Re: Macron Stadium - great venue. : Tue Aug 07, 2018 1:19 pm  

RLRealist wrote:

Government benefits paid for that seat did they....

Good one.

Funnily enough no..... free tickets through a relative who works in local government tho.

Thanks for the concern tho Jean, Canoe, Kev or whatever your name is.

Re: Macron Stadium - great venue. : Tue Aug 07, 2018 3:22 pm  

wildshot wrote:

Did any of you pay for parking? If so what was the cost? There were lots of rumours flying around pre-match day that historically the ground has charged very high parking fees. Also rumours that there is little/no parking options outside the stadium.

For future reference it would be handy to know the facts should there be future events held there.

There were two farms a very pleasant 20 minute walk away (other side of motorway) with well staffed car parks charging £5 all day. Easily found with an internet search. We walked faster than nthe queue of cars was moving trying to get into the stadium parking. Highly recommended.

Re: Macron Stadium - great venue. : Wed Aug 08, 2018 1:51 am  

SaleSlim wrote:

Good one.

Funnily enough no..... free tickets through a relative who works in local government tho.

Thanks for the concern tho Jean, Canoe, Kev or whatever your name is.

Good on yer Doreen. Nice one.

Re: Macron Stadium - great venue. : Wed Aug 08, 2018 7:20 am  

Isn't it called the University of Bolton Stadium now?

Re: Macron Stadium - great venue. : Wed Aug 08, 2018 4:21 pm  

We also parked over the other side of the motorway, 20 minute brisk walk whilst many others queued to get on the 61.

Regarding the venue, I have never understood the inability of catering companies to cater. I was driving on Sunday so took my own refreshments in, but was hearing of people waiting half an hour to get served.
Surely it's not beyond the wit of man to prevent hundreds of people fannying around with change waiting for people fannying around pouring draught beer. I don't want to overgeneralise but I'd put money on the vast majority of people not being particularly bothered whether their beer was bottled or in a pint pot... contactless payment may reach sports stadia in the UK in my lifetime!

Waiting all that time for beer and then throwing it in the air when Lineham scored was another wtf moment for me on Sunday...

Great day though, shows that even with 1 non-heartland team we can sell out a decent sized ground. Hopefully the final is well attended and the atmosphere is as good as Sunday!

Re: Macron Stadium - great venue. : Wed Aug 08, 2018 5:41 pm  

wildshot wrote:

Did any of you pay for parking? If so what was the cost? There were lots of rumours flying around pre-match day that historically the ground has charged very high parking fees. Also rumours that there is little/no parking options outside the stadium.

For future reference it would be handy to know the facts should there be future events held there.

me and the mrs went the maron stadium to go watch Killers and had a great time, facilities was brilliant within the stadium, we didn't use the food but the beer was great overpriced but I expected that, we snaffled at the KFC prior to going in
parking was expensive but Mel had the fore thought to pre book at a local farm that opened up its field for a £5 15 mins walk away and it worked in our favour as was a doddle to get back on the motorway

[Fantastic Mr Catpiss]

Re: Macron Stadium - great venue. : Thu Aug 09, 2018 7:54 am  

snowie wrote:

me and the mrs went the maron stadium to go watch Killers and had a great time, facilities was brilliant within the stadium, we didn't use the food but the beer was great overpriced but I expected that, we snaffled at the KFC prior to going in
parking was expensive but Mel had the fore thought to pre book at a local farm that opened up its field for a £5 15 mins walk away and it worked in our favour as was a doddle to get back on the motorway

so the only low point of the night was watching the killers?

Re: Macron Stadium - great venue. : Thu Aug 09, 2018 2:39 pm  

I've got a work colleague who's a Wanderers fan (poor sod ) who gave me a bit of inside knowledge re: the parking so I parked on the street and walked just over 10 mins to the ground. Like any event with a decent sized crowd the best bet afterwards is to go grab a beer or coffee for half an hour and let everyone else sit in traffic while you chill out.

Made it back into Manchester City Centre in half an hour so not too bad tbh.

I like the venue and definitely worth a punt for future semi finals. Sort out the catering nonsense and some of the public transport issues and you're onto a winner IMO.

Re: Macron Stadium - great venue. : Thu Aug 09, 2018 9:51 pm  

Great stadium but poor service at the refreshment counters. Queued 35 mins for two bottles of water. Parking in the immediate area is poor too.

Re: Macron Stadium - great venue. : Thu Aug 09, 2018 10:13 pm  

I was in the Warrington end, but since I had eaten and had something to drink before I went, i was miraculously able to survive the two hours I was in the ground without eating, drinking or dying of starvation or thirst. As a result of this I didn't realise there was a queue or lack of products available until just now reading this thread. Give it a try next time you to a match food and drink fans. It's easy.