Results of our Family Survey
Back in May Port Vale launched its first ever Family Experience Survey and today not only do we reveal the results, but we also preview some of the improvements that your feedback has helped us introduce for August’s League 1 return.
Aimed at creating a family-friendly experience that will encourage more families to come to Vale Park, the survey received an enthusiastic response from supporters and their families.
What do families like most about the match day experience at Vale Park? Very simply: spending time with their loved ones and seeing Boomer! Our famous mascot generated lots of positive feedback and is seen as a big part of the drive to recruit more families to the Port Vale cause.
Club communications received good feedback too, with special praise for the Club’s social media presence. The recently launched Boomer’s Blog will help keep kids and their parents entertained, while the Communications team is ensuring every email, Facebook message or Tweet is answered as swiftly as possible.
But while families love the atmosphere at Vale Park, they’re equally aware of what’s needed to improve the match day experience here.
Our families want a good quality, value for money experience that lasts beyond the 90 minutes and while our longer term ambition is to create this space in the Lorne Stand, we’re working on a fantastic interim solution in the GMBrights@Work (formerly Bycars) Stand in time for the Brentford game on August 3. Complete with improved refreshments, a performance area, entertainment planned for every match and ‘magic moments’ (like the Golden Tickets at the Northampton game at the end of last season) this could not have happened without supporters’ feedback.
You also wanted to see improvements to the retail experience at Vale Park and made it clear that it’s not just about quality and price, but about the overall experience too. Our new official Port Vale Club Shop aims to deliver a fantastic range of Vale-themed merchandise in a bright and friendly environment.
Finally, feedback from the survey made it clear that money is tight these days, so the Club’s (family ticket & junior pricing) means that price will not be a barrier to any family wanting to get behind the Valiants.
Heather Corbett, Port Vale’s first ever Fan Engagement Executive, is looking forward to showcasing many of these new initiatives at the Club’s Family Day on July 28, when fans will have the chance to watch the team training, meet Port Vale staff, check out our new facilities and enjoy a range of family-friendly entertainment.
She said: “Having direct feedback from our supporters has been such a benefit. Supporters have made it clear where we need to improve, and their ideas and suggestions have made the job of improving so much easier.”
Heather is looking forward to keeping the dialogue going with families and the wider Port Vale community.
“We want to make Vale-supporting families feel special, valued and cared for. We want to give them moments that they’ll treasure and memories to last a life time, but we can only do that through keeping the dialogue going,” said Heather.
She added: “I’ll be the point of contact for anyone interested in improving the supporter experience at Vale Park and I’d love to hear from you.”
Drop Heather a line via heather.corbett@port-vale.co.uk
Visit Boomer’s Blog at http://pvfcboomer.wordpress.com
Keep visiting www.port-vale.co.uk for updates on all of our supporter initiatives for the new season.
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