Re: Mascot Competition : Wed Sep 14, 2011 4:44 pm  

boxweir wrote:

This week we face Workington at Cougar Park and unfortunately we can't put any offers out because it's a shared gate and Workington haven't agreed to any special offers, BUT any children that would like to be a Mascot at this game can have the chance by entering a little competition that will be held at this game prior to kickoff. All you have to do is take your child to the Piccolo kids club at Cougar Park on matchday for 1.45pm where a little competition will take place and the winner will get to run out onto the field with the team.

All children that go to the Piccolo kids club at the Workington game will recieve some free goodies on leaving.

Don't miss out.

What type of competition is it?

Re: Mascot Competition : Thu Sep 15, 2011 6:43 pm  

Rob,

This is a good idea and one I'm sure will interest the kids.

Considering the age group of kids that this will probably apply to, they will generally be accompanied by an adult. With this in mind and the fact this is a "family" sport will there be things put in place for a family turnstile where families can enter the ground together rather than through separate turnstiles?

Re: Mascot Competition : Sat Sep 17, 2011 11:14 am  

Thanks for taking the time to reply Rob.

I accept there probably are reasons why the turnstiles are run in the current way, however, like you have inferred I would urge the club to look into this in the future. Whilst I appreciate the adults and concessions turnstiles are next to each other, is this really the best fit given all the circumstances. The example you give suggests they go through at the same time. Is this practical. What about a parent taking their child and only having a £20 note? Also, the situation still exists where a parent could attend with his/her young child, put the child through and then potentially have to queue to gain entry via the adults turnstile leaving the child alone in the ground for a period of time. I accept however this would be for a minute or so but nevertheless is a concern. You also assume the child is old enough to pay themselves. What about a 4 year old?

It's pie in the sky at the moment, but should we be successful in getting promoted and see an increase in attendances this situation would become more frequent and compounded by potentially more queues to get in. I remember the dizzy heights of cougarmania version 1 when you would be looking at a considerable queue to gain entry. For me a family turnstile is a must moving forward. I don't know a SL ground that doesn't but agree the attendees in the majority of cases warrants it. The Dulls have at least 2 so it would make a change to copy their ideas rather that the historical copying the cougars and marketing it as your own idea.

I'm sure wouldn't be too difficult to administer either buy may require some manual stats from the turnstile operator. This may be a bug bear of mine, but nowhere else that I take the kids, be it sport or otherwise actually ask me to take the kids in a separate entrance.

Re: Mascot Competition : Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:52 am  

Season tickets are your only hope of getting in the same gate together. I know not everyone can't afford them or don't want to go to all games. I've struggled for years on my own with 2 kids, but it's called multi tasking. If you just have a word with a steward on the gate before entering they are more then happy to help.

Re: Mascot Competition : Sun Sep 18, 2011 8:02 am  

I understand your point and believe me I make it work, however, is that really sufficient. This is first season I've brought my young children down and like you rightly point out multi-tasking is the only way to make it work. However, if the club are trying to improve attendances through children's initiatives/family tickets etc. there should be processes put in place. I don't get to every game due to work commitments like a number of fans so whilst I accept season tickets are an option for the regular fan this one isn't financially viable for me.

I'll make it work to support my home town club, but I make the point not for self gain but to widen the clubs horizons. How many potential fans are being put off coming due to this? Maybe none... If SL clubs have developed it then it's obviously a requirement shoud the attendances get to a certain level.

Re: Mascot Competition : Sun Sep 18, 2011 10:31 am  

A family ticket with a dedicated family turnstile would seem logical.

But then again, not all families are the same size.