Those who were lucky enough to watch last night Carabao Cup game against Manchester City in person or on TV would have witnessed hundreds of empty seats at kick-off in the Billy Bonds Stand which gradually filled up as the game went on.Video Gaming magazine editor Andy Robinson posted a photo of hundreds waiting in queues outside saying “The game has already kicked off @WeAreTheFSA How is this safer than paper tickets?”
Thousands of supporters who had not previously been to the London Stadium before struggled to work out how to use the digital tickets and that caused long delays with many missing the start of the game.
In response to the tweet, The Football Supporters Association responded “Why design a system where user error can produce such bad outcomes where none existed previously?”
The lengthy queues were not restricted to just before the game with back queues and the use of stop and go signs on the way back to Stratford underground station as 60,000 fans tried to leave at the same time after the penalty shoot out.
It is not just the unacceptable queues at the turnstiles. This comes immediately after the over the top and over zealous searching. The insistence on using the wands (back and front) on EVERY SINGLE person, including the insistence on removal of headgear and searching of women;’s handbags is just not necessary. It is a football ground, not an airport. This is not done at ANY other ground in the country so why is it insisted upon at “ours”?
When you walk from the train station and you get to the usual intersection where you can turn right or go straight ahead over the bridge towards the club shop, they were blocking the way to the right and telling everyone it was quicker to go straight on. That’s the first time I’ve witnessed that at a game. It meant that all those heading for the billy bonds stand entrances near the club shop had a much larger queue at the security search area compared to normal.
I was in the security queue for over 30mins it was taking so long. Then I hear northern voices and 2 city scrotes are just pushing their way to the front past everyone saying something like sod this move out ythr way