Thank you to all supporters who have taken the time to complete our post-match surveys and share their feedback on the matchday experience at St James Park so far this season.
Your feedback is an important part of helping us understand what is working well and, just as importantly, where we need to improve.
We have received plenty of positive comments about the changes and improvements made around the stadium over the summer, alongside some constructive feedback on areas where the matchday experience can be improved further.
We have highlighted some of the key themes raised by supporters below, along with the actions we are taking.
Tannoy in the Optimising IT Adam Stansfield Stand
We are aware of issues with a number of speakers in the Optimising IT Adam Stansfield Stand and would like to thank supporters who have brought this to our attention.
The speakers have been assessed and the parts required to resolve the issue have been ordered. We are working to have the repairs completed as soon as possible.
We appreciate that the current situation is frustrating for supporters in the stand. Due to the access required to carry out the repairs, the work is more time-consuming than we had hoped.
We will provide a further update as soon as the repairs have been completed.
Food and drink
We are continually reviewing the quality, choice and availability of food and drink across the stadium and have been meeting with suppliers to look at how we can improve and expand the matchday offering.
The Club recently underwent its latest food hygiene assessment, and we are pleased to confirm that St James Park achieved the highest possible 5-star food hygiene rating across the stadium.
The change to the pricing structure for drinks has proved popular with supporters, and we will continue to review feedback and look at where further improvements can be made.
The Grecian Grill menu will also continue to evolve, with new options being considered throughout the season.
Speed of service
We recognise that queues can become particularly busy around half-time, with the Jungle Path Bar one of the busiest areas of the stadium.
We are looking at ways to improve the speed and efficiency of service, including how we manage busy periods, so that supporters can spend less time waiting and more time enjoying their matchday.
We appreciate your patience while we work through these improvements.
Seating
We are reviewing the seating provision in both the Centre Spot and Junior Grecians Fan Zone to explore how we can make better use of the available space and provide additional seating where possible.
This is particularly important for supporters with mobility issues, families and those who need somewhere to sit before or during the match.
We will continue to look at how these areas can work better for everyone using them on a matchday.
Supporter behaviour
We have received significant a number of reports through the surveys regarding inappropriate language and behaviour from some supporters in the Big Bank.
We want St James Park to be an enjoyable and welcoming environment for everyone, and we take these reports seriously.
If you experience or witness inappropriate behaviour during a match, please speak to your nearest steward at the time so that we can respond as quickly as possible.
You can also report an issue during the match by texting: HELP ECFC to 07356 041420
Reporting issues at the time gives our team the best opportunity to investigate and take appropriate action while the incident is happening.
The Club will continue to take action where necessary. This has included the recent banning of a supporter from St James Park following inappropriate chanting at an away fixture.
Shop Match Kit availability
We know there is significant demand for this season's playing and training wear, and we appreciate the continued enthusiasm from supporters for the new kits.
We are working closely with our kit suppliers, Pro:Direct Sport, to secure further deliveries across all three playing kits and training wear.
Demand has been exceptionally high, and we are continuing to work with our partners to improve availability and ensure supporters can get the products they want.
Constant improvement
The matchday experience is something we will continue to review throughout the season. We will keep running supporter surveys after matches, although we will make some changes to the format to help us monitor individual issues more effectively and track the progress being made.
Your feedback helps us identify where improvements are needed, and we are committed to listening, acting and showing supporters the progress we are making.
Not every issue can be resolved immediately, but we want supporters to know that your feedback is being read, discussed and acted upon.
Thank you, as always, for your support, patience and honesty. We look forward to welcoming you back to St James Park on Saturday.