Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our matchday survey following our opening EFL Sky Bet League Two fixture against Accrington Stanley on Saturday.
More than 650 supporters shared their thoughts on their matchday experience at the Park.
The feedback included some important areas for improvement, fantastic suggestions for how we can further enhance the experience, and plenty of positive comments about the improvements made around the stadium over the summer.
The response demonstrates just how much Exeter City means to its supporters and the important role matchday plays in the lives of so many people. Your feedback is vital in helping us understand what we are doing well, where we need to improve and how we can continue to deliver the best possible experience for everyone who visits our home.
We recognise that we fell short in a number of areas on Saturday, and we apologise to those supporters who were affected.
As it was the first men's match of the new season, there were inevitably going to be some teething problems with some of our new offerings. However, we know that this is not an excuse, and we have already put plans in place to address the issues raised. We are working hard to ensure improvements are in place from Tuesday night's fixture against Barnet and throughout the remainder of the season.
Food, drink and queuing
One of the most common themes in the feedback was the queues for refreshments, alongside the availability of certain food and drink products. We understand and share the frustration this caused.
August can be a challenging period for staffing, and we relied on agency staff for Saturday's fixture. Unfortunately, a number of those/expected staff did not attend, which contributed to longer queues and affected our service.
We are taking steps to address this ahead of Tuesday's game. We have also reviewed our food stock levels and will ensure we have greater availability for the Barnet fixture.
We also acknowledge that the Jungle Path bar opened later than it should have on Saturday. We apologise for the inconvenience caused, as well as the fact that cash payments were not available at that bar. Cash payments will be available for Tuesday night's fixture.
Kit availability
Demand for our new kits, particularly the third shirt and women's away shirt, has significantly exceeded our sales expectations based on previous seasons.
This resulted in stock levels being lower than we would have liked on Saturday. We are working closely with our suppliers to secure additional stock as quickly as possible and will provide an update as soon as more shirts become available.
PA system and music
We also received feedback regarding inconsistent PA and music levels around the stadium.We are looking at ways to improve the balance and consistency of the system across the stands throughout the season.
The Park Playlist, which was created following suggestions from supporters, has been well received and will continue to be refreshed throughout the season. The playlist will also remain available on Spotify for supporters to enjoy.
Positive feedback
It was particularly pleasing to see the positive response to the Grecian Grill and its evolving menu, as well as the new drinks pricing structure at our bars and the removal of the cup deposit scheme.
We were also pleased to see recognition of the work that has taken place around St James Park over the summer, with further enhancements planned over the coming weeks.
Through our Supporter Liaison Officer, Richard Knight, we have also received positive feedback from a number of first-time visitors who were impressed with their experience at the Park. That is particularly encouraging as we continue to look at ways of making St James Park a welcoming home for everyone.
Constant improvement
We will continue to run matchday surveys throughout the season, although we will make some changes to the format to allow us to monitor progress against the issues raised more effectively.
Your feedback helps us to identify where we need to improve, and we are committed to listening, acting and showing supporters the progress we are making.
Thank you, as always, for your support, patience and honesty. We look forward to welcoming you back to St James Park on Tuesday night.