Barnet Pitch

[expatsaint]

Most people will by now be well aware of the problems concerning the drainage at Barnet's ground at The Hive in Canons Park which has resulted in several costly postponements and which is threatening to jeopardise that club's play-off hopes through a severe backlog of fixtures.This week's latest postponement coupled with last week's half-time abandonment of the Harrogate game has led to suggestions from one or two of their supporters that they should now consider the  possibility of playing some of their remaining fixtures at alternative venues. Clarence Park was one such venue proposed by a Barnet forumite. Given the indifferent weekend weather forecast which is already placing Barnet's FA Trophy quarter final against Halesowen at considerable risk, it may be in that club's best interests to seriously consider approaching St Albans City with a view to us staging at least one of their outstanding fixtures.
With games to be rearranged against both Dagenham and Boreham Wood, I feel that Clarence Park would be a really suitable venue for either game given its  relative close proximity to Barnet. Obviously Barnet would receive all gate receipts whilst we would benefit from increased bar takings etc. I'm sure all stewarding and arrangements regarding supporter segregation would have to be dealt with by Barnet FC as the official 'home' club. 
It is an interesting scenario which may never happen of course. Barnet may be resolved and resigned to playing Tuesday/Thursday each week until the end of the season. Unlike Barnet, we have plenty of free midweek dates on offer and our ground ought to be deemed as suitable to host these kind of local derbies by the people who run the National League. I'm not too sure what the proceedure would be to make such arrangements, but maybe someone from the club could approach Barnet with a tentative offer of help should their pitch problems persist.

[minty]

It would be interesting to see what the admission fee would be should it happen.

[ahad43]

It's a good idea so it probably won't happen

The owners probably won't want to demonstrate that Clarence Park is capable of hosting Conference football either!

[expatsaint]

I'm pretty sure that admission prices would be in line with those in place already at The Hive and that St Albans City would have no control over the pricing. I don't know what Barnet charge as a basic, minimum entrance fee, but I'd be surprised if their price levels offer less value than ours, even after allowing for the slight step up in class.
It is unlikely I feel that Barnet would agree to go down this route and it is probably unlikely to ever happen. It would be a great opportunity, however, to showcase the club as well as to generate additional much-needed revenue. 

[ahad43]

Barnet ticket prices:

Area	Adults	Concessions (u-21, 65+)	Under 17s
Bees Terrace	£15	£10	£1
Stand '66	£20	£13	£5
Legends Stand	£22	£14	£5
Hive Stand	£22	£14	£5

Bumble's Family Zone - Family ticket (2 adults, 2 under 17s) - £30

[lagerman]

Whilst it may be in St Albans interests to have Barnet play a game or two at CP, l would Question whether our pitch would be up to it and given the continued wet weather we are continually getting.
It'll be us, Watford U23 and then Barnet playing on it, surely that would take its toll on our pitch ?
Whilst in the past we have always had one of the best pitches in the league, we only had the 1st team playing on it, that is since the abandonment of our reserve side.

[Hatboy]

Can you imagine that a conference side playing at Clarence Park charging £15 and then us as a Conference South side charging £18 a few days later.

[expatsaint]

I was thinking the same thing. It wouldn't look good.

[ahad43]

It wouldn't look good if they both played at the Park on consecutive weekends. It doesn't look good (in fact it's ridiculous) even when we are at the Park and they are at the Hive!