses making money whilst we don’t.

When you think about the staffing needed, it’s a lot.... Fanzone, Crossbar, Hospitality rooms, new away Directors lounge, away fan bar, food huts. Not to mention the next day clean up. Add to that, pretty much starting from scratch. Wouldn't be surprise if we looking at 30+ match day staff. Its an enormous challenge for the club and pretty much straight into it with no practice run. Good luck, hope the fans cut them some slack!

We cannot expect budding next day volunteers to take up the stadium clean up going forward. It needs proper resourcing.

[PerthBluebird]

Thanks for trying to clear this up but I still have a couple of questions, I know you gave the Trust e-mail address but as I know of a lot of of people have raised these points I think it’s only fair they are put on here rather than private. This is not trying to knock in any way whatsoever what has been done by volunteers but are genuine questions.

1/ Why were the Trust involved, were you asked or did you volunteer to run it?
2/ If you volunteered why did no one think that volunteers would want to watch the games on the screens?
3/ Why were the club not running this with FT bar staff? surely that would have made sense.
4/ I can honestly say the last couple of years in the X Bar has been the best I’ve EVER seen it run, why was Simon Dutton not asked to continue or even run both, surely that would have made sense.
5/ Did anyone ever consider renting one, or two vans with the screens on the back as done elsewhere and utilising not only the fanzone but the west terrace?
6/ Probably the most important question, can we expect a professional service at the Bolton friendly (hopefully a very good sized gate) when the staff will have had absolutely no experience in running the bar as a match day concern?

As I say, genuine questions because all we can see is other clubs and businesses making money whilst we don’t.

When you think about the staffing needed, it’s a lot.... Fanzone, Crossbar, Hospitality rooms, new away Directors lounge, away fan bar, food huts. Not to mention the next day clean up. Add to that, pretty much starting from scratch. Wouldn't be surprise if we looking at 30+ match day staff. Its an enormous challenge for the club and pretty much straight into it with no practice run. Good luck, hope the fans cut them some slack!

We cannot expect budding next day volunteers to take up the stadium clean up going forward. It needs proper resourcing.

Its time for us too go professional in every aspect off the club we should be finding ways to pull away from the volunteer model atm. Volunteering method cant go on forever. Same folk raising money year after year from their own pockets we must maximise our assets. We need to break even down the road. I don't want too see another we are desperate for money post raise more money ect. When we just dont use our facilities. I tell you the Bolton game better be squeaky 9/10 levels with missing out on this.

[Wintergreen]

Or you'll do what?

Stop going?

That would be great.

If I was a volunteer I would be throwing the towel in about now to escape further trolling.

Have you no concept of how far we have come and the unprecedented level of investment we are currently enjoying? It's obvious you weren't around in our darkest hours - you wouldn't have the stomach for it.

[PerthBluebird]

Or you'll do what?

Stop going?

That would be great.

If I was a volunteer I would be throwing the towel in about now to escape further trolling.

Have you no concept of how far we have come and the unprecedented level of investment we are currently enjoying? It's obvious you weren't around in our darkest hours - you wouldn't have the stomach for it.

I spent a full summer 10 years ago painting the entire ground when about 10 folk went down before moving away.