FANS COMPLAIN TO BOSSES ON TICKETS

30 August 2005

Angry Swans fans have complained directly to club bosses about ticketing problems for games at The New Stadium Swansea, it has emerged. It follows angry rows during the first few opening games at the £27 million showpiece stadium in which some supporters had major problems getting their correct ticket allocations.

It left some with too many and others with none at all.

Members of the club's supporters' trust have now made their views known to Swans chairman Huw Jenkins in a meeting last week.

Nigel Davies, who writes the club's unofficial fanzine A Touch Far Vetched, and who was at the supporters' meeting with Mr Jenkins, claimed the ticketing issue had turned into a fiasco.

He alleged: "It is proving to be a disaster.''Another fan said: " The stadium is great, a real showpiece.

"But I know a lot of people have been left very unhappy at the way ticketing for it has gone.''

A spokesman for stadium operators Stadco said 50,000 people had gone through the turnstiles to watch soccer and rugby games in its first month of operation.

He added: "Some initial issues with the ticketing did occur as the system bedded in and these are being resolved.

"Friday night's Ospreys match was a huge success, and suggests that the early teething problems are being overcome.

"Obviously Stadco will continue to monitor the situation in order to make sure customers get the best possible service."

SPORTS FANS IN ROW ON PARKING

25 August 2005

Sports fans attending evening matches at The New Stadium Swansea have been barred from using the giant car park directly across the road, it has now emerged. Drivers trying to use the Landore park and ride site for evening matches when it is empty have been told they can't go in.

The site holds hundreds of cars and is not used at night. It is just yards from the stadium gates. But bosses say it will stay off limits despite its convenience.

Soccer fan Dan Griffiths, who drove from his home in Carmarthen to watch the Wales match against Slovenia a week ago, branded the move daft.

He said today: "It's crazy that you have to go to Swansea Vale or the Recreation Ground at Brynmill to park for evening matches but you can't park across the road.

"I was told I couldn't park at Landore but I could use other park and ride facilities outside town.''

Stadium bosses have been dogged by parking and ticket problems since the stadium opened for its first match on July 23.

They were forced to pull the plug on one of the three park and ride sites - at County Hall - ahead of the international with Slovenia after it was revealed just a handful of people used it.

Sports fans from the Swansea Valley then called foul over new park and ride charges at Swansea Vale.

And while fans using the Recreation Ground are charged £2 for parking and riding by bus, those using Swansea Vale are being asked to pay £5. The council said the costs would balance out if supporters shared cars.

A council spokesman said: "The new stadium has a bespoke travel plan which was developed during the planning stages which provides sufficient facilities to cater for crowds of up to 20,000 at the stadium.

"These facilities include match day park and ride sites at Swansea Vale and the Recreation Ground. There are frequent bus services serving the stadium site, and an attractive and informative travel plan leaflet is available from the stadium, the clubs or the Stadco website at www.swansrad.com

"The Landore park and ride service has been developed to serve the city centre. It is completely independent of the new stadium."

SEARCH FOR BOSS CONTINUES

24 August 2005

Swansea's new £27 million sports arena still has no-one at the helm more than two months after its stadium boss sensationally left, it was revealed today. Former chief executive Tim Howell has not been replaced despite the New Stadium's big opening last month and first rugby match this week.

Council bosses admitted the search is still on for the man or woman who will be brought in to mastermind its running.

Mr Howell, who was brought in to oversee its day-to-day operation, left in June five weeks before the stadium's kick-off.Details of why he left did not emerge - only a statement saying he was moving on to "different challenges".

Swansea Stadium Management Company chairman Councillor Gerald Clement said: "Tim's done a superb job and will be sorely missed, however we fully understand that this is the time for him to move on to other challenges elsewhere.

"We will continue to build on the great start given to this stadium through Tim's hard work.''

STADCO ISN'T DELIVERING

24 August 2005

I applied for two tickets for the Wales v Slovenia friendly by filling the application form, complete with cheque for £48 (including 10 per cent administration fee and £4 for obligatory special delivery). As the special delivery did not appear to be forthcoming, I telephoned the stadium ticket office and was told that the tickets had been dispatched.

The Saturday before the match arrived, still no tickets had come, so I turned up in person at the ticket office, complete with a copy of my bank statement showing that my cheque had been presented.

The young man at the ticket office found my name and address on the computer, and asked me if I had paid for the tickets. Once again I was told that the tickets were in the post.Wednesday arrived, my brother and myself turned up at the stadium ticket-less. And again, I was asked if the tickets had been paid for.

Mervyn and myself were a little irked by the whole procedure and were finally given two tickets for east stand, row X, where the view was excellent, even allowing for our X location.

Talk about Fred Karno's Army. However, I am sure StadCo bosses probably do not realise the significance of the comment.

Maybe the StadCo organisation has a saboteur in its midst, or more likely is just not up to the job. We even doubt if there will be any recompense.

Between us, my brother and I have spent nearly 120 years supporting the Swans, along with many other loyal fans, so this treatment of supporters is just not acceptable.

One more point I would like to make - why is the ticket office not open for 9am instead of 11.30am? Once again a lack of consideration.

Bill Rundle, Summerland Lane, Newton, Swansea

OUTRAGED AT BOX BUYS

22 August 2005

I Have just learned that at the expense of the council tax-payers of Swansea, councilors have bought themselves not only one but two hospitality boxes in The New Stadium Swansea. Is this what an open-and- above-board council is all about?

A L Hancock, Mysydd Road, Landore, Swansea.

Sales low for Wales' city return

From BBC Wales Website

Wednesday, 17 August 2005

The Football Association of Wales has said it is disappointed that Wales' first game in Swansea for 17 years may be played before a half-empty stadium.

Twenty-four hours before the friendly against Slovenia, around 10,500 tickets had been sold for the 20,000-capacity New Stadium.

It follows ticketing problems ahead of the game which saw some fans issued with and charged for duplicate tickets.

The company running the venue, Stadco, said the problems had been resolved.

FAW spokesman Ceri Stennett said the organisation had hoped for a larger crowd to mark the national side's return to Swansea, adding that "lessons need to be learned" over the ticket problems.

He told the BBC Wales news website on Tuesday: "Around 10,500 tickets have been sold. Tickets are on sale at the stadium until 2pm on the afternoon of the match, but realistically we are expecting 12,000.

"We're disappointed - we were hoping to get nearer a capacity crowd.

Prices were reasonable, but people may have had problems in other areas - there have been teething problems (with ticketing).

"Although those problems have been resolved, it hasn't been straightforward and lessons need to be learned for the future."

Some fans who are due to attend the match have said they still have concerns over ticketing.

Supporter Tony Jeffries said: "We applied for eight tickets, but were sent 16.

"Going to Swansea to return the eight tickets we didn't want, it was found out the 16 tickets we had received had been sold to someone else.

"If we would have turned up with those tickets on Wednesday, we would have been sat in someone's seat or someone would have been sat in ours.

"I can see Wednesday night being mayhem."

Fellow supporter, Gwyn Davies, added: "My concern is for the match is that two or three people might be allocated the same seat and that could lead to all sorts of chaos."
Stadco, which runs the stadium, said the problems had been rectified.

A spokesman said: "There was an initial error in the ticketing arrangements. That issue has now been resolved.

"Any supporter who has been overcharged will be fully refunded.

"Anyone who hasn't received their ticket can either contact the ticket office on 08700 400004 or come along to the ticket inquiry desk which will be open from 2pm until kick-off on Wednesday."

Several senior players including Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Simon Davies have withdrawn from the Wales squad.

Supporter Neil Dymock said the withdrawals and the early-season date for the Slovenia game were to blame for the anticipated low crowd rather than problems with the Swansea venue.

He added: "The stadium should be selling tickets right up to kick-off to make it easier for people to go.

"But at the end of the day, this is a friendly in August against Slovenia.

"If it was a qualifier, or a game against someone like Spain, it would have been a full house.

"Supporters from north Wales aren't going to take two days off work to travel to this game."

Ticket 'glitch' for Wales match

12 August 2005

Football fans who bought tickets for Wales' friendly against Slovenia next Wednesday have complained of being issued with two sets and charged twice.

There have also been complaints that tickets have been issued for different parts of the New Stadium in Swansea than the seating areas requested.

Management company Stadco said there had been "an initial ticketing error" and apologised for any inconvenience.

A spokesman said anyone who had been charged twice was being refunded.
The BBC has been contacted by several people, including one fan, Duncan Jardine from Blackwood, who said he ordered 10 tickets but was sent 20.

"I ordered 10 tickets about six weeks ago and heard nothing until three envelopes arrived.
"There were the 10 tickets I had ordered in one envelope, with another one containing four for the north stand in another and six more for the north stand sat away from the four in another. And I got charged for all 20," he said.

Mr Jardine said that he was not happy with the way the stadium handled his complaint.
"I managed to get through to the stadium to sort it out and they told me to rip up the 10 tickets I hadn't ordered and that I wouldn't be charged for all 20.

"But when I checked my credit card statement and surprise surprise I have been charged twice.
"I was told that only a few people had been affected by a temporary computer glitch but I know of at least a dozen other people who have had problems.

"I am just waiting to see if I am going to be reimbursed for the tickets I didn't order.
"It is a total farce - it is just ridiculous," he added.

An FAW spokesman urged fans who have had problems to be patient.

"We are aware of it (ticketing problem)," said Ceri Sennett from the FAW.

"The tickets are handled by the New Stadium in Swansea and it is an issue for them. It is a new stadium and will have teething problems.

"Of course it is unfortunate and I would say please bear with us as it is very much in its infancy.
The Stadco spokesman said: "Due to an initial ticketing error, we have issued a very small number of fans with replacement tickets. Anyone who has been charged twice are being refunded very quickly.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused, but we can reassure fans that the initial problems have been overcome and ticketing arrangements are now progressing very well.

"Anyone with any queries or fans who want to buy tickets should contact the ticket office on 08700 400 004."

OUR STADIUM HAS GOT WORST NAME IN WORLD

South Wales Evening Post - 10 August 2005

It's official - the general public wants the name of Swansea's new sports stadium changed. A website poll carried out by city-based design and marketing company Bluesky Media rejected the title of The New Stadium Swansea, which was given as an interim name while a sponsor is found.

It got a four per cent share of the votes, whereas White Rock, the original working title for the Landore stadium, got a whopping 85 per cent.

Morfa got four per cent and other names made up the balance.Bluesky's marketing consultant John Davies said: "The name of the stadium is an emotive issue and these results reinforce the perception that the White Rock title has already stuck.

"The introduction of a 'clean' name has been introduced too late in the game and at this stage will only serve to damage the stadium's branding."

Phil Sumbler, webmaster for unofficial Swans' Jackarmy website and Swansea City Supporters' Trust board member, said: "The results are of no real surprise. Fans have still been calling it White Rock in the two or three weeks since it was officially named The New Stadium Swansea.

"I don't think that is going to change."

And he disagreed with the StadCo contention that a clean name was vital in attracting a sponsor.

"It almost defeats the object now," said Mr Sumbler.

"The fans are calling it White Rock and I think a sponsor would be happy to put its name alongside that. Any other name would never take off."

Ian Davies, who writes a column for unofficial Swans website SCFC, said: "The working title of White Rock Stadium was unceremoniously removed 'to encourage potential stadium sponsors' but none have been found," he said.

"We have the most advanced new stadium in Europe and the worst name in the world.

"I can't see how a potential sponsor would be more dissuaded by the name White Rock Stadium than New Stadium.

Gerald Clement, chairman of stadium management company Stadco, said that any sponsor wanting to incorporate the White Rock into a new name would be free to do so.

"There would be no problem with that," said Councillor Clement, the council's cabinet member for culture and recreation.

"I admit it has caught on with people."

But he was adamant that the company was right to come up with what he said was the deliberately bland New Stadium Swansea name.

"We were told that if we used the name White Rock it would be the death knell for any deal," said Councillor Clement.

"We attempted to make this plain to everyone.

"It was made pretty obvious that the name was deliberately bland so we could attract a sponsor."

OLYMPIC BID FOR SWANSEA

Swansea Council Press Release - 8 August 2005

Swansea is ready to capitalise on the spin-off benefits of the successful bid to stage the 2012 Olympics in London. Read more about Olympic Bid For Swansea

LET'S CALL IT WHITE ROCK

8 August 2005

The Evening Post has reported that more than three-quarters of people taking part in their poll have voted for the name White Rock. In the past, the media was asked to abandon that name was because it did not want to put off potential sponsors.

They complied with this request but that was nearly a year ago and the asking price has dropped from £800,000 to £250,000 and The New Stadium Swansea is now making us a laughing stock.

The Evening Post is on record as saying that it disapproves of the temporary name. So why not join the majority of fans and start using the name White Rock as well?

If a sponsor does eventually appear then we will all expect the new name to be used.

Mark Spiller, Bond Street, Swansea

WHITE ROCK IS FANS' FAVOURITE

8 August 2005

Pressure on Swansea's new showpiece sports stadium to restore its name to White Rock was expected to increase today. The results of a special fans' survey on the name were being published and were expected to back the former working title White Rock.

It was undertaken by city-based company Bluesky Media in the light of Stadco's unpopular decision to name it The New Stadium Swansea.

The company intends presenting its findings to Stadco chairman Gerald Clement.

The survey was prompted by an approach from Phil Sumbler, webmaster for unofficial Swans website Jackarmy.net, who said the voice of the people was being ignored.

Ian Davies, who contributes to the other Swans supporters' unofficial website SCFC, said: "The New Stadium Swansea. What an absolute joke."

U-TURN HOPE ON BAR BAN AT STADIUM

6 August 2005

Managers at The New Stadium Swansea hope to resolve a licensing problem that has seen some season ticket holders barred from one of its bars. The stadium's Riverside Bar is intended to create a club atmosphere for season ticket holders, but licensing regulations mean that under 14-year-olds cannot be admitted, and those aged 14 to 18 only in the company of an adult.

Managers are now hoping to renegotiate the terms of the licence, but it was not resolved before today's Swans game against Tranmere.

Swansea City director David Morgan said: "Unfortunately some people have been turned away from the Riverside Bar.

"Hopefully, it will be resolved with the licensing authority shortly."

STADIUM BELONGS TO FANS

4 August 2005

What StadCo, The New Stadium Swansea's managing company, has to understand is that the stadium belongs to the fans. I would urge them to come up with a name the fans want. Stadco can call it the Mickey Mouse Stadium if it wants, but the fans want it to be known as White Rock.

David Ackerman, Ffordd y Brain, Ravenhill, Swansea

New stadium gives Swansea lift

BBC Website - 3 August 2005

NEW NAME IS FARCICAL

2 August 2005

Inspirational, Irresistible, Invigorating . . . all words that fail miserably when describing Swansea Council's decision to name the new stadium The New Stadium Swansea. I wonder just how many consultative meetings and long business lunches it took to come up with that one.

The decision is nothing short of farcical when you consider that most people in Swansea already refer to the place as White Rock and that this name has become accepted. One can only wonder why the council wishes to fly in the face of such overwhelming public opinion.

Members should remember that the stadium was paid for through the sale of publicly owned land plus a large grant obtained by the Swans. The council is a publicly elected body and is there to reflect the wishes of its electorate.

I say - wake up and listen to the people: White Rock is what we call it and that is what it will remain. Give it the name officially without further delay.

W P Morris, Heol Caerllion, Parcgwernfadog, Swansea.

CAR PARK 'RIP OFF' PRICES FANS AWAY

1 August 2005

Sports fans from the Swansea Valley are calling foul over new park and ride charges for the New Stadium. Swansea council has set up three park and ride schemes for match days.

The ones leaving from County Hall and the Recreation Ground next to St Helen's are charging £2 for the service.But supporters using the third at Swansea Vale are being asked to pay £5.

A spokeswoman for First Cymru said the charges were determined by Stadco, the company which runs the stadium, and Swansea Council.

The council claims the costs will balance out if supporters share cars, as the Swansea Vale price was per car for parking, with a free bus, while the other sites offered free parking but a £2 bus ride for each adult.

"The prices are broadly comparable to other stadia and cover the costs of bus travel and the cost of providing a brand new park and ride site," said the council's spokeswoman.

"While parking at County Hall and the Recreation Ground is free, bus fares from there are charged per person, at £2 each.

"The cost of parking at Swansea Vale is per car and bus travel is free.'

'This means that if people are sharing a car - which we would encourage them to do - the £5 charge is shared between them.

"Two friends travelling together, for example, would pay the equivalent of £2.50 each.

''Three friends travelling together would pay less than £1.70

."But some fans say the system is unfair to supporters travelling from Swansea Vale to matches on their own.

Nigel Thomas, a 35-year-old teacher from Bryncoch, said: "They haven't thought this through at all, everything seems to be geared to the Swansea end. It's a poor show.

"People coming from Neath and the Swansea Valley have to use the Vale park and ride and they are being charged more.

''It should be called a Park and Rip-off.

"It would work out cheaper if you share cars but you can't always arrive at the same time.

"They build a 20,000-seater stadium with only a couple of thousand parking places and they are just for the privileged few who can afford executive seats."