The West Ham United Supporter Advisory Board (SAB) held their annual general meeting at the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday evening.
Joint-Chairman David Gold got proceedings underway with an introductory speech that thanked supporters for giving up their time to help the Club prepare for the move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016. The meeting then heard from a representative of each of the four SAB sub-groups, who reported back their findings.
Joint-Chairman Mr Gold said: "It was a thoroughly entertaining and informative evening and I would like to personally thank every fan who has contributed to the SAB this season.
"Their commitment to improving all aspects of our operation here at West Ham is hugely appreciated and monitored by the Board and everyone else at the Club.
"The SAB have already helped shape some of the big decisions made at the Club over the past few years. The expertise and impartiality the group offer will continue to be a vital source of information as we further develop our plans for our stunning new home in 2016.
"While there might be a range of opinions from all ends of the spectrum on the SAB, it is pleasing to know that we all have the same goal at heart - to improve the standing of our great Club."
Kevin Radley and Paul Cousins presented on behalf of the Stadium Migration team, focusing on rewarding the loyalty of Season Ticket holders during the move to the Olympic Stadium, the importance of stadium differentiation and how the Club can reflect its East End roots at its new home.
The key findings that he highlighted were Season Ticket holder's desire to be able to bring new supporters with them to the Stadium, the need for more affordable tickets, particularly for families and children, and a review of membership to make the youth package more accessibly priced to reduce the barriers and grow the fanbase.
John Parry represented the Media and Communications group, who will be playing a vital role in the development and testing of the Club's new website in the coming months. Parry offered ideas for new digital social media content, including suggestions for a fully integrated digital platform and more comprehensive content that will attract supporters of all ages.
Farewell to the Boleyn representative James Rutherford presented some entertaining ideas for how the Club can best say a fitting goodbye to its current home. His suggestions included a 'closing ceremony', which was supported by 88% of his impressive number of over 900 respondents, 19 themed match days throughout the final season and an opportunity for Season Ticket Holders to provide their favourite Boleyn memories on their renewal forms for the 2015/16 season.
Matchday Experience representative Michael Crowhurst gave a detailed presentation about which factors are most important in supporters visiting the Boleyn Ground. His group acknowledged many of the improvements which have already been implemented by the Club as a result of their feedback throughout the year. He also made a wide variety of suggestions for engaging supporters - both existing and new - at the Olympic Stadium. The group supported the Club's idea to create a Pioneers' Plaque and reported back on some initial suggestions regarding which of the most important matches and figures from the Club's history it should recognise.
Tara Warren, West Ham United Executive Director for Marketing and Communications, presented some new ideas to the group about how the Club could better reflect its heritage, history and place in the community whilst signalling its ambition and global status in the new era when it moves to its stunning new home in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Ms Warren and the SAB discussed the core values that make West Ham United so special. A debate then followed on how the Club could best present itself in line with these values in the exciting new era across its key platforms including website, stadium branding and kit.
After some detailed and enthusiastic feedback from the floor, Ms Warren agreed that the Club would develop the ideas further and present them back at a follow up meeting, which will take place on Tuesday 3 June at 6pm.
Ms Warren said: "I would like to thank every SAB member for their valuable input, especially the group Chairpeople. Our supporters have put so much of their time into ensuring, on behalf of their fellow supporters, that together we deliver the world-class venue that we have been working towards for these last four years. They have, and will continue to be, instrumental in setting the Club's agenda in respect of the move to the Olympic Stadium."
The meeting concluded with an informal Q+A with Ms Warren and Angus Kinnear, the Club's Managing Director responsible for delivering the Olympic Stadium Project, on the progress of the redevelopment of the Stadium. The group was informed that further, more final, plans will be released at the meeting in June and that supporters will see further updates coming out to them now that the redevelopment is truly underway over the next few months.
Joint-Chairman David Gold got proceedings underway with an introductory speech that thanked supporters for giving up their time to help the Club prepare for the move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016. The meeting then heard from a representative of each of the four SAB sub-groups, who reported back their findings.
Joint-Chairman Mr Gold said: "It was a thoroughly entertaining and informative evening and I would like to personally thank every fan who has contributed to the SAB this season.
"Their commitment to improving all aspects of our operation here at West Ham is hugely appreciated and monitored by the Board and everyone else at the Club.
"The SAB have already helped shape some of the big decisions made at the Club over the past few years. The expertise and impartiality the group offer will continue to be a vital source of information as we further develop our plans for our stunning new home in 2016.
"While there might be a range of opinions from all ends of the spectrum on the SAB, it is pleasing to know that we all have the same goal at heart - to improve the standing of our great Club."
Kevin Radley and Paul Cousins presented on behalf of the Stadium Migration team, focusing on rewarding the loyalty of Season Ticket holders during the move to the Olympic Stadium, the importance of stadium differentiation and how the Club can reflect its East End roots at its new home.
The key findings that he highlighted were Season Ticket holder's desire to be able to bring new supporters with them to the Stadium, the need for more affordable tickets, particularly for families and children, and a review of membership to make the youth package more accessibly priced to reduce the barriers and grow the fanbase.
John Parry represented the Media and Communications group, who will be playing a vital role in the development and testing of the Club's new website in the coming months. Parry offered ideas for new digital social media content, including suggestions for a fully integrated digital platform and more comprehensive content that will attract supporters of all ages.
Farewell to the Boleyn representative James Rutherford presented some entertaining ideas for how the Club can best say a fitting goodbye to its current home. His suggestions included a 'closing ceremony', which was supported by 88% of his impressive number of over 900 respondents, 19 themed match days throughout the final season and an opportunity for Season Ticket Holders to provide their favourite Boleyn memories on their renewal forms for the 2015/16 season.
Matchday Experience representative Michael Crowhurst gave a detailed presentation about which factors are most important in supporters visiting the Boleyn Ground. His group acknowledged many of the improvements which have already been implemented by the Club as a result of their feedback throughout the year. He also made a wide variety of suggestions for engaging supporters - both existing and new - at the Olympic Stadium. The group supported the Club's idea to create a Pioneers' Plaque and reported back on some initial suggestions regarding which of the most important matches and figures from the Club's history it should recognise.
Tara Warren, West Ham United Executive Director for Marketing and Communications, presented some new ideas to the group about how the Club could better reflect its heritage, history and place in the community whilst signalling its ambition and global status in the new era when it moves to its stunning new home in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Ms Warren and the SAB discussed the core values that make West Ham United so special. A debate then followed on how the Club could best present itself in line with these values in the exciting new era across its key platforms including website, stadium branding and kit.
After some detailed and enthusiastic feedback from the floor, Ms Warren agreed that the Club would develop the ideas further and present them back at a follow up meeting, which will take place on Tuesday 3 June at 6pm.
Ms Warren said: "I would like to thank every SAB member for their valuable input, especially the group Chairpeople. Our supporters have put so much of their time into ensuring, on behalf of their fellow supporters, that together we deliver the world-class venue that we have been working towards for these last four years. They have, and will continue to be, instrumental in setting the Club's agenda in respect of the move to the Olympic Stadium."
The meeting concluded with an informal Q+A with Ms Warren and Angus Kinnear, the Club's Managing Director responsible for delivering the Olympic Stadium Project, on the progress of the redevelopment of the Stadium. The group was informed that further, more final, plans will be released at the meeting in June and that supporters will see further updates coming out to them now that the redevelopment is truly underway over the next few months.