Reserved seating for Bay 16 poll

[marinermick]

We have had this thread and discussion before but given recent discussions it is probably time we returned to the debate.

As I was two years ago I am still undecided on this matter. Even after two seasons of weighing up the pros and cons I cannot move to one viewpoint.

[~Floss~]

"Undecided" is the closest available to "Depends..."

The logistics could be a nightmare IMO
- What about those who already have a reserved seat elsewhere in the ground (2 memberships needed?)
- How do you bring friends / newcomers along?

[djebella]

I vote NO. I think that by making them reserved you risk being seen as elitist, which is not what the Marinators is about. Is it?

[Chimmi Churri]

It seems like it would be too much hassle - there would be no room for anyone new, people bringing friends, etc... I'd say getting the area renamed 'Marinators Section' (from "General Admission") on the tickets at least would be more achievable.

[radar]

floss said:

"Undecided" is the closest available to "Depends..."

The logistics could be a nightmare IMO
- What about those who already have a reserved seat elsewhere in the ground (2 memberships needed?)
- How do you bring friends / newcomers along?

That's a good question - we have our season tickets for Bay 6 - what happens if we wanted to join you lot in 16 for a beer or ten?

[Perm]

i like chimmis idea

[alicia]

I think bays 15-17 should be the Marinators Section. Even the core group need to start realising this and maybe take the initiative to start spreading to these sections.

[marinermick]

alicia said:

I think bays 15-17 should be the Marinators Section. Even the core group need to start realising this and maybe take the initiative to start spreading to these sections.

it is a bit hard to spread in the other two bays if we cannot get bay 16 right

[dru]

No, way to hard to police those who have tickets for the bay.

Also appears elitist.

and quite simply I wander around the bay too much, I'll be found anywhere from the back of 16 to the front of 16 and also at the back of 15 and 17.

What is to stop the non yellow/singing people buying the "reserved tickets" and then kicking up a stink about our activities.

would rather have a sign on the back of the bay 16 (and in time 15 and 17) that it is a standing and singing area and these activities can not be complain about.

[alicia]

marinermick said:

alicia said:

I think bays 15-17 should be the Marinators Section. Even the core group need to start realising this and maybe take the initiative to start spreading to these sections.

it is a bit hard to spread in the other two bays if we cannot get bay 16 right

I understand that. But I also we should think about the whole back end being a Marinators section, making bay 16 less exclusive.

[T]

As inviting as the idea initially sounds, it could seriously limit the growth of the bay...

[marinermick]

alicia said:

marinermick said:

it is a bit hard to spread in the other two bays if we cannot get bay 16 right

I understand that. But I also we should think about the whole back end being a Marinators section, making bay 16 less exclusive.

hence the now adopted terminology of the bay - not bay 16

[dibo (pron. "DIB-OH")]

Beware! Monster post approaching!

Writing a lot doesn't make you any more right than anyone else, but I just want to try to think about this as practically as I can.
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I’ll start by saying I think this is a problem best solved before memberships are sold, so we may not be able to apply whatever solution we devise until next year. But I think what I propose will still work then as much as now, it’s just we may not be able to make it work for this year.
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Reserved seating is not the best answer.

We should see if we can do tickets to Bay 16. Not a particular seat in Bay 16, just the bay itself. There are 21 rows and 22 seats per row, so 464 tickets for any given match go on sale for that bay. Peeps can stand where they choose in there, but only Bay 16 ticketholders stand in Bay 16.

Next bay for sale is Bay 17. same deal. No Bay 17 ticket, no Bay 17 for you. Then Bay 15…

This solves one problem in particular - one person per seat, no overcrowding.

It won’t solve the entire problem of emos (and other non-singers) in Bay 16. But neither will fully allocated seats. What it won’t do is have *our* arrangement of people in the bay restricted. I like that we can show up and move where we like in the bay, I don’t like the overcrowding. We can manage that issue with bay by bay tickets.
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The next issue is who we have in the bays. I’ve said many times that I have no issue with n00bs of any variety or people who are ‘occasional’ Bay 16 standers coming into the bay – but I want them standing, I want them singing, I want them wearing yellow.

Today’s n00b is tomorrow’s madnut fan who drives across the Nullarbor with 5 mates in a Tarago to see us play the Glory away, they need to get a chance to start. So we need to be as inclusive as we can to ensure they get into it and join in. That means it’s not just their responsibility, it’s ours as well.

If we arrange ourselves in the bay in such a way that we are well organised, we’re all singing the same thing and everyone in the bay knows what we’re singing, then we’re doing our bit. Conductors/capos at the front, loud people spread around, but everyone in time and following what’s going on.

Anybody who’s not sure what’s doing should feel free to ask. Songsheets and ‘Welcome to Bay 16’ type material should be available. We want to grow, we want new people, we want more of the northern end to be a part of what we’re doing. That means we can’t afford to be exclusive about what we do.
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The way we make it work (from a ticketing perspective) will come down to people coming to know that if they’re in the bays, then they will be standing and singing. The support will be ‘boisterous’ (read: not necessarily polite) and it won’t be a place for mere spectating. You’re not there for the view. You’re not there to sit comfortably and enjoy the atmosphere. You’re there to *be* the atmosphere and be the 12th man for the Mariners and bring them home strong.

A separate category of ticketing, and maybe in a parallel to the discussions about the Australian Home End a small premium on the supporters’ area could be the go.

If we were to be super duper I-can’t-believe-I-had-an-idea-this-good-I-hope-it-could-work smart we could perhaps charge $2.50 (random number from the sky) more per ticket and split the bonus between the club and the Marinators, so as to help fund things like banners, flags, tifos, merch, away trips (i.e. for the last two, having a cashflow so you can get a bus sorted and recoup cash from sales rather than some poor bugger forking over hard-earned and crossing his/her fingers).

This would both ensure that we’re not getting people in there because they’re there to be cool (because you can be cool elsewhere and save the $2.50 for redskins and soft drink), but also help us fundraise. It would create a step of self-selection. Note – I’m not sure how you’d deal with people who are members elsewhere and want to come over for a game or two.
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I’m about dry now, but if anyone’s got any comments/suggestions/corrections/brickbats then hoik them out there.

My views may change, so everyone should feel free to convince me I'm wrong.

[radar]

Unless there is a doorman on guard at the top of the stairs, there shouldn't be too much of a problem if people want to wander through from other areas for a song and a beer, but obviously they'd have to make way for the ticketed Bay 16ers..?

Also, from a total n00bs perspective, the flyers and songsheets is a fantastic idea - perhaps handed out by "meeters and greeters" to suitably-attired fans.

[benw]

Dibo and radar have pretty much got it spot on.

From the perspective of a Cove member, we had reserved seating thrust upon us, so we were forced to make the best of it. I was undecided at the time we were forced into it, but I could see positives in both Gen Admis and Res Seating.

In the long run I think your club/FFA will force you to accept reserved seating anyway, so it might be an idea to start planning ahead. Don't be too worried about this; just remember to make it work for you (or at least as best you can) and remember that there will always be a degree of general admission anyway (security aren't going to walk around checking people's tickets). Just organise the core area up the back of the bay (ie. convince your club to let you guys decide who fills the back few rows, so that you're always guaranteed a core of people - together - who start the songs) - this is very important IMO - as otherwise your core might be scattered all over the place and unable to hear each other starting your chants.

With reserved seated season tickets it will take a few years to stabilise into an area where you have approach 100% of people participating - this will happen by the less committeed letting their memberships lapse, and by new people - probably mostly those who had previously just wandered in each week - replacing them every season. That's the SLOW way and could take years to get to a level you're happy with. If you want to achieve this in a few years then you'll have to forget "Elitism" - If you guys convince your club to get you to select which people get first dibs on vacated season seats, then you'll be able to fast-track to a pumping end (for the record we tried this with our club, but it was rejected because it 'wouldn't be fair').

Is Bay 16/17 not already called Marinators Bay/s? This should happen ASAP. These Bays should have their own ticket category at ticketek. And it should be priced slightly higher than the lowest ticket/membership category. And this is all whether or not you go to reserved seating.

[dibo (pron. "DIB-OH")]

we should chat to people (turnbull, singo) about a roof half-a-bay deep at least , partly for shelter but partly for noise. a roof over us on roughly the same gradient as the seats (but pointing up) would act like a speaker cone - pushing sound waves that are otherwise wafting pointlessly into the sky out towards the field.

i think we're louder than we seem sometimes, because we lose a lot of the energy into the air. if we had a roof i think we'd be a helluva lot louder. even at the SFS there's a roof (albeit a very high one) that we were reflecting off and i think it amplified us a bit.

between more noise and more shelter i reckon the club would sell heaps more tickets too.

[/random brainfart]

[blackadder]

As has been mentioned earlier, a case of get into the bay early and get where we can be in a solid group, be it bay 16, bay 15 or whatever bay and setup in a way that the songs won't get loss in the mass of non singing, emo teens.
I know I am preaching to the converted here, but if we get to the ground early and fill from the back down, in bays 16 (and 15,17) to a certain point that should help the noobs get off there arses and join in.

[skilbeck]

i agree with dibo with songsheets cos i have some new people i introduced to the bay a few months ago and they would sing and chant but they dont know the words.

[Nah.]

I like the idea of renanimg the bay the mariners section on tickets.
True it is difficult to find a way to eliminate all the emos and others.

Dibos idea of charging a bit extra to split between the club and marinators would be good, it'd probably deter the emos, becuase theyre all cheap.

maybe try and focus on getting the mojority of people in yellow into bay 16 first before using 15 and 17.

It would be great if you could make a rule saying 'if you're not wearing an adequate amount of yellow then piss off.' although it woudl be somewhat unfair and inpolite. and it probably wouldnt be allowed...

[~Floss~]

Aside from the long-term suggestions for season 4 and beyond (roof, new ticketing category), I think some achievable suggestions that could lead to improvements this season have been made already:

- Use signs to make the area stand out as being a bit different to the rest - eg. hang a banner across the back of bay 16, facing the concourse, or, have something at the entrances to each aisle either side of bay 16 (the 15/16 entrance and the 16/17 entrance)

- People handing out fliers / "Meet & Greet": Try to have a couple of marinators each game to stand at the top of the 2 aisles. I think just having someone there who you have to walk past to get into the bay could deter some people who don't feel like they fit in, or better still, encourage them to participate. It's a good opportunity to be welcoming and encouraging to newbies, while outlining what sort of behaviour (and attire) is expected within the bay. Also if newbies have some lyrics, they haven't got an excuse not to sing.

- getting there early, you can't force people to do. But if the bay was full of passionate yellow supporters as newcomers arrive, i can see how it would support message of the signage, the fliers, and the meeter-and-greeters - that that's what this section is for.
I'd be one of the worst offenders of this one though.

Addition: OK, i've just outlined things that have been said a few times already. Is it the role of the marinators club to discuss these at a meeting before decisions can be made?