2026/27 season meeting 1: Wednesday 26th August

2026/27 season meeting 1: Wednesday 26^th August

Fan Forum members present: Will Hirstwood (chair), Kim Rothwell, Sophie Cheesborough, Paul Lockley, Gareth Marshall, Fraser Cornwall, Susan Wildman, Nicola Herdman, Barbara Howard, Eddie Maw, Kelly Windram

Apologies: Dan Hobson, Chris Cammiss

Sale Sharks representatives: Steve Bland – PR, Media and Communications Lead; Laura Cordwell – Head of People and Change

Agenda:

1. Fan Experience
2. Travel
3. Communications
4. Ticketing
5. Facilities
6. Women’s Team

Fan Experience

1. Pre-season communcations – forum members felt strongly that the club should have communicated plans for any friendlies and timeline for kit launch.
2. Could we have launched the kit earlier to maximise impact ahead of the season?
3. Fanstones – what’s happening with them? Forum felt there had been ‘radio silence’ since initial push. They wanted an update and if it’s not going to happen, a refund for purchasers.
4. Women’s kit in shop. Why does the shop not stock women’s kit in men’s sizes. Forum felt there wasn’t enough women-specific kit in the shop.
5. Forum asked if club could have a pop-up shop at every women’s game? Lifeguards and supporters club could staff it.
6. Could we have a pop up shop on the walk to the stadium selling hats, scarves etc?
7. Website. Forum felt the improvements to the site were good but wanted a downloadable women’s calendar.

Club Actions

The club commits to early communication in pre-season 2027/28, confirming friendlies and, as far as possible, an outline of kit launch timings. Kit launch this season (2026/27) was determined by kit delivery date both for the photoshoot and for retail. Re Fanstones, the club is seeking clarification on number sold and how many we need to sell to start laying them.

The club shop at the CorpAcq Stadium is run by Macron and thus, retail stock is controlled and determined by them. The club will continue to work with Macron on the retail offering at women’s fixtures and possible additional pop-ups at the CorpAcq Stadium.

Travel

1. Forum raised the fact that no shuttle buses serve north Manchester. Forum suggested more park and ride locations: Ladywell, Parkway, Sale Water Park.
2. Can we offer one way tickets on buses? Forum raised example of fans wanting to go one-way back to Shudehill stop.
3. Forum raised the issue of increasing shuttle costs – LSE bus gone from £8-£15 in recent years.
4. Forum suggested a survey on travel to identify gaps and other possible shuttle locations.

Club Actions

The club is open to running additional shuttle services and is in the process of putting together a survey to determine the demand in certain geographical areas, ie North Manchester, Lancashire, South Cheshire. The club will revert to the forum when the survey is completed.

Regarding one-way tickets, a one-way trip back to Shudehill will be available from the stadium for £2.50 after the Bristol Bears fixture. Tickets will be available via the busbus.co.uk website. The club will promote this via social media when available.

Communications

1. Can club provide injured/unavailable players list with team news?
2. Forum wanted more behind the scenes content to take fans inside Carrington.

Club Actions

The club will explore sharing an ‘unavailable’ list with the team news announcement.

Ticketing

1. Forum suggested gifts for season ticket holders – Man Utd STH receive pin badges. Could STH receive better discounts at the stadium?
2. Season ticket process described as a ‘nightmare’ by forum. Too difficult to download ticket. Forum in agreement that the process needs to be much better.
3. Forum asked for women’s season ticket to be branded differently in wallets.

Club Actions

The club is committed to making the ticket purchasing process – both season tickets and GA – as seamless as possible. The club is reviewing the process for 2027/28. The club is also looking into whether tickets can be retrospectively branded differently.

Facilities

1. Baby changing facilities. Forum raised the issue of no baby change facilities for GA attendees forcing one member to have to go up to hospitality.
2. Sensory room: Often used for baby changing, bins not emptied and dirty nappies left in there from previous games.
3. Forum member was using sensory room with son when bright new light bulbs were installed.
4. Vendors outside the stadium. Who has control over them? Forum suggested better options and northern theme to food trucks outside the stadium.

Club Actions

Baby changing facilities can be found in all disabled toilets inside the stadium bowl, including in the East Stand on the accessible platform, The club is working with stadium management to improve the signage in all four stands.

Re the sensory room, the club will ensure that improved signage is installed around the sensory room making it clear that the room is not to be used for baby changing. In addition, signs will direct fans to the nearest baby changing facilities.

The club has limited influence on vendors outside the stadium on matchdays but we are committed to working with stadium management to improve the offering.