I attended the game today with my wife and two children (under 8 ) on the back of some complimentary tickets. The game was great, the girls loved Parky Pig, the razzmatazz of the music after tries were scored and the dancing girls. The one thing that let's the west stand down is the lack of a "family" zone. The kids were distraught at the language and aggressive demeanor of a very small minority. We were sat underneath a box in the northern area of the west stand and were appalled at the language used by a group in that exec box. It was intimidating for my children who are not used to hearing that language and seeing drunken behaviour like that. Now I am not criticising the guys who we're using the exec box and some of the other fans in that area, but it would be nice if an area of the west stand was made family friendly so that families were not intimidated by groups who like to use industrial language and behave boisterously. I know we will never get the crowds in this league to justify opening the east stand but maybe making an area of the west stand family friendly will help the club attract the next generation.

Didn't the 'drunken behaviour' attract the attention of the stewards?

No

No surprise there then.

The Junior Centurions are trying to get a area of the West stand for the youngsters as my lad got a West stand ST with his JC Pack today so I think something is happening in the pipeline to create a proper family area.

It wasn't the sort of behaviour that would bother an adult that is used to attending rugby matches. I know the club is keen on attracting a bigger audience so I am just pointing out what would put families off coming to LSV.

Great that is exactly what is required. I hope it comes off and families are encouraged to go to that area when they buy tickets for games by the ticket office staff.

Open the East Stand as a Family Stand when crowds improve.

That'd cost a fortune to operate unless we were getting 3k+ a week/

There isn't a simple answer to this, bar putting a wall up and partitioning an area of the ground off.

Incorrect

I will reply on behalf of everybody who was sat in the said box, we are normally stood behind the sticks in the North Stand, (4 of us season ticket holders and a couple of new/lapsed fans) but decided that as the club has put a lot of effort in pre season, that we'd pay the extra money for the first game and make a day of it . Included in our box price of around £1000 in total was 60 pints of lager/bitter, plus another 70 bottles of Peroni/San Miguel. We play rugby at a local club, and if you put 12 rugby lads in a box with 60 pints and 70 bottles it's going to get a bit rowdy. Personally the only choice language I can recall is a chant that's used around football grounds week in week out for people that are slightly overweight.

I think our intentions were in the right place, we wanted to get the stadium singing together, but even starting off the 'Oh leiiiigh' at the start of the game was greeted with looks of disgust. I don't apologise for anything that was said, there was no racism, aggressive or provocative chanting, just rugby lads cheering on their home team.

I think kids know the language they hear at rugby games is a bit naughty sometimes,we've all stood on the terraces as kids and know what it's like, but a family section would be a good idea for the fans that don't want their children subjected to it.

I'd like to thank Rob Parker for sorting everything out in such a professional manner, the staff at the LSV for catering for anything we wanted (except the stewards that wouldn't let us stand up ), Derek Beaumount who thanked us for our vociferous support after the game and made us feel welcome from the start and invited us to come again later in the season, and Andy, who I had a long talk with after the game, things are definitely on the up here.. Genuinely one of the best days we've all had out in a long time and won't be the last time we get a box this season. Fantastic day.

I was told the end of the west stand was to become the family bit via the Junior Centurins but opening the first section of e east would be better

You make a very fair point and this should be looked at, obviously a case of people who can't behave when they have a drink

I’m not too sure it’s a case of people who can’t behave, although CW makes a valid point, to me there doesn’t seem to have been a major issue, don’t we want everyone who attends LSV to enjoy themselves, whether it’s a group of lads or a family of four.

I think it’s a great idea to have a family section, not because of what they might hear from those around them (they’ll hear worse at school) but because they will hopefully enjoy the experience more sat with other families and friends. Perhaps on Monday they’ll then go to school and tell their other friends how great it is and hopefully it’ll snowball.

As I said on another thread it was good to see more kids in the stadium but likewise its good that a group from the North Stand are willing to spend £1k plus take along some newbie’s and enjoy the experience in the boxes, so much so that they’ll be doing it again.