....just a copy and paste from OTIB. A Q&A session was held at the Gate with fans and staff about the proposed re-build. I particularly like the answer to the question of bringing inflatables to the game v Crew....made I larf! Q: Where will the away fans be going? A: In the Atyeo, but not decided which side yet due to the fact there are current season ticket holders and the family section who we need to speak to like we are with you guys tonight, thoughts are the Atyeo would possibly be split segregation not to much difference than the current East end. Q: Is there scope to provide unreserved areas in a stand e.g Williams E-F? (although at first the club bods seemed puzzled by the term unreserved as EE tickets have seat numbers, once explained it was yes) A. Yes the club will look to put 500 seats in the area of Williams D, E & F Blocks Q: What will the tolerance to some forms of so called bad language be seeing that some songs and chants heard in the Eastend contain the odd p's & q's? A: Common sense will be applied however please have a look around you and self assess before using certain forms of language but be mindful that aggressive language inflicted to any persons getting in to peoples faces would not be tolerated, fan to fan or fan to staff.. Also please be mindful of the recently installed disabled section in the Williams as they had a torrid time during the Bristol derby with city fans trying to climb over them to get at the Rovers fans. At this point, it was pointed out this was rare and would not happen due to a building site with no away fans next to the stand to attract this type of behaviour and flash points tends to be near the away fans but are more rare these days. Q: Can fans that are in the East end now transfer out this season to other stands? A: Yes, call the ticket office for details. Q: If fans moved to this Williams D, E & F Blocks then what bar facilities would be available? A: There is the legends bar (although a small room with limited numbers) and also kiosks which sell alcohol, We can also move the EE natch bar over to the Williams if needed. Q: Can we still use the flags on poles in the Williams area? A: Yes in the lower area but be mindful of the weather conditions and Justin (the new safety officer said to the lad asking the question) I noticed one of you trying to fly it in high wind the other week and you almost got blown over so just want to make sure you are safe and those around you but yes no problem with flags on poles and this is also the case with the surfer flags. Q: What will the tolerance to standing be as regards to the current East end? A: Let's make it clear Ashton gate is an all seated stadium and in various areas of Ashton gate like the Dolman stand zero tolerance to standing will be applied, however in areas like the lower rakes of stands like the Williams for example some common sense would be applied but we have to state again Ashton gate is an all seated stadium. Also zero tolerance to standing will apply to any segregation area in the Atyeo. Q: Cardiff have an official standing area so can Bristol city? A: Not quite true it is not an official area and people jumped the gun in the media, however they do use a common sense approach a bit like the East end but again the official line is All seated stadiums until such time any legal legislation changes Q: If you choose a stand to move to but do not like it then can you transfer to another stand and so on? A: Yes that should not be a problem and call the ticket office Q: Will any current East end prices be reflected in another stand e.g. areas next to a building site? A: The club will see that the East end fans moving would get a fair price and further announcements will be made after consulting the rest of the stands . Q: Souvenir seats. Will these have a price? A: Yes for a small donation to the community trust no priced fixed as yet and we will be looking to do an open day for fans to come and take pictures and talk about souvenirs, buying stuff will need to be assessed as if someone wanted to buy part of the stands pillars then you would need to wait until the contractors can safely take it down. But please help us police things on the last home game as we don't want people ripping up stuff and taking it on that match day... Q. Would the club consider selling some commemorative memorabilia e.g Robin badge with profits going towards flags or artwork? A: You would have to speak to the retail manager in the city shop as he is not present tonight but we would not rule it out, but yes based on your designs come and have a chat. Q: Will the area in front of the building work feature advertising, or could this be used for fans flags/artwork on boards? A: Yes parts possible advertising but no reason why flags and art can't go up with it.. Q: If a significant number of fans move into the Williams stand E-F would it be possible to move artwork on boards from the East end into the concourse? A: Yes art work can be moved over get in touch to arrange this. Q: Will there be a commemorative programme, and could this feature pictures of matches of the East end this season e.g. Swindon? A: Yes but it is planned for the Preston home game as the club are doing a memories theme day in aid of Alzheimer's group, but also could put more in for the Crewe home game programme. Q: Can supporters in other stands transfer into the Eastend in advance? A: Yes speak to the ticket office. Q: If City are allowing as many fans as possible into the Eastend, will this mean City fans who occupy H block will have to move for the support of Crewe? A: All depends on the scenario of the game ie: relegation or safety for both teams and how many Crewe fans will come, we will try and find out in advance but thoughts are around 4-500 will come from Crewe, however we will do everything possible to get as many city fans in to the Eastend who wants to be in there. Q: Would it be possible to have some form of confetti/streamer display in G-H block, and would fans be expected to clear up post display? A: Yes but come and have a chat with the new safety officer (Justin) to bring him up to speed on how this works. Q: Can we bring in inflatables for the last home game? A: Yes as long as it is not offensive ie: no blow up porn dolls or inflatable cocks but sheep are ok.. Q: Would there be some sort of party or celebration to commemorate the Eastend? A: Yes the club are looking in to doing something, maybe a band for some fans from the Eastend although we know some of you will be at the three lions flag day, Q: To Stuart Rogers (chairman of the supporters club and trust) Would the trust also consider doing a party to celebration to commemorate the Eastend like their forthcoming event of the 40th anniversary of FA cup Leeds v City? and invite former players.. A: Yes the trust could look at doing something, we were going to do a book about Ashton gate memories if we moved to Ashton vale, obviously this is not going to happen but we can rethink and look again at doing something..
Away fans in the Atyeo might be a headache for bigger games. Having said that, if we're in L2 next season, there will be plenty of empty seats everywhere and the only 'big' games will be Newport, Exeter, Oxford (if they dont go up) Cheltenham, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Torquay and the Gas if the latter three survive and dont go into the Conference. Potentially plenty of local derbies to look forward to if 'look forward to' is the right expresssion....
E-F Williams are more or less empty now. Clear that several hundred will move from EE there as many moved v MK Dons for a match. That will still leave 700+? from EE to put somewhere and a lot of fans moving in the Atyeo. Big changes ahead season to season for some now. Weird way the musical chairs could help season ticket sales. Buy your seat or lose it
Look, I may be going against the grain here, I spent many a year standing in the Wedlock in my dark distant past, god bless all present day fans in there but they are no more beneficial or important than any other fan, supporter or stand in any other part of the ground, in fact they are a minority. Culture, history, loyalty, ask any other bald or greytop in the ground, you will get your answers. Let's get all opinions, all around the gate, not just a small if not important minority.
Think they are singled out wiz because this is where the atmosphere comes from. The club wouldn't want too "upset" the Eastend lot as without them.... its a library
The meeting was about relocating 1200 fans from the Eastend and possible last match celebrations v Crewe in the same stand. Anybody could attend, and anybody could ask a question via e mail [I did]. The stand is being knocked down, 1200 fans will require an alternative space. It is a definite. There will be a meeting regarding the Atyeo. At this point it appears it has not been decided where the away support will go. The meeting would be a farce if it opened with, "At this point it has not been decided where the away support will go so you might as well go home".
The minutes of Wizered at the meeting .. Wizered: Yes Iâve ripped orf the Angry emblem and banned some of you for asking ?âs on a forum but you ainât avin my seat. Eastender: But I donât want your seat. Wizered: Yes you do. I know you do, how dare you! Eastender: Really I want to go in the empty end of the Williams. Wizered: Stop that now. It doesnât matter.Tskk, typical thinking of only yourselves. Somebody else who doesnât want that seat might want that seat. You MUST stay over there in the rubble. Go and build a cave.
You could return to the Atyeo? Those who lobbied etc to get the Eastend open didn't come from the Atyeo, some ceratinly formerly used the E block of the Williams e.g. YSC. An argument put forward to Steve Lansdown was that the stand had failed to replace the Eastend as it had not become the stand of choice for particular elements of BCFC support.
