Telford Review........

[PaulTheSoave]

Back now.

The venue gets 6 out of 10 and I am mild here. Its just an empty shell, like a hangar. They have put temporary stands in as there is no seating whatsoever. Its clear to me WSA are going for the cheapest option. Talking about WSA, they managed a ticket cock up as seats were sold twice! Lagermike and me were front row but it was occupied by others. Later we found out bookings were made online, but the box office sold the same seats a couple of weeks later. A dozen of people had to find other seats. Of course blaming each but no one taking their responsibility. I guess the capacity of the hall was around 800/900. Viewing was good though, as the stands were nicely, near the table. Only the first row was almost level with the table which made a good view nearly impossible. So thanks for selling the tickets twice, which gave us a better place but no tele exposure.

The outer corridor was okay, nice cuezone and layout of the building. Only one bar was open and served by one steward!

The matches, well you have all seen them and already a couple of days ago. So no need to go into it again. Apart the 147 made my day. Even more as it was a frame decider.

Lagermike behaved himself this time btw

Pity the gallery is gone as we got some good pictures from players during and after the matches and the usual TSF suspects as well.

[BITTER]

I had tickets for the Ronnie 147 sessiion and was unable to go, so I hope they will return to telford soon.

It's much better trip for me than Newport in Winter.

On the bright side the people who had my tickets were well chuffed

[steveb72]

I was really impressed with how easy it was to find and also that it had its own large car park which was cheap at £3.50.

It was freezing in the foyer but it was good fun on the "pot as many balls as you can" table with the red white & blue cloth!

The food and drink was limited and pretty expensive but seeing as I won my tickets I can't complain.

We went to the QF's and we could just sit anywhere, there were no allocated seats.

I would go to Telford again, I liked it.

[lagermike]

I very much enjoyed my weekend at the snooker.
The 147 was out of this world, I kept thinking surely he can't do this, can he?! I nearly passed out, it was so exciting.
It was just great to see Ronnie playing great snooker and winning another big tournament.
The venue was nice and cosy, very hot near the back under the lights though!

[Valderie]

Thanks for the report Paul - I wondered why you missing from my TV screen!
Never mind, Kellie more than made up for it sitting right behind Stephen Maguire for the Final, she was on TV loads, and looking very glamourous as well.
Well done for keeping LM under control this time!

[Stella147]

I agree that the venue was like an empty shell. It was huge and you had to walk miles from the door to the arena (especially for smokers!).
I was there for some first round matches and they had three different tables set up in the hall - it was nearly impossible to tell which table was where at the start but when I did find it I liked the fact that the seats were close to the table and views were pretty good (except behind players on the front row, as already mentioned, which is where I was for Ronnie's first match, unfortunately!)
It was also very warm in the arena (any wonder that man passed out from the heat during Ken’s match!) but that is down to the lights and the proximity to them I suppose.
Also security seemed quite relaxed during the first round matches – I was never once asked to see my ticket and people were even carrying in bags of chips and bottles of coke etc…

The player’s lounge was upstairs and I know some people mentioned that having the players walk through the crowds in the corridors to get to the arena could’ve been distracting for them but I don’t think the players seemed to mind too much. I think people were respectful enough not to bother the players if they were due to start play.

The Italian restaurant wasn’t the greatest in the world but not the worst I’ve ever tasted either.
All in all, I thought the arena was fine.
I do, however, prefer York as a city as opposed to the purpose built Telford but it’s the snooker that matters at the end of the day and there was some great snooker played at the International Centre (most of which, sadly, I watched on the telly ) (Where I did see Kellie-text, Statman, Ronnieisthebest and Littleminx but no PaultheSoave or LagerMike )

[PaulTheSoave]

We actually did not withness one ball being potted as we were at the bar throughout the 2 days.

but no PaultheSoave or LagerMike )

[Monique]

Soo .... probably this:

We actually did not withness one ball being potted as we were at the bar throughout the 2 days.

explains that ....

The matches, well you have all seen them and already a couple of days ago. So no need to go into it again.

No match reports bah!

[Stella147]

We actually did not withness one ball being potted as we were at the bar throughout the 2 days.

Sounds about right

I assume you had a good time then??

[PaulTheSoave]

Snooker live is most of the time good , especially in good company. But for the whole package, Telford is boring, though there is a massive shopping mall next door! Countryside looked nice but not to explore in december

As i have seen how a max has been done, I could break my HB tonight!

Sounds about right

I assume you had a good time then??

[Gimme Danger]

I was there for the quarter finals day 1. Nice little set-up, still thought the tables were just dropped into a hanger in the middle of nowhere. Managed to get on the TV for more or less all of the afternoon session, sitting behind Maguire helped a bit.

Liked the cue-zone, pot as many red balls as you can (which I won just before the evening session started! )

All in all, not bad at all, still feel it needs to be at a pourpose built arena though.

[dantuck_7]

Thanks for the report Paul - I wondered why you missing from my TV screen!
Never mind, Kellie more than made up for it sitting right behind Stephen Maguire for the Final, she was on TV loads, and looking very glamourous as well.
Well done for keeping LM under control this time!

Yep I noticed TheStatman and Kellie for both of the final sessions. At times I was trying to find them in the crowd rather than watch Ronnie play!

[April madness]

Yep I noticed TheStatman and Kellie for both of the final sessions. At times I was trying to find them in the crowd rather than watch Ronnie play!

Well, there was no need for trying, they were on screens almost all the time