Turnstile Chaos …

[filham]

I got in around 7 with no issues. The turnstiles were really skinny though, there's no way an obese person would fit through them.

The turnstiles have been that size for a hundred years or so without complaints, seems we are eating too much these days.

[fulhamfever]

    

1st world problems? have you ever been to Mexico City, Estadio Azteca for a Club America game v Chivas? I lined up 1 hour before the game could not get into the stadium until 20 minutes after the game started.

[howitis]

I dont understand why ST holders who purchase their seat cant just have their cards activated instead of paper systems that slow the queue down.

Not sure I quite get the Skinny Turnstyle point, they are like that, if you need a wider entrance they will open the gates to the left

Good point. We are behind the curve on access tech.

[howitis]

Part of issue is it's a Cup game where paper tickets are issued. The queues go a lot slower - guy before me took three minutes to get his to work!

Yes that is the issue and has been for a while. It shouldn't be a case that you have to get there earlier and earlier to make up for the inadequacies of the entrance management solutions.

I don't know how many turnstiles there are for the Hammersmith End, but I'll guess at a 24. Even working on the assumption that every spectator is ready with their paper ticket and gets through the turnstile in 10 seconds, that's 6 spectators entering the ground per turnstile per minute.

Altogether, therefore, through the couple of dozen turnstiles in the 15 minutes you allowed yourself to get into the ground, 2160 spectators, at best, are going to gain entry. The Hammersmith End, I believe, holds 6,000 plus.

Can you really blame the Club for missing the kick-off?

Look it is not about pressure on the gates, it is about the speed with which people were entering the ground. Many with paper tickets being asked to turn around after multiple attempts to get their code read. The queues were literally static. Those of us that dont get there early are happy to queue but these queues were not moving.

[bobbo]

On top of the chaos before the match it took me two an a half hours to get home to Hillingdon which normally takes 35 minutes chaos in Woodlawn ave and then the M4 closed .

[HV71]

On top of the chaos before the match it took me two an a half hours to get home to Hillingdon which normally takes 35 minutes chaos in Woodlawn ave and then the M4 closed .

Yep - last night my journey home broke all records arrived in Abinger Hammer at 12:45 am !

[bobbo]

On top of the chaos before the match it took me two an a half hours to get home to Hillingdon which normally takes 35 minutes chaos in Woodlawn ave and then the M4 closed .

Yep - last night my journey home broke all records arrived in Abinger Hammer at 12:45 am !


[/quote HV I'd love to say I'm sorry for you mate but how can I , you're living in Abinger hammer —————    I'd do really though.

[Cambridge Away]

The turnstiles were really skinny though, there's no way an obese person would fit through them.

If you can't fit in a chair, don't come to a game 

[Cambridge Away]

I got in around 7 with no issues. The turnstiles were really skinny though, there's no way an obese person would fit through them.

The turnstiles have been that size for a hundred years or so without complaints, seems we are eating too much these days.

More of a disregard for understanding nutrition and lack of time to cook proper ingedients.
A western problem.
I guess you could blame ignorant parents/grandparents (or even schools), but we all have the internet now to learn how many grams of carbohydrates are in a potato or that low fat milk is just watered down milk.

[Andy S]

I have to say the paper tickets did take longer than the cards to access the stadium. It took about 30 seconds instead of 5 seconds

[demeant0r]

I got in around 7 with no issues. The turnstiles were really skinny though, there's no way an obese person would fit through them.

The turnstiles have been that size for a hundred years or so without complaints, seems we are eating too much these days.

The turnstiles were really skinny though, there's no way an obese person would fit through them.

If you can't fit in a chair, don't come to a game 

Not many were sat last night to be fair

[Balham Boy]

This post seems to have moved into what time people should arrive as opposed to safety outside the ground.

There is an assumption that everybody outside had just come from the pub & whilst getting to the stadium for 7pm would be ideal, for fans coming straight from work or with longer journeys, it's not always possible.

Last night there were hundreds of fans packed in like sardines (older fans and children). I saw a guy in front of me fall over as there's no light and pavements you can't see (we were that packed in). It wasn't the wait so much as the safety issues, it's wonder there weren't more injuries....I have to say with the number of fans joggling to move forward, I felt unsafe as a lifelong fan. At one point it looked as though they'd closed all the turnstiles at the JH end. No stewards communicating or organising the crowd which for a premier league & supposedly family club is scandalous. I'm sure there will be an investigation & yes, I saw a number of fans turned back because their paper tickets weren't recognised.

[davew]

I turned up at the ground at 8:30 and appeared to miss the kick off.

We didn't start playing until after 9 p.m.

[Arthur]

This post seems to have moved into what time people should arrive as opposed to safety outside the ground.

I don't think the focus has shifted. The O.P. laments the time it took to get into the ground. Nothing in it suggests his main gripe was safety. Here's how it starts:

What is it with our club operationally. Absolute shot show outside before kick off.
Arrived at 7:45 ans got into ground at 8:20.

Nevertheless, yours is an interesting post, BB. Last night was probably the first all-ticket sell-out night game since our Europa League campaign 14 years ago. Should the Club have anticipated the problems you describe? And if they had, what would be the solution?

I can only think of a gargantuan organisational task such that those entering the Johnny Haynes Stand would have to approach the ground along Finlay Street or Greswell Street only, allowing stewards to drip-feed spectators from there to the turnstile queues. The only access for Hammersmith End and Riverside Stand patrons would be a drip-feed from the Hammersmith end of Stevenage Road or from Harbord Street. Such a scheme, however, would necessitate that everyone approaching through Bishop's Park wanting to go beyond the Putney End would have to walk away from the ground to then walk parallel to it before heading down the correct road for their part of the ground.

Who knows? With the ground capacity set to increase by a further 5,000, something such as this may happen. It would, I imagine, be a source of total confusion the first time it was tried, but we'd get used to it soon enough, I suppose.

[Stevieboy]

What is it with our club operationally. Absolute shot show outside before kick off.
Arrived at 7:45 ans got into ground at 8:20.
Completely killed the evening for many supporters who were left flat and frustrated hearing Fulham go 1 down whilst standing outside.
The stewards left dealing with irate fans but it is not their fault. This happens time and time again.
Silva calls on the home support but our largest stand is almost empty (still no explanation from the club) and many others stuck at the turnstiles unable to gain entry.
All in, I couldn't complain about the result, we came up short. We just lack quality in key areas and have no depth on the squad.
Came away flat as the all pre game hype was ruined by entrance management.
Sadly however FFC will never acknowledge or apologise.
Wish I hadn't paid another £45 for Newcastle match. Was already a fight to even ensure season ticket seat for that match.
By the way don't get me started on how many Liverpool fans in Haynes stand !!!

I heard somebody on the radio saying similar, that it was a nightmare getting in (and they got in very late too)... what was the issue ?

Personally I got down there about 7.20 (I wanted to have a look around the Riverside area before kick off), and got in without any issues (the Hammy end).

Part of issue is it's a Cup game where paper tickets are issued. The queues go a lot slower - guy before me took three minutes to get his to work!

Yes that is the issue and has been for a while. It shouldn't be a case that you have to get there earlier and earlier to make up for the inadequacies of the entrance management solutions.
As for some of the above comments, I don't want to spend my time or money on the crap beer and food supplied with shoddy service that Fulham continue to serve up.

So the inadequate turnstile staff should be able to handle all the  latecomers in 10 minutes as they adequately cope with the previous thousands who have arrived at the more sensible time?
Do you tip up at the supermarket 5 mins before closing or wait until the last minute to board a train.
Its common sense really,maybe in this entitled culture we seem to live in everyone expects everything their own way despite their own self imposed limitations!!

[peachcobbler]

Part of issue is it's a Cup game where paper tickets are issued. The queues go a lot slower - guy before me took three minutes to get his to work!

Yes that is the issue and has been for a while. It shouldn't be a case that you have to get there earlier and earlier to make up for the inadequacies of the entrance management solutions.

I don't know how many turnstiles there are for the Hammersmith End, but I'll guess at a 24. Even working on the assumption that every spectator is ready with their paper ticket and gets through the turnstile in 10 seconds, that's 6 spectators entering the ground per turnstile per minute.

Altogether, therefore, through the couple of dozen turnstiles in the 15 minutes you allowed yourself to get into the ground, 2160 spectators, at best, are going to gain entry. The Hammersmith End, I believe, holds 6,000 plus.

Can you really blame the Club for missing the kick-off?

Look it is not about pressure on the gates, it is about the speed with which people were entering the ground. Many with paper tickets being asked to turn around after multiple attempts to get their code read. The queues were literally static. Those of us that dont get there early are happy to queue but these queues were not moving.

Get there earlier. Moaning you missed KO when you showed up 15 mins before one of the biggest games we've had in quite some time is going to fall on deaf years.

[Redfred]

I saw a number of fans turned back because their paper tickets weren't recognised.

Given the opposition, any chance lots were turning up with fake tickets? The scousers have form for that

Another one! Didn't think Fulham fans were this bad.

[Wolf]

It's a strong argument to say "you should have got their earlier", but the reality is not everyone can due to personal circumstances such as work, or variables such as travel delays. Saturdays is always a race for us to meet kickoff because my kids play U13 & U16 football.

We arrived around 7:30 on Wednesday, at the first turnstile my younger son's ticket just would not scan. He spent a good 60 seconds holding it higher, lower, closer, further. We were advised to try another turnstile. We did so, the queue was maybe 15 people at that time and the ticket worked first time. If it had been 100 people and closer to kickoff I don't think this would have been an acceptable suggestion.

Its always the home turnstiles that have the queues, I've never seen masses at the away turnstiles despite a high incidence of later arrivals.

[Arthur]

It's a strong argument to say "you should have got their earlier", but the reality is not everyone can due to personal circumstances such as work, or variables such as travel delays. Saturdays is always a race for us to meet kickoff because my kids play U13 & U16 football.

There will always be spectators who arrive near to kick-off time due to difficult or, even, unavoidable circumstances, of course there will. I think it's those who choose to arrive close to kick-off time towards whom the remark is directed.

[mrmicawbers]

I have started to get to the ground early as to avoid the queues.Drink is a bit cheaper too.we got to the ground about 7.15 against Liverpool and got in no problem another friend of mine arrived 7.45 and  didn't get in until 8.30.His paper ticket wouldn't go through and had to go to the ticket office for a new one.