OUFC - OxVox Meeting - January 17 2005

Minutes

Present: Nilu Kanani (OUFC); Chris Davis, Trevor Lambert, Ray Whittaker, Neil Carter (OxVox)

Apologies: Mick Brown (OUFC).

Minutes of the last meeting (November 29 2004): Accepted. Future draft minutes would be circulated to club with one week to comment before being placed on OxVox website.

Stadium and surrounds

OxVox will maintain a record of work under three headings - maintenance jobs, safety work, and enhancements - any new items will be proposed and discussed at meetings with the aim of establishing agreed priorities and monitoring progress.

NK asked whether OxVox could encourage fans to volunteer their help; TL thought it likely that fans might be more willing to help with new work which they would like to see done (e.g. concourse painting) rather than with standard maintenance.

OxVox raised an immediate safety concern, the lack of a pedestrian crossing between the West car park and the Ozone, which was now urgent since traffic had increased with the opening of the bingo and gym, with the new club shop to follow. NK to investigate.

Marketing:

The new club shop would be opening in early February.

An Ozone tenants association was being set up which would provide a forum at which relations with the club, including cross-promotions, could be discussed. An OxVox representative could attend these meetings if desired.

OxVox restated its offer to help with promoting the club, for example by distributing publicity for matches in retail outlets in Oxfordshire.

Catering / matchday menus

Christmas menus had proved popular. NK would speak to catering manager regarding OxVox suggestions of additional lower price food options designed to increase numbers and create a supporters club feel on matchdays. Catering manager could attend the next meeting.

Forum with new management team

OxVox asked for a fans forum to be organised soon, following Firoz Kassam's agreement to hold one after the new managerial appointment. Horacio Rodriguez was agreed to be the most appropriate person to address forum questions on football matters. NK to try to arrange a date as soon as possible.

Ticketing issues

For separate discussion with Mick Brown. OxVox suggestions were for a special ticketing offer to maximise support for the remaining home games of the season e.g. '7 for 6' on the last 7 home games, and special offers for tickets and boxes for potential 'low demand' games such as Macclesfield. A request from OxVox for action to reduce the minimum on the day adult price was still on the table. The high price of child tickets in SSU was raised by CD and the club was asked to review children's prices for next season.

Any other business

NK confirmed that the club had won its case for matchday cinema opening.

TL passed to NK a CD containing the fans survey report, a copy of the Supporters Direct newsletter, and details of Northampton Town's publicity about ticketing for the forthcoming match with OUFC.

No discussions had been held with Wasps regarding a move to the Kassam stadium, reported NK.

Date of next meeting

The date suggested was February 28th, to be confirmed.