New Stadium Layout

[EssEffCee]

The rails they've added are utterly horrendous, it's far less comfortable than standing in the old seating areas were. For all the song and dance they made about doing it they've done such a half arsed and cheapskate job.

[sledger]

3 hours ago, EssEffCee said:

The rails they've added are utterly horrendous, it's far less comfortable than standing in the old seating areas were. For all the song and dance they made about doing it they've done such a half arsed and cheapskate job.

i will grant you its been done on the cheap but how is it less comfortable than standing in the old seating areas,all the bars do is stop people falling into the rows in front,a common thing in the itchen north when we scored and down right dangerous ,probably one of the reasons most got moved out.

[The Cat]

4 hours ago, EssEffCee said:

The rails they've added are utterly horrendous, it's far less comfortable than standing in the old seating areas were. For all the song and dance they made about doing it they've done such a half arsed and cheapskate job.

Same at quite a few grounds sadly. Much easier to just lob in some rails to the existing set up than do it all properly.

[sfc4prem]

7 hours ago, LeBizzier69 said:

Atmosphere felt manufactured in the Northam, no away to fans to bounce off - that end could compare with highbury the library in time.

Hope i'm wrong and that we all adapt, but whether people like it or not, the banter with the away fans has always contributed significantly to some noise.....with the layout now i'm not sure we'll ever get that again. 

Get a few cheap beers down the lot of them and I'm sure they'll be able to 'manufacture' an atmosphere.

[SteveGc]

On 16/09/2024 at 08:25, Mixedkebab said:

Whatever you say, but as the number of our away fans has increased, I think the proportion of oddballs, knitting circles  and gimps has increased as well. 
 

That can be said for a lot of clubs too as English football has been hijacked by embarrassing bellends and clones for the most part.

Hasn’t everyone wanted them moved for years and banged on and on in supporters forums etc etc about moving them. Now they have it’s all wrong.lol. Maybe if the football, was better and we were showing something and picking up points it would come together ?

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

I think a few that were against it from the start are a bit too keen to jump in and write it off straight away, it's that desire to shout 'I told you so'. A victory, even just a goal could change things.

Fans wanted the Archers back from the aways back at the Dell as it was clearly the best area for creating atmosphere at the time, once it happened it wasn't an immediate success. The stewards/OB were continually forcing fans to sit but one night against Newcastle everyone suddenly stood (and never sat down again) when we needed to get back into the game against Newcastle and the volume went through the roof. And we came from behind to win that match under Bally. It was a decent ‘end’ after that.

 

Edited September 19 by TheAlehouseBrawlers
Added match for old time’s sake!

[franniesTache]

On 19/09/2024 at 07:00, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

I think a few that were against it from the start are a bit too keen to jump in and write it off straight away, it's that desire to shout 'I told you so'. A victory, even just a goal could change things.

Fans wanted the Archers back from the aways back at the Dell as it was clearly the best area for creating atmosphere at the time, once it happened it wasn't an immediate success. The stewards/OB were continually forcing fans to sit but one night against Newcastle everyone suddenly stood (and never sat down again) when we needed to get back into the game against Newcastle and the volume went through the roof. And we came from behind to win that match under Bally. It was a decent ‘end’ after that.

 

One of my favourite Saints games that, I was stood at the back of block five that day. Remember the tannoy telling everyone in the Archers to sit, and from then on it basically became a standing stand as everyone ignored the tannoy.

The one thing that was different about the Archers to the new Northam is that you had the away fans next to it in the east stand, and they were also "penned in" by the under the east lot on the other side.

So effectively you had something identical to what we just lost, where the Northam played the role of the Archers, and the Itchen North played the role of under the east.

What we've got now is actually more similar to when the away fans had the archers and the "main" home end was the milton the opposite side of the ground. Something which our fans moaned about as it damaged the atmosophere.

On 18/09/2024 at 23:22, SteveGc said:

Hasn’t everyone wanted them moved for years and banged on and on in supporters forums etc etc about moving them. Now they have it’s all wrong.lol. Maybe if the football, was better and we were showing something and picking up points it would come together ?

A small group of very vocal people wanted it yeah, but a lot of people also didn't. Unfortunately the club didn't listen to the people who didn't and forced it on us anyway. I really think the club have fucked up here, they should have done "the wall" but also had some safe standing at the back of the chapel too so there was a choice.

[EssEffCee]

I wonder if the club plan on stewarding the Northam stand at all? Plenty of people moving to stand with mates and cram into one 'seat'. I moved at half time on Saturday and found it easy to find an empty space but in the new area there was people openly smoking cigarettes and sniffing cocaine. 

I would have thought one of the requirements of the license for safe standing would be that it's properly stewarded to ensure it's only one person per space so seems strange the club aren't doing this.

Also extremely weird how there's people who've bought tickets in a standing area to sit down most of the game.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

The vocal support was better, more joined up, on Saturday. In most 'ends' the chanting usually starts in the central area behind the goal and quickly spreads from there. Right now it seems to start at the two opposite sides most of the time and the centre joins in with whoever gets a chant going first and also why we keep getting the Northam singing two different things at the same time. But it did come together a bit more often at the weekend and improved the volume.

Like the team, a work in progress.

[64saint]

I took a mate on Saturday who hasn't been that often and he remarked about good atmosphere.  We were sat high up in Kingsland / Northam corner and apart from the 96th minute 😟 it certainly seemed half decent.

[OldNick]

On 19/09/2024 at 07:00, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

I think a few that were against it from the start are a bit too keen to jump in and write it off straight away, it's that desire to shout 'I told you so'. A victory, even just a goal could change things.

Fans wanted the Archers back from the aways back at the Dell as it was clearly the best area for creating atmosphere at the time, once it happened it wasn't an immediate success. The stewards/OB were continually forcing fans to sit but one night against Newcastle everyone suddenly stood (and never sat down again) when we needed to get back into the game against Newcastle and the volume went through the roof. And we came from behind to win that match under Bally. It was a decent ‘end’ after that.

 

That night when we were losing and heading for defeat, the stadium announcer came on and said 'Will all the fans in the Archers please stay seated' with that the mentality was for them all to stand up and start singing, it changed the whole atmosphere and Newcastle wilted. Incredible, whether it was an amazing decision by somebody to rouse us or just coincidence it certainly worked. If the former it was an amazing decision.

[franniesTache]

Counted 7 songs about the skates in the first 14minutes of the game on saturday, which isn't exactly encouraging me to stay. Does anyone know why the hell we're so fucking obsessed with them these days. There's always been the odd one or two but it's in every single song now

[Yorkshire Saint]

2 hours ago, franniesTache said:

Counted 7 songs about the skates in the first 14minutes of the game on saturday, which isn't exactly encouraging me to stay. Does anyone know why the hell we're so fucking obsessed with them these days. There's always been the odd one or two but it's in every single song now

Yes. We hate Pompey 😇

[Yorkshire Saint]

5 hours ago, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

The vocal support was better, more joined up, on Saturday. In most 'ends' the chanting usually starts in the central area behind the goal and quickly spreads from there. Right now it seems to start at the two opposite sides most of the time and the centre joins in with whoever gets a chant going first and also why we keep getting the Northam singing two different things at the same time. But it did come together a bit more often at the weekend and improved the volume.

Like the team, a work in progress.

Bit like the old days...we're the right side... we're the right side we're the right side over here....

[Charlie Wayman]

2 hours ago, franniesTache said:

Counted 7 songs about the skates in the first 14minutes of the game on saturday, which isn't exactly encouraging me to stay. Does anyone know why the hell we're so fucking obsessed with them these days. There's always been the odd one or two but it's in every single song now

pathetic morons?

[franniesTache]

19 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

pathetic morons?

Indeed, genuinely makes me want to stand in silence when they keep singing about those lot all the time.

32 minutes ago, Yorkshire Saint said:

Yes. We hate Pompey 😇

I hate them as much as anyone and even refused to visit my brothers house when he lived in a PO postcode but i'll save my hatred for when they can hear it.

[Football Special]

This sounds like a perfect way to enjoy a football match 👍🏻

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/introducing-knightwood-lounge

 

Named after the most famous tree in the New Forest, the Knightwood Lounge is designed to be an oasis of taste and exclusivity. This space promises to take your matchdays and celebrations to a new level of exclusivity rarely seen in the city. 

Step into a space where the sophisticated hues of emerald green and rich forest tones immediately transport you to a serene woodland. A beautiful pitch facing space, thoughtfully designed with wood elements and natural light, captures the essence of nature while maintaining an air of opulence.  

The sleek, modern bar sets the tone, offering a curated selection of premium sparkling wines, expertly crafted cocktails, and fine spirits. The mood is set by the state-of-the-art DJ booth, delivering the perfect accompaniment to the aesthetic.  

Whether you are here for an intimate evening, lively celebration or premium matchday experience, the Knightwood Lounge invites guests to unwind and celebrate its’ lavish environment that is truly one-of-a-kind. 

[The Kraken]

Fucking hell 

[suewhistle]

Well, you can't beat getting a bit of air into your lungs by having a good laugh!

[Turkish]

42 minutes ago, Football Special said:

This sounds like a perfect way to enjoy a football match 👍🏻

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/introducing-knightwood-lounge

 

Named after the most famous tree in the New Forest, the Knightwood Lounge is designed to be an oasis of taste and exclusivity. This space promises to take your matchdays and celebrations to a new level of exclusivity rarely seen in the city. 

Step into a space where the sophisticated hues of emerald green and rich forest tones immediately transport you to a serene woodland. A beautiful pitch facing space, thoughtfully designed with wood elements and natural light, captures the essence of nature while maintaining an air of opulence.  

The sleek, modern bar sets the tone, offering a curated selection of premium sparkling wines, expertly crafted cocktails, and fine spirits. The mood is set by the state-of-the-art DJ booth, delivering the perfect accompaniment to the aesthetic.  

Whether you are here for an intimate evening, lively celebration or premium matchday experience, the Knightwood Lounge invites guests to unwind and celebrate its’ lavish environment that is truly one-of-a-kind. 

Other clubs name their lounges after famous players, areas of the city or success they've had, we name ours after a tree. 

 

[benjii]

Sounds like a Dubai real estate advert. Fucking gash.

[Football Special]

31 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Other clubs name their lounges after famous players, areas of the city or success they've had, we name ours after a tree. 

 

Not just any tree mate, the most famous tree in the New Forest 👍🏻 

Is this what they cleansed the Itchen North for? 

[Football Special]

Open for the first time for the Leicester game at a very reasonable £300 per person 

[Turkish]

12 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Open for the first time for the Leicester game at a very reasonable £300 per person 

Sounds like a bargain. Does that £300 include the opportunity to purchase some very expensive food like the Gas Works or is that included in the price?

 

[CB Fry]

I think we just need to wait for the dynamic pricing to kick in

[Patrick Bateman]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

Other clubs name their lounges after famous players, areas of the city or success they've had, we name ours after a tree. 

 

What a load of fking gash that statement is ... football is beyond ruined. 

Serene woodland and state of the art DJ booth?? Fk me, how about playing good football and winning?

Knightwood? Bloody hell! What's wrong with the Lee Todd Lounge? (seriously, ANY player other than a fking tree!!)

Expertly crafted cocktails. I want expert saves, expert tackles, expert fking goals and management.

 

ARGH! 

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, Patrick Bateman said:

What a load of fking gash that statement is ... football is beyond ruined. 

Serene woodland and state of the art DJ booth?? Fk me, how about playing good football and winning?

Knightwood? Bloody hell! What's wrong with the Lee Todd Lounge? (seriously, ANY player other than a fking tree!!)

Expertly crafted cocktails. I want expert saves, expert tackles, expert fking goals and management.

 

ARGH! 

You are still stuck in the 80s. Move with the times man. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

FFS…who are the people involved in this rubbish? I’d love to know what £300 buys you…a drink or two, a packet of crisps, a sausage roll? Does it include a plush seat to actually watch a game of football or do you have to sit on a cold hard lump of plastic? The only upside to this that I can see is that it’s likely there’ll be plenty of space in there.

How much does a box for 10 cost these days - £1500? If so, that looks like much better value.

[Dusic]

Believe the Knightwood Lounge represents delivery of the fifth and final of Ralph Krueger's Five Pledges. 

Good to see they have actioned his plan to leave a lasting legacy from his tenure.

[Wurzel]

2 hours ago, Turkish said:

Other clubs name their lounges after famous players, areas of the city or success they've had, we name ours after a tree. 

 

It's been on our badge since the 70s, about time it got some recognition.

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

Sounds like a bargain. Does that £300 include the opportunity to purchase some very expensive food like the Gas Works or is that included in the price?

 

Not sure mate, probably a prawn sandwich or two, fancy it? Sure you can put through expenses at work , any client would be blown away by "exclusivity rarely seen in the city. " 

[Turkish]

7 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Not sure mate, probably a prawn sandwich or two, fancy it? Sure you can put through expenses at work , any client would be blown away by "exclusivity rarely seen in the city. " 

Bold claim when you consider we’ve got Georges, La Lupas and Revolutions 

[franniesTache]

1 hour ago, Patrick Bateman said:

What a load of fking gash that statement is ... football is beyond ruined. 

Serene woodland and state of the art DJ booth?? Fk me, how about playing good football and winning?

Knightwood? Bloody hell! What's wrong with the Lee Todd Lounge? (seriously, ANY player other than a fking tree!!)

Expertly crafted cocktails. I want expert saves, expert tackles, expert fking goals and management.

 

ARGH! 

having been in the Northam Wall this season that lounge actually sounds pretty attractive to me, at the very least you'd be sure of the fact you'd not be surrounded by people in replica shirts singing songs about pompey at a hundred miles an hour.

[Ted Bates Statue]

Easy to mock but other teams are doing the same to an even greater extent. I went corporate hospitality at another ground recently and they're getting loads of revenue off people who want to watch a bit of live football with their tapas in a trendy bar. If the club can extract greater revenue to keep up with the rest (preferably without raising the price of my cheap seats in the corner) and invest it wisely in the squad, then that's good news in my book.

Personally I draw the line at queuing up and buying a pint in the stadium. The match ticket cost can present more than enough punishment on its own.

[Midfield_General]

8 hours ago, Football Special said:

This sounds like a perfect way to enjoy a football match 👍🏻

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/introducing-knightwood-lounge

 

Named after the most famous tree in the New Forest, the Knightwood Lounge is designed to be an oasis of taste and exclusivity. This space promises to take your matchdays and celebrations to a new level of exclusivity rarely seen in the city. 

Step into a space where the sophisticated hues of emerald green and rich forest tones immediately transport you to a serene woodland. A beautiful pitch facing space, thoughtfully designed with wood elements and natural light, captures the essence of nature while maintaining an air of opulence.  

The sleek, modern bar sets the tone, offering a curated selection of premium sparkling wines, expertly crafted cocktails, and fine spirits. The mood is set by the state-of-the-art DJ booth, delivering the perfect accompaniment to the aesthetic.  

Whether you are here for an intimate evening, lively celebration or premium matchday experience, the Knightwood Lounge invites guests to unwind and celebrate its’ lavish environment that is truly one-of-a-kind. 

All that drumroll in the description about rare exclusivity and a one-of-a-kind lavish environment and then you look at the photos they've mocked up and it's basically a fucking Costa 🤣 🤣 🤣

Nothing says 'opulence' like high chairs, fluorescent strip lighting and a lovely bit of laminate flooring. 

I've seen a Spoons more lavish than that 

Edited October 8 by Midfield_General

[Turkish]

15 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

All that drumroll in the description about rare exclusivity and a one-of-a-kind lavish environment and then you look at the photos they've mocked up and it's basically a fucking Costa 🤣 🤣 🤣

Nothing says 'opulence' like high chairs, fluorescent strip lighting and a lovely bit of laminate flooring. 

I've seen a Spoons more lavish than that 

I thought it looked like an IKEA showroom, still some little marketing graduate will be feeling very proud of their work this evening so it's not all been for nothing.

[sfc4prem]

33 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

All that drumroll in the description about rare exclusivity and a one-of-a-kind lavish environment and then you look at the photos they've mocked up and it's basically a fucking Costa 🤣 🤣 🤣

Nothing says 'opulence' like high chairs, fluorescent strip lighting and a lovely bit of laminate flooring. 

I've seen a Spoons more lavish than that 

Looks like a fucking hotdesk unit in a shopping centre.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

You lot are gonna hate Everton's new stadium. Numerous bars, restaurants and 'experiences' covering all tastes - the scousers have already sold them all out - no doubt boutique champagne suites in there! I'd imagine all these big new stadiums offer the same. Not for me, I won't use it but can't really knock the club for offering something in comparison (on a much smaller scale) to try and keep up. 

By the way, look at the rake on the new stands at Bramley Moor Dock (and the leg room!), that is fookin' steep...

Gonna be a cracking stadium.

[Midfield_General]

13 hours ago, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

You lot are gonna hate Everton's new stadium. Numerous bars, restaurants and 'experiences' covering all tastes - the scousers have already sold them all out - no doubt boutique champagne suites in there! I'd imagine all these big new stadiums offer the same. Not for me, I won't use it but can't really knock the club for offering something in comparison (on a much smaller scale) to try and keep up. 

By the way, look at the rake on the new stands at Bramley Moor Dock (and the leg room!), that is fookin' steep...

Gonna be a cracking stadium.

I don’t have any problem at all with corporate hospitality or the club finding new revenue streams however they can. High-end experiences for big-spending clients can be very lucrative, and if people or companies want to pay for them then absolutely fair play to them. I’ve been to plenty myself as part of my work. 

Spurs, Man City, Arsenal, West Ham all do excellent high-end packages, and I’m sure Everton will be great too. It’s not the way I like to watch football personally, but I can see why people like it if they’re more casual fans or they’re looking to entertain clients and they’ve got the money. 

What I find very amusing though is the disparity in this specific example between how they’ve described it in the sales copy, and then what it looks like in the visuals. If you’re going to go in hard with the superlatives in sales speak like that, promising unparalleled luxury and lavish opulence for £300 a ticket then great, but then you have to deliver, otherwise you just look ridiculous.

It’s like those Winter Wonderland or Willy Wonka experiences where people get sold this magical vision and then when they get there they find out that their £300 family ticket has bought them a border collie with antlers stuck on it and a pissed-off-looking elf smoking a roll-up in a car park. 

When you over-sell and under-deliver you’re asking for trouble. And as far as the Knightwood Lounge goes, they either need to rein it in with the copy, or they need to hire better interior designers because £300 a ticket is a lot of money and just putting a neon sign that says CHAMPAGNE behind the bar in what looks like the phone charging bit of Stansted is going to lead to a lot of very pissed off clients. 

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

30 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

I don’t have any problem at all with corporate hospitality or the club finding new revenue streams however they can. High-end experiences for big-spending clients can be very lucrative, and if people or companies want to pay for them then absolutely fair play to them. I’ve been to plenty myself as part of my work. 

Spurs, Man City, Arsenal, West Ham all do excellent high-end packages, and I’m sure Everton will be great too. It’s not the way I like to watch football personally, but I can see why people like it if they’re more casual fans or they’re looking to entertain clients and they’ve got the money. 

What I find very amusing though is the disparity in this specific example between how they’ve described it in the sales copy, and then what it looks like in the visuals. If you’re going to go in hard with the superlatives in sales speak like that, promising unparalleled luxury and lavish opulence for £300 a ticket then great, but then you have to deliver, otherwise you just look ridiculous.

It’s like those Winter Wonderland or Willy Wonka experiences where people get sold this magical vision and then when they get there they find out that their £300 family ticket has bought them a border collie with antlers stuck on it and a pissed-off-looking elf smoking a roll-up in a car park. 

When you over-sell and under-deliver you’re asking for trouble. And as far as the Knightwood Lounge goes, they either need to rein it in with the copy, or they need to hire better interior designers because £300 a ticket is a lot of money and just putting a neon sign that says CHAMPAGNE behind the bar in what looks like the phone charging bit of Stansted is going to lead to a lot of very pissed off clients. 

….and no one could really argue with that

[OldNick]

20 hours ago, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

 

By the way, look at the rake on the new stands at Bramley Moor Dock (and the leg room!), that is fookin' steep...

Gonna be a cracking stadium.

Thts intentionally designed so tat their fans leave the stadium quicker when they are losing

[OldNick]

22 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

All that drumroll in the description about rare exclusivity and a one-of-a-kind lavish environment and then you look at the photos they've mocked up and it's basically a fucking Costa 🤣 🤣 🤣

Nothing says 'opulence' like high chairs, fluorescent strip lighting and a lovely bit of laminate flooring. 

I've seen a Spoons more lavish than that 

Shame I haven't the image of the un-ironed sheet that was laid on the table for that Pompey fans event

[Football Special]

I know the football doesn't help, but still a shame to see how quiet the Northam wall is. The old Northam / Itchen North combo would have comfortably made more noise yesterday 

[bpsaint]

3 minutes ago, Football Special said:

I know the football doesn't help, but still a shame to see how quiet the Northam wall is. The old Northam / Itchen North combo would have comfortably made more noise yesterday 

Hopefully it’s purely a result of the depressing shit served up recently. Going to football has become a chore for a lot of people. 
 

Fingers crossed at some point in the not too distant future the tide will turn and the stadium will find its voice again.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

4 minutes ago, Football Special said:

I know the football doesn't help, but still a shame to see how quiet the Northam wall is. The old Northam / Itchen North combo would have comfortably made more noise yesterday 

It wasn't great but it wasn't that bad either. Still mostly singing different stuff on either side, so little different to the old Northam/Itchen North combo which has been crap for years anyway. The worse thing is how docile the rest of the stadium is, south of the halfway line is just a bunch of spectators sitting on their hands.

[LGTL]

They’ve somehow managed to make the atmosphere even worse, which is some achievement considering how low the bar already was. 

All in all, it’s a fucking massive chore and I’m not sure why so many of us are still arsed with doing it. 

[Lymington Saint]

Think the quality of the football may be part of the problem

[Bob60]

55 minutes ago, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

It wasn't great but it wasn't that bad either. Still mostly singing different stuff on either side, so little different to the old Northam/Itchen North combo which has been crap for years anyway. The worse thing is how docile the rest of the stadium is, south of the halfway line is just a bunch of spectators sitting on their hands.

What a load of bull crap, I sit in itchen near the chapel corner and have heard the 'wall' two or three times this year, all we hear now is away fans. 

That along with the crap on the pitch is killing the atmosphere for half the ground.

 

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

5 minutes ago, Bob60 said:

What a load of bull crap, I sit in itchen near the chapel corner and have heard the 'wall' two or three times this year, all we hear now is away fans. 

That along with the crap on the pitch is killing the atmosphere for half the ground.

 

Maybe you need to make a bit more noise down there then Bob  and get a few others around you to pipe up too. No shit you hear the away fans more at that end...

[Saint_clark]

43 minutes ago, Lymington Saint said:

Think the quality of the football may be part of the problem

Yeah it's difficult to gauge. The best our atmosphere has been was from 2011 to 2016, starting with Adkins era and ending part way into Puels. No coincidence our most successful period in modern history.

Unfortunately everyone from my group that had a ST from years before even that, all got priced out and stopped going. I expect there are similar stories all over, groups of people slowly disappearing a few at a time to be replaced by who knows who.