Interesting meeting. AN are doing a proper write-up I think but here's a few thoughts. We spent almost 5 hours talking about various stuff and were really well looked after with food and drink etc. which was unexpected but nice. Most of the content discussed was quite pleasing. I got the impression they are going to start doing some serious marketing. The badge was explained as being a by-product of the uncertainty surrounding the name at the time the kit was commissioned rather than an Allam dummy spit about not being able to change the name. I suggested that this being the case, the 'new' badge shouldn't necessarily be permanent and that we should have the name back on it once we actually have a long-term name, James didn't disagree with that.
A guy from the council who heads up the SAG (the group who make decisions about safety in the ground) was there and explained some issues about segregation and safe standing in the future. Apparently the KC isn't equipped to increase the capacity through safe standing (which theoretically gives you 50% more capacity in areas where its fitted) because it's already at it's limits in terms of people per exit and getting people out in an emergency. In other words the club/SMC would make a loss by installing safe standing at the KC if and when it does become possible by law. This guy wasn't some jobsworth, he was interested in getting more people in the ground but is held back by regulations etc from elsewhere. Particularly in relation to getting people out quickly in the case of the KC.
There was also the guy who looks after all the catering on the concourses there. His staff served loads of food which is to be on the concourses next year and it was a lot better than stadium food usually is with a decent range of stuff, more than just the usual hot dog burger etc. I know this is a minor issue and no concern of mine really but it will interest some. Or just Tickler.
I made Chazz's suggestion about a 'Yorkshire Cup' sort of thing in pre-season and it was confirmed that this is actually something the club have already considered for the future.
Season pass sales are a lot better than I expected. We're about 900 short of last season's total apparently, but James was keen to stress this isn't a conclusive total figure as they're still expecting more.
Regarding the seat move, the away end is dynamic so for the smaller followings we can have the full North stand. The Ulltras have arranged for most if not all of their lot to be close together in N2 I believe, so hopefully my concern that the move could kill the atmosphere won't happen. James has made efforts to work with groups who currently sit near each other and wanted to stay together so that they can continue to do so. CTWD, AN, OSC, Ulltras, Away Direct were all represented.
The elephant in the room was of course the name change which was tentatively discussed but we obviously couldn't get much info about it without the owners present. I suggested that for this group to work we need to be able to discuss what is the biggest issue for most fans as part of it, and that it'd be good to get Ehab there so we can get some understanding between club and fans on where we're actually going now. Because as nice as it is to be able to discuss ticketing and marketing, it pales into insignificance for many people compared to the name change and the stance the club has taken with confrontational statements etc to actually oppose its own fans.
It was definitely useful, and I feel better about some things than before. James staying back til 11pm on a Friday night to talk to the fans was most appreciated. I've probably missed half of what was said but as I said before AN will do a more coherent write-up.
