The Owls are going through a rebirth under the ownership of Arise, and marketing opportunities are being sought out all over a stadium that has had millions of pounds spend on it over the summer.
One such opportunity is the ‘Dugout Club’ in partnership with MrQ Casino, which sees eight supporters upgraded from their usual season ticket seats to take their place in a VIP area and given access to the brand new Hirsty’s Social before the game. They’re also fed and watered before and during the tie, too.
Arran Greaves, who was one of the lucky winners, spoke to The Wednesday Word about how he ended up in the new padded seats, what it was like meeting Owls legends, and some excellent ‘pigs in pastry’.
“I applied for it after seeing it pop up when I was scrolling my phone,” Arran explained. “And then at about 2:50pm I got a call from Hillsborough saying that we’d won and needed to be there for 5pm! So that’s what we did!
“We got to attend the big unveiling of Hirsty’s, met Mr. Storch - who is a fantastic bloke - and got free pie and mash. It was nice meeting some of the ex-players and getting to know people, fellow fans and stuff. It was really good to see what they they’ve made, the transformation of the place and the effort that they’re making in trying to give back to us as fans.
“Then at about 7pm they got us from reception and took us down the player’s tunnel to go pitchside and watch them train. That almost felt like what the players experience - it was so surreal. You see it every week, and you dream about it as a kid, so to walk down there with people hanging over the barriers and waving, it was such a great experience.
“We walked pitchside, right in front of the Leppings Lane end, to our seat. The seats were phenomenal, so comfy, and the view is good. The only thing I could knock it for - but it’s something they’re working on - is that there was no shelter. It got quite cold! That’ll change soon they said, though.
“At half time they brought us sausage rolls… Well, it was more like a pig in pastry, it was huge! We got crisps and soft drinks, too, we didn’t have to leave our seats. It was the full package.
“I’ve kept my pass and ticket, and I’ve hung them up by one of my signed shirts from last season. I’d 100% recommend it to other people, it was absolutely fantastic.”
There was one thing he wanted to mention, however…
“I did want to put on record…” Arran said with a chuckle. “I’m the guy in the pictures who looks like an X-Factor judge - really miserable. I wanted to say that that’s just my face - I wasn’t unhappy!”
Arran wasn’t alone between T1 and the away end, of course. Alongside him was a familiar face – Hollie of The Wednesday Week. After a friend won a spot in the corner and invited her, the podcaster jumped at the chance to try out the newest feature at S6.
“It was genuinely really novel,” she said. “It’s probably not for everybody, but I did really enjoy it… The seats were comfy - although we didn’t sit down much - and the staff couldn’t do enough for us. We had food at half time, food before, the Hendo’s pie and mash was brilliant!
“We were a bit exposed to the elements because there was no roof, but that won’t be the case much longer… And where I usually sit there’s no cover anyway, so I’m battle hardened with that!
“The thing I really liked about it is that they’ve said that it’s always going to be a free upgrade. I thought it was something they’d start charging for, but they’ve said they want it to be a fan experience that supporters can enjoy…
“It was good to experience walking down the tunnel and watching them warm-up. We got to see some of the new lads, and that was special. We got to see Hirsty’s, too.
“I think they might reconfigure the chairs going forward so they’re a bit closer, but it all felt like a proper experience. I got a picture with Ricardo Santos, too! It was definitely worth it as an experience, especially as a one-off.”
It wasn’t all good, unfortunately, but there’s nothing the marketing team can do to avoid a 1-0 defeat…
“When we walked back we were between the Bradford fans and players as they were celebrating,” Hollie laughed. “And I don’t want to do that bit ever again!”
Fans can apply for tonight’s Dugout Club by clicking this link, and the club is offering cheap tickets for this evening’s game at £15 for season ticket holders and members, and £17 as general sale… Under 18s can attend for £5 and £6 respectively.
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Looks like they already have a solution planned, but my thoughts were it needed to be enclosed to hide the fans from the elements and also from the away fans! They looked like sitting ducks up there. That aside, great to see them trying to do something up there.