I hate Etihad

[alwaysadog]

Just when I was thrilled to have the footy back I had to run the gauntlet of Etihad's continuing management miasma.

Firstly their scanners couldn't read coterie group members' tickets, so it was off to another queue to get day passes.

Then of course, very limited food outlets were available because of Noah's recent flood has devastated the world's best and most advanced sporting venue. But were there signs or advice about what was available and where?

Sorry what was that Brian; speak up?

It would be too much trouble for management and might give the impression that the mug punters actually were worthy of consideration.

Oh, I understand now, I should feel grateful for being allowed to spend my hard earned at their wondrous venue.

Finally we get inside and up to our seats, but the food in the pie warmer in the coterie’s room had run out and we were told no food was allowed in from other outlets even within the venue.

Then at half time there were only two behind the bar at what was a sellout event. I don't blame the staff but the management just treats the customers as a captive market undeserving of any respect or adequate service let alone the quality service of which it boasts. Eventually a couple more were rustled up to help out behind the bar, but only two jugs of water were put out for such a large group. I thought the responsible service of alcohol demanded ready access to H2O, but then that’s probably everywhere except Etihad. It’s the sort of attention to detail that good hospitality managers regard as second nature… but I am talking about Etihad.

After the game I needed a quiet beer to release the tension and being in the Endeavour Room I expected a refreshing and cleansing ale. To my dismay it went flat while sitting on the bar between being poured and the bar staff getting a glass of wine for my partner. When I looked at the beers being poured at other taps they were all the same, no matter how the staff allowed the beer to drop from a considerable height into the glass the head this procedure produced died just as quickly.

Some thirty years ago I ran pubs and there were 3 reasons then that this phenomenon occurred. Firstly, very, very occasionally you got a bad barrel. We can rule that out in this case because it was evident across the range of beers being served. Second reason was adulteration, I would rule this out too, watering down beer was an overhyped event even then, today it would be suicidal, even with a captive audience. That to my knowledge only leaves poor hygiene. The two main reasons are lines not cleaned or not properly flushed or glasses not properly cleaned leaving either a residue of past contents or of detergent which will kill a beer quicker than anything.

Had we won and my spirits been high I would have done more than point out to the Bar Staff and the coterie president the inadequacies of the beer quality, but I’ve learned long ago that after a loss I don’t necessarily enjoy being patronized so I didn’t press my point and ask for the beverages manager.

After I withdrew a couple of female coterie members; the sort of mature people who have been the heart and soul of the club for generations, came up and spoke to me and they weren’t happy either. They had paid for the full lunch and at the bar, no table service is provided, they asked for a bottle of Chardonnay and were told it would cost $39. Now I’ve been known to spend that amount on a quality wine at a licensed restaurant and for a special occasion with proper table service, but for a bottle of the cheap plonk they provide, it amounts to daylight robbery.

Had any Etihad moments you care to pass on, I think their staff struggle under the overbearing stupidity and incompetence of a smug, self-satisfied and inward looking management culture?

I’d like to hear some good stories about their management, on the other hand why not take the opportunity to vent your spleen if you have experienced similar issues to mine.

[AndrewP6]

Well, you've certainly got that off your chest! ;)

In all honesty, I haven't had that many huge ES dramas... lost my ticket once, they gave me a free Medallion Club pass. Dropped my wallet, they rang me when it was found. So, no probs like you've described.

I did notice on arrival the dramas with membership cards not being recognised. Kid from school and her family had the problem. I'd bought a ticket, so didn't use my m'ship card. Anyone else experience this.

[LostDoggy]

Yep, queued up to get in, oops, my membership ticket won't scan. Sorry, you'll have to join that line next door, yes, the long one! Oh, sorry, my hand-held scanner won't work, can you move to the line to my right! Thank god, there were bulldogs supporters in that line, and they let me join where I was and not walk right back out and join at the end (thanks whomever you were ;)). Then, the hand-held scanner in that line didn't work - the guy just waved me in! What the.....? Not happy at all Jan :mad:

[LostDoggy]

My membership ticket didn't scan either. Ridiculous. :mad:

[LostDoggy]

That's very poor Always.

Every MVFC experience i have @ Etithad is one to forget

[soupman]

I just hate the idiots running security there.

I wasn't permitted to take my souvlaki inside at the gate, because "commercial" food is no longer allowed to be brought in. It's in a bag which says "souvlaki", it's not exactly the height of commercialism is it? I did find however that if I tucked it under my arm I could get through no problem.

And as for bag checks, I reckon in the last three years of attending games there I've managed to get my bag through unchecked 90% of the time, and this includes the MCG and also instances where there is no one else having their bags checked. It is a joke.

[bornadog]

Eithad is a great stadium to watch a game, however, like the MCG the food and bar outlets are a joke and no wonder people want to buy items out side the ground to take in.

The one thing that is pooly designed is the bridge across the railway, and this is evident after the game when everyone is trying to squeeze through the area where the bridge leads back to Southern Cross.

[LostDoggy]

Had any Etihad moments you care to pass on, I think their staff struggle under the overbearing stupidity and incompetence of a smug, self-satisfied and inward looking management culture?

I’d like to hear some good stories about their management, on the other hand why not take the opportunity to vent your spleen if you have experienced similar issues to mine.

Prior to the game yesterday, approached the security at Gate 4 to try and contact someone from stadium management to dicuss some sort of resolution to the barcode debacle. Gent in front of me with little kid in tow asked if he could the the little tacker to the toilet as there are none on the concourse and had been waiting in line for some time to obtain their replacements for non scanning membership cards. Security flatly refused. Got bloke and kid to follow me to Gate 5 where I knew a member of security. This security guard could see that the kid was under some bladder distress and quickly escorted the kid inside to use the toilet. Two different ends of the stadium management spectrum on display in a matter of minutes. Gate 4, boo you, Gate 5, good one bloke!

[LostDoggy]

I’d like to hear some good stories about their management, on the other hand why not take the opportunity to vent your spleen if you have experienced similar issues to mine.

Probably shouldn't say this on a public forum, but a recent [high executive position that shall remain confidential] of Etihad is a good family friend, and he has privately confided over dinner parties that in all his years in executive management the Etihad team was the most incompetent, backward thinking and unashamedly greedy he had known. There was a particular story he related to do with finalising the parking pricing structure that would blow your socks off if you knew how blatantly unethical it was. He left on relatively good terms so there was no venom behind his revelations, just matter-of-fact sharing of life stories, but he felt that he really had to move on as he couldn't be party to some of the dodgy stuff that was happening.

ps. And not to name names re: the dodgiest bastard of them all, but let's just say that Chris Grant wasn't the only one getting screwed by this bloke.

[bornadog]

Where the hell were the banners yesterday up behind the goals with our 300 plus game legends displayed?

[Remi Moses]

I hate the joint,yeah nice to watch the Footy but the Soviet Union style management practices are disgraceful . The Control and regulations annoy the bejesus out of me,it was the passout disgrace,then the cage for smokers,then the Food issue. It's always one petty issue after another then again who runs the show ENOUGH SAID:mad:

[LostDoggy]

How do we spell 'monopoly'? Or 'captive market'?

We should never have given up our own ground.

[alwaysadog]

Eithad is a great stadium to watch a game

Provided you aren't well back on the top level with the action occurring in the blind spot close to the boundary right in front of you.


The one thing that is pooly designed is the bridge across the railway, and this is evident after the game when everyone is trying to squeeze through the area where the bridge leads back to Southern Cross.

That is a big problem, and very poor design, but the stadium itself has many design faults. Have you ever come down the stairs after a game and been stuck at the bottom waiting because you have to turn into those exiting from level one rather than proceeding straight ahead through a dedicated exit.

What would occur in an emergency or if panic set in is too awful to contemplate. I'm surprised they haven't had a PIN notice stuck on them by the H&S authorities.

[The Coon Dog]

Have you ever come down the stairs after a game and been stuck at the bottom waiting because you have to turn into those exiting from level one rather than proceeding straight ahead through a dedicated exit.

What would occur in an emergency or if panic set in is too awful to contemplate. I'm surprised they haven't had a PIN notice stuck on them by the H&S authorities.

An absolute disgrace after a game when you need to go down the stairs to enter the car park. You just can't get in as it's full already from people coming down from the upper levels.

[Before I Die]

I have a relative in a wheelchair who was a regular attendee last year. At the end of the game she would not be able to access the lift down from level 2 because it was always full to bursting with able bodied patrons from level 3. Perhaps this is the fault of inconsiderate and lazy patrons rather than management, but I have wanted to vent on it for a while and this thread has given me the opportunity.

[AndrewP6]

I have a relative in a wheelchair who was a regular attendee last year. At the end of the game she would not be able to access the lift down from level 2 because it was always full to bursting with able bodied patrons from level 3. Perhaps this is the fault of inconsiderate and lazy patrons rather than management, but I have wanted to vent on it for a while and this thread has given me the opportunity.

GREAT CALL , B.I.D!!! I'm in a wheelchair, and this is the source of constant frustration/anger when I go to the footy. As you said, it's probably not a management issue, but shows people's laziness and inconsiderate nature. Made me late for the opening bounce on Sunday, and has for other games too. It's very frustrating when people have the option of walking some stairs, yet they wait by the dozen at the lifts, which are pretty much the only option for a lot of people. I got so sick of waiting, I pushed up the ramp to Level 2 on Sunday - this wouldn't be an option for many patrons.

[alwaysadog]

I started this and I still maintain a critical stance vis a vis things Etihad but Sunday evening I emailed my concerns about the beer to the stadium and today I got this reply. I've omitted the names.

Monday, 29 March 2010


Re: Beer quality in Endeavour Room


Dear Mr XYZ,


I acknowledge receipt of your email sent to our customer service department on Sunday 28th March 2010.


It is not pleasant to receive unsatisfactory correspondence especially when it appears we have let you down in your expectations at Etihad Stadium.
We work extremely hard to ensure all guests receive memorable experiences at all times and we apologise for failing to deliver on what should have been a wonderful day.


I have raised your concerns regarding the quality of our tap beer with our cellars team and they have tested the facility thoroughly this morning and from this we are confident that our beer cleaning methods and frequency of the cleaning is
at a premium standard.


In addition to our internal testing methods, we have also engaged Fosters to be on site this week to run further testing on our facilities to ensure our beer quality and reticulation is to an optimum standard so these issues don’t occur again.


I would like to take this opportunity to thank you sincerely for taking the time to put forward your concerns as this is one way we can continue to improve our business.


Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any additional questions


Regards

XYZ

Venue Catering Manager
Etihad Stadium

Now the issue is while this seems a superb reply will they deliver? If they do I will be as strong in my recognition as I was in my condemnation. The issue then becomes one of whether we should voice our concerns to them about other matters?

[alwaysadog]

I have a relative in a wheelchair who was a regular attendee last year. At the end of the game she would not be able to access the lift down from level 2 because it was always full to bursting with able bodied patrons from level 3. Perhaps this is the fault of inconsiderate and lazy patrons rather than management, but I have wanted to vent on it for a while and this thread has given me the opportunity.

No, I think you are perfectly justified, how would your relative manage an exit in an emergency?

I had the same problem a few years ago when my partner broke her leg quite badly and was wheel chair bound for nearly three months. All we could do after the game was to go to a bar and drink till the crowd had left.

Interestingly Etihad caters for wheel chairs but has no or at least had no provisions for those on crutches so she kept the wheel chair for the football 'til she could walk.

She said she had never drunk so much in her life, I maintained it wasn't yet a crime to be drunk in charge of a wheel chair. All this did was to hide my fear that once again those of us who are disabled are not considered.

I'd raise it with Etihad management and see what reply you get.

Let's know how you get on.

[alwaysadog]

An absolute disgrace after a game when you need to go down the stairs to enter the car park. You just can't get in as it's full already from people coming down from the upper levels.

Yes TCD exactly the sort of basic design flaw that amateurs make. I wonder it hasn't been rectified. It would cost them some money but not a lot. A load bearing beam and some new doors etc.

Why not write to them pointing out the potential for a major problem and see what they do.

I'd think they had a legal responsibility to make a positive response to safety matters brought to their attention. Certainly they were quick to take up my complaint about their beer when I linked it to a hygiene issue.

[alwaysadog]

GREAT CALL , B.I.D!!! I'm in a wheelchair, and this is the source of constant frustration/anger when I go to the footy. As you said, it's probably not a management issue, but shows people's laziness and inconsiderate nature. Made me late for the opening bounce on Sunday, and has for other games too. It's very frustrating when people have the option of walking some stairs, yet they wait by the dozen at the lifts, which are pretty much the only option for a lot of people. I got so sick of waiting, I pushed up the ramp to Level 2 on Sunday - this wouldn't be an option for many patrons.

They could solve it easily. Create and display a policy of preference for disabled access to their lifts and include a clause that other patrons could be required to vacate places for wheelchairs. Every one else can use the stairs and/or ramps it's hardly an option for our disabled colleagues.

Write and ask them to do so, if they knock you back I'd take it up with Andy D, I can't believe in this day and age we are still pursuing exclusionary practices.