dronskisaint Posted 27 April, 2014 Share Posted 27 April, 2014 Those who can remember the sixties will understand the title but for the benefit of the younger fans on here I mean the posh (corporate) seats. I usually watch from Block 39'ish and thereabouts but today had a couple of Estonians from my biggest contractor who like to follow football all around Europe and wanted the full experience so despite my protestations on the 'real' atmosphere I booked seats in the Presidents Suite and just thought I'd throw in my reflections should anyone else be considering it. I've been taken along as a guest a few times before by customers but not for years...last was a 0-0 with Colchester that was enlivened by an after match experience with Matt Le T who was there working - was invited to get his boots out but anyway... £168 per ticket is not cheap and the early kick-off didn't really lend itself to the best use of hot buffet meal beforehand but it was reasonable, reasonable quality, reasonable choice...and the drinks were on tap you just had to ask a waiter/waitress so it may have been possible to drink the difference in value between £40 and £168 if you worked at it but drinks and nibbles at half and full time helped. Not overly impressed but the player introduction and interview was before the match, due to the hour, and was Morgan as he was injured. Side-note - I watch him almost every week on the pitch but he was much more slender close to! He was articulate and responded amusingly to some fairly bland questions but including some quite personal ones about his lack of inclusion in the French team. As well as discovering that Clyne was the best dressed in the dressing room and Shaw by some distance the worst! 'E buys zer trousers zat fit my sister' stood out as a defining comment. He considers Gerrard the best player he's played against and Lallana the best he has played alongside. For me it was good to be in the presence of such playing royalty, sad fan that I will always be, and my guests were suitably in awe (one had his photo taken with Sam Gallagher afterwards...they were surprisingly very well-informed on Saints and knew of his recent sad news). Row X block 5 was a good view...a little too far from the Northam but let me add to the compliments - today was very funny and after the first few minutes we heard little from the away section. I'm loud at football and I did try and behave but nobody looked sternly when I ventured opinions on the Itchen linesman...how bad was he ffs!!? Whilst a couple of corporates chatted business all the way through I resisted the temptation to ask why they'd chosen this venue..and my less than tuneless (and I do mean that ...I don't even aspire to hold a tune!) joining in with the Northam did occasionally get some takers but it was mostly a little sterile. Nobody cross,, nobody grumpy, stewards fine...just not what I normally go to a match for. Would I recommend taking clients or customers...? I think that they'd need to be football fans - some were obviously there for the experience, the free meal etc but if, as with my guests, they were keen to see live a club that has made an impression via TV in their country, it's a very good feel-good thing to do. The game itself...just brilliant from my standpoint. I've followed Saints for five decades and I rarely, if ever, remember feeling that we were in such complete control. Somebody commented on another thread that it was more difficult top choose a non-contender for MOTM...certainly from our awesome midfield (I went for Cork...thought big Vic gave him the freedom to go forward more and his skills were more evident)..Davis was unstoppable, what an important player he is, VW was as good as I have seen since he arrived. How privileged do I feel to be seeing this...well, I went 9 out of ten on the happy poll - it could only be a better feeling if we won something! Hope this may provide a perspective for anyone considering doing this...worked for my clients but feel that the value was there to debate - that being said it was pretty much full and there was a really good buzz before and after so they must be doing something right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_saint Posted 27 April, 2014 Share Posted 27 April, 2014 Good write up. I was in there a few weeks ago for as a birthday present. As enjoyable as it was having unlimited beer before the game, at half time and after i'd still much rather be in my usual seat in the Northam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellone Posted 27 April, 2014 Share Posted 27 April, 2014 Don't remember the 60's so the title just makes me think of saville Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Saint Posted 27 April, 2014 Share Posted 27 April, 2014 Don't remember the 60's so the title just makes me think of saville Jeez Million miles from him, John Lennon at the Royal Command Performance with the Beatles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Duckhunter Posted 27 April, 2014 Share Posted 27 April, 2014 What beer was on tap, was there any decent ale, or just the normal fizzy shiete . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc_saint Posted 27 April, 2014 Share Posted 27 April, 2014 Draught lager was Carling (don't know about Bitter) and then there was also ice buckets on the table with Bud and Becks in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dronskisaint Posted 27 April, 2014 Author Share Posted 27 April, 2014 Jeez Million miles from him, John Lennon at the Royal Command Performance with the Beatles. Of course :-) Sorry - no bitter drinkers amongst us so can't answer the non-lager question - reasonable selection of wines though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 27 April, 2014 Share Posted 27 April, 2014 Jeez Million miles from him, John Lennon at the Royal Command Performance with the Beatles. I remember it like it was yesterday (or was that another song?): Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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