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Preston Underground (New Supporters Group)

  • Thread starter Thread starter TheFulwoodEnd
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Preston Underground (New Supporters Group)

Dreyfuss said:
A lot of those questions and ideas don't require answers.

With the club shop and kit I think we know there's gonna be no change this season. Probably cos they had an agreement in place with Just Sport, that they can't just tear up.

Unreserved seating in the land of covid seems a total non starter for the start of the season.

Matchday ticket prices have been announced. Frozen to 2019/20 prices.

So that leaves catering and fanzone. Those are the only answers I can see the clock ticking on. And if like with the just sport kit agreement we already have a 2021/22 deal in place for catering, there probably isn't gonna be a lot of movement there either.

Maybe we will get a one off trial event in Aug/Sep before the wind and rain set in autumn/winter.
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Agree with you on most of that, although the fanzone doesn't necessarily have to include a catering offering initially. But if it did (preferably) it could just include the vans that are already outside the ground (back of town end) or be run by the incumbent catering provider so they don't lose revenue. In fact it might be a good opportunity for them to try something different.
 
pne_monster said:
Agree with you on most of that, although the fanzone doesn't necessarily have to include a catering offering initially. But if it did (preferably) it could just include the vans that are already outside the ground (back of town end) or be run by the incumbent catering provider so they don't lose revenue. In fact it might be a good opportunity for them to try something different.
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If the fanzone doesn't have catering, what exactly does it have?

Just booze?
 
pne_monster said:
Agree with you on most of that, although the fanzone doesn't necessarily have to include a catering offering initially. But if it did (preferably) it could just include the vans that are already outside the ground (back of town end) or be run by the incumbent catering provider so they don't lose revenue. In fact it might be a good opportunity for them to try something different.
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I was referring to catering as beer and food. Beer sales on concourse will be the majority of the takings for that company. So, if the club pitch up a tent outside enticing fans to drink and eat there it would have to be in agreement with the current caterers.

So the only question the club need to answer is "do you have a catering agreement in place for the concourses and when does the deal expire". I am not sure why no one at the club can answer that.

The current concourse quality of beer, food and service is I think we can all agree is poor. The vans outside equally are low brow fodder. But everything will be set at maximising profit on cheap as possible items. (Much like Just Sport do with the Nike template stuff)

Just navigating the concourse on the Town end at HT on an average matchday is a total chore. In covid times potentially a nightmare for fans with health concerns. I don't see such problems at away grounds, even when we've sold out our allocation. But then again most have some form of queuing system in place.
 
Dreyfuss said:
I was referring to catering as beer and food. Beer sales on concourse will be the majority of the takings for that company. So, if the club pitch up a tent outside enticing fans to drink and eat there it would have to be in agreement with the current caterers.

So the only question the club need to answer is "do you have a catering agreement in place for the concourses and when does the deal expire". I am not sure why no one at the club can answer that.

The current concourse quality of beer, food and service is I think we can all agree is poor. The vans outside equally are low brow fodder. But everything will be set at maximising profit on cheap as possible items. (Much like Just Sport do with the Nike template stuff)

Just navigating the concourse on the Town end at HT on an average matchday is a total chore. In covid times potentially a nightmare for fans with health concerns. I don't see such problems at away grounds, even when we've sold out our allocation. But then again most have some form of queuing system in place.
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Nothing's going to change overnight, it just isn't practical for many of the reasons you mentioned. Realistically, we're talking 2022-23, if the club take anything onboard.
 
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LostinSpace said:
Nothing's going to change overnight, it just practical for many of the reasons you mentioned. Realistically, we're talking 2021-22, if the club take anything onboard.
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I assume you mean 2022/23. Well if that's the case the clocks not ticking then. But if a fanzone happens now or in seasons to come I hope we don't just transplant the level of catering seen on the concourse, to outside. I'd rather see better products on offer rather than just more of the same.
 
Dreyfuss said:
Just navigating the concourse on the Town end at HT on an average matchday is a total chore. In covid times potentially a nightmare for fans with health concerns. I don't see such problems at away grounds, even when we've sold out our allocation. But then again most have some form of queuing system in place.
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You'd hope that the club will keep in place some of the one-way system improvements planned for the reduced capacity 2020-21 season - they hopefully haven't ditched all that and reinstated the overcrowded free-for-all.
 
Good stuff but unreserved seating, safe standing supporter advisory board, fsa luasonvall ongthe the cards long or short term. Hope to meet up if we ever get to meet socially as a group
 
White Horse 44 said:
They have asked lots of questions. Catering , kit, club shop, tickets, unreserved seating area, fanzone etc etc. Lots, no answers yet I believe but the clock is ticking before we kick off at Deepdale....football
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Can answer most of these
Catering - Commercially sensitive and signed 6-12 months in advance and normally long term (3-5 year deals. Heathcoats at Deepdale have recently signed a new deal after the deal in between failed and the caters pulled out.
Kit/club shop - We are in a Contract with Just Sports under Nike. The deal is that Just Sports stocks and runs the Club Shop. PNE get a set fee, It is up to Just sports on what they sell and how. Fans need to get on to Just Sports. Once the Deal expires I am sure the club will look at a similar deal. because the club can count on a set amount coming in. Even if PNE only sold 1 shirt (example) Just Sport are contracted to pay PNE x amount.
Tickets - Can't see what the club can change, they available weeks in advance, online and off line.
Unreserved seating - This would be a massive issue with Stewarding, the Local authority, licensing and Policing. Its like to push up costs and the the whole ticket selling is based on x seats in x area so if you have unreserved, you have to avoid people over filling the area. Sadly its not going to happen.
Fan zone - as bee said Covid restrictions, Catering, removing Car Parking space etc, Stewarding etc. Add to August/September maybe 1000-1500, then come November only 50-100, but the club would still have to cater for 1000-1500 or more. Most people meet up in Pubs, if PNE was to remove them customers from the Pubs, the pubs would fold. Fan Zones are a better idea for Local Pubs. Sumners used to be like a Fan Zone. So I would suggest the Group approach local Pubs for this and work with the Pubs and Clubs on how to police it, IE away fans etc. Also remember PNE would have to work with those living around the ground.

Not knocking the new group, we need a supporters group to get the club and fans talking again, because it was good bad before covid. Our Marketing is piss poor, the Build up to games is un-imaginative and Matchday inside the Stadium is very 1980's boring. You only have to look at other clubs to see how they use the Tannoy man to whip up the fans And I can tell you Fans cheering and singing is the best advert a club can have. It was hearing PNE fans in the 80's that got me going on. And Look how John Beck and Gary Peters got the fans whipped up, even when we played shite. You could still hear the fans miles around and people came to be part of it. Just think they expecting answer that they not likely to get because they obvious.
 
Dreyfuss said:
I assume you mean 2022/23. Well if that's the case the clocks not ticking then. But if a fanzone happens now or in seasons to come I hope we don't just transplant the level of catering seen on the concourse, to outside. I'd rather see better products on offer rather than just more of the same.
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Yes, now edited. 🤗
 
I've no reason to doubt their motives and I hope they are successful but "underground"? Surely if they want credibility (which they will need to be effective) something a bit less.....underground would be better?! In my funny little head I've got visions of clandestine meetings in the "secret" room in the Tickled Trout, masonic handshakes with the Riddler and quite a lot worse (which is making me worry for my sanity a bit, quite honestly)
 
simo said:
I've no reason to doubt their motives and I hope they are successful but "underground"? Surely if they want credibility (which they will need to be effective) something a bit less.....underground would be better?! In my funny little head I've got visions of clandestine meetings in the "secret" room in the Tickled Trout, masonic handshakes with the Riddler and quite a lot worse (which is making me worry for my sanity a bit, quite honestly)
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Liberation said:
Can't see much being achieved with the stubborn, blinkered buggers we have in charge but every credit to them in my view. At least someone is trying when most others have given up. I wish them well.
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Completely agree.

I have no interest whatever in a fan zone, I wouldnt use it but there are many, many, especially younger supporters who would. I have no criticisms of those who are trying, its a thankless task.
 
FootballcrazyP_ said:
Can answer most of these
Catering - Commercially sensitive and signed 6-12 months in advance and normally long term (3-5 year deals. Heathcoats at Deepdale have recently signed a new deal after the deal in between failed and the caters pulled out.
Kit/club shop - We are in a Contract with Just Sports under Nike. The deal is that Just Sports stocks and runs the Club Shop. PNE get a set fee, It is up to Just sports on what they sell and how. Fans need to get on to Just Sports. Once the Deal expires I am sure the club will look at a similar deal. because the club can count on a set amount coming in. Even if PNE only sold 1 shirt (example) Just Sport are contracted to pay PNE x amount.
Tickets - Can't see what the club can change, they available weeks in advance, online and off line.
Unreserved seating - This would be a massive issue with Stewarding, the Local authority, licensing and Policing. Its like to push up costs and the the whole ticket selling is based on x seats in x area so if you have unreserved, you have to avoid people over filling the area. Sadly its not going to happen.
Fan zone - as bee said Covid restrictions, Catering, removing Car Parking space etc, Stewarding etc. Add to August/September maybe 1000-1500, then come November only 50-100, but the club would still have to cater for 1000-1500 or more. Most people meet up in Pubs, if PNE was to remove them customers from the Pubs, the pubs would fold. Fan Zones are a better idea for Local Pubs. Sumners used to be like a Fan Zone. So I would suggest the Group approach local Pubs for this and work with the Pubs and Clubs on how to police it, IE away fans etc. Also remember PNE would have to work with those living around the ground.

Not knocking the new group, we need a supporters group to get the club and fans talking again, because it was good bad before covid. Our Marketing is piss poor, the Build up to games is un-imaginative and Matchday inside the Stadium is very 1980's boring. You only have to look at other clubs to see how they use the Tannoy man to whip up the fans And I can tell you Fans cheering and singing is the best advert a club can have. It was hearing PNE fans in the 80's that got me going on. And Look how John Beck and Gary Peters got the fans whipped up, even when we played shite. You could still hear the fans miles around and people came to be part of it. Just think they expecting answer that they not likely to get because they obvious.
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Sorry got to pick bones with this, how do you know 'most' people meet up in pubs? How would a fanzone 'remove' customers from pubs? That's like saying when people are on a pub crawl, the next pub 'removes' those customers. Sorry but you're just presuming there.

As for the pubs themselves - there's three in walking distance which are approx 15/20 minutes walk. Certainly in the case of The Moorbrook, considering it's on a key walking route to the ground, I doubt a fanzone would have much impact on them anyway, especially considering they're a successful pub anyway without matchday. Not to mention the lack of space at these pubs to host a 'fanzone'.
 
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