Change of Bag policy at the Gtech

[Plymouth Bee]

I'm not saying i agree with it but unless it's a matter of principle,just apply for the exemption if you need it.It's the same for getting a physical ST.I don't want the hassle and shouldn't have to apply(beg) for it every season but it's that or don't go.

Fair point. I've just e-mailed the club and we'll see what they say.

 

[SWL Bee]

makes night games a total nightmare if you're coming from work, that proposed bag drop is miles out the way

 

[Raise The Roof]

To be honest, rather selfishly, I wasn’t too upset by this policy until I looked at my laptop bag and thought about the midweek games.
I found the ability to put a large bag into the sports store very useful on the very rare occasion when we had to travel to the ground directly from Wales where our main house is, because we couldn’t get to our London flat.

However, these measurements exclude the conventional laptop bag. Have they considered the midweek games where many of us come straight from work? By no means could this be considered a large bag. Are they really saying that we have to alter the journey (which is tight enough as it is from work) to divert to the superstore to then pay to have them take these small bags?

To be clear this is not mandated by the new legislation and citing it is not with respect sufficient reason to explain why this significant change of policy.

Why was this not mentioned in the recent BIAS AGM? I don’t recall being consulted.

It had not been raised by the club at the time of the Bias AGM.

 

[Plymouth Bee]

Fair point. I've just e-mailed the club and we'll see what they say.

Very quick and very clear reply from the club. I'll just have to either have a smaller bag or leave the bag in the new left luggage facility.

"Hi Richard,

Thank you for getting in touch and for your continued support since our promotion from League One in 2014. We really appreciate the commitment involved in travelling from Plymouth to attend matches.

The bag exemption process is intended for supporters who need to bring essential medical, accessibility, or care-related items into the stadium. Examples include medical equipment, medication, mobility-related equipment, or items required to support a disabled person or dependent. Exemptions are not available for personal belongings such as magazines, food, drinks, or other non-essential items unless medically essential.

As your request relates to carrying personal items, such as magazines and a bottle of water, it would not meet the criteria for a bag exemption under the policy.

Unfortunately, we are therefore unable to provide an exemption letter to permit a letter for you to bring a standard Tesco Bag for Life into the stadium. The dimensions you have provided (38cm x 45cm) exceed the maximum permitted bag size.

There is no issue with the items themselves, which may still be brought into the stadium subject to them meeting the Ground Regulations and any relevant security checks. The restriction relates solely to the size of the bag being used to carry them.

We appreciate that this may be disappointing, particularly given your travel arrangements, but the policy must be applied consistently to all supporters.

Kind regards,
Brentford FC"

 

[Hippobee]

Very quick and very clear reply from the club. I'll just have to either have a smaller bag or leave the bag in the new left luggage facility.

"Hi Richard,

Thank you for getting in touch and for your continued support since our promotion from League One in 2014. We really appreciate the commitment involved in travelling from Plymouth to attend matches.

The bag exemption process is intended for supporters who need to bring essential medical, accessibility, or care-related items into the stadium. Examples include medical equipment, medication, mobility-related equipment, or items required to support a disabled person or dependent. Exemptions are not available for personal belongings such as magazines, food, drinks, or other non-essential items unless medically essential.

As your request relates to carrying personal items, such as magazines and a bottle of water, it would not meet the criteria for a bag exemption under the policy.

Unfortunately, we are therefore unable to provide an exemption letter to permit a letter for you to bring a standard Tesco Bag for Life into the stadium. The dimensions you have provided (38cm x 45cm) exceed the maximum permitted bag size.

There is no issue with the items themselves, which may still be brought into the stadium subject to them meeting the Ground Regulations and any relevant security checks. The restriction relates solely to the size of the bag being used to carry them.

We appreciate that this may be disappointing, particularly given your travel arrangements, but the policy must be applied consistently to all supporters.

Kind regards,
Brentford FC"

This is really poor but totally unsurprising. Supporters like yourself, travelling a few hundred miles, totally inconvenienced by this daft policy.

I get they can't have rucksacks and suitcases in the stadium, but a Tesco bag for goodness sake? Just increase the bag size, BFC. Or make the drop off point free and closer.

An extra faff that will no doubt lose them a few more supporters that travel a fair distance.

 

[Sultan]

This is really poor but totally unsurprising. Supporters like yourself, travelling a few hundred miles, totally inconvenienced by this daft policy.

I get they can't have rucksacks and suitcases in the stadium, but a Tesco bag for goodness sake? Just increase the bag size, BFC. Or make the drop off point free and closer.

An extra faff that will no doubt lose them a few more supporters that travel a fair distance.

The club just want people who walk or cycle to the ground, don't moan and clap politely when told to do so, all with no baggage. When that happens, popcorn and clappers will appear. The game is well and truly gone.

 

[Alex]

They should allow bigger bags as long as they are clear, like they do at NFL games, no need to search if they can see what is in it

 

[Banana]

To be honest, rather selfishly, I wasn’t too upset by this policy until I looked at my laptop bag and thought about the midweek games.
I found the ability to put a large bag into the sports store very useful on the very rare occasion when we had to travel to the ground directly from Wales where our main house is, because we couldn’t get to our London flat.

However, these measurements exclude the conventional laptop bag. Have they considered the midweek games where many of us come straight from work? By no means could this be considered a large bag. Are they really saying that we have to alter the journey (which is tight enough as it is from work) to divert to the superstore to then pay to have them take these small bags?

To be clear this is not mandated by the new legislation and citing it is not with respect sufficient reason to explain why this significant change of policy.

Why was this not mentioned in the recent BIAS AGM? I don’t recall being consulted.

Can you apply for an exemption that it is bullshit please? I'd like to see the outcome

 

[Banana]

There is no issue with the items themselves, which may still be brought into the stadium subject to them meeting the Ground Regulations and any relevant security checks. The restriction relates solely to the size of the bag being used to carry them.

This is just a nonsense isn't it. Can you bring multiple bags? Say about ten of them?

 

[Sultan]

Who needs a bag, I'm off to the footie.
'Can you hold these please while I get my season ticket up on my phone'
Make it happen Bees fans.

 

[PhilE]

makes night games a total nightmare if you're coming from work, that proposed bag drop is miles out the way

Would certainly be good if they could organise a facility close to the station.

At least the original £10 to drop a laptop seems to have been dropped in favour of a more reasonable £5. Its still a pain when you simply have no real option though.

 

[bee1958]

The ideal incentive by the club would be for free storage.

 

[Gawain]

There is no issue with the items themselves, which may still be brought into the stadium subject to them meeting the Ground Regulations and any relevant security checks. The restriction relates solely to the size of the bag being used to carry them.

I think I've found a solution:

Though they'll probably still turn you away if you can't prove your name is Stanley...

 

[Hippobee]

Expect a lot of BFC fans to be wearing irregular sized coats to hide their crisps (or cricket bat) in next season.

 

[harumph]

Call me a tad confused re tablet bans, but modern smartphones are rather large (ohh err missus) and those folding madufers? Ah but they are a phone rather than a tablet, but so are many tablets with their cellular access?

 

[Downbeat Bee]

Who needs a bag, I'm off to the footie.
'Can you hold these please while I get my season ticket up on my phone'
Make it happen Bees fans.
View attachment 67843

Seriously what happens if you go for this sort of approach. A bag no bigger than A4 but plenty of other stuff?

 

[Downbeat Bee]

I’ve just gone into John Lewis - they had a ‘man bag’ that met the criteria - A mere £450.

 

[BaildonBee]

This is really poor but totally unsurprising. Supporters like yourself, travelling a few hundred miles, totally inconvenienced by this daft policy.

I get they can't have rucksacks and suitcases in the stadium, but a Tesco bag for goodness sake? Just increase the bag size, BFC. Or make the drop off point free and closer.

An extra faff that will no doubt lose them a few more supporters that travel a fair distance.

As a long distance fan, drop off is a potential nightmare post match (not great pre-match either). I have to get up to Kings Cross for an 1833 train when we kick off at 3pm. It is already tight (Matches finish later than you might think - not much before 5 thanks to VAR - and the post match congestion walking around the stadium from the East Stand is already a challenge - the prospect of standing in line waiting for someone to find people's bags will just add to the stress. I don't choose to spend so much to travel to games to leave before the end (when so may goals are scored) just so I can collect a bag. I don't blame the club for the constant fixture shifting, engineering works (and for a couple of seasons industrial action) on the trains. I do blame them for this nonsense though.

 

[Miss Isabella]

Er I realise that this will not affect most people on here but what about ladies? I carry my purse,keys,mobile phone,comb & make up bag everywhere.If you need anything else for personal hygiene etc then you cannot bring that.
Its discriminatory.

 

[HelenL]

I’ve just gone into John Lewis - they had a ‘man bag’ that met the criteria - A mere £450.

I tried John Lewis and all they had were cabin bags which at 40cm high are slightly too big grrrr. I've ordered a Roka bag which almost exactly fits the allowed dimensions. It's going to be a total pain in the arse for those of us with longer journeys or other commitments on matchdays.

 

[HelenL]

Er I realise that this will not affect most people on here but what about ladies? I carry my purse,keys,mobile phone,comb & make up bag everywhere.If you need anything else for personal hygiene etc then you cannot bring that.
Its discriminatory.

We already have to put up with smaller pockets in our clothes!

 

[Banana]

Er I realise that this will not affect most people on here but what about ladies? I carry my purse,keys,mobile phone,comb & make up bag everywhere.If you need anything else for personal hygiene etc then you cannot bring that.
Its discriminatory.

I strongly suggest that you put your case to the club and point that it was perfectly safe last season and ask what particular section this new law prevents bags coming into the stadium. Particularly as they have an exemption policy (so some bags are ok and some not despite them measuring the same)

 

[Gawain]

If you google "Clear bags for stadium" etc, you get a load of links from US sites, permitted for sports matches and concerts, eg:

While this also came up from the Spurs site (incls transparent stuff):

• Personal bags of A4 size or smaller (21cm long x 30cm high)
• Club-branded Spurs PVC Drawstring Bag, which can be purchased through our Online Spurs Shop, or a reusable drawstring bag for life for £1 from the Tottenham Experience.
• Clear carrier bags – maximum size of 30cm long x 30cm high. Those issued with every purchase in Spurs Shops pre-match (charged at 10p) will meet the criteria. You must NOT put any personal bags that do not meet our criteria within these bags
• Laptop sleeves which are no larger than 37cm x 31 cm. This is the size of our Club-branded Spurs PVC Drawstring Bag.

Surely BFC could relax the maximum dimensions if they, too, were to permit transparent bags?

 

[londonlegal]

The ideal incentive by the club would be for free storage.

Except it is quite a hike before and after the game to the superstore if you come by tube or train. Causing two unnecessary queues and I suspect a bigger crush at the stadium doors.

 

[Plymouth Bee]

If you google "Clear bags for stadium" etc, you get a load of links from US sites, permitted for sports matches and concerts, eg:

While this also came up from the Spurs site (incls transparent stuff):

• Personal bags of A4 size or smaller (21cm long x 30cm high)
• Club-branded Spurs PVC Drawstring Bag, which can be purchased through our Online Spurs Shop, or a reusable drawstring bag for life for £1 from the Tottenham Experience.
• Clear carrier bags – maximum size of 30cm long x 30cm high. Those issued with every purchase in Spurs Shops pre-match (charged at 10p) will meet the criteria. You must NOT put any personal bags that do not meet our criteria within these bags
• Laptop sleeves which are no larger than 37cm x 31 cm. This is the size of our Club-branded Spurs PVC Drawstring Bag.

Surely BFC could relax the maximum dimensions if they, too, were to permit transparent bags?

If the club were to sell a reasonable size reusable (and fairly hard wearing) clear bag in the club shop, I'd happily buy one and that would sort me for the season.

 

[HelenL]

In case it's useful info to anyone, I bought a Roka Canfield small rucksack and have filled it with:

- Standard paperback book
- Programme
- Hat, scarf and gloves (won't be needed for Saturday...)
- Extra layer
- 500ml plastic water bottle
- Small personal items in the internal pockets
- Sandwich and two snacks

It's a squeeze compared to my everyday not-particularly-big laptop bag, but it just about meets the size dimensions of the new policy so it will have to do, especially while the weather means I don't need my winter coat with its pockets.

 

[Downbeat Bee]

Still not happy about this, though I saw some unique Harris Tweed numbers just off Covent Garden this afternoon.

How can this be justfied when you can take in a club shop bag. And let’s just say the ‘security’ at present is far from watertight.

 

[mattybscrystalball]

Time to embrace…. The fanny pack!

 

[hatfieldbee]

I take a shoulder flexible canvas bag to every game I go to. Takes water, brolly if required, programme & cap if needed.I emailed Operations as suggested in the original communication.

The depth of the bag was outside the guidelines.
However the total measurements of the limit of the bag were more than those quoted by the club.

However the total capacity using h x w x d came to less than the figures quoted as the maximum by the club. Apparently the height & width are 'interchangeable'.

They've relented, but I've got to show the email they sent me to any steward querying the size!

Talk about left hand not knowing what the right is doing.... ??!!

 

[Adam]

If I understand the rules correctly, I can bring a changing bag (size of standard back pack, maybe slightly bigger) for a 20 month old without these new requirements affecting me? (Also have to bring the child).

Pram needs to be dropped at club shop, which is free until October?

 

[Banana]

Apparently the height & width are 'interchangeable'.

 

[hatfieldbee]

If I understand the rules correctly, I can bring a changing bag (size of standard back pack, maybe slightly bigger) for a 20 month old without these new requirements affecting me? (Also have to bring the child).

Pram needs to be dropped at club shop, which is free until October?

Does the baby have to be dropped at the club shop as well...???!!

 

[HelenL]

Does the baby have to be dropped at the club shop as well...???!!

Only if they're more than 34 cm long

 

[Isleworth_Bee]

Debating bringing my twins to their first game tomorrow.

Silly question as they may need a tablet for when they lose interest (quickly).

Do i have it right that the bags need to be A4.

And are tablets allowed?

 

[Untouchable]

Do i have it right that the bags need to be A4.

These are the dimensions from the club announcement:

For all home games this season and beyond, bags that exceed the permitted dimensions of 34 cm (H) x 24 cm (W) x 11 cm (D) will not be permitted into the stadium, including suitcases. These dimensions are slightly larger than the height and width of an A4 sheet of paper.

And are tablets allowed?

I brought a tablet for youngest into every home game last season and it wasn’t an issue.

Although according to this (taken from the OS tonight), laptops are allowed but tablets aren’t. Frankly it seems nonsense that I could bring an iPhone pro max into the stadium but not an iPad mini.

 

[hanworthbee]

These are the dimensions from the club announcement:



I brought a tablet for youngest into every home game last season and it wasn’t an issue.

Although according to this (taken from the OS tonight), laptops are allowed but tablets aren’t. Frankly it seems nonsense that I could bring an iPhone pro max into the stadium but not an iPad mini.

View attachment 68126

Just tuck it into your jeans

 

[hobbsy]

These are the dimensions from the club announcement:



I brought a tablet for youngest into every home game last season and it wasn’t an issue.

Although according to this (taken from the OS tonight), laptops are allowed but tablets aren’t. Frankly it seems nonsense that I could bring an iPhone pro max into the stadium but not an iPad mini.

View attachment 68126

I think that restriction is to stop people filming on their tablets, so with some common sense you should be allowed

 

[maconleary]

These are the dimensions from the club announcement:



I brought a tablet for youngest into every home game last season and it wasn’t an issue.

Although according to this (taken from the OS tonight), laptops are allowed but tablets aren’t. Frankly it seems nonsense that I could bring an iPhone pro max into the stadium but not an iPad mini.

View attachment 68126

Maybe things have changed alongside the new bag policy, but I've taken an iPad mini to every single home game at the GTech and have never had any issues: they were actually fussier about it at Griffin Park.

 

[Rob-BEE]

Anyone know how strict they're likely to be? I have a drawstring bag which is about 5cm too wide. Or my son's little rucksack (which tbh is tiny!) but still slightly too wide apparently. I need something to carry all the snacks a 6 year old can consume in a 2 hour period!

 

[Raise The Roof]

Anyone know how strict they're likely to be? I have a drawstring bag which is about 5cm too wide. Or my son's little rucksack (which tbh is tiny!) but still slightly too wide apparently. I need something to carry all the snacks a 6 year old can consume in a 2 hour period!

If you contact them for an exemption, then hopefully you will get a pass to take in what you need to for parenting reasons:

<any fan with a valid need should apply. That way we will test the reasonableness of the system, and if fans report back, we will understand the exemptions that have been granted. The exemption policy is there for a reason, please use it.>

Extract from the Change of Bag policy emailed to all fans in the past weeks:

"Exemptions for medical, accessibility and childcare reasons

Exemptions to bag size restrictions have always been available to fans with medical and accessibility requirements, and this will continue.

These exemptions are intended for fans that need to bring specialist medical or accessibility supplies or equipment into the stadium. We can also allow exemptions for parents of small children who need provisions such as nappies and bottles with them inside the stadium.

If you need an exemption, you should request one as soon as possible by contacting [email protected] and providing evidence and information as to why you need a large bag.

If you requested an exemption after this policy change was announced on Tuesday 4 August, you do not need to submit another request.

Exemptions are at the discretion of the club and successful applicants will receive a PDF letter that they must present to stewards on entry into the ground.

For any other reasonable adjustments that fans might require, contact our stadium security team on [email protected] to discuss your situation."

 

[Rob-BEE]

If you contact them for an exemption, then hopefully you will get a pass to take in what you need to for parenting reasons:

<any fan with a valid need should apply. That way we will test the reasonableness of the system, and if fans report back, we will understand the exemptions that have been granted. The exemption policy is there for a reason, please use it.>

Extract from the Change of Bag policy emailed to all fans in the past weeks:

"Exemptions for medical, accessibility and childcare reasons

Exemptions to bag size restrictions have always been available to fans with medical and accessibility requirements, and this will continue.

These exemptions are intended for fans that need to bring specialist medical or accessibility supplies or equipment into the stadium. We can also allow exemptions for parents of small children who need provisions such as nappies and bottles with them inside the stadium.

If you need an exemption, you should request one as soon as possible by contacting [email protected] and providing evidence and information as to why you need a large bag.

If you requested an exemption after this policy change was announced on Tuesday 4 August, you do not need to submit another request.

Exemptions are at the discretion of the club and successful applicants will receive a PDF letter that they must present to stewards on entry into the ground.

For any other reasonable adjustments that fans might require, contact our stadium security team on [email protected] to discuss your situation."

Ah ok, thanks, just done that. Might be a bit late for this afternoon's game though!

 

[Vid]

A4 is 21 x 29.7 cm . An A4 bag could therefore have four sides a top and bottom all 21x 29.7cm.

 

[Banana]

Anyone know how strict they're likely to be? I have a drawstring bag which is about 5cm too wide. Or my son's little rucksack (which tbh is tiny!) but still slightly too wide apparently. I need something to carry all the snacks a 6 year old can consume in a 2 hour period!

If it’s a drawstring bag then it’ll have soft sides so easily squashable into a size checker.

 

[Sofasteve]

Tried the bag drop today.
As I thought it’s a raffle ticked clipped to your bag and one given to me. No match ticket check. 2 staff on duty for this game.
I got there at 2-40pm and there was a small queue which was fairly quick and I entered the North stand just before kick off so would get there earlier for any game with bigger crowds in future.
Some people in the queue didn’t realise the club shop was shut until they reached the front so were disappointed and potential lost revenue for the club here?
My bag “Wizz Air size” wasn’t searched. So it seems any potential threat is acceptable at the drop off point which will be busy with fans?
Not criticising it and it was the first test run so we may see changes going forward.

 

[Banana]

My bag “Wizz Air size” wasn’t searched. So it seems any potential threat is acceptable at the drop off point which will be busy with fans?

If they took the time to search it there then they could take exactly the same time to search it on entry...

 

[South Acton Bee]

Went in as normal with 2 kids a bag and missus quick look in the bag . Simples

 

[bee1958]

500 ml tea flask and 2 slices of rhubarb cake in a plastic bag got through a cursory inspection into the West Stand. Business as usual.

 

[hobbsy]

My backpack was about half a centimetre over, the steward let me pass but said he let someone through with a similar one earlier and they were turned away by another steward

 

[Adam]

Took a decent sized bag (over the limit) and another smaller bag (both for my son). Stewards very friendly and no issues at all.

Around a 10-15 minute wait at the bag drop/collection point after to get the pram. Could be an issue for a sold out game.

 

[Sultan]

Sneaked in this dog poo bag, with hat, glasses, 500ml bottle of water (vodka) and two nugs of dog excentnfound on the way to the ground to make it more authentic. Worked a treat, stewards in East stand didn’t bat an eyelid.