Car Parking

[Ken Tone]

Why not just use public transport? Save the planet, prevent congestion, save £200. What's to lose?

 

Damn silly comment.

 

Is public tranport free then?

And if you take your argument to its logical conclusion, why not just stay at home?

 

K.

[Wilko]

Another lack of empathy example here.

 

Many people that use the service do so because they cannot stand on their feet/walk for long.

 

Fair comment?

 

Fair comment - yes.

 

However, are all the people who park close to the ground disabled? I suspect many of them are just rich and can't be bothered to get out of their cars.

 

Damn silly comment.

 

Is public tranport free then?

And if you take your argument to its logical conclusion, why not just stay at home?

 

K.

 

That is not the logical conclusion of my argument, as the whole point of this discussion is about getting to a football match.

 

Public transport is not free. But then, neither is buying a car for £10,000 then paying insurance and petrol costs for a year. You pay your money and take your choice. Parking is getting more expensive everywhere, especially in cities, and will continue to get more expensive.

 

Further to both these responses, if you look at the figure quoted, which i think was £200 for the most expensive (presumably right next to the ground) it's only £10-per-game. If you can afford a season ticket, you can probably afford the car parking as well. I await all the exceptions to this rule that you two and others will doubtless throw at me.

[Dave Benson Phillips]

Just to back up my point about people defending the club on subjects which don't affect them.

 

Wilko travels to games by train.

 

If he relied on the car parking, he would have a different view, I have no doubt about that.

[miserableoldgit]

Fair comment - yes.

 

However, are all the people who park close to the ground disabled? I suspect many of them are just rich and can't be bothered to get out of their cars.

 

 

 

That is not the logical conclusion of my argument, as the whole point of this discussion is about getting to a football match.

 

Public transport is not free. But then, neither is buying a car for £10,000 then paying insurance and petrol costs for a year. You pay your money and take your choice. Parking is getting more expensive everywhere, especially in cities, and will continue to get more expensive.

 

Further to both these responses, if you look at the figure quoted, which i think was £200 for the most expensive (presumably right next to the ground) it's only £10-per-game. If you can afford a season ticket, you can probably afford the car parking as well. I await all the exceptions to this rule that you two and others will doubtless throw at me.

 

I love the sweeoing statements and generalisations that people chuck out on here. Firstly, I do use the closest car park, opposite SMS and have done so since the stadium opened. I have no disabilities and am certainly not rich. I share the driving and cost of car parking with other people. Secondly, if you read my OP, my comment was about the substantial rise in the cost and the reduction in the times when it can be used not how much it worked out per game.

[Dave Benson Phillips]

I love the sweeoing statements and generalisations that people chuck out on here. Firstly, I do use the closest car park, opposite SMS and have done so since the stadium opened. I have no disabilities and am certainly not rich. I share the driving and cost of car parking with other people. Secondly, if you read my OP, my comment was about the substantial rise in the cost and the reduction in the times when it can be used not how much it worked out per game.

 

You're having a pop about Car Parking, which affects you. Yet you make digs at me for having a pop about installment plans and late notice of pre-season tour... which affected me.

 

But hypocritical don't you think?

[saint lard]

Slightly off on a tangent,however,my father enquired about a disabled parking space(he is a blue badge holder and has been for a while)a year ago and was informed that there was a two year waiting list but to enquire again this season just in case a vacancy was forthcoming.

 

Dads ability to walk any long distance has now become a issue for him and so he did enquire,firstly in person at St Marys,then by phone on several occasions,lastly by email direct to a person he was told that would help with his enquires.

As of now,a good few months down the line he has yet too recieve any information or enter into any dialog with someone that can say yay or nay.

He is usually a very tolerable fella but he is now emailing Cortese direct i believe,after i said he was quite entitled too.

Now i understand the fact that there may not be a space available but let the fella know as he is concerend on how he is going to manage,he had to buy his season ticket by a deadline, so i know what he is like with parting with cash so he won't not go.

Dads been a season ticket holder since i was a nipper,i'm now 42,he is slightly disgruntled.

[miserableoldgit]

You're having a pop about Car Parking, which affects you. Yet you make digs at me for having a pop about installment plans and late notice of pre-season tour... which affected me.

 

But hypocritical don't you think?

Not at all. Everyone has a right to complain about anything and TBF if you can`t have a good moan on an internet forum, where can you moan? No, my reason for "having a pop" at you is because this forum has become "The Dave Benson Phillips Show". Virtually every thread on here is littered with your 25+ per day (and rising rapidly) posts of anti-Cortese rhetoric. I get it! We all get it! You are not happy with decisions that he has made. No, the installment plan doesn`t effect me (although I did use it last year for convenience), the ticket "tax" won`t effect me too much and I now have my season ticket at a price that I was O.K. with. I do feel genuine sympathy (or empathy if you like!) for anyone adversely effected by these decisions and I do agree that the club (or Cortese) has acted, from a communication point of view, very badly, however banging on and on, and continuosly looking for a stick to best Cortese with is not going to solve anything. You are even beginning to make Dune and Alpine seem normal.

[miserableoldgit]

Slightly off on a tangent,however,my father enquired about a disabled parking space(he is a blue badge holder and has been for a while)a year ago and was informed that there was a two year waiting list but to enquire again this season just in case a vacancy was forthcoming.

 

Dads ability to walk any long distance has now become a issue for him and so he did enquire,firstly in person at St Marys,then by phone on several occasions,lastly by email direct to a person he was told that would help with his enquires.

As of now,a good few months down the line he has yet too recieve any information or enter into any dialog with someone that can say yay or nay.

He is usually a very tolerable fella but he is now emailing Cortese direct i believe,after i said he was quite entitled too.

Now i understand the fact that there may not be a space available but let the fella know as he is concerend on how he is going to manage,he had to buy his season ticket by a deadline, so i know what he is like with parting with cash so he won't not go.

Dads been a season ticket holder since i was a nipper,i'm now 42,he is slightly disgruntled.

 

I did post this earlier, but the club told me that the car park opposite the stadium (the gravel yard) is now for the sole use of people with "disability" issues. Worth trying again.

[saint lard]

I did post this earlier, but the club told me that the car park opposite the stadium (the gravel yard) is now for the sole use of people with "disability" issues. Worth trying again.

 

Sorry,just skimmed the thread.

Thanks, will pass this onto my father,perhaps he will get some joy and put his mind at ease.

Perhaps if someone at the club had informed him after his many enquires?

[Colbury]

When I drive to evening games/the odd sat game I park in a local business a 5 minute walk away. Says private parking etc but I've been parking there for about 5 years with no problems. F*ck paying to park.

[trousers]

Visited the stadium today. I see the new car park barriers and pay machines are now in situ

[Wilko]

Just to back up my point about people defending the club on subjects which don't affect them.

 

Wilko travels to games by train.

 

If he relied on the car parking, he would have a different view, I have no doubt about that.

 

I'm certainly not defending the club. I'm just providing a different view to the 'this is disgraceful' line that a lot of people like to use. This move is undoubted profiteering by the club. However, we live in a capitalist society and if comapnies want to take people for a ride, they will. Ultimately, there are much bigger issues affecting football fans than a miniscule per/game car parkign price rise, which, after all, is optional.

 

I love the sweeoing statements and generalisations that people chuck out on here. Firstly, I do use the closest car park, opposite SMS and have done so since the stadium opened. I have no disabilities and am certainly not rich. I share the driving and cost of car parking with other people. Secondly, if you read my OP, my comment was about the substantial rise in the cost and the reduction in the times when it can be used not how much it worked out per game.

 

Firstly, it seems you probably don't have much to worry about, as between the people you share with, it won't work out as a massive rise. Secondly, the substantial rise works out at less than £3 per game, which is about the cost of a programme or pie.

 

The club is **** for doing this, but life just isn't fair.

[Chez]

The club is **** for doing this, but life just isn't fair.

 

take the **** out of fans too much and in the end they'll just shrug their shoulders and stop going. You won't make profits out of those customers.

 

Its supposed to be a club FFS

[Wilko]

take the **** out of fans too much and in the end they'll just shrug their shoulders and stop going. You won't make profits out of those customers.

 

Its supposed to be a club FFS

 

When we're back in the Premiership, car parking will cost a lot more, tickets will be about £45 per game and people will still go. It's just the way of the world.

 

Sadly, it's not a club. It's a business, which is treating us as customers rather than fans, just like Rupert and his lot did. The owner is here to make a long-run profit, not because he loves Southampton. This much is clear.

 

If we win the league this season, the dissenting minority will be drowned out by people waxing lyrical about Pardew's tactics and Lamberts goals. And most of the dissenters will renew their car parking spaces for the 'exciting' Championship season without a second thought.

[hypochondriac]

Most sensible post on here Wilko.

[John B]

[quote=Chez;772417

 

Its supposed to be a club FFS

 

It may have been a club at sometime but it is now a mechanism for the owner to make money out of you and me.

[Gorgiesaint]

When we're back in the Premiership, car parking will cost a lot more, tickets will be about £45 per game and people will still go. It's just the way of the world.

 

Sadly, it's not a club. It's a business, which is treating us as customers rather than fans, just like Rupert and his lot did. The owner is here to make a long-run profit, not because he loves Southampton. This much is clear.

 

If we win the league this season, the dissenting minority will be drowned out by people waxing lyrical about Pardew's tactics and Lamberts goals. And most of the dissenters will renew their car parking spaces for the 'exciting' Championship season without a second thought.

 

Have some fans not learnt anything from the past 18 months?

[hypochondriac]

Have some fans not learnt anything from the past 18 months?

 

What are you suggesting?

[Thedelldays]

It may have been a club at sometime but it is now a mechanism for the owner to make money out of you and me.

 

hasnt that always been the case for a very long time for nearly every club in the country..?

[John B]

hasnt that always been the case for a very long time for nearly every club in the country..?

 

Not sure really you maybe right

 

Not many clubs have an owner who appears to want to make a profit which should make the club successful

 

Most clubs want success and spend all their income on trying to achieve it

 

Just feel at the moment the club wants to make as much money as it can out of the fans without involving them in the least

Edited 4 July, 2010 by John B

[Gorgiesaint]

Sadly, it's not a club. It's a business,

 

What are you suggesting?

 

What have we lost from our club?

 

Yes, of course its a business - why did we go into administration? Basically (without the massive argument) we overspent, i.e. costs exceeded income. Yet it seems some expect us to trawl on as nothing has changed. Yes, as a football fan, increased charges come as a bit of a shock. We've got among the most expensive tickets in L1, but everyone is happy to watch one of the best squads in L1 perform every Saturday, but no-one wants to pay for them. How many clubs in this country are running at a loss?

 

Have you also considered what happens in the post-ML era? Do we want to be in a position where we he goes and all of sudden we can't afford our running costs? It's a bit like buying & running an Aston Martin when all you can afford is a Focus. Or would you rather be in such a financially strong position that you can take advantage of others weakness.

 

Does the increased cost hurt? - yes of course it does, but it's the right way long term. Is football a business? Yes it is these days. Does that mean we've lost our club? IMO no it doesn't.

[Thedelldays]

Not sure really you maybe right

 

Not many clubs have an owner who appears to want to make a profit which should make the club successful

 

Most clubs want success and spend all their income on trying to achieve it

 

and we dont..? if what NC said is true..we are spending our income and more money from markus..he is still giving us money...

if what the latest post on the possible transfer target thread is true, we could be spending £5m+ (if the deals we want all come off)..

when did that ever happen in division 3...?

 

it seems we want success but dont want to pay for it....well, football is changing..our dear friends from pompey have really put all that is bad in football right in everyones faces...hell, we nearly lost our club not so long ago....

 

maybe we could just ask NC to get rid of pardew, lambert, fonte and bring in lower league replacements in order to have cheaper tickets..

Edited 4 July, 2010 by Thedelldays

[Gorgiesaint]

Not sure really you maybe right

 

Not many clubs have an owner who appears to want to make a profit which should make the club successful

 

Most clubs want success and spend all their income on trying to achieve it

 

Who says our owner is any different? Listen this is a guy who has a personal fortune estimated at £2.5bn & owns the MALI group lock, stock & barrel. Do you really think that he would take over a L1 football team just to make money? How much do you think he would make? I would guess that you have to measure in hours the length of time it would take his investments & MALI would take to make the same as Saints in a year - probably minutes in reality.

[John B]

Do you really think that he would take over a L1 football team just to make money?

 

Yes that is what businessmen do the rich get richer and the poor get poorer

Edited 4 July, 2010 by John B

[Gorgiesaint]

Yes

 

Well its a bloody hard industry to make money in - 20 PL teams would attest to that. Let's hope he's not in to double his pile of cash because I think he'll be somewhat disappointed.

[John B]

Well its a bloody hard industry to make money in - 20 PL teams would attest to that. Let's hope he's not in to double his pile of cash because I think he'll be somewhat disappointed.

 

I would agree if he had not bought the club at a knockdown price

 

He only paid about £12m for a Premiership Club

[Saint Fan CaM]

Have not read all the thread so not sure if this has been mentioned already. Drove past the stadium today and saw that electronic barriers and ticket machines have been installed to the entrances to the car parks. Now then, first thing I thought was perhaps the car parking is being set-up on a first come-first served basis in the ground on matchday, thus cutting out the need to book and post tickets. This means peeps get to the ground earlier and spend more money in the Megastore and on the new hospitality (i.e. food/drink etc).

[Dave Benson Phillips]

Have not read all the thread so not sure if this has been mentioned already. Drove past the stadium today and saw that electronic barriers and ticket machines have been installed to the entrances to the car parks. Now then, first thing I thought was perhaps the car parking is being set-up on a first come-first served basis in the ground on matchday, thus cutting out the need to book and post tickets. This means peeps get to the ground earlier and spend more money in the Megastore and on the new hospitality (i.e. food/drink etc).

 

LMAO, someone posted about that the other day and I thought it was a wind-up.

 

Funny.

[Chez]

maybe we going to be charged for parking whilst we queue at the stadium to buy a ticket during the week?

[Dave Benson Phillips]

maybe we going to be charged for parking whilst we queue at the stadium to buy a ticket during the week?

 

I would imagine so, and if you are going to the megastore, or if you are attending a function of business conference.

[Andoverian]

When we're back in the Premiership, car parking will cost a lot more, tickets will be about £45 per game and people will still go. It's just the way of the world.

 

Sadly, it's not a club. It's a business, which is treating us as customers rather than fans, just like Rupert and his lot did. The owner is here to make a long-run profit, not because he loves Southampton. This much is clear.

 

If we win the league this season, the dissenting minority will be drowned out by people waxing lyrical about Pardew's tactics and Lamberts goals. And most of the dissenters will renew their car parking spaces for the 'exciting' Championship season without a second thought.

I'm sorry I just do not believe that is true anymore. We are in a deep recession and money and particularly credit is very tight. There will be a point when even die hard fans and I think I fall into this category, will be forced to say that it is now just too expensive to continue. Most other business are slashing prices to stay in business. I find it extremely hard to understand the way the Chairman thinks that cost to supporters can rise i.e.Parking,booking fees etc without an adverse reaction. Personally I think that there are many supporters out there who are close to calling it a day. Not because they want to but the cost is more than they can cope with. I have spoken to a number of fans who had paid parking permits last season and the 100% reaction is that they will not be buying at the greatly increased price and if they had known this in advance they would have thought twice about renewing their season ticket.This is sad and I think the chairman is treading a very dangerous path. Once people go they do not come back. Pleae Mr C do not take the fans for granted or think they can be exploited.There is plenty of evidence in recent years to suggest that you will be making a big mistake.

[trousers]

[stevegrant]

Christ.

 

I said to someone about six weeks ago or so as a joke that the next thing they'll do is bring in pay-and-display in the car park so they're getting extra money from you even when you go to the ticket office in person.

 

I didn't think they'd actually do it

[Gorgiesaint]

Christ.

 

I said to someone about six weeks ago or so as a joke that the next thing they'll do is bring in pay-and-display in the car park so they're getting extra money from you even when you go to the ticket office in person.

 

I didn't think they'd actually do it

 

Wasn't NC by any chance?

[trousers]

Christ.

 

I said to someone about six weeks ago or so as a joke that the next thing they'll do is bring in pay-and-display in the car park so they're getting extra money from you even when you go to the ticket office in person.

 

I didn't think they'd actually do it

 

One would hope that they would only be using the pay machines on matchdays.....

 

Perhaps all Cortese is doing is trying to get the car park full on match days by turning it into a bog standard public car park rather than have it partially full like it can be on match days. I'm sure many more would use the car park if it can be used on a 'just turn up' basis rather than access having to be gained by 'prior arrangement'.

[Dave Benson Phillips]

One would hope that they would only be using the pay machines on matchdays.....

 

Perhaps all Cortese is doing is trying to get the car park full on match days by turning it into a bog standard public car park rather than have it partially full like it can be on match days. I'm sure many more would use the car park if it can be used on a 'just turn up' basis rather than access having to be gained by 'prior arrangement'.

 

Except you have Players, Staff, Directors, Guest of Directors, Disabled and 'Preffered' Corporate customers, Media etc who all need reserved spaces in the car park. I can't honestly seeing it being a free-for-all. It's much more likely it's going to be utilised to get a few extra quid out of the corporate and events customers using the suites etc.

[stevegrant]

One would hope that they would only be using the pay machines on matchdays.....

 

Perhaps all Cortese is doing is trying to get the car park full on match days by turning it into a bog standard public car park rather than have it partially full like it can be on match days. I'm sure many more would use the car park if it can be used on a 'just turn up' basis rather than access having to be gained by 'prior arrangement'.

From what I can tell, the car parks at St Mary's are pretty much exclusively used by staff, corporate customers, guests and disabled badge holders on matchdays, and they're usually full or not far off being full.

[70's Mike]

probably will be £3 min fee to park, to catch all those who go to the stadium for tickets rather than buy on line

sad day

[Dave Benson Phillips]

probably will be £3 min fee to park, to catch all those who go to the stadium for tickets rather than buy on line

sad day

 

I wonder how many more 'charges' / removal of benefits / disrepecting the clubs history / lack of communication / contempt for fans etc before other supporters will stand up and ask what the f*ck is happening at SFC?

[benjii]

probably will be £3 min fee to park, to catch all those who go to the stadium for tickets rather than buy on line

sad day

 

Truly tragic.

 

Look, if you're a business with a finite resource of something and demand is outstripping what you are able to supply you would be mad not to charge for it.

[Gorgiesaint]

probably will be £3 min fee to park, to catch all those who go to the stadium for tickets rather than buy on line

sad day

 

Is that some inside info or just speculation?

[Dave Benson Phillips]

Truly tragic.

 

Look, if you're a business with a finite resource of something and demand is outstripping what you are able to supply you would be mad not to charge for it.

 

When have you ever seen the car park full on a non-matchday?

[trousers]

194 posts on a thread entitled 'Car Parking'

[Ponty]

There's a lot of outrage at non-facts on here. Perhaps we should wait for the details before firing up the flaming torches and sharpening the pitchforks.

[benjii]

There's a lot of outrage at non-facts on here. Perhaps we should wait for the details before firing up the flaming torches and sharpening the pitchforks.

 

Which is what 90% of us do. Unfortunately there is a very annoying minority on here who don't have this basic discipline/patience/intelligence.

[fish fingers]

There's a lot of outrage at non-facts on here. Perhaps we should wait for the details before firing up the flaming torches and sharpening the pitchforks.

 

Why let facts get in the way of a good bit of moaning.

 

Down with that sort of thing.

[Gorgiesaint]

194 posts on a thread entitled 'Car Parking'

 

Not to mention the 'What is it?' thread which has turned into Car Parking 2 - 4 Parking Meter's & CEO!

[Dave Benson Phillips]

Which is what 90% of us do. Unfortunately there is a very annoying minority on here who don't have this basic discipline/patience/intelligence.

 

Hang on Benjii, you are on the thread giving your misinformed opinions... giving justification to charging for demand.

 

I will ask you again, apart from a matchday ( which I don't see how they can charge for ) - How many times has the car park been in demand? I have NEVER seen it even half full on a non-matchday.

 

So what's this 'demand' you speak of?

[trousers]

There's a lot of outrage at non-facts on here. Perhaps we should wait for the details before firing up the flaming torches and sharpening the pitchforks.

 

[hypochondriac]

Everyone that I can see is commenting on speculation. No harm in that at all. I see nothing wrong with saying that IF something is a certain way then you will feel a certain way about it.