On a positive note you gotta admit the field looked great. What did everybody think of seeing the game on a properly sized field?
The field has been getting rave reviews from players and writers. Personally, I think the fact that the field is properly-sized field AND flat, added to the atmosphere. After watching the Quakes at Kezar and PAL, it was nice to be able to see the play at the other side of the field. I heard a couple of comments from the pair in front of me that the field looked bigger at Spartan. I was enjoying the game too much to take time and explain to the pair the dangers of smoking crack.
While I thought that the field was definitely bigger than Spartan (proving I am not on crack), I have to say, I thought it was only MARGINALLY bigger. I was expecting it to be wider. They could have easily made it a few yards wider I think. But, that's a small quibble compared to the issue of people walking along the front row.
I'm very impressed by the Comcast graphics. Now you know where you fees to Comcast are going (actually, if they were all going in that direction, it would be great).
I fully agree that the walkway needs to be shutdown at the opening whistle. I easily missed the first 15 minutes of the game due to clueless wanderers. Find your seat, put your ass in it and stay there. There is no reason people can't use the back stairways and stay out of the way. The concession guys were all over the place as well...way too many of them. I will be VERY vocal about telling people to find their seat and get out of the way.
Seeing Jester Guy was a highlight of the evening for me. We sat right behind him in the Spartan days, and he was always amazing. We're a couple of sections over from him this year, but he's still easy to spot, and most welcomed.
I am one of those who will disagree with you. I believe it is a wash. For every advantage that Buck Shaw presents over Spartan, there is a disadvantage. My biggest disagreement is with the size of the stadium. The current stadium, with flaws, will only allow 10,300 fans, compared to a capacity of 27,000 at an older stadium with flaws. Talk all you want about the size of the field, or the scoreboard with the monitor, or the "closeness" of the field, or simply because it's not Spartan Stadium. The simple fact that the new location is only allowing 1/3 the capacity of Spartan Stadium, and making up the difference by increasing the ticket price. The biggest difference is that that the new group in charge of the team is interested in one thing, and one thing only...the bottom line. It will be interesting to see what the fan turn out will be in August, when the day games begin to hit the schedule. It's amazing how you mention how "lively" a crowd of 8,000 will be in BS stadium...because as the season goes along, who knows how big/small the crowd will become. While the Quakes' defense is currently a relatively decent and experienced crew, if the team continues it's trend not to score, those 8,000 fans may be pushing the limits of conventional wisdom.
I liked Spartan a lot better than Buck Shaw. Seating was more comfortable, access to seats was better. You could see the game for the most part. If they don't improve on the issues with vendors and people standing in the aisles it won't be as late as August before I stop showing up. If the next game is same way as last night's I won't be buying many tickets this season. I'd like to see someone from Quakes staff post on here to tell us their plans to improve on the problems last night, not to mention their plans to improve on the forward line.
Well, I'm happy as could be. My seats are at the top of the temp side just off the middle. Nobody kneeing me in the back and I can stand whenever I like and it's air conditioned when it gets warm. It looked good! I'm told the field is 110 x 71, so not exactly international. Thought the fans were a little quiet but warmed up later as the team obviously needed some prodding. The supporter groups were okay but seem small and a bit rusty perhaps. Still, better having them there. For me, this will work fine but I can see it will be a problem especially for those by the walkways.
100 by 70 is, I believe the FIFA international minimum field size. However, with a capacity of 10,500 I doubt w'll be seeing any international games at the Shaw.
sorry about that-next match i'll shout much louder until I can't speak anymore and in the meantime, can I get you some tea, coffee, or maybe a cocktail??my rustiness comes from two years of no footy, i am so sorry
i would like some tea. i can't even speak right now, and that would really sooothe my throat after 100+ mins of chanting! but i'll be sure that i strain my vocal chord [hopefully i haven't already] for the columbus tame.
I want to encourage those of you that had problems to try to find ways to make it work for you. Perhaps you need to bug your ticket rep to get yourself relocated to a higher row. Maybe next Saturday you can get there early to figure out the lay of the neighborhood, to figure out the best places to park and your routes in and out. Maybe you can find a nearby establishment where you can get a good pre-game dinner and some fine beverages so you won't need to deal with long lines and beer cages. Maybe you can join the Casbah or the Ultras, where, when you're standing, the walkway people don't block your view. If you have legit complaints to bring to the FO, do it. Some of the problems they can probably solve, some they probably can't. Encourage them to do what they can. But also do what you can. Watch the Centerline Soccer video interviews and hear what the players said about the atmosphere last night. For me it made me just want to get back there on Saturday and give these guys all of my support. I'd like a nice real tailgate, but it's not as important as those 90 minutes. The atmosphere was great last night, but it can be so much better. We have an opportunity to make Buck Shaw a special place and to create some great memories. Let's make it our house for the time we will be there.
I'd have no problem if i had to stand if it was encouraged. Would be hard for the kids in the satdium to see though. All i want is to pay my money and be able to see the game, is that asking too much?
I was never one to want to sit in the first row as I like to see the game from a little higher up. I wanted to originally get tickets in the last row of 107 but I am in row 14 which is not bad and feeling sorry for everyone who bought tickets in the first couple of rows. My biggest complaint is that the seats are way toooooo close together but I doubt anything can be done about that. Other than that everything else was fine but I am glad Buck Shaw is temporary. I can't wait for a proper stadium. the sooner we can get out of Buck Shaw the better!
Optimistically, the new Epicenter SSS may be finished for the 2010 season. I doubt that they could ever get it done earlier than that. Something to look forward to.
Well said. I expected there to be issues to be worked out initially, some of them solvable, some not. The walkway thing is addressable. Also, I think one of the reasons that many people were late to their seats was the little wireless devices that they were using to read tickets. Just way too slow, and that was causing a backup for people with tickets trying to enter the stadium. That may be addressable, but maybe not right away. One thing that's not addressable is the lack of space between rows on the Alameda side. Can't do anything about that. It's real hard to squeeze into your seat if most of the people are seated. We'll just have to get used to that. I can live with the issues 'cause there are many positives, and the crowd size related issues can't get any worse, as this was a sellout. The full or nearly full games at Spartan had crowd size related issues as well.
Realistically were in BS for 3 years. One game down, forty-one to go! Or more if we make the playoffs!
I will definitely write to the FO about these things: 1. Signage about NO HORNS ALLOWED at the gate---the ticket checkers should be briefed on this. They can add it to the NO FOODS, DRINKS ALLOWED sign. And yes, I saw atleast 1 horn last Saturday. 2. Two signage by the Casbah (one at the top level and one at the low level): SUPPORTERS SECTION: STANDING & CHEERING ENCOURAGED. 3. I agree that they should really block off the lower aisles when the match starts. All late comers should go and use the walkway above. It looks so bad on tv with all the people walking about!
Can anyone say from experience that the University side has more space between the seats than the Alameda side? If so, I will pay the upcharge to get myself there. I can't do this cramped seat thing again.
Nope. Sardine city on our side as well. I was thinking about getting our seats changed to the Alameda side thinking that the University side was cramped because they were temporary seats. I thought, surely the Alameda side has to have more room since those seats have been around forever. But then I spoke with relatives that sat on the Alameda side and they said it was no better on that side. I think the most comfortable sections are probably the supporters groups sections but that's only because they stand throughout the whole game.
crowd control I'll be asking for a season ticket refund if the Quakes don't eliminate the foot traffic blocking my view. I paid a lot of money for these tickets to watch these games... not not watch them because I can't f...ing see.