Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: dalians umbrella on March 04, 2016, 04:15:11 PM
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As a season ticket holder, I feel I have been repeatedly conned into renewing over the last few years due to "breadcrumbs" being dropped by the Club in the close-season.
This has ranged from new managers being appointed (e.g. Lambert), new managers being recently appointed (Sherwood), Randy Lerner saying he is going to sell the Club, buying "young up-and-coming" English players, buying "experienced" English players, buying "top young European players", and "poaching" the "great" Tom Fox from Arsenal, all to no avail.
We now have the latest con - That Steve Hollis is going to make everything better by sacking Tom Fox and Co.
This is the same Steve Hollis who was appointed based on the judgements of Randy Lerner, (who previously thought it was a good idea to appoint Paul Faulkner, Tom Fox, Paddy Reilly etc.) The same Steve Hollis who presumably had a big say in us not spending any money in January. Had we actually bought some decent players in January, or, in fact, any players, then we might have gotten the 2 more wins (and 6 points) which would now see us in touching distance of climbing out of the relegation zone. So please forgive me for not believing that Steve Hollis is going to sort anything out.
At the last home game, the majority of fans were singing "we want Randy Lerner out" but what is going to make him get out? The noises coming out of Villa Park are that he is no longer actively trying to sell the club. He seems content to "break even" from year to year, which he does by no net spending on players, and by cutting back wherever possible. Going into the Championship will mean that he cuts back even more.
None of the protests so far will have bothered Randy Lerner one bit. He is in America and probably doesn't even know about the chanting or the walkouts. Even if he did, what does he care?
The only way to get Randy Lerner out is to make owning the Villa no longer financially viable for him, and the only way to do that is for none of us to renew our season tickets, buy tickets or spend money at the Club.
I realise that this goes against the grain of supporting the Club, but I would liken the situation to having a friend with an addiction such as gambling. If you keep helping your friend by bailing him out, lending him money, and covering up the cracks for him, he will never hit bottom, and will never take any action to change the situation.
Until we make things much financially worse for Randy Lerner, by unfortunately making things much financially worse for Aston Villa, he will never sell up and nothing will ever change.
I always thought that if we got relegated, I would still renew my season ticket. But I feel that to do so now is to send the message to Randy Lerner that I've fallen for the con once again, that it's OK to treat me, my fellow supporters and the Club with such disrespect, and I'm willing to sit back and accept it.
As the saying goes, "fool me once, shame on you", but fool me for five (going on six) seasons running, shame on me. And shame on you, Randy Lerner. A football Club is not just a business, it is something tied up with people's history, identity and lives. When you buy one, you have a duty of care to its supporters (or customers as you might know them).
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I agree with the sentiment but he is trying to sell the club so not quite sure what this would change. Personally I will wait to renew and see what transpires. This could be the year I don't as I am sure there will be plenty of tickets available to pick and choose as I please.
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I used to have Nicola Keys phoning me up on the renewal date up until 2 years ago then i didnt buy for the fist time in 25 years. My son wont even listen to the match on the radio and the only thing i miss are the man who sat in front of me with his 2 young sons and the hot dog and banter from Terry Payne.
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I am not renewing it as I need money for holiday. But I will keep an eye on Villa, and if we do very well and performing well I will take up half season ticket offer in December, but they have to be really good for me to consider it.
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I cannot kick this vice.
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I cannot kick this vice.
Me neither but you can attend without a Season Ticket!
Last season I went the Viagogo route and saved about £100 on the ST price and had no problem getting tickets for Wembley so will probably go the same route next season - is it Seatswerve or something at the moment?
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I like my seat though.
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I generally don't like being told what to do...
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Unlikely I'll renew after 16 consecutive years and spells prior to that as a season ticket holder. I'll look at it again when Lerner goes.
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As a season ticket holder, I feel I have been repeatedly conned into renewing over the last few years due to "breadcrumbs" being dropped by the Club in the close-season.
This has ranged from new managers being appointed (e.g. Lambert), new managers being recently appointed (Sherwood), Randy Lerner saying he is going to sell the Club, buying "young up-and-coming" English players, buying "experienced" English players, buying "top young European players", and "poaching" the "great" Tom Fox from Arsenal, all to no avail.
We now have the latest con - That Steve Hollis is going to make everything better by sacking Tom Fox and Co.
This is the same Steve Hollis who was appointed based on the judgements of Randy Lerner, (who previously thought it was a good idea to appoint Paul Faulkner, Tom Fox, Paddy Reilly etc.) The same Steve Hollis who presumably had a big say in us not spending any money in January. Had we actually bought some decent players in January, or, in fact, any players, then we might have gotten the 2 more wins (and 6 points) which would now see us in touching distance of climbing out of the relegation zone. So please forgive me for not believing that Steve Hollis is going to sort anything out.
At the last home game, the majority of fans were singing "we want Randy Lerner out" but what is going to make him get out? The noises coming out of Villa Park are that he is no longer actively trying to sell the club. He seems content to "break even" from year to year, which he does by no net spending on players, and by cutting back wherever possible. Going into the Championship will mean that he cuts back even more.
None of the protests so far will have bothered Randy Lerner one bit. He is in America and probably doesn't even know about the chanting or the walkouts. Even if he did, what does he care?
The only way to get Randy Lerner out is to make owning the Villa no longer financially viable for him, and the only way to do that is for none of us to renew our season tickets, buy tickets or spend money at the Club.
I realise that this goes against the grain of supporting the Club, but I would liken the situation to having a friend with an addiction such as gambling. If you keep helping your friend by bailing him out, lending him money, and covering up the cracks for him, he will never hit bottom, and will never take any action to change the situation.
Until we make things much financially worse for Randy Lerner, by unfortunately making things much financially worse for Aston Villa, he will never sell up and nothing will ever change.
I always thought that if we got relegated, I would still renew my season ticket. But I feel that to do so now is to send the message to Randy Lerner that I've fallen for the con once again, that it's OK to treat me, my fellow supporters and the Club with such disrespect, and I'm willing to sit back and accept it.
As the saying goes, "fool me once, shame on you", but fool me for five (going on six) seasons running, shame on me. And shame on you, Randy Lerner. A football Club is not just a business, it is something tied up with people's history, identity and lives. When you buy one, you have a duty of care to its supporters (or customers as you might know them).
I just really appreciate your passion and your desire not to just 'sit' and take it. However it happens I just hope we can get our beloved club back where it belongs as soon as possible.
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I will renew regardless.
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Dad and I probably won't renew but that's down to outside factors as well. Every home game costs me about 500 quid when you chuck in flights from Germany, hotel, hire car, beers, etc. Dad will be 80 this year and travels from France, so a similar story.
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Just go to away games. More fun, usually a better atmosphere amongst Villa fans and Lerner won't see a penny of of your hard earned. It's pretty much what I do these days.
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I haven't been for a few years now but i'm considering going to some games next season in the championship.
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Dad and I probably won't renew but that's down to outside factors as well. Every home game costs me about 500 quid when you chuck in flights from Germany, hotel, hire car, beers, etc. Dad will be 80 this year and travels from France, so a similar story.
Bloody hell. Costly business. Fair play to you and your dad
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Gave up my ST a couple of years ago so I could take my Grandson with me. We initially went to every home game and a couple of aways. We now only do Saturday and early Sunday matches. Midweek games on a school night have gone, as have evening weekend kick-offs. I love the Villa, I just don't really like what is happening at the moment. His stepdad has bought him a Chelsea kit. We had words.
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I shall be there. Like Ads I like my seat. It's where we always used to stand. Now I just cannot imagine not following the Villa. How good, bad or indifferent they are over time has become irrelevant. They are Aston Villa, this is Villa Park and I am here watching them. The rest is just sound and fury. In the time it takes for Stoke to take a throw in we will all be bouncing up and down again hugging each other.
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I would have quit the season card had we stayed up but dragged along on only five or six home wins.
As it is I will renew next season. Aston Villa (not necessarily the players, certainly not Randy Lerner) will need my support more next season.
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Well said Chris. Excellent.
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I'm sure I'll renew when the marketing team tells me what a fantastic deal it is getting 23 home matches for the price of 19!!
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I'll definitely renew, I will support the boys through thick and thin no matter how awful it is at present.
Lerner is just the current custodian of the institution that is Aston Villa, its our club not his.
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villa are my adopted family. Been with them since my first game in '69 on our journey to the 3rd division. Wherever they end up I will be there with them.
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I'm there next year. It was never in question and will never be thus.
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I'll be there next season always will be.
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It's hard to turn your back on something you dearly love however much it pisses you off. I can't turn away now, however it turns out.
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I don't know how to say this, but i have read this thread and been totally mixed up with different feelings. I am 48 now i started going to football matches with my Grandad and Dad and my Uncles and Cousins in about 1970, My Dad is from the potteries and has always been a Stoke City fan ( I went on loan to Port Vale when i played for Tranmere Rovers it broke his heart). My Grandad and most of my uncles supported Blose, 2 of my uncles and my cousins were Villa Supporters.
We used to go to a game every week either Villa Park or the Sty, even as a three year old Villa Park always felt special, we always went on the bus and i remember walking up the hill at Bordesley towards the sty and feeling an overwhelming drudge feeling, it was always raining and the area around the ground was covered with rubble and glass, the ground itself resembled a scrap yard covered in wriggly tin and barbed wire.
Villa Park was absolutely beautiful It had mosaics, Golden Lions and stained glass windows with neat claret and blue paint.
I went through the 3rd division season taking huge amounts of stick from the Blue side of the family and the second division years I can still remember the shock on hearing the news that Vic Crowe had been sacked.
Fortunately Sir William Dugdale had decided some bloke called Saunders was what was needed.
My 2 hero's were Ray Graydon and Brian Little i was amazed by the way such a slight bloke like Brian Little could control a ball like it was glued to him in all that mud.
My new hero was Andy Gray again I was knocked sideways when we flogged him to Wolves, I heard the news at school and when i got home that night my world fell apart, why had they done this?
I suppose that Saunders Bloke knew what he was doing i now had 4 more heroes Jimmy Rimmer, Tony Moreley, Gary Shaw and Gordon Cowans.
This was about the time i started going to the match on my own, meeting my cousins and mates up there, usually me or my cousins would mess about so that when the copper wasn't watching one of us could climb up the pipes from the toilet and go over the wall into the Holte, I always stood at the base of the V floodlight.
12 years it took from 3rd Division to European Champions i still struggle to believe it happened I was 15 at the time.
1983 i joined the army so did not get to go to villa park much, I was serving in Northern Ireland in 1987 and listened on the radio as much as i could to that season, when we were finally relegated i was on a jungle warfare course i was in a hammock type basha with the rain battering the poncho covering above when it came through on the world service, I blubbed like a baby European Champions to 2nd division in 5 years.
when i left the army and finished playing football i settled back in Bromsgrove and started taking my family, i have not been since lerner appointed Mcleish, it was the final straw for me, i will go back but not till he sells, sorry can't go on anymore, to those that still go i send my respect and love, to those that cannot go anymore I understand sorry to ramble, thanks for listening
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I don't know how to say this, but i have read this thread and been totally mixed up with different feelings. I am 48 now i started going to football matches with my Grandad and Dad and my Uncles and Cousins in about 1970, My Dad is from the potteries and has always been a Stoke City fan ( I went on loan to Port Vale when i played for Tranmere Rovers it broke his heart). My Grandad and most of my uncles supported Blose, 2 of my uncles and my cousins were Villa Supporters.
We used to go to a game every week either Villa Park or the Sty, even as a three year old Villa Park always felt special, we always went on the bus and i remember walking up the hill at Bordesley towards the sty and feeling an overwhelming drudge feeling, it was always raining and the area around the ground was covered with rubble and glass, the ground itself resembled a scrap yard covered in wriggly tin and barbed wire.
Villa Park was absolutely beautiful It had mosaics, Golden Lions and stained glass windows with neat claret and blue paint.
I went through the 3rd division season taking huge amounts of stick from the Blue side of the family and the second division years I can still remember the shock on hearing the news that Vic Crowe had been sacked.
Fortunately Sir William Dugdale had decided some bloke called Saunders was what was needed.
My 2 hero's were Ray Graydon and Brian Little i was amazed by the way such a slight bloke like Brian Little could control a ball like it was glued to him in all that mud.
My new hero was Andy Gray again I was knocked sideways when we flogged him to Wolves, I heard the news at school and when i got home that night my world fell apart, why had they done this?
I suppose that Saunders Bloke knew what he was doing i now had 4 more heroes Jimmy Rimmer, Tony Moreley, Gary Shaw and Gordon Cowans.
This was about the time i started going to the match on my own, meeting my cousins and mates up there, usually me or my cousins would mess about so that when the copper wasn't watching one of us could climb up the pipes from the toilet and go over the wall into the Holte, I always stood at the base of the V floodlight.
12 years it took from 3rd Division to European Champions i still struggle to believe it happened I was 15 at the time.
1983 i joined the army so did not get to go to villa park much, I was serving in Northern Ireland in 1987 and listened on the radio as much as i could to that season, when we were finally relegated i was on a jungle warfare course i was in a hammock type basha with the rain battering the poncho covering above when it came through on the world service, I blubbed like a baby European Champions to 2nd division in 5 years.
when i left the army and finished playing football i settled back in Bromsgrove and started taking my family, i have not been since lerner appointed Mcleish, it was the final straw for me, i will go back but not till he sells, sorry can't go on anymore, to those that still go i send my respect and love, to those that cannot go anymore I understand sorry to ramble, thanks for listening
Sad, sad post.
Going to VP is a hard habit to break.
So is not going.
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An excellent post which more or less covers the period I have been going to VP. I have had season tickets over the years but have not renewed since 2010 and now go very rarely.
Having a seson ticket ( three in my case with my son and daughter ) is a big commitment both financially and time wise with round trips of 100 miles.
I don't feel disloyal as I will always follow Villa,but I will not financially support a regime that does not give a stuff about what they serve up to supporters.
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I'm going. Always thought we wouldn't be a Small Heath/Coventry-type non-entity who desert the club when they stop playing in the Premier League. I know that isn't what this is about, the OP is talking about protest, but I still want Villa Park as full as possible next season.
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I'll be there - can't kick the habit, I like my seat, and I like the group of 10 or so around me who I've sat with for years. I said elsewhere that if Pearson or Pulis was manager I'd reconsider, but in all likelihood I'd still renew - it's just what I do.
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My eldest son is going to renew but will switch from the Trinity to the Holte End, I go to 7/8 home games a season and try and get the seat next to him, I will go more in the championship as I feel its a time when the club will need me and I have always been drawn to the club even more when times are tough, one day we will be back and just like in 75 it will feel amazing.
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Same here. Just what I do. I'll protest and everything else but while I'm able to I'll renew I'll be there.
Like all the other core of supporters at all of the other clubs up and down the country regardless of the pitiful condition of our club I'll renew.
That doesn't make me any puppet of anyone. If it's great or bad I'll be there. I follow the shirt. Regardless of who's wearing it. Regardless of who owns it. Blind faith? Probably. But nobody is going to change what's in my heart.
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Whatever way I frame it it would come back to stopping supporting because we were relegated, so I will renew.
Funnily enough, when we were relegated last time I remember staying with it, although I wasn't a season ticket holder then, and going to as many games as before despite being pretty fed up with it all. Then, bizarrely, I drifted off sometime during that season we finished 2nd after promotion. I have a clear memory of being on the pitch at the end of our promotion season, and then us being in the title race and me just not being there, & not even feeling any part of it really.
For a few years I did one match a season with my Dad, then, getting to the end of one season, and realising I hadn't been at all, and then, weirdly, I started to drift back.
One Saturday, I realised I was at a loose end and had a bit of money in my pocket, and just found myself getting on a bus to The Villa, and when I got there, people were giving out £ signs to hold up. Strange that it should be that game, but I guess it added something to my return. (I also remember being astounded that a ticket was now £20!) A few weeks later I went again, and within a couple of seasons I realised I was back to going to all the home games, and I got a season ticket.
I can't exactly pinpoint the time I was away, because it was never a concious decision not to go, or to start going again, and it wasn't because we were bad, it was a drift. What I know is that I missed some interesting times. I missed lots of things that Villa fans still talk about, and I'll never get that back. I don't want to do that again.
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Yeah I drifted as well. I got back into it during the Graham Turner days and for some reason it stuck with me. I'm not die hard in that I maybe do 4 or 5 always a season but VP is where I go and I'll be up to season 26 in August.
Just my opinion but I'm refusing to switch off and not go if we drop out of the league. I'm following Villa in all weathers. Not just when the sun shines.
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I go to about 2/3rds of homes and roughly 1 in 3 of the aways. It is actually cheaper to buy on seatwave - see £15 seats regularly in the top of the Trinity. Its not right I know but the maths rule the heart. Taking into consideration cup finals (please don't laugh) I have sufficient credits for semis and cup finals and for limited tickets away games use other peoples numbers.
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For me the club is barely recognisable from the one I used to pay £1.50 to watch from the Holte End terrace when I was a kid in the '80s. Not only is the experience of attending matches so sterile and joyless, it's also depressingly predictable. The only game I've been to recently was Wycombe, because there was an outside chance that we might win, and because it was only a tenner.
The cost is something that really boils my piss. How can watching a bunch of millionaires fail to do their jobs properly ever be worth what we're asked to pay? No matter how it compares to other clubs, it is ridiculously, scandalously expensive.
I have the utmost respect for all those fans who'll attend matches regardless of price, or shitness. They have had their game stolen off them and sold back to them at a premium. Football is a money man's dream, because the 'customers' are like no other. They will keep on handing over money because of an unbreakable loyalty to their clubs.
When fans dare to question anything, to protest, to boo or whatever, they are then criticised by people who never have to pay a penny to watch a game. They're labelled 'fickle' - an accusation that would never, ever be levelled at consumers of any other product. But consumers we are. And as long as fans keep coughing up, football will only go in one direction.
I will probably go to a few more matches next season, but I increasingly find my attachment is to a club and a game that only exists in my memories. The club I see, I don't recognise.
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Good post Jimbo.
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As much as it would be nice to watch football for £1.50 the reality is that football attendances have never been so good. For all the talk of people being priced out of football more and more keep turning up. And you referenced the 80s - crowds back then were horribly low and overwhelmingly white and male, such was the 'matchday experience'.
But as for it being a money man's dream, far from it. Relatively, I would suggest it's much harder for a Chairman to make money out of a football club now than it was back in the day. For all the billions that have flowed in to football even more of it is going in to the pockets of players and agents. And while people keep queueing up to throw more money at them they'll keep upping their own personal prices.
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I bought my and my 3 STs after Lamberks 1st season. I'm not going to commit to the 200 mile trip next year every game - too much with the midweek games and knackered kids the next morning. I will still go to VP most weekend games but in a better position to pick and choose. Could be fair few away games local for me (at least nearer than VP) - Preston, Blackburn, Wigan, Bolton, Burnley?, Leeds, Huddersfield, Sheffield, so I plan to make aways more prevailant (provided I can get tickets not being an ST)
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You have almost touched there Jimbo on the ultimate rip off of being sold shares in the club you love at a massive premium only to be compelled to sell them by company law at a thumping loss to a man who has subsequently lost interest in the club.
I can't speak for other people but I was immensly proud to be a Villa shareholder, as were my two sons, my daughter, my brother and my nephew. I never wanted to sell my shares and have never cashed the cheque I got in payment for them.
If I was still a shareholder I would be able to demand to know what tomfoolery is going on in the boardroom but I am only another customer and have to make do with leaks placed in the Torygraph.
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Aston Villa FC is simply a massive part of my life and has been for as long as I can remember...my brother first took me down about 1960 when I was about 5 or 6 years of age.
I've drifted a few times - when we moved to Tamworth when I was 8 and simply too young to make the journey on my own...started again when I was 11 and away games on my own when I was about 13...college years when I played on Saturday afternoons...birth of my boy and being a doting dad...his playing rugby at a good level for a few seasons - but I always got down whenever I could...only missed one game in the 80/81 season...for my wedding.
Haven't missed a home game for about the last 10 years and go to most away games...never missed one last season...missing today because of long-standing commitment to a group of dear friends and it feels a bit surreal not being surrounded by Villa things when The Villa will be kicking off in a few hours!
I will renew...as Brian says, it's Aston Villa, it's Villa Park, claret and blue, makes me so, so happy and so sad.
I know so many of you lot feel exactly the same. I will continue to be part of The Villa for as long as I can.
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Football has rarely been so well attended, but it's never been so hyped. I've been listening to the build up to the north London derby on 5Live, and it's as if Zeus and Allah are about to have a scrap. People are easily manipulated, especially in this country, it seems. In Brazil they riot when they put up bus fares. Here we just shrug our shoulders, pay up and get on with it. The longer we go on justifying the price of football, the more it'll increase.
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It's not just football though is it?
I went to one day of the Ashes test at Edgbaston last year and the ticket cost £70 or £80. I'm going to the Davis Cup tomorrow where there's a real chance I'll only see one match - £80. I know people who've been to the British Grand Prix - £150.
As bizarre as it may seem, if you want a working class sport these days Rugby Union is the place to go - I've got tickets for my third European Cup match of the season at Wasps and I'm yet to pay more than £20 for a ticket! (Although you do have to go to Coventry for it!)
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It's not just football though is it?
I went to one day of the Ashes test at Edgbaston last year and the ticket cost £70 or £80. I'm going to the Davis Cup tomorrow where there's a real chance I'll only see one match - £80. I know people who've been to the British Grand Prix - £150.
As bizarre as it may seem, if you want a working class sport these days Rugby Union is the place to go - I've got tickets for my third European Cup match of the season at Wasps and I'm yet to pay more than £20 for a ticket! (Although you do have to go to Coventry for it!)
You don't go to the Davis Cup or Ashes cricket and pay those prices every other week though.
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I haven't had a ST for a couple of years now but still go to most of the home games, and will the do the same next year. I love Aston Villa more than I dislike Lerner, the players etc. As money is generally tight I manage to find ways to get in that don't cost too much. I've missed 3 or 4 home games, all in the league, and have only paid more than about £15 once, which was the sha game which was £20 iirc.
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It's not just football though is it?
I went to one day of the Ashes test at Edgbaston last year and the ticket cost £70 or £80. I'm going to the Davis Cup tomorrow where there's a real chance I'll only see one match - £80. I know people who've been to the British Grand Prix - £150.
As bizarre as it may seem, if you want a working class sport these days Rugby Union is the place to go - I've got tickets for my third European Cup match of the season at Wasps and I'm yet to pay more than £20 for a ticket! (Although you do have to go to Coventry for it!)
You don't go to the Davis Cup or Ashes cricket and pay those prices every other week though.
Correct. Paying £80 for a good seat at Cheltenham but the point re Rugby Union stands.
Thing is though I have managed to get 6 tickets (in total) for Palace and Norwich for about £110 with the best view in the Trinity, after slight relocation in the latter.
People who have had season tickets for the last 3 seasons should have 40% discount no strings attached if the renew next year and price all kids ones between £60 and £100 else we'll lose than to MAnure, Cit-eh, Arse forever. Not mention Spuds and bleedin Leicester at this rate.
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I haven't had a ST for a couple of years now but still go to most of the home games, and will the do the same next year. I love Aston Villa more than I dislike Lerner, the players etc. As money is generally tight I manage to find ways to get in that don't cost too much. I've missed 3 or 4 home games, all in the league, and have only paid more than about £15 once, which was the sha game which was £20 iirc.
Exactly my point why bother with a season ticket when you can buy match tickets for buttons.
Oh for the £10 child season ticket of the middle to late 70's
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It's not just football though is it?
I went to one day of the Ashes test at Edgbaston last year and the ticket cost £70 or £80. I'm going to the Davis Cup tomorrow where there's a real chance I'll only see one match - £80. I know people who've been to the British Grand Prix - £150.
As bizarre as it may seem, if you want a working class sport these days Rugby Union is the place to go - I've got tickets for my third European Cup match of the season at Wasps and I'm yet to pay more than £20 for a ticket! (Although you do have to go to Coventry for it!)
You don't go to the Davis Cup or Ashes cricket and pay those prices every other week though.
Look at the astronomical price of top end concert tickets; you could see one of them a fortnight easily.
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As bizarre as it may seem, if you want a working class sport these days Rugby Union is the place to go - I've got tickets for my third European Cup match of the season at Wasps and I'm yet to pay more than £20 for a ticket! (Although you do have to go to Coventry for it!)
I bought a Wasps season ticket for £195 and my daughter's season ticket is free.
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The reason why concert tickets are so high is because bands don't make as much on record sales as they used to. A tour used to promote an album, whereas now albums promote tours.
With football, clubs receive a massive amount of TV money just for being in the Premier League. They then tax fans by charging ridiculous prices for tickets. Then there's the insane price of cheaply made, rubbish merchandise such as replica shirts. Then there's the overpriced garbage that masquerades as food and drink in grounds. And on it goes.
Also, I've never seen a band perform as badly as Villa. Even the most annoying shite like Everything Everything will at least make an effort.
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I'll be renewing,and I suspect nearly all of my acquaintances are too.I think 80/85% will renew,if only on a one season clause,as I suspect there will be a severe drop off if we don't have a decent year in the Championship.
Personally,I'll just be happy for is to have a better win ratio than the past 5 years.My son is 14,we go with a couple of his mates,and all they have seen is the impending doom of the past 4 years.There's a few of them who have almost given up with all the Villa jazz in his year,whom used to attend.The club should be extremely active in giving the younger generation a reason to believe and making it financially viable for what could be a lost generation.In my experience the total I spend at Vp is absolutely magnified by his habits.He has the chips,the merchandise and programmes.I wouldn't spend a pound in there otherwise.
We'll definitely be doing more aways,and I think the clamour and demand for this will only increase next season.Do the club themselves sell via Seatwave?As if there's less season ticket holders there will be less active sellers with more demand.
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The factors I consider before renewing are health, money and time. The ownership of the club and the division the team plays in is irrelevant to me.
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Dad and I will be back next season, just not with a ST. We'll miss all our great friends we sit next to but it makes sense financially.
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The reason why concert tickets are so high is because bands don't make as much on record sales as they used to. A tour used to promote an album, whereas now albums promote tours.
With football, clubs receive a massive amount of TV money just for being in the Premier League. They then tax fans by charging ridiculous prices for tickets. Then there's the insane price of cheaply made, rubbish merchandise such as replica shirts. Then there's the overpriced garbage that masquerades as food and drink in grounds. And on it goes.
Also, I've never seen a band perform as badly as Villa. Even the most annoying shite like Everything Everything will at least make an effort.
That's the reason why old, lesser name acts tour more often. The reason for high-end prices is exactly the same as in the Premier League - it's what the market can stand. There's still overpriced merchandise, food and drink and as many bad performances as any football team,
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I've never seen anything as pathetic as Villa's capitulation to Liverpool, not even that time Damon Albarn climbed onto a speaker stack and had to be helped down by a roadie.
With a ladder.
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On the flip side you could probably say you've never had a high at a concert like the QF and SF last season and so on.
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On the flip side you could probably say you've never had a high at a concert like the QF and SF last season and so on.
Ironically, one of the closest times that's happened was at a gig when I happened to be standing next to two Villa directors.
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I actually see far more live music than football now and not at extortionate prices. There are a lot of promoters who put on small shows for very reasonable prices.
The thought if sitting at the back of the NIA for £130 a pop to see(or not see) some ageing rocker sing Auto Tuned vocals does not appeal.
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I actually see far more live music than football now and not at extortionate prices. There are a lot of promoters who put on small shows for very reasonable prices.
The thought if sitting at the back of the NIA for £130 a pop to see(or not see) some ageing rocker sing Auto Tuned vocals does not appeal.
Which is like the attraction of non-league. I've never seen a gig at the NEC and next season I won't watch a minute of the Premier League, but I'll see plenty of music and football.
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Sorry to the OP but I'll be renewing.
Disabled season tickets are like gold dust. To get one someone is either very ill or has died.
We got ours due to the latter
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For me the club is barely recognisable from the one I used to pay £1.50 to watch from the Holte End terrace when I was a kid in the '80s. Not only is the experience of attending matches so sterile and joyless, it's also depressingly predictable. The only game I've been to recently was Wycombe, because there was an outside chance that we might win, and because it was only a tenner.
The cost is something that really boils my piss. How can watching a bunch of millionaires fail to do their jobs properly ever be worth what we're asked to pay? No matter how it compares to other clubs, it is ridiculously, scandalously expensive.
I have the utmost respect for all those fans who'll attend matches regardless of price, or shitness. They have had their game stolen off them and sold back to them at a premium. Football is a money man's dream, because the 'customers' are like no other. They will keep on handing over money because of an unbreakable loyalty to their clubs.
When fans dare to question anything, to protest, to boo or whatever, they are then criticised by people who never have to pay a penny to watch a game. They're labelled 'fickle' - an accusation that would never, ever be levelled at consumers of any other product. But consumers we are. And as long as fans keep coughing up, football will only go in one direction.
I will probably go to a few more matches next season, but I increasingly find my attachment is to a club and a game that only exists in my memories. The club I see, I don't recognise.
This
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I agree with so many different posts for so many different reasons, Villa are in my blood, they are my family , my friends , you never leave them in time of trouble do you ? We all have differing ways we think we can bring about regime change but making Villa Park empty/emptier won't tempt any new benefactor will it ? Like so many on here I like my seat and those who sit around me and should Aston Villa be going into the Championship I'll be going with her. True love never dies.
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I have been a Season Ticket holder for many years and attend as many aways as I can.
I feel no strong emotional link or concern for the current players whose on field performances become more comedic every week. It could be fairly argued it is not their fault somebody was foolish to assemble such an inappropriate group of players to compete at this level and give them the honour to pull on the Claret and Blue shirt.
I will no doubt be stupid enough to renew (but there will be no need in reality since we will have plenty of spare seats unless this wretched regime changes).
We will sadly be likely to have large numbers of games moved for television I suspect and the likes of Thursday nights etc is not particularly appealing.
Wishful thinking on my part but as soon as the season ends or indeed "why wait" the likes of Fox, Almstadt and Riley will need to go and Lerner needs to make a full and humble apology to the supporters for the mess he has created.
Remi Garde seems a good man but I am not convinced he should stay either; it really is an Omni shambles and the senior figures at the club seem to be struggling to build bridges with the supporters and this will impact on season ticket sales if it is not resolved.
Other than that, all is fine.
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It's a terrible shame but I feel that the only way to rid ourselves of Learner is to stop going to games, don't buy a season ticket or club merchandise. It's awful I know but if we continue to put money into the club, why would he want to leave?? I feel he may find a buyer a whole lot quicker if we stop spending. So sad it's come to this
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It's a terrible shame but I feel that the only way to rid ourselves of Learner is to stop going to games, don't buy a season ticket or club merchandise. It's awful I know but if we continue to put money into the club, why would he want to leave?? I feel he may find a buyer a whole lot quicker if we stop spending. So sad it's come to this
That makes no sense to me. Whatever amounts the fans are spending is not enough already, going by the latest accounts, so I'm not sure how this would encourage him to sell up any quicker.
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Nothing can encourage him to sell any quicker. He's running a club in to the ground, therefore unless he is willing to accept a pittance then no one will be buying.
We are shelling money left right and centre
We have a terrible playing squad
We are getting relegated
We are going to see a huge drop in income
We have some players still sitting around on fat long term contracts
I can see no reason why anyone would pay decent money for a completely failing business. They haven't even begun to turn this ship around yet, they haven't even stopped it careering in to more icebergs. All this lurching from one plan to another, there was no plan all along, it's called winging it and it's what people who don't have a fucking clue what they are doing do. Smooth talk, sales patter, frilly language, complete bollocks with no substance.
Hollis has come in, we are cancelling mileage claims and not serving biscuits..... none of this will make an iota of a difference to why we are failing and losing massive ammounts of money year on year.
Having pillocks making decisions behind the scenes, employing joey's with no background and bumper contracts then paying them off, CEO's on top 6 money when we are a failing business.
None of it makes any sense, they're all bloody barmy and they're taking us down with them.
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Do you mind changing the term Joey to something less offensive?
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If I could afford it, I'd buy one. It's not my priority since becoming a dad though. I'll go when I can get a ticket, and may even take my son to his first match this year. I still love the villa, I just don't like them very much at the moment.
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Next year will be my 26th consecutive. I'm going nowhere.