Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: ollie1012 on January 06, 2014, 12:24:02 PM
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Hi All,
I am a third year Newcastle University student and I am conducting a dissertation into the Americanisation of the Premier League and whether there has been a change brought about due to the influence of the American sporting model. I have a number of questions which I would like to post:
1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?
Any responses would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Oliver
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Is it Americanisation or Internationalisation you are refering to?
1) Nope - no need. We only get 80% at the current venue on average.
2) I don't think so. Tickets at Villa Park are amongst lowest in Premier League. Have to be following recent economic issues.
3) I think this has probably been happening for most of the last 20 years.
4) Oh yes - Villa are leading the way.
5) There are 3 / 4 leagues and has been for some time. However the size of the bottom League within Premiership is now c50% clubs. Every team who has won the league since 1993 has 'bought' it as each one was one of the 3 richest clubs at the time.
6) Well I feel sorry for them but he who pays the piper calls the tunes.
7) Of course - there must be hundreds of season ticket holders who don't make games due to ludicrous kick off time.
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1) Never
2) No, but I also I think the club corportate/hospitality stuff is very good
3) Yes
4) Absolutely yes
5) Only the wealthiest clubs can complete for the big prizes. Just the way it is.
6) Over my dead body, will anyone ever come into Aston Villa and change the name/colours
7) Yes
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1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
Never - it is the most imprtant thing about our club - name, history, heritage - foresake that for money and sky to mutually masturbate to - would be like selling our souls
2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
Has improved for all levels of fans to be honest
3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
Only the new souless ones
4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
Yes - but am a firm believer that good , exciting football brings crowds and atmosphere - we should focus on that natural way rather than try to manufacture soething false
5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
No shit Sherlock - add to this cup compettitons (FA Cup) where the last winners outside of the money teams make up 11% in total of winners in 18 years - money dictates success - simple
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
Over my dead body - and less dramatic i would never go again
7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?
Not really at our club - they do lots for local fans - the fans are just bored with the premiership being a rigged deck
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1) Never
2) No, but I also I think the club corporate/hospitality stuff is very good
3) Yes
4) Absolutely yes
5) Only the wealthiest clubs can complete for the big prizes. Just the way it is.
6) Over my dead body, will anyone ever come into Aston Villa and change the name/colours
7) Yes
All these.
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1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
No.
2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
It's been happening everywhere since 1992.
3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
Yes.
4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
Yes.
5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
Yes.
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
Stadium name change not bothered about, the rest I'd find another club to watch.
7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?
Yes.
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1) No way!
2) Not overly, so, no.
3) Yes, homogenised.
4) Most definitely yes.
5) Yes. Historically there have been periods of dominance by certain clubs, however more regional and smaller clubs will find it harder to do what Wimbledon and Watford did in the 80's. Then we have the Sky 4...
6) Not a fan of this idea.
7) Yes, I also think there are too many foreign players as it is.
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1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
No, prefer it not to be renamed either.
2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
The game has been moving that way for years, it's nothing to do with Lerner specifically.
3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
Stadiums? No, there are still plenty of distinctive grounds, even many new ones gain their own character after a while. Crowds? Possibly, but we can't return to the old days, a balance has to be struck.
4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
Oh yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
You need to be rich to compete but looking at the table, it's hard to call who'll win it this year, so in that way, no it hasn't. It is increasingly impossible to break into the top six without a gazillionaire owner though.
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
Hate it. As much as I have to take all that Sky have created some things are sacrosanct, and the colours and name of a club should be two of them.
7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?
Yes, but it's been an ongoing process for many years now.
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1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
Nope. Its a wonderful, iconic old ground and a massive part of the club's identity. Plus we don't fill it, so theres no point moving.
2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
No more than any other premiership club (which is to say maybe a little bit). The corporate and hospitality facilities are top class, but I wouldn't say its come at the expense of the regular fan, especially as tickets are quite cheap compared to a lot of other clubs (although still expensive).
3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
Oh yes. Although, again some are much worse than others (Arsenal springs to mind).
4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
Absolutely 100% yes
5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
Yes. This season looks like being more open than it has been in a while, but even so it'll still be one of the ultra-rich clubs that wins it, and the league is still divided into top 8 followed by everyone else
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
I think its a real shame. Admittedly neither of those clubs would be anywhere near their present stature without their owners, but I think they've both displayed a lack of respect for the game, its traditions and the fans by treating their clubs as their personal playthings.
7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc? Yes. The most obvious example being the constant moving around of kick off times to suit TV audiences, devaluing the FA cup (although that has more to do with the influence of money). I feel its only a matter of time before we start getting regularly scheduled league games being held abroad, similar to the NFL games that are held at Wembley.
Good luck with your dissertation, don't leave it all to the last 2 weeks like I did.
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1) Only if it was just off the M5 somewhere near Worcester
2) Not that I've noticed
3) What have ejections got to do with commercialisation ? Bad behaviour should be subject to getting chucked out.
4) No. Its a backward step.
5) Money will usually win out but I still think that its pretty competitive.
6) If its the right name for the right reason/money then consideration should be given.
7) To some extent. However, TV viewers vastly outnumber in-stadium fans so its hardly surprising.
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1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
With the exception of the North stand there is nothing left of the Villa Park that I used to attend when I was young. Well except for the location. Would I bin it for a new purpose built stadium? possibly if the reasons were good enough such as we needed the larger capacity and could not grow on our current site or we could be assured of a large increase in revenue that would be used to better improve the team and not go back into the directors pockets
2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
Cost has driven many 'traditional' supporters away but it has also seen the growth of more families attending, although football tickets in general are overpriced Villa Park is still pretty cheap in comparison to other clubs so we do buck a certain trend.
3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
I would agree that they have.
4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
Yes. There is a debate to be had about reducing the cost for standing area's as I am not sure that it would come down that much
5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
In general yes, you can probably pick the top 5 or 6 teams most seasons with the only thing changing is the order.
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
Some things should be sacred, the club name and home colours [away colours are always in motion!] should not change. I suppose in today's world everything else is up for grabs.
7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?
The league probably has, the individual clubs should not. Some clubs will always be more marketable than others in different markets and those that can mirror that with success on the pitch will continue to dominate the league
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1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
No. Villa Park is a great traditional style stadium that could be expanded if required
2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
Before Lerner, under Ellis, Villa had been at the forefront of things like executive boxes (we were one of the first if not the first club to have them) and match day hospitality packages. I don't think there has been any increase in that under Lerner.
3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
Yes, another reason not to move to a soulless modern stadium. There's still room for partisan fans.
4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
Yes but not that bothered.
5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
Most definitely, you can usually predict the top 3-4 each season though not necessarily in the right order, maybe even the top 6-7 now. And surprise surprise they are usually the wealthiest 6 or 7 clubs in the league.
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
Totally against it unless the supporters vote for it, but would not be averse to Royal Aston Villa once Prince Billy is King.
7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?
Absolutely, but selling its soul to chase and keep the TV dollar was it's reason for being set up, so it was inevitable from day 1.
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1) NO!
2) The gentrification of football continues but the demographic still looks about the same
3) See above!
4) Standing for those who want it. I shudder when I see the phrase "singing section" - We are the Holte!
5) Draw up a list who has won any of the domestic honours in the last decade for your answer
6) I support Aston Villa who play in claret and blue at home - change either and I go...
7) Fans who attend are now part of the entertainment and we our wishes are a very secondary concern
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"American sporting model"
Are there no questions about salary caps and player "drafts"?
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1) No, never and never again.
2) Hard to tell really. Wouldn't say that there has been a noticeably American slant to marketing since the changeover but then I wouldn't be in the target group.
3) Yes. I was furious when the standardisation of the nets came in and you could no longer tell at a glance on the TV which ground the game was being played at. Some of the character of Villa Park was lost when the stanchions went from the goals and more stilll when the stanchion less nets went. Not as much as when the Trinity was demolished and that was nothing to do with Lerner...(can you hear the gnashing teeth?)
4) Yes
5) Yes - but that's Berlusconi's fault
6) It's wrong. Completely unacceptable and more particularly should be proscribed in the rules of competition (club name changes are to a degree I believe but they should add stadia too - it demeans the game)
7) Yes. Sponsorship and branding are out of control and never have a beneficial effect - the sharks are always only out for themselves.
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Hi All,
I am a third year Newcastle University student and I am conducting a dissertation into the Americanisation of the Premier League and whether there has been a change brought about due to the influence of the American sporting model. I have a number of questions which I would like to post:
1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
---Only if it happened ala' West Ham where they have an 80,000 sized ground on their doorstep as a leftover from a huge sporting event. I wouldn't be in favour of leaving Aston.
2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
---Since the Prem started. I suspect they are trying to drive out the unsavoury element that inevitably has a lower income bracket.
3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
---Yes definitely.
4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
---80% fans would.
5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
---It has and hasnt. It used to be ManUre & Chavski taking turns each year because of their ability to buy any player. However with the managerial merry go rounds now that Fergie has gone and Wenger to leave soon, plus the oil money we will have more trigger happy chairmen with less patience leading to a destablised elite. At the moment you could have any one from ManUre, Chelski, Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal and as dark horses, Spurs that can feasibily win the league. Inevitably it will come down to Man City and Chelski thanks to their unlimited funds each year. Financial fair play is simply to lock in the established elite.
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
---Absolutely OUT OF THE QUESTION changing the name of the club or colours.
7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?
----There is a myth going round that "we pay the players wages". Villa Park holds 42,000 with an average season ticket price of £460 (Source: Guardian). We have about 20,000 season ticket holders which barely comes to £10m per year. Thats the price of the transfer of a very average full back and his wages for 3 and half years. Where does the rest of the team come from? TV money of course! The bulk of our revenue will come from TV ergo they have priority.
Any responses would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Oliver
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American sports are far more competitive. Due to wage caps and draft picks. I wish premier league was becoming more Americanized it would mean any team could win it instead of those who just spend enough.
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1) Most certainly not
2) On balance: no
3) Definitely a yes
4) Definitely a yes
5) Yes on both counts
6) Changing a club's colours is a hideous insult to the fans and the club's tradition. I don't like stadium name changes either and would hate to see this at Villa Park.
7) Yes, the PL has most certainly lost touch with fans. But this has been a long, steady process - the writing was already on the wall in the early days of the Premier League.
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1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
We can't fill VP, so dosen't seem much point.
2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
Yes.
3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
Yes, but seems to be a general trend across the game.
4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
I prefer a seat, but would still support the idea.
5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
Maybe in the last few years, but this season is the most competitive I can remebger in the EPL era.
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
Not too bothered about a na,e change provided it doesn't sound too sill (eg Pizza Hut Park!)
7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?
Yeah.
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Hi All,
I am a third year Newcastle University student and I am conducting a dissertation into the Americanisation of the Premier League and whether there has been a change brought about due to the influence of the American sporting model. I have a number of questions which I would like to post:
1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
Under no circumstances.
2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
There was an attempt to do so, but it failed.
3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
Yes.
4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
Yes, as long as people sit down in the seats.
5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
No.
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
Disgraceful.
7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?
Yes.
Any responses would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Oliver
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1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
VP is easy enough to extend to meet our size, would rather sort the team out on the pitch!
2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
Probably the same as most other clubs, small things like briefly putting booking fees onto tickets hints at fans being considered consumers nowadays although Lerner has kept in the main ticket prices at decent levels for this region.
3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
Pretty much unless it's a big game e.g. against local rival. Atmosphere is still pretty good for those games.
4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
Yes. People should have the choice. A couple of thousand standing seats in the Holte would still mean 35k could sit. Bigger problem is away games in the away end. If you want to see the game you have to stand unless you're lucky to be near the front. That's unfair on kids and the elderly fans.
5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
Yep. This has probably been the most exciting and competitive season for 5-6 years and yet by and large you can still predict in August where clubs will finish in May bar one or two expections. Gone are the days where a newly promoted team could finish 2nd as we saw happen a few times in the 80s.
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
No to both although as with other clubs, it would still be called VP even if it was officially Nokia direct arena. Club colours is really too far.
7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?
Yep. Kick off times would be a decent indicator of this.
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Hi All,
I am a third year Newcastle University student and I am conducting a dissertation into the Americanisation of the Premier League and whether there has been a change brought about due to the influence of the American sporting model. I have a number of questions which I would like to post:
1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
The team I support play at Villa Park.
2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
Yes they have created more corporate opportunities. I think te Birmingham demographic inhibits them following Arsenal for example.
3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
It depends o the club and the location, it also depends over what time period you are focussing on. There has certainly been an increase in the Family Fans, The Tourist fan, The fair-weather fans and the Corporate customer. Some fans have been priced out of attending.
4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere? Yes
5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
History would suggest that the PL has never been really competitive, there are only a handful of teams that can win it. There seems to be more rotation at the bottom.
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours? I would not give my support if any of those things happened. It would not be my team anymore.
7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?
The Premier League is a business and it will attempt to maximise its revenue and profitability with very little consideration for "Local Fans" this may have longer term consequences but why would any business limit its market?
I now live in the USA and you can see the model that the PL is aiming for. However culturally the way that sport is organised, marketed and broadcast is very different.
Good luck
Any responses would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Oliver
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1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
NO
2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
No I don't think so
3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
Yes. New stadiums generally tend to look the same and are pretty soulless. My dad is a Colchester fan and he prefers the old Layer Road to their current brand spanking new arena any day.
4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
Yes
5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
Definitely. Its been like that since the late 90s early 2000s.
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
I would hate all of it. Different kit, name of stadium team, different branding. No thank you.
7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?
Yes. Everton/Man City kicked off one Sunday at stupid o'clock to guarantee a big tv audience in the Far East. Supporters always messed around by TV companies rescheduling matches and now its the same teams on tv all the time, the "big clubs" who are guaranteed to attract bigger tv audiences. Case of point, this weekend the tv matches feature Man U Man City Liverpool Chelsea and Arsenal. The other 16 or so teams in the league just feel like the opposition to these regularly screened teams.
Oliver
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1) Would you be in favour of leaving traditional Villa Park for new modern stadium with the potential for greater revenues? e.g. Red Bull rumours.
No. No pressing need to enlarge the stadium and any redevelopment could be carried out on the current site. Would like to see the North Stand redeveloped over the next decade.
2) Under Lerner (or more generally) has there been a move to target, and market the game, to more affluent, consumer based supporters at the expense of traditional fans?
Not been a noticeable shift in that direction. Tickets for most games can still be purchased for less than £25.
3) Are football stadiums and crowds are becoming too similar and commercialised? e.g. ejection or decrease in attendance of partisan fans.
Most of the new build stadiums over the last two decades are quite similar and you only have to visit the Ricoh Arena in Coventry to see how commercialisation was integrated into that stadium (casino, restaurants etc. as part of the stadium). As for fans, I definitely think we've seen a shift in mindset to 'spectators' rather than 'supporters' at most stadiums and a must shorter span of patience if things aren't going well. Fans have much more avenues to voice their opinions now so preconceived ideas and attitudes can be easily formed.
4) Would you be in favour of a return to standing and singing sections of stadiums to improve the atmosphere?
Yes. The lower sections of the Holte End and North Stand are the two areas of of Villa Park I would like to see redeveloped as safe standing areas. Could also be a way to reduce ticket prices. I feel that now the real causes of the Hillsborough disaster have been aired in public (and the myth that it was caused by drunk Liverpool fans and terracing have been dispelled) progress on that front might be forthcoming.
5) Has the Premier League lost competitive balance and become too predictable?
Yes. We all used to scoff at the uncmpetitive nature of the Scottish League, but the Premier League has been pretty much a two horse race for most of its existence. The challenger to Manchester United has changed from time to time, but it has been pretty much between two teams most seasons. Blackburn, Chelsea and Manchester City have bought the title and the level of investment in the last two has changed the league completely. One of the real worrying aspects is that whenever a player at one of the deemed 'lesser' clubs shows any potential they are immediately snapped up by one of the perceived 'bigger' clubs. In many of these cases, these just become peripheral figures at the clubs and it dilutes the standard of the league and has worryng ramifications for the national team.
6) Given recent events at Cardiff and Hull, what are your attitudes towards a change of stadium/club name, club colours?
Totally against and would like to see the FA step in and prevent it from happening in the future.
7) Has the Premier League lost touch with the local fans in favour of internationalising the game to chase further TV revenues, fans etc?
Yes. I may be wrong, but I recall reading somewhere that matchday revenue makes up less than 20% of Villa's annual turnover. The fans who attend the games is not where the money is at. The TV revenues are where the big money is at and I can see a time where certain clubs will demand to be in control of agreeing their own TV deals (again maybe wrong, but I'm sure Barcelona and Real Madrid already negotiate their own international TV deals). One interesting avenue of comparison is to look at what is happening in European club rugby at the moment and the arguments that are currently raging over TV revenues in that sport.
Hope this helps and good luck with your studies!!