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Author Topic: Villa Park Changes & Commonwealth Games  (Read 32125 times)

Offline IFWaters

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Villa Park Changes & Commonwealth Games
« on: December 21, 2017, 09:43:25 AM »
Blatant bit of speculation here.

Tony tweeted about the VP redevelopment plans being really different and taking everyone by surprise. He also talked about the whole area becoming a centre for sports, which makes sense with Alexandra stadium redevelopment.

Commonwealth Games are here in 2022, VP will host the Rugby Sevens.

I would think there would be a bit of pressure (possibly even some cash ? probably not) to get any redevelopment done so the place is nice and spick and span by 2022.

Shame if its all still on hold because we're stuck in the Championship because we havent signed a striker.

Offline Ads

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Re: Villa Park Changes & Commonwealth Games
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2017, 09:45:40 AM »
It would be nice to see a huge regeneration go on and see the city creep closer to B6.

Offline paul_e

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Re: Villa Park Changes & Commonwealth Games
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2017, 09:53:59 AM »
Blatant bit of speculation here.

Tony tweeted about the VP redevelopment plans being really different and taking everyone by surprise. He also talked about the whole area becoming a centre for sports, which makes sense with Alexandra stadium redevelopment.

Commonwealth Games are here in 2022, VP will host the Rugby Sevens.

I would think there would be a bit of pressure (possibly even some cash ? probably not) to get any redevelopment done so the place is nice and spick and span by 2022.

Shame if its all still on hold because we're stuck in the Championship because we havent signed a striker.

The sort of development we're looking at would only need a couple of years so we've got a bit of time still but I agree that you'd want most of the work done well in advance of that summer, if for no other reason than it will be a 'dead' year for any development plans.

Offline Hookeysmith

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Re: Villa Park Changes & Commonwealth Games
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2017, 09:58:42 AM »
Considering our Toney's background is predominantly in city infrastructure development do you think he knew the inside track on this when he bought us?

I remember it being mentioned at the time that the plans he had at the very beginning were "mind blowing"

Offline Ads

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Re: Villa Park Changes & Commonwealth Games
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2017, 10:29:25 AM »
What would we like to see?

Offline Villan For Life

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Re: Villa Park Changes & Commonwealth Games
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2017, 10:34:08 AM »
What would we like to see?

There's some prime land in Small Heath that would make an ideal park and ride site. It will need fumigating first though.

Offline Gaz Jones

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Re: Villa Park Changes & Commonwealth Games
« Reply #6 on: December 21, 2017, 10:58:00 AM »
If Dr Tony is serious about a major redevelopment at Villa Park, then we might find it doesn't happen till after the games.  If the plans involve knocking down more than one stand and some reprofiling in the others, then in all likelihood we would need somewhere else to play for a season - it now just so happens that there will be a 40,000+ stadium available down the road after the summer of 2022. 

For the games themselves, Villa Park will be fine as it is for the Rugby 7s (it looked great in the Rugby World Cup in 2015).

Offline Marlon From Bearwood

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Re: Villa Park Changes & Commonwealth Games
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2017, 12:07:20 PM »
If Dr Tony is serious about a major redevelopment at Villa Park, then we might find it doesn't happen till after the games.  If the plans involve knocking down more than one stand and some reprofiling in the others, then in all likelihood we would need somewhere else to play for a season - it now just so happens that there will be a 40,000+ stadium available down the road after the summer of 2022. 

For the games themselves, Villa Park will be fine as it is for the Rugby 7s (it looked great in the Rugby World Cup in 2015).

I doubt very much that we'd need to vacate VP for a season, whatever the plans turn out to be.

And the Alexander stadium will only have a 40k capacity for the games, before reverting to 25k after the games.

Offline cdbearsfan

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Re: Villa Park Changes & Commonwealth Games
« Reply #8 on: December 21, 2017, 01:00:18 PM »
Liverpool have increased the capacity of Anfield from around what Villa Park holds up to 54,000, with an intended capacity of 59,000. So I see no reason why would need to vacate Villa Park for the season.

Offline wittonwarrior

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Re: Villa Park Changes & Commonwealth Games
« Reply #9 on: December 21, 2017, 01:03:13 PM »
Leave our villa park alone, don’t want the corners filled in, don’t want any new stand. Loves villa park

Offline Gaz Jones

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Re: Villa Park Changes & Commonwealth Games
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2017, 01:43:24 PM »
Liverpool have increased the capacity of Anfield from around what Villa Park holds up to 54,000, with an intended capacity of 59,000. So I see no reason why would need to vacate Villa Park for the season.

Yes, but Liverpool were effectively building an extension to a pre-existing stand that remained open throughout the building work.  The quotes from Dr Tony a few weeks ago indicated that as a minimum both the North Stand and Witton Lane would be getting replaced, I'm guessing from the point of view of getting better facilites as much as increasing capacity. 

In terms of cost (both building wise and through loss of ground capacity),  it would be far easier if we didn't have to keep it running as a football ground whilst any work was being done.  I would have also thought that the Alexander Stadium could be kept at it's temporary capacity for 12 months after the games if needed, hence it might make sense for any redevelopment of Villa Park to start immediately after the CWG rather than ahead of them.  Although having said all that, if we don't get promoted soon it's probably all academic!

Offline cdbearsfan

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Re: Villa Park Changes & Commonwealth Games
« Reply #11 on: December 21, 2017, 01:44:24 PM »
Long-term we should be looking to expand, but we'd need to be successful first. I'd quite happily see that eyesore North Stand replaced but it's hardly a priority at present and I doubt we'd be looking to do much prior to 2022.

Offline Des Little

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Re: Villa Park Changes & Commonwealth Games
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2017, 03:52:55 PM »
What would we like to see?

A bloody big wrecking ball ploughing into the North Stand

Offline Percy McCarthy

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Re: Villa Park Changes & Commonwealth Games
« Reply #13 on: December 21, 2017, 04:34:49 PM »
Blatant bit of speculation here.

Tony tweeted about the VP redevelopment plans being really different and taking everyone by surprise. He also talked about the whole area becoming a centre for sports, which makes sense with Alexandra stadium redevelopment.

Commonwealth Games are here in 2022, VP will host the Rugby Sevens.

I would think there would be a bit of pressure (possibly even some cash ? probably not) to get any redevelopment done so the place is nice and spick and span by 2022.

Shame if its all still on hold because we're stuck in the Championship because we havent signed a striker.

Yes, the whole area becoming a centre for sport is a great idea that I suggested to General K before he flounced off. Stakeholders could include Aston Villa, BCC (I presume they own Aston Park and Salford Park?) the 5-a-side place, Aston University, BCU, Warwickshire CCC, Birmingham University, UCB. What’s happened to the Aston Villa Leisure Centre behind the Tavern, I haven’t been down there for years? Then there’s the speedway & dog track and Alexander Stadium. Lots of facilities there to get community coaching into, a pretty disadvantaged area with some unemployment and education issues and gang culture to try and tackle through community initiatives. Would be a great legacy for the Games.

In terms of having to move out, I don’t see it. The capacity of the North Stand is only 6,500, we could do without that for a year and even replace most of that loss by re-opening the Trinity upper tier. Then assuming the North Stand would rebuilt with increased capacity, we could go a year without the Witton Lane for a while without losing much from the overall capacity as it is now.
« Last Edit: December 21, 2017, 04:40:28 PM by Percy McCarthy »

Offline Percy McCarthy

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Re: Villa Park Changes & Commonwealth Games
« Reply #14 on: December 21, 2017, 04:41:18 PM »
It would be nice to see a huge regeneration go on and see the city creep closer to B6.

Absolutely.

It would be so great for the city to have a team challenging for honours and attracting 60,000 people 30 times a season to watch Premier and Champions League games. It would be more important in terms of perception and regeneration than the Commonwealths.
« Last Edit: December 21, 2017, 04:45:23 PM by Percy McCarthy »

 


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