By CovSid67
August 6 2010

New season, know doubt, the same old problems. So here's a few pointers for people planning on visiting the Ricoh Arena this season, that moan like babies when there are problems with the turnstiles....

The Skidata turnstile system used by Coventry City is a great system when it works. The Skidata turnstile system is also a great system when used by supporters who understand how it works, which, to be fair, isn't exactly rocket science. One operator can over-see half-a-dozen or more turnstiles when the system itself is working, and supporters know how to use said system - and said operator is even able to pull up a deck-chair and read a newspaper (And could once-upon-a-time have lit up a pipe, but smoking inside the ground, is of course, banned), rather than do any work.

Sadly, Skidata does not do quite what it should as often as it should, and some supporters seem absolutely clueless when it comes to using the ones that do. Some people could help themselves if they would open their eyes and read the massive poster(s) outside the ground telling them how to use said system. But they don't.

Some matchday tickets, some season tickets, will not work - sadly, this is a fact. This is not the fault of the turnstile operators, and they can do nothing about the red light the turnstile will show, and will merely advise you to 'go to the ticket office'. They are not allowed to 'just let you in'. Not even if it's 'almost kick-off time'. Swearing at turnstile operators will not get you in either. This will not speed up proceedings, but will slow you down in your  bid to get in, as you are only delaying going to the ticket office, which you will have to do eventually.

Saying you were let in last time the turnstiles didn't work is a lie. Saying 'there's only one of me', will not get you in either. Saying you've just queued for twenty minutes .... well, it's a lie, isn't it? Because there was nobody there twenty seconds ago, was there? Which is why you chose the turnstile with no people queuing at it. Complaints that there should be signs outside stating that a turnstile is broken aren't going to happen (Even if there should be), but, what there should be, is a steward to inform people of this. If there isn't, this is not the fault of the turnstile operator, this is due to a lack of numbers on duty. I would suggest you find somebody in a fluorescent jacket to moan at. Or complain to the club.

Whining at turnstile operators is pointless, as they do not have the authority to decide on letting people in (Sometimes because the door to go where the over-ride pedal is is locked), and risk getting in trouble if they do. The alternative is to close turnstiles that don't work, for whatever reason, to both season ticket holders or matchday ticket holders (If they don't work for either, they will, rather obviously, be closed), and make more people queue at less gates. To repeat: turnstile operators do not make the decisions, they merely stand there and assist where possible. If all of the turnstiles did work properly, most operators would not be needed. But the turnstiles don't, so the the operators are.

For the record, turnstiles that do not work properly are reported after every game, which is much as turnstile operators and supervisors can do. If you continue to use the same turnstile, and it does not work week-after-week, try moaning to the club, not the people who are merely doing their job by informing you they cannot let you in. Or, you could try turning up earlier to avoid queueing?

For those that do not know, to enter the ground using season tickets, run your plastic card (Side on - do not insert the card in the slot) over the orange section in the middle of the ugly 70s looking metal machine. Stop looking at your feet, and see if you get a red or green light. If you do get a green light, you actually need to push on the turnstile, and go through as it spins. These machines are not tele-port machines, they do not work automatically. To repeat: you do have to push on the turnstile itself, and go through as it spins.

Do not push the turnstile and watch it go round without actually standing inside. Turnstile operators are not always able to use the over-ride pedal (See above for reason why), so you might be forced to go back to the ticket office and explain that you've been a 'bit of a pillock'. If the light is red, you have to go to the ticket office, because the chances are, if it doesn't work on the day of the red light, it will not work next time either - it's far easier to sort it same day, isn't it?

For those using matchday tickets, place the bar-code end, picture side up, into the Skidata system. Again, look up, and see the colour of the light you get. If it is red, to repeat: go to the ticket office. That is: 'go to the ticket office'. Also, you do need to put your ticket in the machine, as you will not get into the ground by simply waving your ticket in the air. You will also not get into the ground by standing right by the turnstile machine, unless you have put your ticket in the machine and got a green light.

Thanks for reading this, and I hope it has helped clear up any confusion you might have otherwise had....