matchnight stewerds

[Fubar]

as it says on the tin. fire away with your gripes etc. Should be an interesting thread!

I get the impression, people confuse safety stewerds (which is what we are ) with stadium security like down the city ground or millenium stadium. We have no powers, and any altercations are directed to the Head of Security.

Paul S makes an annoucement not to walk around the rink when the game is on, yet people do it and more so, people who should know better do it. Can we stop them? Answer - nope! Can we stop them going up the stairs? Answer - yes (to a degree). Again we get people who you would expect not to try and go up the stairs KNOWING the game is on, yet get annoyed when we stop them. There is always the newbies who dont know and rightly so, try and gain access.

Camera flashes - Again, Paul S makes the no flash announcement yet it still happens. Are we to challenge the offenders? Sorry, thats security's job imo.

Match night stewerds do not get paid and are purely volunteers. Only 3 stewerds get £10 for standing outside in the carpark and directing traffic. Some of the stewerds are SEASON TICKET HOLDERS and some are DCF DEVILS, so to them there are no advantages of stewerding. In fact its more of a disadvantage as stewerds are no longer allowed to wear Devils shirts at games and show their support..

Carry on with the griping and for all to know..its me Jed. I wont be hiding behind any forum names or high-viz jackets

 

[andydevils]

totally agree with everything above. We do this because we want to help the club. Yes we get FREE access to games but when you have to be there nearly over an hour before the games and not see parts of the game because you have to keep people from going up and down the stairs.

I think people should have more respect because we areonly doing what we have been told to do......and i am not hiding behind my name either. Hint is in the name.

 

[Ghost Dog]

Another one that came up was on a thread a while back about how we weren't doing anything to stop people leaning over the upper level barriers during warmup. Our task during that time is to keep people moving up the stairs to their seats and ensure that people aren't leaning over the stairway banisters, blocking the stairs and putting themselves in harm's way. The two most risky stairs (purely in terms of the puck leaving the ice) are the ones either side of the penalty box, at block 12 and 14. The block 14 stairs are especially risky during warmup when the home team are pelting unobstructed shots at the goal which quite often will ping off the crossbar and up over the glass.

One game a few weeks ago, I stopped a supporter going up the block 14 stairs while the game was in play and was in the process of explaining to him why it wasn't safe when the puck left the ice at a fair lick, skimmed the top of the plexiglass and hit the clear perspex panel on the side of the stairs, breaking a sizeable chunk off, narrowly missing me and the photographer who was on the stairs at the time. Have a look at those stairs next time you're passing and you'll see what I mean.

Chris

 

[Puckaholic]

Another one that came up was on a thread a while back about how we weren't doing anything to stop people leaning over the upper level barriers during warmup. Our task during that time is to keep people moving up the stairs to their seats and ensure that people aren't leaning over the stairway banisters, blocking the stairs and putting themselves in harm's way. The two most risky stairs (purely in terms of the puck leaving the ice) are the ones either side of the penalty box, at block 12 and 14. The block 14 stairs are especially risky during warmup when the home team are pelting unobstructed shots at the goal which quite often will ping off the crossbar and up over the glass.

One game a few weeks ago, I stopped a supporter going up the block 14 stairs while the game was in play and was in the process of explaining to him why it wasn't safe when the puck left the ice at a fair lick, skimmed the top of the plexiglass and hit the clear perspex panel on the side of the stairs, breaking a sizeable chunk off, narrowly missing me and the photographer who was on the stairs at the time. Have a look at those stairs next time you're passing and you'll see what I mean.

Chris

And narrowly missing me under it !!

I think the stewards to a great job, as stated they are not their as security, they are there for health and safety reasons. I did have a seated season ticket two years ago, but got that fed up with people who cannot wait for that other pint or hotdog during the game, walking past spoiling my view of the game, so I now stand, lovely no hassles, my very own bit of plexi :lol:

Keep up the good job fellas

 

[Ghost Dog]

Well unless you had your face over the top of the plexi at the time, you would have been OK. :lol:

As said, we're not there as security. We're not SIA licensed, so wouldn't be covered if anything did kick off. Hence why we don't normally get involved in altercations, since we're not paid for it. We don't have radios so cannot call for assistance if needed. Bear in mind if a steward is assigned to a set of stairs for the evening, they have to stay there from the first faceoff until the final buzzer (apart from period breaks of course). So even if something was happening up in the blocks, we're not supposed to leave our posts. Hence why it's always a better idea to speak to DJ Paul or one of the rink security guys if it's urgent or likely to become a problem.

A few of us were asked to escort Hicks out of the building back to his car a few weeks ago after a certain fine display of refereeing meant that a few people were loitering outside the official's changing room and outside the building waiting for him. Personally I didn't agree with this, since if anything was to kick off, we wouldn't have been covered to intervene. I felt that the rink security guys should have handled that one.

 

[yngwie]

One thing that might help was if the stewards had some sort of rope or a strap, which they could hook between the handrails at the bottom of the stairs ! A visual deterrent often works better than someone just saying sorry you will have to wait until the game stops ! Once the game is stopped the rope is removed allowing access up the stairs !

 

[samidevils]

OT slightly. The worst I find is the sponsors. Not sure if they are told before the game but they are up and down our block (9).

 

[Sheincar]

Camera flashes - Again, Paul S makes the no flash announcement yet it still happens. Are we to challenge the offenders? Sorry, thats security's job imo.
Carry on with the griping and for all to know..its me Jed. I wont be hiding behind any forum names or high-viz jackets

By & large I have no gripes with the stewards - other than the camera flashes. From what you've said it doesn't seem to be clear whose job it is to sort it out as you said "imo". Are there no definitions of what falls to security to deal with & what's down to you guys?

 

[Russky]

Sheincar, the Head steward has posted on the thread entitled camera flashes, may i suggest that you go and read it, you may find it helpful and that it answers you queries about stewards and their duties!

 

[Wannabe2]

One thing that might help was if the stewards had some sort of rope or a strap, which they could hook between the handrails at the bottom of the stairs ! A visual deterrent often works better than someone just saying sorry you will have to wait until the game stops ! Once the game is stopped the rope is removed allowing access up the stairs !

Thats the best suggestion i have heard so far, after all i pay to watch the match not someones rump passing in front of me, a number of us in block 2 missed a goal the other night due to morons walking in front of us, like your typical sunday drivers no interest in the game or anyone else, just checking out the view.

 

[Finny]

Thats the best suggestion i have heard so far, after all i pay to watch the match not someones rump passing in front of me, a number of us in block 2 missed a goal the other night due to morons walking in front of us, like your typical sunday drivers no interest in the game or anyone else, just checking out the view.

What happened to your sniper rifle you were going to bring?

 

[Wannabe2]

Thats the best suggestion i have heard so far, after all i pay to watch the match not someones rump passing in front of me, a number of us in block 2 missed a goal the other night due to morons walking in front of us, like your typical sunday drivers no interest in the game or anyone else, just checking out the view.

What happened to your sniper rifle you were going to bring?

Apparently if i shoot someone i have to get the first immediate flight to Canada, not tell anyone straight away, and hopefully the club will eventually replace me with a new season ticket holder, and you all will rejoice. And think what a great replacement.

 

[Sheincar]

Sheincar, the Head steward has posted on the thread entitled camera flashes, may i suggest that you go and read it, you may find it helpful and that it answers you queries about stewards and their duties!

I assume you mean this excerpt -

It has been mentioned many times about the camera flashes going off during the game,but the stewards hands are pretty much tied with this. I have suggested to the club at least twice this season that maybe i should be radio linked to the DJ box,and the location of the flashes clearly pointed out to me so that it can be nipped in the bud sooner rather than later,but this has fallen on deaf ears. Without knowing the location of the flashes, its impossible to put a stop to it,simple really?

But if stewards can see the flashes why can't they do something about telling the Head Steward or security?

 

[Finny]

Apparently if i shoot someone i have to get the first immediate flight to Canada, not tell anyone straight away, and hopefully the club will eventually replace me with a new season ticket holder, and you all will rejoice. And think what a great replacement.

It appears the club have already taken this into account and are one step ahead of you with a replacement fan:

http://www.the-inferno.co.uk/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1112

 

[Wannabe2]

Oh no i am too old for nightclubs, What if i repent, and promise to give up the BOOZE, come on give a fan a break.

 

[phil PLT]

Oh no i am too old for nightclubs, What if i repent, and promise to give up the BOOZE, come on give a fan a break.

Nope! your being replaced :lol:

 

[Fubar]

But if stewards can see the flashes why can't they do something about telling the Head Steward or security?

We cant just leave our stairs! Again perhaps Paul S should ask security to step in when he sees camera flashes...or perhaps if you see it, you do it (not you in general, other viewing public also).

In regards to a chain across the stairs. Nice move until you get someone coming down the stairs. That in itself is a safety issue...incase they trip into it :lol:

On another note, the gazillion stewerds is set on Health & Safety grounds...i think its one safety stewerd per 200 public, hence why we have 10+ stewerds

 

[mp43]

Sheincar, the Head steward has posted on the thread entitled camera flashes, may i suggest that you go and read it, you may find it helpful and that it answers you queries about stewards and their duties!

I assume you mean this excerpt -

It has been mentioned many times about the camera flashes going off during the game,but the stewards hands are pretty much tied with this. I have suggested to the club at least twice this season that maybe i should be radio linked to the DJ box,and the location of the flashes clearly pointed out to me so that it can be nipped in the bud sooner rather than later,but this has fallen on deaf ears. Without knowing the location of the flashes, its impossible to put a stop to it,simple really?

But if stewards can see the flashes why can't they do something about telling the Head Steward or security?

The problem is that the Stewards have set positions for health & safety reasons,if they leave these positions whilst the game is in play then the health & safety issue is being compromised. A radio link would sort this problem out,i have mentioned on more than one occasion,the need for this. All it needs is a link between myself and the other club officials who are radio linked, and the location of the flashes can be identified and sorted ASAP.

The Stewards can do no more about this, its out of our hands!

 

[gneissgirl1]

Why do we need so many stewards at the far side of the rink? Surely, it would be better to place more around the busy staircases? Quite a few stewards are too busy watching the game to stop people walking up the stairs. I would prefer to see stewards being paid and do the job properly.

And before all the stewards out there take out a contract on me, I am aware that some of them do the job properly!

I don't hide behind my username either - Mags, block 4, row B, seat 22!

 

[mp43]

Why do we need so many stewards at the far side of the rink? Surely, it would be better to place more around the busy staircases? Quite a few stewards are too busy watching the game to stop people walking up the stairs. I would prefer to see stewards being paid and do the job properly.

And before all the stewards out there take out a contract on me, I am aware that some of them do the job properly!

I don't hide behind my username either - Mags, block 4, row B, seat 22!

Mags, i appreciate your views on this but i need to clarify something. The problem with putting more stewards around the busy stairs is a double edged sword, it may solve the problem of people walking about but for that you would need a steward at the top AND bottom of each stairs to stop people going up and down. The problem lies here, the steward cannot be at the top of the stairs because health and safety stops them standing at the top,they just cant do it. The stewards are honestly doing what they can to put a stop to the problems,but i feel the biggest problem is the fans themselves,a bit more care and concern is needed on their part,after all, its them that the other fans are really complaining about if you think about it?

As for your concern about the number of stewards down one end of the rink, this is purely because the fire exits and walkways also have to be covered,as well as the stairs. hope that answers a few of your questions? Jason