Author: Michael James

This was the response I got back from the Oval.

“Hi Michael,

We have not received feedback regarding crowds around the ground this year. This is very valuable feedback for us to look into to ensure everyone in the ground feels safe.

I hope this answers your question.

Kind regards,

Maddie”

I did reply, saying was surprised at this, due to the increase in the ground capacity, but not in actual ground space. I just hope nothing happens at the Ashes as is a sell-out.

This was the response I got from the Oval regarding my feedback.

“Hi,

Thank you for your feedback. We appreciate hearing back from our Members on their experiences with us.

I have passed this on to the relevant members of our team who will be able to look into this and see what can be done for future games regarding these issues.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to reach out to us with this feedback.

Kind regards,

Maddie”

People that know me, know that I don’t back down, so I wasn’t letting it go, especially with safety a concern

I followed up again, as my question wasn’t answered at all in a previous post. Don’t you agree?

I had received an email to fill out a survey regarding our day at the Oval for the World Test Championship Final. At the end it offered further feedback. I sent this email.

“Hello

I’ve completed the survey regarding my visit to the match, but I just wanted to send an email too.

First of all one of the senior steward that was in the Lock balcony was brilliant and informative before the start of the match, I wished I got his name.

My main concern, especially as this wasn’t a sell-out, during the lunch interval, I went to the ground level just before the end of the morning play and all was OK, but as soon as the lunch interval happened. Both myself and my wife did not feel safe due to the amount of people.

Several times the crowd just stopped moving due to the amount of people around, there easily could have been a crush. I have never experienced this before at the (KIA) Oval though I have never moved from my seat before at lunch as we have always brought our own food, but decided not too on this occasion.

Due to this and the queues at the food outlets, we decided against getting any food apart from an ice cream and getting back to the safety of our seats.

As this been reported before?

Regards

Michael – stay safe and healthy.”

This is the first time I’ve been when there has been a large crowd since the new stands were added. I dread to think what it will be like for the Ashes match which is a sell-out.