Randy Lerner "State of Aston Villa" Statement

[TimTheVillain]

It will be a statement about our financial position, which I think all know about.

As Mat Kendrick tweeted, nothing relating to good news, more so, the way we're approaching 2013 ( what a fab excuse, bet he's wiping his brow) !!

[Dave Cooper please]

So those of us who can't afford an ST / work on some matchdays / are under the thumb and not allowed to go to every game are not important then?

Quite frankly - yes.

A football clubs lifeblood whether you like it or not are season ticket holders (and shareholders). These are the people who do (exactly what the word means) "support" their club. Not sitting behind a computer moaning and whaling about why they aren't as good as Man Utd, but actually putting £££ into the club. Because that's all that matters.

It's like the voting system - if you don't vote, you've got no right to complain.

I knew my ever so slightly tongue in cheek comment would hook someone!
Of course ST holders are the most important fans (well, you could make an argument that corporates are even more important if we a simply talking financial commitment season-in season-out, hence the moving of DC5 and Villajk to put new corporate seating in), but us part-timers are very important to Villa I'd have thought.
A couple of reasons:

1. We probably spend more on a match day than a ST holder, it's more of an occasion for us, we'll visit the shop, probably secure a few back issue programmes, make sure we get a balti pie for the authentic match-day experience, that sort of thing.

2. This is from someone who knows.
  If your visits to VP are curtailed for whatever reason, could be a move to shift or weekend working, could be a drop in cash or a new family addition, anything) it's very easy to fall out of the habit of going at all. Where previously you had an ST and knew you were going whatever, not having an ST means anything can get in the way and sometimes you'll find an excuse NOT to go because it looks like rain, or it's bloody Blackburn again, or another Sunday morning means either not going to the pub the night before or enduring Wolves with a hangover.
 We are actually just the sort of people Villa should be targetting to get us there more often. Without us part-timers Villa's average crowd would be below 30K.

[Concrete John]

Although I agree with pretty much everything you say, that average attendance would be below 20k without the ST holders.

I don't think anyone wants to see any section of the fans out in the cold, but then as a ST holder what extra benefits do we get, other than the free AVTV, which has only happened this season?

[Dante Lavelli]

Isn't the number of season tickets capped though to ensure there are a number of seats available for the casual fans?

Anyone else see that Brighton have sold over 18,000 season tickets for their new stadium. Also that the away end will import a beer/ale from the area of the away team each match. That's quality!

[usav]

Isn't the number of season tickets capped though to ensure there are a number of seats available for the casual fans?

Anyone else see that Brighton have sold over 18,000 season tickets for their new stadium. Also that the away end will import a beer/ale from the area of the away team each match. That's quality!

Now that is quality.  Well done to all concerned.

[Banganappa]

You can argue the case which fans are more important either way.

From the point of view of any business, regular income ( i.e. season tickets) are tremendously important because they cover the overheads first and are reliable. On the other hand, you want the casual fans too because they bring higher profit - once the overheads are covered, the more casual fans you get the better as their tickets are more profitable. As the ground fills up, the last tickets sold to casual fans are the most profitable of all. That's the reason there's a limit to the number of season tickets the club would like to sell - if the team was winning every week and VP was full - they'd much prefer them to be casual fans - on the other hand if you're losing, you want as many season ticket holders as possible!

[Chris Smith]

So those of us who can't afford an ST / work on some matchdays / are under the thumb and not allowed to go to every game are not important then?

Quite frankly - yes.

A football clubs lifeblood whether you like it or not are season ticket holders (and shareholders). These are the people who do (exactly what the word means) "support" their club. Not sitting behind a computer moaning and whaling about why they aren't as good as Man Utd, but actually putting £££ into the club. Because that's all that matters.

It's like the voting system - if you don't vote, you've got no right to complain.

I knew my ever so slightly tongue in cheek comment would hook someone!
Of course ST holders are the most important fans (well, you could make an argument that corporates are even more important if we a simply talking financial commitment season-in season-out, hence the moving of DC5 andforwards Villajk to put new corporate seating in), but us part-timers are very important to Villa I'd have thought.
A couple of reasons:

1. We probably spend more on a match day than a ST holder, it's more of an occasion for us, we'll visit the shop, probably secure a few back issue programmes, make sure we get a balti pie for the authentic match-day experience, that sort of thing.

2. This is from someone who knows.
  If your visits to VP are curtailed for whatever reason, could be a move to shift or weekend working, could be a drop in cash or a new family addition, anything) it's very easy to fall out of the habit of going at all. Where previously you had an ST and knew you were going whatever, not having an ST means anything can get in the way and sometimes you'll find an excuse NOT to go because it looks like rain, or it's bloody Blackburn again, or another Sunday morning means either not going to the pub the night before or enduring Wolves with a hangover.
 We are actually just the sort of people Villa should be targetting to get us there more often. Without us part-timers Villa's average crowd would be below 30K.

You selfish bastard. You already get your cheap deals, where a family of 12 can get in for 10p with the Dad getting a blow job from Miss Aston Villa at half time and yet you still resent us our letter.

[eastie]

This is getting a bit precious. He's copied a marketing slogan, and not an original one at that, not sold Aston Park to the Indians.

Neither has he sold aston villa to the cowboys- not yet anyway.

[Dave Cooper please]

I don't want a blow job, I want a letter from Randy.

After all, I can't sell a blow job on ebay (not legally anyway).

[dave.woodhall]

I don't want a blow job, I want a letter from Randy.

After all, I can't sell a blow job on ebay (not legally anyway).

And if you could I doubt anyone would buy it.

[Chico Hamilton III]

A football clubs lifeblood whether you like it or not are season ticket holders (and shareholders). These are the people who do (exactly what the word means) "support" their club. Not sitting behind a computer moaning and whaling about why they aren't as good as Man Utd, but actually putting £££ into the club. Because that's all that matters.

I don't have a season ticket any more and don't go to many home games these days but I spend more than the cost of a season ticket on tickets to watch Villa away.

Not a penny of that goes towards Villa but if you somehow think that I'm not supporting the club then you obviously define the word "support "differently to me.

 

[Olneythelonely]

I don't want a blow job, I want a letter from Randy.

After all, I can't sell a blow job on ebay (not legally anyway).

And if you could I doubt anyone would buy it.

I would. The little slut.

[CJ]

Isn't the number of season tickets capped though to ensure there are a number of seats available for the casual fans?

Anyone else see that Brighton have sold over 18,000 season tickets for their new stadium. Also that the away end will import a beer/ale from the area of the away team each match. That's quality!

Now that is quality.  Well done to all concerned.

All that way for a pint of Brew XI!

[citizenDJ]

http://www.transferleague.co.uk/league-tables/1992-to-2011.html

I stumbled on this website today which may or may not be of interest. It's a 'Transfer League Table' that details each clubs spending since 1992. I don't know that it has much bearing on the discussion here, but it seemed the best thread to put it in.

Apologies if it's something everyone has already seen before!

[eamonn]

http://www.transferleague.co.uk/league-tables/1992-to-2011.html

I stumbled on this website today which may or may not be of interest. It's a 'Transfer League Table' that details each clubs spending since 1992. I don't know that it has much bearing on the discussion here, but it seemed the best thread to put it in.

Apologies if it's something everyone has already seen before!

Quick, delete your post before the inevitable happens.