How do we change the 'cultural' make up of football crowds?

[VillaBobby]

Let me get this right. It's fine for you to sell your service to other businesses because they need it. Villa don't need to, indeed they most definitely should not, encourage "more ethnicities" to attend Villa Park because they don't need football. Shall we leave this open for others to comment on?

It's your board so you can leave it open if you wish. Again trying to put words into my mouth. My opinion is Aston Villa should be looking to sell itself to everyone, not a particular race, but all races. The best way the club can do that is to put a competitive team on the pitch.

And in the meantime they can make the same people want to attend games by making Villa Park a more attractive place for them to visit, particularly those sections of the city's population at present under-represented in our crowds. Do you want them there, or not?

I am not concerned by the ethnic back ground of the crowd, I want people to attend Villa Park who want to attend. I would rather sit next to an enthusiastic Villa fan from the moon than one that has little interest & only turned up for the free ticket.

I believe Villa have tried to attract the local population, they didn't do it base of ethnicity though which is correct, they based it upon postcode offering discounted tickets etc & I have not seen any real uptake, but then I don't ask people postcodes in the stadium.

Do you believe the club should be targeting specific races?

Yes I do. Some  races/religions are scandalously under-represented in the make -up of football crowds and aftab's experiences above are one of the main reasons. Some years ago we had a game v Bolton where local people were given tickets, halal food was sold and certain areas of the game made alcohol-free. I don't know if it had a major effect but there seem to be a lot more Asian Villa supporters now than there were before then.

When was this game?

I have not missed a home game for 28 years & don't seem to recall that. Though it may well have happened and I would not welcome the selling of halal food per-say & abandonment of alcohol as you will alienate other supporters who are not practising Islam.

You could also encourage more none English speaking people to Villa Park with your publication. 

The game was in 2007 or 2008. Halal food and an alcohol-free area was in one small part of the ground and the only people who would be alienated by such a thing would be those looking to be so offended. My publication has been all-inclusive since it began, as a regular reader would know.   

I didn't know about that Bolton game. Interesting but I still find it separatist and seeing as it has been tried and not successful then I guess it didnt work?

As for your publication, I have read several issues and I was not questioning its content, though you could consider it to make it more appealing to the wider community. I was referring to taking it into the local community. Your publication is part of many people's Villa Park experience and seeing how passionate you are about attracting more of a diverse crowd, how about giving free copies to the local community and get them to contribute just as the club have done?

[pauliewalnuts]

I didn't know about that Bolton game. Interesting but I still find it separatist and seeing as it has been tried and not successful then I guess it didnt work?

Who said it wasn't successful?

[pauliewalnuts]

I disagree that any business will target under performing area's within it business which will create greater expenditure & bring little sustainable value. You imply the campaign was aimed towards a specific ethnic group, I would disagree as the marketing would have been more appealing than just ticket reduction but more at the culture.

A lot of assumption on this thread, is there any detail I can examine that supports the assumptions?

It depends what your business is. It might involve expenditure at the outset, but if we help more people understand what Villa is about, then maybe it has a long term benefit?

There's not really any assumption on this thread, and if you're implying that people are suggesting unfairly that you made it about ethnicity, you were the one who asked why it needed changing in the first place.

[pauliewalnuts]

A alcohol free zone i don't think there is a need for as that is simply your choice if you drink or not.

It was in an area of the ground which is now alcohol free every match, ironically.

[dave.woodhall]

I didn't know about that Bolton game. Interesting but I still find it separatist and seeing as it has been tried and not successful then I guess it didnt work?

As for your publication, I have read several issues and I was not questioning its content, though you could consider it to make it more appealing to the wider community. I was referring to taking it into the local community. Your publication is part of many people's Villa Park experience and seeing how passionate you are about attracting more of a diverse crowd, how about giving free copies to the local community and get them to contribute just as the club have done?

Equally interesting that you consider taking peoples' cultural sensibilities into account 'seperatist' when the area in question was open to all. I would say that encouraging them to attend Villa Park is the very opposite.

I'm currently involved in a project that will, if all goes well, make the local community feel more involved with the Villa.

[danlanza]

A alcohol free zone i don't think there is a need for as that is simply your choice if you drink or not.

It was in an area of the ground which is now alcohol free every match, ironically.

I was unaware there was an area that is alcohol free. How long has that been the case?

[olaftab]

I think there is plenty wrong with Halal food, in particular the method of slaughter. Doesn't taste any different to me, either.

Careful you are opening up a new can of worms here!  And nothing wrong with the method of slaughter but let's not fall out on that?

[VillaBobby]

I didn't know about that Bolton game. Interesting but I still find it separatist and seeing as it has been tried and not successful then I guess it didnt work?

As for your publication, I have read several issues and I was not questioning its content, though you could consider it to make it more appealing to the wider community. I was referring to taking it into the local community. Your publication is part of many people's Villa Park experience and seeing how passionate you are about attracting more of a diverse crowd, how about giving free copies to the local community and get them to contribute just as the club have done?

Equally interesting that you consider taking peoples' cultural sensibilities into account 'seperatist' when the area in question was open to all. I would say that encouraging them to attend Villa Park is the very opposite.

I'm currently involved in a project that will, if all goes well, make the local community feel more involved with the Villa.

I am confused as I was under the impression a section of the stadium was allocated for halal and alcohol free and you mentioned seeing a collective of asain folk?

I said it couldn't have been successful as I am not aware of the same area being used? I have no idea if there was an uptake from the people who attended, but the fact we are debating the subject I guess not.

Regarding your project. Good luck, lets hope we can all see a much improved Villa side to support it.

[olaftab]

A alcohol free zone i don't think there is a need for as that is simply your choice if you drink or not.

Yes that is correct. As far as I know it doesn't rain alcohol,you still have to purchase it and drink, so its  choice.

[danlanza]

A alcohol free zone i don't think there is a need for as that is simply your choice if you drink or not.

Yes that is correct. As far as I know it doesn't rain alcohol,you still have to purchase it and drink, so its  choice.

Just had a quick look and as far as i can see the only part of the ground where alcohol is not sold is the away supporters end. Anybody know any different ?
Oh, and Lerners private box. He is never bloody there to have a drink.

[dave.woodhall]

I didn't know about that Bolton game. Interesting but I still find it separatist and seeing as it has been tried and not successful then I guess it didnt work?

As for your publication, I have read several issues and I was not questioning its content, though you could consider it to make it more appealing to the wider community. I was referring to taking it into the local community. Your publication is part of many people's Villa Park experience and seeing how passionate you are about attracting more of a diverse crowd, how about giving free copies to the local community and get them to contribute just as the club have done?

Equally interesting that you consider taking peoples' cultural sensibilities into account 'seperatist' when the area in question was open to all. I would say that encouraging them to attend Villa Park is the very opposite.

I'm currently involved in a project that will, if all goes well, make the local community feel more involved with the Villa.

I am confused as I was under the impression a section of the stadium was allocated for halal and alcohol free and you mentioned seeing a collective of asain folk?

I said it couldn't have been successful as I am not aware of the same area being used? I have no idea if there was an uptake from the people who attended, but the fact we are debating the subject I guess not.

Regarding your project. Good luck, lets hope we can all see a much improved Villa side to support it.

I haven't got a clue what you mean by that first sentence, and the second one isn't much clearer. Are you saying that it couldn't have been a success because you didn't know about it, or because we're taking about it now?

[peter w]

I didn't know about that Bolton game. Interesting but I still find it separatist and seeing as it has been tried and not successful then I guess it didnt work?

As for your publication, I have read several issues and I was not questioning its content, though you could consider it to make it more appealing to the wider community. I was referring to taking it into the local community. Your publication is part of many people's Villa Park experience and seeing how passionate you are about attracting more of a diverse crowd, how about giving free copies to the local community and get them to contribute just as the club have done?

Equally interesting that you consider taking peoples' cultural sensibilities into account 'seperatist' when the area in question was open to all. I would say that encouraging them to attend Villa Park is the very opposite.

I'm currently involved in a project that will, if all goes well, make the local community feel more involved with the Villa.

Care to share the project?

[VillaBobby]

I didn't know about that Bolton game. Interesting but I still find it separatist and seeing as it has been tried and not successful then I guess it didnt work?

As for your publication, I have read several issues and I was not questioning its content, though you could consider it to make it more appealing to the wider community. I was referring to taking it into the local community. Your publication is part of many people's Villa Park experience and seeing how passionate you are about attracting more of a diverse crowd, how about giving free copies to the local community and get them to contribute just as the club have done?

Equally interesting that you consider taking peoples' cultural sensibilities into account 'seperatist' when the area in question was open to all. I would say that encouraging them to attend Villa Park is the very opposite.

I'm currently involved in a project that will, if all goes well, make the local community feel more involved with the Villa.

I am confused as I was under the impression a section of the stadium was allocated for halal and alcohol free and you mentioned seeing a collective of asain folk?

I said it couldn't have been successful as I am not aware of the same area being used? I have no idea if there was an uptake from the people who attended, but the fact we are debating the subject I guess not.

Regarding your project. Good luck, lets hope we can all see a much improved Villa side to support it.

I haven't got a clue what you mean by that first sentence, and the second one isn't much clearer. Are you saying that it couldn't have been a success because you didn't know about it, or because we're taking about it now?

You mentioned a game against Bolton in 2007/2008 where a section of the stadium was alcohol free and sold halal products, correct?

Refer to sentence one.

Is that said area still in operation?

You said you were not aware if the trial were successful but you see more asain people attending matches, were as I asked if that was the case?

If so then why still the debate as we have the formula already.

Refer to sentence two.

To answer your questions, I have no idea if it were a success as I couldn't give the data of the racial dynamic at Villa Park prior or post the trial. I have also stated, I knew nothing about the trial, so I would be intrigued to see more detail.

[Risso]

I didn't know about that Bolton game. Interesting but I still find it separatist and seeing as it has been tried and not successful then I guess it didnt work?

Who said it wasn't successful?

I vaguely recall the General saying in a reply to a question about trying to attract locals that the game being discussed was seen as not working very well, as there hadn't been an increase in local sales as a result.

[pauliewalnuts]

It was like that one for game only.

There was a decent smattering of Asian people attending the match there. I know this, as I was sat nearby.

If so then why still the debate as we have the formula already.

Good to see we're all agreed it was a good idea

It's impossible to judge whether we'd have had more Asian fans without that trial or not, but it was a bold move by the club.