We need one. Anfield has basically turned a car park into there's, as have Everton and it creates such a buzz outside the stadium in a match day and is something to occupy the kids. We have a much nicer setting in West Park for one and could help add to the match day experience. (As a side note, the stewards in the home sections for where I could see we're very engaging with the kids. They pulled the mascot over for photos and even let some of the kids hold and feel the match ball at half time. Our stewards should be friendlier like this). What sort of things would you want to see in the Fan Park?
Kids get half a coke in the pub and maybe a packet of crisps but most importantly by sitting in the pub listening to the adults, they get to learn what supporting this club is about, providing they are around proper fans. I'd never take my kids to a fan park, sod that. The entertainment is the game, don't need any Americanisation plastic entertainment thanks. What next a cook out?
God no, too PL for me. What next ffs? Cheerleaders? Goal music? Lord save us all from this, this that is all that's wrong with the modern game.
Wasn't this discussed at the fan's forum thingy. Sure I read they'd announced City were in talks with the council to transform West Park into a fan's park. Maybe I imagined it?
So... So far we have a beer garden and that's it I'd invite some local businesses to be apart of it and sell their food like Bob Carvers sell some patties for example. I'd also invite local bands to play on some sort of stage.
O.K. We need to get some decent food traders in the park. Someone like Pie or, like you say, Bob Carver. If you've ever been to Anfield or Old Trafford you'll know what I mean. It's wall to wall burger vans, tea and coffee vans and all sorts of stalls flogging scarfs, shirts and flags. All we have is a tiny tea van near the Gemtec and the lady with the badges.
I reckon, the triangle of wasteland to the left of the walkway could be used. It's part of the smc land anyway. At one end is what's left of the original ground. It could be incorporated into a stand and have an area in front for exhibitions, fans mini-football etc. It could form the basis of a club museum. Further round could be a franchise area for local brewers and other local business to ply their trade. All of which in my view should be independent of the club. It'd work for rugby too. If it eventually lead to permanent structures, it could be a home for fan groups. It's got to be better than weeds and piebald ponies.
Some really good points there. We could defo use some merch shops/stands and plenty of food/drink stalls. A mini stage for live bands and some goals for a pre-match kick around for 5 a sides or whatever like what they have at Wembley. I think Goodison Park had a bingo stall... I think that's probably too far but some games wouldn't hurt. Penalty shoot out with Roary/Tigers Trust?
I was talking to a steward on Saturday who stated that they were lagging behind Arsenal on match day takings by £3 million per match. I did query the numbers but when you think they only have 10 boxes and a few hospitality areas, hence their desperation to build the new stands and all the knocked down houses behind the centenary stand. The fans zone area used to be run by a few private businesses( chippies and hot dog stalls) but now its a corporate area with all the money going to the club. The flip side is all the protests over pricing and locals missing out to football tourists which is ripping the heart out of the club. For a variety of reasons we were in a corporate area above our fans and we were surrounded by Scandinavian s, turks, chinese and american "fans".
