Re: My review of the stadium... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 1:13 pm  

Viking Vengeance wrote:

For what its worth, the stadium looks really nice from the outside, but is just a slightly larger version of the Halliwell Jones on the inside. Breeze blocks everywhere.

You've just described the Halton Stadium too. In fact, pretty much every sports stadium in existence. Who is going to spend loads of money on plastering and paint only to have fans destroy it in minutes? Nobody with a brain in their head. At least Saints have put legends pictures on the walls and little Robinsons signs. Unlike Widnes, where there is just breeze block all over the place. Oh, and toilets with just one hand dryer and taps that don't work. Not to mention a freezing wind even in summer and horrible smells.

Re: My review of the stadium... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 2:23 pm  

Couldnt agree more. Bring back Naughton Park any day, lol. FWIW I didnt say that ours WASNT like that, I just reviewed yours which was what the thread was about I believe? (despite the oh-so-obvious fishing by Saddened).

As it happens, I dont go near the concourses at Widnes, I am a resident of the members section and guess what? A rather tasteful lounge with real plaster, paintwork, wallpaper, seats, tables, televisions and proper bars for me and my fellow supporters before the game, at half time and after the match. You get what you pay for I guess...

I like the Langtree overall. It will become an icon just like Knowsley Road in time im sure, once the teething period is over.

Re: My review of the stadium... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 3:07 pm  

The North Stand concourse could certainly do with some protection from the elements. Very wet and windy and standing pools of water is not a good thing to have around a bar area. I can live with that though and it didn't bother me too much.

However, where do I begin with the bar staff? I thought there had been a great escape from Jeremy Kyle's holding pen and they had taken up refuge in Langtree Park. To say they were simply awful would be flattering. If they all got together and worked as a team they could probably accumulate a brain cell between them. I have absolutely no doubt Saints lost a lot of revenue last night due to the idiocy of the staff. A couple of examples:

1. My mate got 2 pints of Saints gold and a hot dog as we entered the stadium at 6:30, the total of which comes to £8.80. Upon giving the staff a £20 note my friend received £17 change and a thank you. A loss of £5.80 right away.

2. Somebody else was at the bar and got £4.30 worth of drinks and food and paid with a £5 note. The girl behind the bar for some reason couldn't figure out how much change she needed to give. She gave him 50p after a deliberation, to which he replied 'I need 70p'. After another minute or so of looking completely baffled she gave him another £1, giving him £1.50, the man laughed and walked off.

There are plenty of other examples that happened to just 2 of us which resulted in us not going back to the bar during or after half time and Saints probably losing about £15 from us. I'm sure this is the case with many other people too. I'm not one to moan usually but this is simply unacceptable, in the current climate on unemployment there are plenty of people looking for work who could have done a far far better job than the frankly stupid staff Saints had on last night. It took 3 of them 10 minutes to figure out how to give me some change from the till.

This needs to be sorted out quickly otherwise Saints will lose thousands of pounds over the season.

Re: My review of the stadium... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 3:10 pm  

Viking Vengeance wrote:

Couldnt agree more. Bring back Naughton Park any day, lol. FWIW I didnt say that ours WASNT like that, I just reviewed yours which was what the thread was about I believe? (despite the oh-so-obvious fishing by Saddened).

As it happens, I dont go near the concourses at Widnes, I am a resident of the members section and guess what? A rather tasteful lounge with real plaster, paintwork, wallpaper, seats, tables, televisions and proper bars for me and my fellow supporters before the game, at half time and after the match. You get what you pay for I guess...

I like the Langtree overall. It will become an icon just like Knowsley Road in time im sure, once the teething period is over.

Its good to get the opinion of an away supporter that isn't tainted with the ecstacy of a Saints speccie who has waited for years to get this ground. Even Saddened has struggled to contain his positive feelings, and you have to forgive his minor fishing efforts.

I couldn't get to the game last night, but if I could have done, I would have queued for an hour for a pint of Saints Gold and a scratty burger in three feet of freezing water, and still been smiling. Crap PA, tiny scoreboard, naff entertainment, who cares? Chairman Mac has delivered us his promised ground, with a few minor foibles, but they cannot take away from Saints fans overwhelming happiness at finally being in our new home.

Re: My review of the stadium... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 3:15 pm  

SomersetSaint wrote:

I couldn't get to the game last night, but if I could have done, I would have queued for an hour for a pint of Saints Gold and a scratty burger in three feet of freezing water, and still been smiling. Crap PA, tiny scoreboard, naff entertainment, who cares? Chairman Mac has delivered us his promised ground, with a few minor foibles, but they cannot take away from Saints fans overwhelming happiness at finally being in our new home.

I was exceptionally happy at being in Langtree Park, the Saints gold was a very nice pint and at £2.80 great value. After you've queued a few times though it gets a little tedious.

Re: My review of the stadium... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 3:28 pm  

I have to agree with most of the gripes but anybody who claims they everything right first time is lying. As regards the queues, I can't think of any stadium where I haven't had to queue ages for beer. Headingley western terrace is legendary and they have those multipour things. There was a guy in front of me that left his seat at half time and was back sitting down with a tray of beers before the second half started

Re: My review of the stadium... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 3:30 pm  

BackrowSaint wrote:

I was exceptionally happy at being in Langtree Park, the Saints gold was a very nice pint and at £2.80 great value. After you've queued a few times though it gets a little tedious.

Well next time take a tray and buy in bulk, that way you only need to queue once

Re: My review of the stadium... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 3:32 pm  

BackrowSaint wrote:

However, where do I begin with the bar staff?

I would suggest you begin by cutting them some slack. Most of them will be new recruits. They need to learn the ropes. You can have weeks of training but nothing prepares you in any job for the actual hands on doing the job. They will become familiar with their roles, the stock, the pressure, and all of it over time. I felt real sorry for them last night and I hope they didn't cop abuse (but I suspect they may have done because I know how rude and demanding some people can be).

Re: My review of the stadium... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 3:34 pm  

Harry Pinner wrote:

I have to agree with most of the gripes but anybody who claims they everything right first time is lying. As regards the queues, I can't think of any stadium where I haven't had to queue ages for beer. Headingley western terrace is legendary and they have those multipour things. There was a guy in front of me that left his seat at half time and was back sitting down with a tray of beers before the second half started

I have no problem in queueing for beer because it's busy, none at all and I was expecting most things to not go to plan at the first game. The thing that worries me is that I genuinely don't think the staff have the capacity to deal with it whether it's the 1st or he 100th game at the stadium. It wasn't anything to do with the stadium, it was basic common sense and intelligence that was lacking, as I said earlier, I can see Saints losing a lot of money over the season with the same staff.

Re: My review of the stadium... : Sat Jan 21, 2012 3:39 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

I would suggest you begin by cutting them some slack. Most of them will be new recruits. They need to learn the ropes. You can have weeks of training but nothing prepares you in any job for the actual hands on doing the job. They will become familiar with their roles, the stock, the pressure, and all of it over time. I felt real sorry for them last night and I hope they didn't cop abuse (but I suspect they may have done because I know how rude and demanding some people can be).

I can honestly say they didn't get any abuse from me, that wouldn't of been fair, they were struggling enough as it is.

I don't conform to your view of 'they need to learn the ropes' though. Yes I expected some problems with perhaps managing the till and issues like that. I worked on a till as a part-time job when I was doing my A levels and it can be a little confusing at first with the new systems, however the user-interface is usually easy to navigate around with the slightest bit of intelligence and initiative. The problem I have is after 18/19 years of their life they can't manage £5 - £4.30, they're not going to be able to. I don't want to be horrible about it but they simply don't have the brain capacity to deal with these roles. I'm sure there are far better options looking inside the job centre everyday for some work.