We completed our survey on “Attracting Families to Spotland” on Friday and here are the results from the survey.

The aim of the survey was to find out awareness of the things that are already in place, to find out what else can be done to bring families to Spotland and to identify things that put people off. A full analysis will take place of the results, looking at the differences between ages/stands, with an action plan involving our research into what has been successful at other clubs.

Reasons for picking each stand to go in:

Main Stand

• Grandad has a season ticket there. View better than sandy lane
• He’s a fan.
• The view – where I have my season tickets!!
• Always sat there
• Better enviroment for children
• Where my season ticket is. Where I’ve always sat.
• Best view. Sit with friends there
• Less likely to be any antisocial behaviour
• Less antisocial behaviour and bad language
• Good seats and less trouble due to being away from the away stand.
• Be safe
• Always sat in that stand
• Safety – on the few occasions I have brought children, we have used a hospitality box.
• Better view
• The stadium is safe
• I have a season ticket
• To try and create an on-going interest for a younger supporter to follow Dale in a safer environment and largely without foul disgusting language.
• We go as a family
• Best seats and view
• Wanted to come with his big brother
• It’s like a family club
• Lounge access
• Family atmosphere
• Family stand is right next to the bit where all the teens go who swear and make trouble – also don’t like the netting in front of the family stand as it obscures your view
• The family stand has too many kids! Too many distractions from concentrating on the game
• Comfortable seating. Less rude language from crowd.
• Like that end of the ground
• He likes to sit there so he can go and get his programme signed!!
• It the best view for the game.
• Where our friends sit and where we have always sat
• Best seats to enjoy the game
• Safest place with good access and a good view of the game
• Usually try to get tickets with family members who hold season tickets. Also we enjoy the atmosphere
• We’re in main stand block B, toilets are close under the police block, my son gets to see injured / unselected players and we still have access to the Ratcliffe bar at ht to see friends in the sandy.
• Access to main lounge and general atmosphere
• Less swearing/aggressive behaviour
• Best view, and can still access Pearl Street / Desmonds

Pearl Street

• Habit
• Friends and family
• View and friends
• Family club. Local team. Lifelong fan
• Price & Seats
• Tradition
• That’s where I sit
• I have always had a seat there
• Desmonds den
• Desmonds den
• It’s where we have always sat. My now 16 year old sat there when he started coming to the Saturday club so that is where we continued. We don’t sit in the family stand. I think there is more you could do for older children/ young adults and women to increase support. Stadium visits, better selection of merchandise, eg wallets no purses. Parties for older children in hospitality after the match, ticket and pizza look round the changing rooms etc. It all seems to stop at 11.
• Carlsberg Lounge
• View and seating
• We have always gone in this side of ground so familiarity.
• Family stand and prices
• Atmosphere & view
• My lad likes to watch the dale players warm up from there.
• Where our season tickets were placed
• Family stand, so more children & family atmosphere
• Have a quiet family section my daughter is autistic and its now her routine when we are at the games
• Good atmosphere
• He enjoys football
• Supposed to be more family orientated
• That is where I have always sat and can also go in the studds if it gets too cold for him
• Desmond Den
• Been there for 5 years and the beer and food are good and met some nice people
• Sit down, kids activity in studds
• View, and desmonds Den
• family stand: to try & avoid offensive language
• Price
• Behind goal
• Family stand, Pearl Street. Too young to stand in the Sandy where I go when he is not with me.
• Carlsberg lounge
• Best view

Sandy Lane

• Cost
• Family stand
• Where my Adult season ticket is
• Prefer standing
• Standing up
• The atmosphere generated by the crowd, which is more tangible than in other parts of the ground
• my season ticket
• I have always stood there with my family.
• They get less bored than sitting down. Can wander about.
• Thats where my family have gone throughout the generations. And we do prefer to stand
• It’s where we had our season ticket. More freedom to move around if child gets restless
• That is the stand myself and family have been in for a number of years
• Separation at turnstile

What activities aimed at junior supporters are you aware of?

Feature	Votes	%
Desmond the Dragon	80	18.4%
Desmond's Den	71	16.4%
Mascot package	70	16.1%
Flagbearers	60	13.8%
Junior Takeover Day	57	13.1%
Matchday Birthday Treat	53	12.2%
Prematch activities in Carlsberg Lounge / Desmonds Den	43	9.9%

What would make you more likely to bring your child / children to home matches?

Answer	Votes	%
More interaction with the players	56	24.9%
Family ticket package	40	17.8%
Atmosphere in the ground	32	14.2%
Grab bags delivered to your seat	25	11.1%
A designated family area available before the game with seating and dining available	22	9.8%
A designated family stand within the ground	16	7.1%
Shout outs over the tannoy	14	6.2%
More interaction with Desmond the Dragon	13	5.8%
Other	7	3.1%

Comments for Other:

• None of the above
• Bathroom facilities that are suitable to take. Child who comes is my daughter, gents toilets are not nice. Have previously gone to Ratcliffe at half time on the whistle to try and get in before they are messed up. She is now at an age she can go to ladies on her own but my Son is 4 and it puts me off bringing him.
• He’s a season ticket holder
• Places for kids to play if they don’t want to watch the game
• Better policing of fans smoking in the Pearl St toilets
• No smoking or drug taking in the toilets, stewards taking appropriate action.
• Nothing really because attend every home game

Have you ever been put off bringing your children by any of the following?

Reason	Votes	%
Nothing has put me off bringing my children	31	20.5%
Foul Language	25	16.1%
Risk of crowd trouble	19	12.6%
Cost of admission	18	11.9%
Sexist language	10	6.6%
Racist language	10	6.6%
Lack of cleanliness inside the stadium	10	6.6%
Homophobic language	9	6.0%
Other	8	5.3%
Facilities at the stadium	6	4.0%
Lack of accessible information about visiting the Crown Oil Arena	2	1.3%
Access to the stadium	2	1.3%
Not enough activities pre-match aimed at children	1	0.7%

Comments for Other:

• Food/Drink Prices
• Giving away fans home seats
• I have never been to a toilet with in the stadium, apart from if we have done hospitality, as I fear what they would be like. I have for the last 6 years brought between 2 and 4 children with me, 3 are now 16. For me these are still children. They are not included in this survey, but not seen as old enough to travel away on the coach so parity is needed. I actually think you need to do more to attract women, and not by offering them a glass of Prosecco. I have witnessed, racism , sexism and homophobia and always challenge the perpetrator. To be fair most people are then fine. However occasionally fans continue to be aggressive and the stewards then don’t seem to have the training to challenge appropriately. This could definitely be improved. You don’t ask about disability and having 2 young people with me that are on the autistic spectrum they have also been ridiculed so should be included. I also don’t think under 11’s should be allowed in with out and adult .
• Nothing
• Derby days as they can get quite heated and my child doesn’t like that kind off atmosphere
• Smoking within toilets
• Drug taking and smoking in toilets

How important would it be for your children to meet with players before or / and after games? (1 not important 10 very important)

Average score 7.2

Full survey results: