Ewood Express

[Riverside under the drip]

Delicate one this (I have a feeling mods might be busy). Having been along to Ewood with this and seen the faces of kids at their first match, I'm absolutely on board with it.

However, the trip to Watford is heavily subsidised (food, excursions) and appears to have been organised without regard for the announced stages of sale. It doesn't quite sit right that 1975/ST holders are again sidelined to an extent. Having said that, 2000 to Watford seems unlikely so that argument isn't the be all and end all.

Moreover, the unspoken idea that it was to get more of the Asian community (specifically Muslim) to attend has been totally embraced, but this also means excluding those of a different faith or none. Adults are invited as well as kids but central to the tailored experience are trips to local mosques. Surely all those disadvantaged or who feel unable to go to the games in BwD should be enticed onto such an excursion?

Having said that, the aim is clearly to boost our fanbase and that is obviously going to heavily focus on certain communities. Are people reading too much into it or is it a little too exclusive?

Mods: Feel free to shut this down if it all gets a bit political/dodgy.

[Sweaty Gussets]

What's the Ewood Express? 

[Riverside under the drip]

22 minutes ago, Sweaty Gussets said:

What's the Ewood Express? 

Bussing in schoolkids to Ewood primarily. Yasir Sufi the community integration guy runs it as a way to increase the fanbase. This would be the second away trip after Bradford which offers a 'tailored experience'.

[JHRover]

I don't agree with it. 

They did something similar for the Bradford Cup game earlier this season. 

I also think it is a publicity stunt. Notice the question about whether people consent to being filmed and having their photos taken. They don't send photographers on the official away coaches so it's interesting they intend to do so for this. 

I've no problem with efforts being made to grow the fanbase and get new people into it but this is a drop in the ocean when you are losing hundreds or thousands of ST holders due to onerous price hikes and them feeling disenfranchised.

[Sparks Rover]

And who comes to Ewood to go off and miss half the game praying.  Its basically virtue signalling

[rigger]

1 hour ago, Sweaty Gussets said:

What's the Ewood Express? 

I went to Grimsby on it in the 70's

[Miller11]

It’s long been the case that Rovers needed to better engage with the local Asian community.

Yasir obviously has a fairly specific remit to try to engage with a very underrepresented demographic in our fanbase. He’s doing an amazing job, not only in bringing in more supporters, but also in the way he’s drummed up sponsorship for the initiative. There’s no cost to the club, aside from Yasir’s salary - and he’s worth every penny and some.

Lovely to see busses full of kids heading down to Ewood, smiles on their faces, waving at fans walking to the ground, obviously feeling very excited, and importantly feeling safe and welcome when they get here.

Of course the club needs to be much better in re-engaging with lost support, widening their efforts geographically, and generally trying to fill the ground again. But credit where it’s due, the Ewood Express initiative is brilliant.

[rigger]

2 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

And who comes to Ewood to go off and miss half the game praying.  Its basically virtue signalling

I spend most of the game praying

[Ossydave]

Couldn't really care less about it to be honest but agree with JHR.

It's pretty much a school trip and I'd be amazed if it encourages many of the attendees to follow rovers away when there's no subsidised travel, trips to mosques or food included.

[Hasta]

In the unlikely event we sell out the away end due to this before it goes on open sale, then it’s not right.

Otherwise, at least they are trying to increase growth in the fan base of the club, which is what we have all been asking them to do.
It just seem Yasir has far more drive and initiative to achieve his targets than some of the others members of Rovers hierarchy have in achieving theirs.

Edited January 24, 2023 by Hasta

[simongarnerisgod]

a noble but pointless attempt to try and drum up support from blackburns large asian community,been tried before and has never worked,the asian kids ar`nt interested,neither are their parents or their parents before them,it would be better if they tried to entice all the polish,romanian and other eastern european kids into the ground,at least they like football and there are loads of them around the area

[Oldgregg86]

1 hour ago, Miller11 said:

It’s long been the case that Rovers needed to better engage with the local Asian community.

Yasir obviously has a fairly specific remit to try to engage with a very underrepresented demographic in our fanbase. He’s doing an amazing job, not only in bringing in more supporters, but also in the way he’s drummed up sponsorship for the initiative. There’s no cost to the club, aside from Yasir’s salary - and he’s worth every penny and some.

Lovely to see busses full of kids heading down to Ewood, smiles on their faces, waving at fans walking to the ground, obviously feeling very excited, and importantly feeling safe and welcome when they get here.

Of course the club needs to be much better in re-engaging with lost support, widening their efforts geographically, and generally trying to fill the ground again. But credit where it’s due, the Ewood Express initiative is brilliant.

Well said saves me a post 👏

[Oldgregg86]

It’s a start and a positive one.

yeah there is so much more to do but it’s a step in the right direction.

obviously there are so many other issues that need sorting and can undermine the effort that yasir has been putting in ,but ignoring everything else and looking at this as a project it’s fantastic and yasir deserves a lot of praise 

However I will say it’s no good trying to entice the Asian community whilst letting people already here drift away. This has to be one branch of a tree that needs fixing

Edited January 24, 2023 by Oldgregg86

[iacok]

My view let's keep trying.

Rigger I'm pretty sure I went to Leyton Orient on the Ewood Express years ago although it may have been the League Liner.

[SoldierMo]

2 hours ago, Sparks Rover said:

And who comes to Ewood to go off and miss half the game praying.  Its basically virtue signalling

Are you for real? Prayers come first mate

[SoldierMo]

2 hours ago, Ossydave said:

Couldn't really care less about it to be honest but agree with JHR.

It's pretty much a school trip and I'd be amazed if it encourages many of the attendees to follow rovers away when there's no subsidised travel, trips to mosques or food included.

Wrong since then I have took two of my sons to more games as they seem very invested in it colpared to me just going with mates

[tomphil]

It's a decent effort i reckon and it's not like it's free isn't it £55 a pop ?

I suppose they have to do the mosque visits as well for prayer purposes as i doubt Watfords away end has those facilities.

Hope they fill the coach and i doubt it'll put a dent in the ticket availability.

[Ossydave]

5 hours ago, SoldierMo said:

Wrong since then I have took two of my sons to more games as they seem very invested in it colpared to me just going with mates

That's why I said MANY of them. Listen a coach holds circa 50 people so if full probably around what 12-15 families possibly on-board. If they all keep going then great, will it make a significant difference to our support? Absolutely not.

I don't have an issue whatsoever with this taking place, but this isn't a fantastic blackburn rovers initiative, its the efforts of 1 man and its him that should get any credit. Instead you can guarantee Waggott will have his picture somewhere in the articles that follow just like he had with prayers on the pitch etc etc 

Edited January 25, 2023 by Ossydave

[Sparks Rover]

5 hours ago, Ossydave said:

That's why I said MANY of them. Listen a coach holds circa 50 people so if full probably around what 12-15 families possibly on-board. If they all keep going then great, will it make a significant difference to our support? Absolutely not.

I don't have an issue whatsoever with this taking place, but this isn't a fantastic blackburn rovers initiative, its the efforts of 1 man and its him that should get any credit. Instead you can guarantee Waggott will have his picture somewhere in the articles that follow just like he had with prayers on the pitch etc etc 

If, and a big if, all 50 buy a season ticket it doesn't even cover half the chaps wages that's without taking away costs.  

From what I've seen he's not helping out at stuff like Blackburn Pride 😄  virtue signalling and then some. A few dodgy phone videos on matchday...

Edited January 25, 2023 by Sparks Rover

[Mike E]

A good initiative engaging with an underrepresented demographic in our town.

Theoretically anyone can go, you don't HAVE to go in to the Mosque beforehand or the club afterwards.

Next job needs to be subsidised travel from potential hotspots around Lancs; Leyland, Chorley, Hyndburn, Rossendale, Lancaster etc

Edited January 25, 2023 by Mike E

[JohnD]

It's a great iniatiive.

I also agree they should make the same offer to the general public, at those prices they might fill a reliant robin 😄

[Tom]

Great idea, Yasir is doing some good stuff but I agree with others we need the same effort put into enticing other demographics within the town and surrounding areas 

[BRFC4EVA]

23 hours ago, Sparks Rover said:

And who comes to Ewood to go off and miss half the game praying.  Its basically virtue signalling

And who comes to Ewood to go off and miss half the game drinking piss in the concourse? 

It's their choice, why does it matter?

[simongarnerisgod]

23 minutes ago, BRFC4EVA said:

And who comes to Ewood to go off and miss half the game drinking piss in the concourse? 

It's their choice, why does it matter?

iv`e seen some dubious activity at ewood over the years,but drinking piss,is`nt that a bit specialist,personally iv`e never seen anyone doing it,they should really keep it private and do it in their own home

[BRFC4EVA]

1 hour ago, simongarnerisgod said:

iv`e seen some dubious activity at ewood over the years,but drinking piss,is`nt that a bit specialist,personally iv`e never seen anyone doing it,they should really keep it private and do it in their own home

Haha very good. Ok 'beer' is that better?!