Hospitality - definitely not worth it !

[Guest Lako42]

1 hour ago, Sharpe's Fox said:

If you're going to a football stadium expecting decent snap and proper dining service then think again.

I've had some of the best food i've ever had in a football stadium. It's a bizarre attitude, when spending £400 you would expect it to be better than decent wherever it was 

[The People's Hero]

Without being a pr1ck here, there is hospitality and there's hospitality.

 

It is all obviously designed around the corporate buck anyway, but if I'd personally paid £400 for 2, I think I'd be disappointed too.

 

Thread is warranted as it is fair warning to others considering it.

[jammie82uk]

1 hour ago, Footballwipe said:

Yeah, not quite sure what the outrage is here. Are we now saying you're not allowed to feel a negative experience when you walk through the KP? I suppose he hates the owners and "everything they've achieved," too.

Unwritten rules of foxestalk, you can’t criticise anything thing to do with King Power, have an opinion about rail seating unless it’s positive and you also can’t say anything positive about Perez 

[MPH]

56 minutes ago, Duquesne Whistle said:

After spending £400, I'd expect the club to reply to my emails regarding the experience, at the very least.

I’m very sure that kind of email wouldn’t be answered by the person opening and reading the emails… it will be passed up the chain of command. He’ll get a reply eventually.

[Balj]

I think it’s fair to complain at that price and warn others - I’ve never had hospitality at KP but have in a fair few other other grounds both personal and corporate.  It’s a very mixed experience from the outstanding (box at the Etihad was straight out of first class airport lounge) to the Bernebeau (an underground buffet in a tiny room)!  Price is not a reliable indicator of quality at stadiums unfortunately.  

If paying personally I’d look for reviews (difficult for first game with staff shortages I appreciate).

[MPH]

6 minutes ago, The People's Hero said:

Without being a pr1ck here, there is hospitality and there's hospitality.

 

It is all obviously designed around the corporate buck anyway, but if I'd personally paid £400 for 2, I think I'd be disappointed too.

 

Thread is warranted as it is fair warning to others considering it.

 

I think that’s one thing that Jeff Bezos got right. He would ALWAYS put the customer satisfaction at the very center of what they did., not profit. 

[The People's Hero]

I've had some of the best days out and best meals and best service at sporting venues around the country (including football), so its not all bad.

 

But I have also seen what is also branded sometimes as 'corporate/VIP' and it most certainly isn't.

 

I did corp for our last game at Upton Park and it was pretty much as described above. I was shocked at what was paid for it. That said, it was because they couldn't get the real corporate/VIP bit. I imagine its all advertised quite misleadingly.

 

That was £250 a head I believe for basically a fairly poor roast dinner and a few beers (if you could manage to get served) and then decent seats.

[StanSP]

Whilst any given person on any given day can have a bad experience, the disappointing thing for me would be the lack of response from the club following customer feedback. At least just to acknowledge it. Especially when it comes to hospitality which is meant to be premium customer service, you'd think they'd want to nail it and value where they can improve. 

 

The mitigating circumstance is that there may have been short-notice staffing issues but that only goes so far. 

 

Personally I can't say I've had bad experience in contacting the club when I've had customer service issues and they've been ready to respond and listen. But I'm sure there's a complaints policy if you wanted to take it that far. 

 

It's obviously good to know for other people about your experience but hopefully it's the exception not the rule. 

[The People's Hero]

2 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Whilst any given person on any given day can have a bad experience, the disappointing thing for me would be the lack of response from the club following customer feedback. At least just to acknowledge it. Especially when it comes to hospitality which is meant to be premium customer service, you'd think they'd want to nail it and value where they can improve. 

 

The mitigating circumstance is that there may have been short-notice staffing issues but that only goes so far. 

 

Personally I can't say I've had bad experience in contacting the club when I've had customer service issues and they've been ready to respond and listen. But I'm sure there's a complaints policy if you wanted to take it that far. 

 

It's obviously good to know for other people about your experience but hopefully it's the exception not the rule. 

There should have been an instant or fairly quick acknowledgement.

 

You then do want a delay because of course the issues need to be looked in to, which likely means contacting the right people and finding out what shortcomings they were and why the occurred.

 

You can then apologise and explain why that happened and what you plan to do to put it right.

 

These things naturally do not happen over night; but communication and engagement is key.

 

If we are to properly assess the club's response here, we need timelines including whether an acknowledgement was received and much time has subsequently passed with zero communication.

 

 

[MPH]

4 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Whilst any given person on any given day can have a bad experience, the disappointing thing for me would be the lack of response from the club following customer feedback. At least just to acknowledge it. Especially when it comes to hospitality which is meant to be premium customer service, you'd think they'd want to nail it and value where they can improve. 

 

 

 

For  the majority of emails, Jim just answers or gets the answers - this one will be passed up the chain and will take a while but it will be responded to, I’m sure of it

[StanSP]

2 minutes ago, The People's Hero said:

There should have been an instant or fairly quick acknowledgement.

 

You then do want a delay because of course the issues need to be looked in to, which likely means contacting the right people and finding out what shortcomings they were and why the occurred.

 

You can then apologise and explain why that happened and what you plan to do to put it right.

 

These things naturally do not happen over night; but communication and engagement is key.

 

If we are to properly assess the club's response here, we need timelines including whether an acknowledgement was received and much time has subsequently passed with zero communication.

 

 

 

1 minute ago, MPH said:

 

For  the majority of emails, Jim just answers or gets the answers - this one will be passed up the chain and will take a while but it will be responded to, I’m sure of it

I agree on both parts. I'm hoping club will eventually respond but not acknowleding it in the first instance isn't the best.

[The People's Hero]

Just now, StanSP said:

 

I agree on both parts. I'm hoping club will eventually respond but not acknowleding it in the first instance isn't the best.

Do we know it hasn't been acknowledged though? Perhaps then it hasn't even been received?

[TiffToff88]

I know this wont make everything ok, considering the price the OP paid and the other issues they had on the day, But the QR Code ordering system for drinks is a fairly new (and temporary) measure, brought in as a response to Covid. The intention being that people wont gather around the bars in large groups. With it being a new system, they're still working on ironing out the kinks with it.

[The People's Hero]

I wonder what penguin tastes like? Its not relevant to this thread, but I'm going to start 'thinking aloud' and just posting my thoughts in whichever thread I'm in at the time.

 

 

[StanSP]

6 minutes ago, The People's Hero said:

Do we know it hasn't been acknowledged though? Perhaps then it hasn't even been received?

OP said he had e-mailed and hadn't had a response.

 

Not sure when the email was sent to the club, mind...

[Aus Fox]

I’m just not sure what anyone expects from a hospitality package?

400 quid is steep, but what do you expect?

These packages aren’t designed for you regularly match going fan, they’re business opportunities, you pay on the business account have a lunch enjoy the game and mingle and network.

 

[The People's Hero]

Just now, StanSP said:

OP said he had e-mailed and hadn't had a response.

 

Not sure when the email was sent to the club, mind...

Ok well yeah, that is bad. I don't understand why they wouldn't have a decent auto-response to confirm receipt and promise it will be looked at and given a reference, with a follow up in x days and hopefully conclusion in y days; likely with a disclaimer or whatever about Covid and most workers sunning themselves in the garden/ masturbating/ working their other job / trying to negotiate a move to Arsenal's customer service team, etc.

 

Maybe it did go in their spam/junk or has just been missed though. If it was me, I might have chased up by now. But its not me, because I don't have £400 and my wife hates football.

[MarriedaLeicesterGirl]

14 minutes ago, TiffToff88 said:

I know this wont make everything ok, considering the price the OP paid and the other issues they had on the day, But the QR Code ordering system for drinks is a fairly new (and temporary) measure, brought in as a response to Covid. The intention being that people wont gather around the bars in large groups. With it being a new system, they're still working on ironing out the kinks with it.

Seriously, though: A QR Code service at the KP on game day? I can't even get Twitter to load to get the starting lineup! Unless you give hospitality guests a working, dedicated WiFi, it's an insane method to order.

[ealingfox]

Its not a cash bar is it? Surely you don't have to pay for drinks at 200 quid a throw.

[The People's Hero]

5 minutes ago, ealingfox said:

Its not a cash bar is it? Surely you don't have to pay for drinks at 200 quid a throw.

You still have to be able to actually 'order' them in a non-face-to-face manner I assume.

 

I don't actually know, but that's the assumption I've gone straight to.

[AjcW]

Problem has been caused by success to be honest. 

 

Even at £400 you've got the 'cheapest' package which is the 'buffet' isn't it?

 

Because of our continued success the club now offer even higher tiers of hospitality, these are the more sit down dining type situations (see the 3 game europa package released today, there's tiered options)

 

Back in the Championship days, the hospitality was really decent (three course meal) and there was only that option or the hot rolls in the other lounge.... so not as much choice.

 

It sounds mental, but the experience you're looking for is priced more at the £600-700 mark now.

[AjcW]

6 minutes ago, ealingfox said:

Its not a cash bar is it? Surely you don't have to pay for drinks at 200 quid a throw.

Pretty sure it is yeah. Only the top top tier is inclusive of drinks

[Paninistickers]

I think there's a misconception that corporate hospitality is mainly business entertaining. 

 

My experience is that the punters are largely fans who happen to own a business but use it for social reasons and just put it down as a tax loss....or have simply got few Bob, or it's a special occasion. 

 

I've done a few away trips on hospitality. It is wildly overpriced for what it is but equally, I've many fond memories of the afternoons in question. So in that respect, money well spent.

 

The OP does seem.hard done by though. No table service and QR code ordering is pretty rank stuff. I might expect that in a budget lounge but not at 400 notes.

[AjcW]

Just now, Paninistickers said:

The OP does seem.hard done by though. No table service and QR code ordering is pretty rank stuff. I might expect that in a budget lounge but not at 400 notes.

Most hospitality venues are still operating under covid regs so it's going to be like that for a while... some will say 'well the price should be reduced then' but the Hospitality staff currently cost more as does most of the produce.... so difficult to justify really.

 

In terms of the hard done by, I think the club need to market things a little better, all the stupid names when they could just make it Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze is unnecessary. That would make it much clearer with regards to expectations too.

 

But as i've said above, the £200 package which is the cheapest is actually what you'd have paid about £80 for a few years ago. 

[AjcW]

 

To make it clear what the packages entail, they shall be hereby named after current and former players

 

- The Vardy: Just the creme de la creme, absolute top tier £800, coke and hookers included, they'll wipe your arse for you in the toilets and everything

- The Kasper: Pretty epic but not quite the vardy, SAVE you a few quid, will have to wipe own arse

- The Wes: Service is a bit slow, but still a nice day out. Rum pairing with each course

- The Sharky: Dependable, your partner will like it as it's not too fancy, finger food and picky bits.

- The Perez: Serve yourself you mad ****, I'm getting paid but I'm sure as shit not going to earn it.

Edited 26 August 2021 by AjcW