Peter Ridsdale (Chairman), Alan Flitcroft (Chief Operating Officer) Julian Jenkins (Media & Ticketing Manager) and Wayne Nash (Stadium Manager) presented to about 60 fans at a meeting arranged by CCST.
Julian Jenkins made an initial presentation which mainly summarised information that was already in the public domain. The following is a summary of information provided that was not as well known either during the presentation, or in the question and answer session that followed it.
What came across clearly during the meeting was that the club's staff and management have put a lot of time and effort into formulating a process whereby existing season ticket holders will be able to purchase like-for-like seats at the new stadium in a relatively straightforward manner. The system they have put in place seems fair and reasonably uncomplicated. Plenty of thought appears to have gone into it. Alan Flitcroft explained that Arsenal did not make such arrangements and Highbury season ticket holders were spread all around the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal recognise that this was a mistake.
In the interests of time, I've 'cut and paste' some message board contributions from others that attended the meeting, so thanks to those whom I've 'plagiarised'.
The meeting was extremely positive and Peter, Alan, Julian and Wayne were honest and open with their answers. It was a good example of how the Trust can represent fans in discussions with the club.
Renewing of Season Tickets
When renewing your season tickets on the dates publicised, you will have access to the 'virtual tour' of the new stadium, which was shown during the presentation. Fans will have plenty of time over a cuppa to choose their seats. The quality of the 'virtual tour' is excellent and gives 360 degree views of the stadium.
Fans will not have the chance to view the actual stadium as it is still being fitted out and breaches plenty of regulations.
Current ambassadors have until 31st January 2009 to renew their season tickets if they want to choose their seats (subject to availability). Any ambassadors that renew prior to 31st December 2008 will have the added benefit of a guaranteed frozen season ticket renewal price for the season 2010/11.
After the 31st January, those fans buying season tickets for the first time will have until the 31st March 2009 to buy tickets to qualify as new ambassadors.
http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/SeasonTickets/0,,10335,0 0.html
Renewing 'en bloc' for a Group of Fans
This is entirely possible. For example, if there is a group of 25 fans who sit together at the moment and want to sit together in the new stadium, then they can. All 25 do not have to turn up at once. Those representing the 25 must turn up to renew the 25's season tickets with ambassador's cards and have payments in full - or deposits - for each of the 25. The representatives of the 25 can then choose seats on behalf of the whole group.
Swap Shop
After the 31st January 2009, there will be an opportunity for those who have already renewed their season tickets to move elsewhere in the ground should they wish.
Family Section
Many have expressed concern that the family section is too close to the away following. From the presentation, it is clear that for all league games the family section is a long way away from the away section.
The best comparison with Ninian Park regarding distance is that for league games, the away supporters will be in the corner where the 'big screen' is and the family section is where the away fans are presently in the Grange End. Clearly, quite a large distance apart. There will be sufficient space in the away end to accommodate 2,000 away fans.
If, given the nature of an away team's following, it is necessary to increase the level of segregation, then the away team's allocation will be reduced to increase the sterile area between away and home fans i.e. the away ticket allocation will be reduced, not the home end.
The club recognise that for cup games the away allocation will be larger and will be nearer the family section. They further recognise that some fans are concerned about this. However, they believe that experience at many other new stadia prove that away fans will not 'trouble' a family section (e.g. Leicester) and that the club will provide adequate stewarding to ensure a safe and secure family section. They further emphasised the following:
• Away fans will be nowhere near the family section for any league games as their allocation will be limited to 2,000
• If for any reason, things to not go to plan, then the club will change the arrangements, but they are confident there will be no issues.
To be fair, I shared most people's concerns going into the meeting, but having seen the presentation, I think that the club is probably right. I would be happy to take my family to the family section if my daughter wants a season ticket next year.
'Like for Like Season Tickets'
Fans are guaranteed a 'like for like' ticket in the block defined by the club. For example, a fan currently in Block C of the grandstand, is guaranteed a seat in its equivalent block in the new stadium e.g. the block in Zone 1 nearest the Directors Box.
What isn't guaranteed is your position within the block e.g. if you currently sit immediately next to the directors box in Block C, you are not guaranteed a similar seat in the block in Zone 1 immediately next to the directors box.
Fans renewing their season tickets can move to other parts of the ground other than their like for like area when they renew. However they will not be able to choose their seat in their new zone immediately as those fans whose like for like area you have chosen to move to will have priority. Once the time period has elapsed for the guarantee, you will be allocated a seat in your new zone.
There is at least one exception to the above and that relates to the current Upper Grandstand.
Those fans currently seated in Blocks B, C, D or E of the current grandstand will be allowed to move to the back 8 rows of Zone 3 (i.e. the new Bob Bank). This was justified for 2 reasons:
• Zone 1 is the only area of the ground where it is possible (though extremely unlikely) that the number wishing to renew in Zone 1 will be greater than the number of seats available in Zone 1
• For the Zone 3, back 8 rows, there are no like for like seats in Ninian Park as the back rows of the Bob Bank are all restricted views.
Those fans currently in Block A and F of the grandstand, can also transfer to their 'equivalents' in the Zone 3 (New Bob Bank) rather than their 'like for like' seats. However, there will be restrictions for those currently in Block A - more on this later.
Renewing your season ticket, but want to sit next to a new season ticket holder
This is possible, you need to renew your ticket during the appropriate times and get your new season ticket holder to buy a ticket too.
Your requirement to sit together will be registered, but you will not be allocated a seat when you renew. You will have to wait until the guaranteed period for like for like renewals to expire. Then you will be allocated a seat sitting together subject to availability. The club cannot guarantee you will have a seat in your preferred area, but given the current number of season ticket holders, it is highly likely that you and your friend/new season ticket holder will be able to sit together in your chosen block.
Seats in Zone 4 of the 'New Bob Bank' - why are they cheaper than the rest of the 'New Bob Bank'?
If the rain falls in a straight line then nobody should get wet. Realistically it is likely that if it rains, those in the front few rows of seats (anywhere in the ground) will get wet.
However, given that the prevailing wind is from the south west, it is likely that the front 13 seats in the 'new bob bank' will feel the brunt of any rain. The seats in this area have been priced accordingly.
Season Ticket Holders in the Grandstand near the Away Fans and the Grange End
It was made clear that the club has been told by the Football Licensing Authority that they would not support the granting of a safety certificate for the new stadium if fans demographically similar to those currently on the Grange End and the Grange End side of the Grandstand were allowed similar proximity to away fans in the new stadium. The club recognise the fact that this will disappoint some fans, but believe that there was no alternative to the current configuration of the new stadium.
Therefore, those fans in the Grange End and the section of the Grandstand nearest the Grange End will NOT be allowed to renew their season tickets in areas of the new stadium that are close to the away fans.
Standing in the New Stadium
It was also made clear that the club will have a much more robust attitude to standing in the new stadium.
It was implied that the current level of standing at Ninian Park is not acceptable to the Football Licensing Authority, but a reduction in capacity at Ninian Park was unlikely given it is our last season.
However similar levels of standing in the new stadium is likely to result in an immediate reduction in the new stadium's capacity of 17%.
Furthermore, there are 45 CCTV cameras in the new ground and offenders are much more likely to be identified and dealt with.
Premier Seats
Other than those benefits for home games that are advertised, premier seat ticket holders will be treated as ambassadors i.e. they will not be granted access to away tickets before other ambassadors and any further qualifying rules for tickets (e.g. attending a given number of away games) will apply to all ambassadors.
Further Season Ticket Information
Further information will be released over the coming period; though don't believe everything printed in the Echo as they've already got some dates wrong. This will include information in the match-day programme, further information on the club website and a brochure to be distributed at the home game against Sheffield Wednesday.