Endless waits, disorganization, questionable product quality: for ages, food and drink outlets in the Geneva stadium have been drowning in a rain of criticism. Icing on the cake: a bad international buzz on the networks, ten days ago, with the photo of a poor withered sausage, bought for 8 francs at La Praille. While the second leg of the 3rd qualifying round of the Champions League, this Tuesday between Servette and Glasgow Rangers, will be sold out, “the real challenge will be for the refreshments”, mocks one of the countless critical messages read on social networks. The fans – for whom “it’s already a nightmare with 5,000 spectators, then with nearly 30,000…” – vilify a service “of m…”, “shameful”, which “despairs” the public.
Recognized “hiccups”
Owned by the Grenat Group, Prime&Co says it “hears criticism”, admits “hiccups” and “some difficulties in responding to the enthusiasm of the public” on certain occasions. “Serving half a million spectators as in the 2022-23 season is not without difficulty, which we are keen to resolve; but we must not forget all the times when it worked well, such as during the recent match against Genk with 18,000 spectators, or the meetings between Switzerland and Portugal or Spain”, argues the president of the Board of directors of the catering company, Hervé Broch. The latter also points to the design of the stadium, “where the number of fixed refreshments is clearly insufficient; as were certain equipment such as water and electricity arrivals.”
Still, the public expects the company to look to the future rather than dwell on the past. In focus, the match and the large crowd on Tuesday. “The workforce will be doubled, the routing of stocks has already been redesigned and the beer dispensers will be split – a permanent measure”, Prime&Co list. The “saucissegate” should no longer be relevant: “It was a priority for us. The quality of the product has been improved, the cooking and the filling too”. What have also observed 20 minuteson Saturday in the match against St. Gallen (editor’s note: waiting at the bar in the main stand, at half-time: 2mn42′; there were 6541 spectators), as well as the supporters interviewed.
Innovations on the horizon?
The introduction of exclusive cashless payment now makes it possible to be served more quickly at the refreshments, adds Hervé Broch: “There are now 90 payment terminals in the stadium, compared to 40 in 2022. This technology also allows us to refine our inventory analysis. The catering company is also working on new solutions. Among them, an application that would allow the viewer to order and pay for their meal from their seat and then, notified by message, to come to the bar once their order is ready. “Enough to make a quick round trip during the meeting and avoid congestion at halftime.”
In the meantime, Prime&Co says it is calm for Tuesday’s game against Glasgow Rangers. “Servette can create the feat,” ignited a surfer on Facebook. “The refreshments too,” replied, teasingly, a hilarious emoji.
Except for the buffer zones between Geneva fans and those of the Rangers, the Stade de Genève will be full as an egg. For the occasion, the doors will open two hours before kick-off, scheduled for 8:30 p.m., and the garnet club “strongly” encourages spectators to go to La Praille by public transport. Entrance to the Main and North stands will be via the esplanade, those to the East and South stands via the Village du Soir area, on the other side of the enclosure. The first four rows will be exceptionally open. “We appeal to the individual responsibility of each spectator so that the party is beautiful”, encourages Loïc Luscher, spokesperson for Servette FC. If all goes well, the measure will be renewed. Finally, for all those who have not been able to obtain tickets, but who want to live the meeting in fervor, between fans, the City of Geneva has exceptionally authorized cafés and restaurants to install screens on their terrace, Tuesday evening .
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