Fans' Forum tonight

[BigFatPie]

They are welcome. If more women (or other groups that are underrepresented) don't come to watch Notts, it's probably because they don't want to rather than something we're doing wrong.

Generally speaking, you can't appeal to everyone, because we don't all like the same things.

Unless you belong to one of those underrepresented groups, you likely have no idea why they don’t come to matches, Joe Palmer being a bit clueless about the state of the ladies toilets being a prime example. My missus and daughter have a passing interest in Notts, came with us to MK and both commented what a nicer experience than Meadow Lane it was.

I think I’ve seen about two Asian heritage faces at Notts, you’d have to be mightily incurious as to why that might be or how it can be improved.

[BigFatPie]

Why would 50% women at a football match be an ideal world.
Would they have to be shared equally between race, religion, disabilities and the hundreds of genders.

Yes it would be great if a Notts crowd reflected the general population of Nottingham.

You and Soccerman could represent the right wing simpleton element.

[Chicken Balti Pie]

The ground is the best outside the Championship, and we should be proud that it's our home. If Joe what's his name thinks it's looking old and tired, perhaps he should have stayed at that new place in Wimbledon...

It's just isn't frankly. For facilities it's MK Dons, regardless of what I think about their organisation, their stadium is fantastic. Atmosphere wise, loads are better than Meadow Lane, take your blinkers off

[Magpies1959]

BFP I won't rise to your childish insult, but do not have a clue why a football match would be better if it represented the population of the locality, totally bizarre thinking. Would the experience become less good if more than 50% of women and girls watched Notts.
Would watching Notts Ladies be better if they were watched by 50% men.
Ever heard of freedom of choice.

[Elite_Pie]

BFP I won't rise to your childish insult.

You just did, with a pretty pathetic reply.

[slack_pie]

On the comments about our budget being upper-midtable - how do we know what other clubs are spending? Is it public knowledge, or is this just an educated guess?

Amazing if true, especially considering that we're seen as one of the big spenders in L2.

[thefulltenyards]

It's a good stadium and certainly one to be proud of but if you have been to matches elsewhere around the country you will know that isn't even close to being true.

Add Bradford City AFC and Reading FC to the list.

As for our beloved Meadow Lane it's without doubt Championship quality, it's just a bit barren and bare. With a serious lick of paint, some brightening up (especially all stands bar the Derek Pavis), and some basic improvements, which have already begun, I think it can can be transformed to something pretty special and much improved. Probably unwise to encourage our new CEO, who can help make those improvement happen, to leave. He was part of an impressive panel at the Fans Forum. Far better than the ones in the 90s and 00s I attended.

Also Meadow Lane is in a great location, walkable to the city centre, close to the train station, located between a depressed and a very affluent area next to lovely canals, lots of nice pubs, the River Trent, and a stones throw from a beautiful Test cricket and some other large football stadium. Compared to the majority of other ground locations (surrounded by terrace houses or in the middle of nowhere on a retail park) it's a gem of a location.

[durhampie]

It's a good stadium and certainly one to be proud of but if you have been to matches elsewhere around the country you will know that isn't even close to being true.

Add Bradford City AFC and Reading FC to the list.

As for our beloved Meadow Lane it's without doubt Championship quality, it's just a bit barren and bare. With a serious lick of paint, some brightening up (especially all stands bar the Derek Pavis), and some basic improvements, which have already begun, I think it can can be transformed to something pretty special and much improved. Probably unwise to encourage our new CEO, who can help make those improvement happen, to leave. He was part of an impressive panel at the Fans Forum. Far better than the ones in the 90s and 00s I attended.

Also Meadow Lane is in a great location, walkable to the city centre, close to the train station, located between a depressed and a very affluent area next to lovely canals, lots of nice pubs, the River Trent, and a stones throw from a beautiful Test cricket and some other large football stadium. Compared to the majority of other ground locations (surrounded by terrace houses or in the middle of nowhere on a retail park) it's a gem of a location.

You need to go to places like Barrow, Newport, Sutton, FGR and Harrogate to realise how good our stadium is..

[jackal2]

You need to go to places like Barrow, Newport, Sutton, FGR and Harrogate to realise how good our stadium is..

I agree.

I didn't really understand the references to our stadium being 'old' or looking 'tired'. I think our stadium is in pretty good condition, and the colour scheme always makes it look sharp and smart. Being picky I noticed one of the scoreboards wasn't working for the last game, but they're quite new so I hope that will soon be resolved.

One of Derek Pavis' best moves was to retain the gable design and flag pole on the Jimmy Sirrel stand, and to build the two towers on the Main Stand. It marks our ground out as distinctive, and retains a 'nod' to the old stadium, whereas so many of the modern all-seater stadia have a soulless 'off-the-shelf', Lego-set feel.

Meadow Lane is a good stadium. It would be great to fill in the corners one day, but obviously you wouldn't spend money on that until attendances justified such expansion. We can dream!

[1955pie]

I agree.

I didn't really understand the references to our stadium being 'old' or looking 'tired'. I think our stadium is in pretty good condition, and the colour scheme always makes it look sharp and smart. Being picky I noticed one of the scoreboards wasn't working for the last game, but they're quite new so I hope that will soon be resolved.

One of Derek Pavis' best moves was to retain the gable design and flag pole on the Jimmy Sirrel stand, and to build the two towers on the Main Stand. It marks our ground out as distinctive, and retains a 'nod' to the old stadium, whereas so many of the modern all-seater stadia have a soulless 'off-the-shelf', Lego-set feel.

Meadow Lane is a good stadium. It would be great to fill in the corners one day, but obviously you wouldn't spend money on that until attendances justified such expansion. We can dream!

Attendances for home supporters are already at their limits. For 2 matches this season (Mansfield and Wrexham) there were no more home tickets available. How will we be able to expand the fan base that will obviously be needed to make us sustainable.
As for condition of the stadium can I add 1 more issue. Cracked and deteriorating seats. Mainly caused by UV but also people climbing over them.