Just left the Brighton ground and have to commend them for their fantastic hosting. Bars were kept open afterwards to avoid the train crush and had a couple of good chats with the stewards then when they closed the away end we were welcomed into the home bar by both fans and stewards. Top day out, shame we didn't take 3 points but other than that a great football experience, thank you Brighton!
Yep! I joked when I got there that they'd put that on just for us only for the barman to reply "we did actually"
I've got to agree with that. The stewards down the front of the stand were excellent. The ground was excellent, I was concerned about getting away from the ground after the match but must say the staff at the railway station also handled it brilliantly. We were back in the car by 8 pm and back on route home soon after. I was also impressed with their marketing as well. The food came in coporate BHA boxes and even the receipts had their details on the top (not saying we should be given receipts but it shows they are customer focussed). I was also impressed with the way the crowd were encoraged to make noise and sing before the kick off. It really was the best trip I've been on, or would have been if we came away with the 3 points. We as a club could really learn something about customer services from them. Well done BHA.
you did nt go to Peterboro this season, or many other traditional experiences that rank much higher. Brighton is good ground in the middle of no where, much like Doncaster or Scunthorpe but with an uncharacteristic 3 tier monster down one side. The whole experience is quite fabricated including the atmospher. Also, I always feel uncomfortable being forced to watch 'underage' schoolgirl dancers performing provocatively for a supposed 'stars & stripes' effect. Would the Police encourage young female schoolgirls to perform in such a way for the 'titilation' (entertainment?) of a playground full of adults who they dont know?
I had a mixed day. Traveling by train from Southampton was not quite the integrated transport network that I envisaged it would be. £15 return was good value, but I did not get home until mid-night and that did not include a drink in Brighton although I did enjoy the after match pint in the stadium. The burger was 100% and considering that it was the same price as most other grounds the food and drink was good value. The fans where friendly and the stewards not bad. Although their timing with the standers at the front was poor, if you want to stop the standing start at the off, not during the second half! Crowd wise I sometimes despair. Away crowds are divided into the hardened supporter who never misses a trip type, the left Hull to better myself and did or I left Ull but Ull never left me. I love the first lot for their passion and feel like I'm part of the last lot, but the middle ones do my head in. Before the match I sat in a pub half full of city supporters who's backsides never ever graced the benches in Bob Carvers tent, they always went to the Gainsborough. Middle class who use football to badge up their roots and who find singing is a touch too much working class, never mind standing up if "U are Ull City" made for a quieter than usual away end. But even I, miserable old git that I am, found cheer. I just love the football that Nigel Pearson has brought us. It is by far the most positive and constructive that I have ever seen us play. McLean let himself get fazed by a defender and should have scored. I was actually lucky enough to speak to him after the game. His shot against the post was a cracker. But the Man of the Match has to be Basso. His saves were at times world class. To hold the ball in the way he did was something that keepers like Myhill need to study. To be honest it is hard to fault the team or the tactics. Brighton are no pushover. They are strong in attack and only lack mid field possession. The fact is and I put my hand up to this. I now find the matches so entertaining, that I sometimes just get into the zone of it and forget to sing and chant. Its hard to put into words but enthralled may be the one that I'm seeking. I used to be a hockey umpire and when I was training for it, a very high level umpire told me that umpiring would change forever the way that I watch sport. I did not think it had, but now I know he was right. Yesterday for 90 of the 95 minutes played I concentrated like a perv in a playground.
the ground is **** imo, one 3 tiered stand, and 3 ****ty little ones, no corners, **** transport system...and dont get me started on the bouncers on he doors in brighton town centre....****ers. good point tho.
I found the Amex rather odd, having such a massive stand at one side seems a very strange way of laying out a new stadium, didn't look right at all, but there's a lot we can learn from them in the food and drink department. Not putting dog food in our pies would be a good start.
Did their catering staff know how to speak English? Or did they have a bloke wander round screaming "c'mon codheads get your hotdogs from a Leeds fan"?
In the ground they were pretty good, but in Brighton generally, it seemed you had to be either Polish or Chinese to get a job. I stayed in a hotel, had one breakfast, two lunches and one dinner and I didn't get served by a single English person during the entire two days. A sign of the times.
