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Be thankful for our blessings
Discussion started by Pimpernel44 , 22 May, 2017 12:53
Be thankful for our blessings
Pimpernel44 22 May, 2017 12:53
No not the players and coaches (although I am indeed very thankful for them) but the ease with which we can get to Allianz Park on match day. It is a thought prompted by the shamefully awful train service from central Exeter to Sandy Park (or, rather, to Digby and Sowton, which is still a fair old yomp from the stadium).

Talking to Exeter supporters this dreadful service is normal, and some asked if we would write to GWR and complain about it, in the hope that some "new" complainers might help to get some improvement.

Pretty much every out-of-town stadium I've been to is similarly badly served (Sandy Park, The Madejski, the Grand Stade de Lyon, to name just a few recent ones). By London public transport standards AzP might be in the middle of nowhere, but the two Mill Hill stations combined with Sarries' excellent shuttle bus service make travelling there a breeze, IMO.

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Highbury Saracen 22 May, 2017 15:29
Totally agree P44 we have been to Sandy Park a few times and opted to cab it there & back to Exeter st Davids!



European champions 2016 & 2017

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
GazzaFez 22 May, 2017 16:03
Totally agree. It is a transport plan which just works. It's that simple.

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
clalan 22 May, 2017 16:24
It is dreadful on the Great Western who never put more trains on to cope with demand. The best option really in future, get off at St Davids and catch the 78 or the C bus straight to the ground. I always use the buses, they are so much better.

See you next season.

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Pimpernel44 22 May, 2017 16:43
Quote:
clalan
It is dreadful on the Great Western who never put more trains on to cope with demand. The best option really in future, get off at St Davids and catch the 78 or the C bus straight to the ground. I always use the buses, they are so much better.
See you next season.

Cheers clalan, hope to take your advice next season!

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Pimpernel44 22 May, 2017 17:01
A complaint has duly been submitted to GWR.

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
CK55FEZ 22 May, 2017 18:00
Agreed.

Taxi cabs from EXD to Sandy Park (and Sandy Park to EXD) are £13.50. With tip = less than £4 per head for 4.

I walked down to Rydon Road, got my waiting taxi and was back at Gr. Western for 5pm for a livener.

Job done.

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Hellequin 22 May, 2017 19:20
As one of the few Quins fans who is happy with the Wembley match considering 20mins by tube and seats that will fit an adult for me, compared to 2.5 hours 3 transfers and knackered knees at AP. Looking forward to next year hopefully you will be coming to us twice.

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Westrock 22 May, 2017 20:48
Quote:
Pimpernel44
No not the players and coaches (although I am indeed very thankful for them) but the ease with which we can get to Allianz Park on match day. It is a thought prompted by the shamefully awful train service from central Exeter to Sandy Park (or, rather, to Digby and Sowton, which is still a fair old yomp from the stadium).
Talking to Exeter supporters this dreadful service is normal, and some asked if we would write to GWR and complain about it, in the hope that some "new" complainers might help to get some improvement.

Pretty much every out-of-town stadium I've been to is similarly badly served (Sandy Park, The Madejski, the Grand Stade de Lyon, to name just a few recent ones). By London public transport standards AzP might be in the middle of nowhere, but the two Mill Hill stations combined with Sarries' excellent shuttle bus service make travelling there a breeze, IMO.

Saracens shuttle has been so successful even Spurs are going to use it as a template for their new stadium
"The Club will operate two new shuttle bus services – the first service will run from Alexandra Palace station by way of Wood Green (Piccadilly line). The model for this service is the Allianz Park service, which carries more than 3,000 Saracens supporters before and after games. A second service will provide a high frequency link between the upgraded Tottenham Hale interchange (Victoria Line and 6 minutes from Liverpool Street) and the stadium area. "

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
ninjafez 22 May, 2017 21:15
Quote:
Hellequin
As one of the few Quins fans who is happy with the Wembley match considering 20mins by tube and seats that will fit an adult for me, compared to 2.5 hours 3 transfers and knackered knees at AP. Looking forward to next year hopefully you will be coming to us twice.

Your rarer than hens teeth Mr hellequin...



Ninjafez - supporting Sarries and cleaning their signs since 2006!

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Chiefs 22 May, 2017 21:33
Thanks for lodging a complaint guys, it is quite frankly a disgrace. We were actually lucky Exeter City were not at home as well, as they were for the Bristol game......It really is crammed then.

I must say however, I don't consider the walk fro DS to Sandy Park a yomp, far from it, but the train service is third world. GWR need to get a grip and sort it out.

PLEASE get the complaints in.

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
GazzaFez 22 May, 2017 22:05
Things to be thankful for.........

Our guys not having to pay at Twickers on Saturday. Current forecast is for a staggering 30C !!!

Wouldn't fancy playing in that smiling smiley

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Pimpernel44 23 May, 2017 07:19
Quote:
Chiefs
Thanks for lodging a complaint guys, it is quite frankly a disgrace. We were actually lucky Exeter City were not at home as well, as they were for the Bristol game......It really is crammed then.
I must say however, I don't consider the walk fro DS to Sandy Park a yomp, far from it, but the train service is third world. GWR need to get a grip and sort it out.

PLEASE get the complaints in.

I didn't have a problem with the walk at the Sandy Park end (we had a longer walk at the Exeter end), I just wanted to make the point that even after it's taken GWR 40 minutes to transport one a mere 3 miles, you're still not actually at SP!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 23/05/2017 07:22 by Pimpernel44.

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Pimpernel44 23 May, 2017 07:23
Quote:
GazzaFez
Things to be thankful for.........
Our guys not having to pay at Twickers on Saturday. Current forecast is for a staggering 30C !!!

Wouldn't fancy playing in that smiling smiley

Frankly I'm looking forward to a weekend off myself!

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Rupes 23 May, 2017 09:50
Drive to Exmouth. Train to Newcourt (new station), easy walk. I like getting to Sandy Park.

Many on here will be aware of my dislike of getting in and out of Allianz so no point in repeating. But if you think it's a long walk to the ground from Digby and Sowton then may I point you in the direction of the path of the shuttle drop off to Allianz. BIG bottleneck, mostly badly lit, mud everywhere at certain points at certain times of the year.

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Highbury Saracen 23 May, 2017 09:53
All seemed much better walking that way this season
Its certainly had new tarmac surface and lighting is vastly improved!



European champions 2016 & 2017



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 23/05/2017 09:56 by Highbury Saracen.

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Pimpernel44 23 May, 2017 10:32
Quote:
Rupes
Drive to Exmouth. Train to Newcourt (new station), easy walk. I like getting to Sandy Park.

Strangely they wouldn't let me take my car on the train from Paddington, plus some idiot decided to locate most of Exeter's hotels in, erm, Exeter!

Quote:
Rupes
Many on here will be aware of my dislike of getting in and out of Allianz so no point in repeating. But if you think it's a long walk to the ground from Digby and Sowton then may I point you in the direction of the path of the shuttle drop off to Allianz. BIG bottleneck, mostly badly lit, mud everywhere at certain points at certain times of the year.

I'm aware that there are some (thankfully a tiny minority) who (unaccountably) think that Vicarage Road was better than a shithole, and hence are determined to hate everything about AzP and would still moan even if they were whisked to the very gate in a chauffeur-driven limo and carried to their seat in a sedan chair.

Yes if you leave straight after the final whistle there will be a bottleneck where the path crosses the unfinished railway line but so what? If you weren't queuing there you'd only be queuing at the bus stop. The buses are literally every 2-3 minutes and I've never queued for more than about 15 minutes.

If your time is really so precious that 30 minutes from stadium to station is really beyond the pale for you then just bloody walk. It's 20 minutes by the shortest route from AzP to Mill Hill Broadway (and don't tell me it's longer, I've done it often) and less to Mill Hill East. I just checked on the OS and it's about 1.25km from Newcourt Station to Sandy Park so you obviously don't mind a bit of a walk, but I guess that doing so at AzP doesn't fit with your agenda of criticising anything and everything about Saracens.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 23/05/2017 10:44 by Pimpernel44.

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Rupes 23 May, 2017 10:44
What a beautifully reasonsed response.

I'm not determined to hate Allianz at all - it has been the making of the club. But that doesn't mean it's perfect. I think most would accept that, it has its flaws (just as most stadiums do). Most of the sight lines are good, which is what you need in a stadium. And I don't think anyone could deny that the Glasgow game gave us a really positive glimpse of what could be in the future.

By the way, I do walk from Mill Hill East normally, if I go to AP. That's a personal choice. But thanks for the gentle advice.

@Highbury - agree it has got better 100%. Out of interest, who actually owns that path? I know this is something which has been on here before, but is it Barnet Council? Assuming we have to beg and lobby for months to get anything done therefore! LOL

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Highbury Saracen 23 May, 2017 10:49
I thought it was Barnet Council but we paid for resurfacing?



European champions 2016 & 2017

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Rupes 23 May, 2017 12:18
oh ok, thanks for the info. Not 100% surprised, well done the club.

Seeing as we're on this topic...

...leaving aside the desire to increase the capacity to 15,000, what would be the next developments at AP which people would look to introduce?

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Roger G 23 May, 2017 13:42
Quote:
Rupes
oh ok, thanks for the info. Not 100% surprised, well done the club.
Seeing as we're on this topic...

...leaving aside the desire to increase the capacity to 15,000, what would be the next developments at AP which people would look to introduce?

Lights on the gravel path back to Champions Way.

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Mac L 23 May, 2017 14:20
It's not really AP but a better on line ticket system. Be able to buy Wolf pack lager at the ground at other points, not just the bus.

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Stumpy7780 23 May, 2017 14:47
Quote:
Mac L
It's not really AP but a better on line ticket system. Be able to buy Wolf pack lager at the ground at other points, not just the bus.
A better online everything: shop, tickets and news



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 23/05/2017 15:01 by Stumpy7780.

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Highbury Saracen 23 May, 2017 14:51
Chatting to Heath Harvey on saturday at Blue Ball & we learned a few interesting things
It is likely that when West Stand is done it will take place Second half of one season & first half of next;
Only 5-600 seats will be lost during work.
Impossible to extend north & south stands because of running track so small seating area in front site hoardings on westside likely to erected
Club have 2 years left at OA's training wise & we were told a new training facility costing approx £12 million will be built (not sure where though!)
Not sure if any of this hasnt been disclosed already?......but a very enlightening chat for our group! smiling smiley



European champions 2016 & 2017

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
AlanE 23 May, 2017 16:44
Quote:
Roger G
Quote:
Rupes
oh ok, thanks for the info. Not 100% surprised, well done the club.
Seeing as we're on this topic...

...leaving aside the desire to increase the capacity to 15,000, what would be the next developments at AP which people would look to introduce?

Lights on the gravel path back to Champions Way.


See the publicity pictures. Gate C is to be re-positioned and the footpath should be much less 'temporary'.



I was 17 miles from Graybridge before I was caught by the school leopard

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Sara'sman 23 May, 2017 19:45
HS all new to me so thanks for sharing.

I'd echo each of the points above, especially the online issues!

As far as increased capacity is concerned, more and more I'm coming round to the idea that slow is best. AP is a friendly, welcoming venue, in the very best tradition of rugby clubs. By growing slowly I hope we can keep to a minimum and correct the numptys that so easily spoil the atmosphere for the majority. Something Wasps seem to be struggling with where a churlish few make their site an unpleasant read at times.

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Coughie 23 May, 2017 21:41
Now look here Chaps, experiencing Blue Balls with Heath Harvey is nothing to be proud of....



~ You never knowingly let the facts get in the way of the story. ~

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Highbury Saracen 23 May, 2017 23:03
Apologies Coughie!



European champions 2016 & 2017

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Kevetty 24 May, 2017 10:34
Surprised you recognised him TG!

Re: Be thankful for our blessings
Highbury Saracen 24 May, 2017 11:11
Quote:
Kevetty
Surprised you recognised him TG!

Ha ha yes....he didnt buy a round though!



European champions 2016 & 2017


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