NSWE Investment

[Olneythelonely]

I used to be of the “over my dead body” group, when thinking about moving from Villa Park. I get all the reasons why we’d want to stay. However, if moving is the difference between us competing with the best and not, I’ll knock the first brick down.

I’m all for celebrating our history, let’s turn Villa Park into something that celebrates that history. But from a future point of view, it seems that the place is massively holding us back.

[paul_e]

If we can find a way to monetise jealousy then great stay where we are and as we are (and fund Man City style spending on the back of Blues and Baggies fans) but if not we need to do something to bring in more revenue. That means making difficult decisions.

As for regretting knocking down old buildings, whilst that's true I suspect if none of that had happened and the city was full of Victorian buildings built and designed for a city that had less than half the population I suspect we'd have far more problems than we have currently. The old New Street station, for example, was unfit for purpose at the time it went and would be crippling for the city if it was still in place now.

[Gareth]

Regardless of whether or not we have a sentimental attachment to this stand or that stand, two of them aren’t fit for purpose, and one of those is shockingly poor.

I’m in favour of tradition but I’m also in favour of working toilets, access to refreshments and seats where my knees aren’t up to my chin.

100% this

[pauliewalnuts]

As for regretting knocking down old buildings, whilst that's true I suspect if none of that had happened and the city was full of Victorian buildings built and designed for a city that had less than half the population I suspect we'd have far more problems than we have currently. The old New Street station, for example, was unfit for purpose at the time it went and would be crippling for the city if it was still in place now.

Also, nobody loved knocking down old buildings more than the Victorians themselves. Cities evolve.

[chrisw1]

In the short term I wish we'd built the North Stand, just to give Emery that bit more breathing space for the next 5-10 years.

In the long term I think the question is can we generate enough income from the current landlocked site to compete on the world stage?  If the answer is no, whether that be due to size, location etc then if better alternatives are available the answer becomes inevitable.

A stadium within comfortable walking distance of Snow Hill & Moor Street would also be extremely attractive for additional events, which I think is the key to really bringing in the big bucks.  VP has dabbled with a few big gigs, but you would imagine such a centrally located venue could become a regular host of major events.  It would be pretty grim watching Blues hoover up that revenue if they go-ahead and we don't.

[AV82EC]

Access to the 4 central train stations we are going to have seems to me crucial to any new build if that’s the direction of travel.

[john e]

I think my knocking down old buildings probably isn’t the best analogy to use
As there’s not one single stand that remains the same since I started going to Villa Park even

I suppose it’s more the location our home since 1897 and the history and tradition that goes with it

[Villan82]

In an ideal world hey announce that a deal is done on Witton Lane and they can start building a new stand behind the current one and that they have figured a better model for the new North Stand.

if that cannot be done then we simply have to move. We have a chance now to become a truly massive club and to capitalise we need to be in a 60,000 seater stadium asap. If they can't do it at Villa Park, and for all we know they may well have found a way to remain, then they need to find a new site between the current location and the city for a new stadium

Standing still, or doing minor cosmetic changes to the existing Villa Park to cram an extra 3k in, aren't options.

We have all of the ingredients now: great owners, world class manager, big players...but revenue generating will be the thing that puts it in jeopardy.

[algy]

I’ve been to most of the new grounds now and I’ve not been to one yet where I’ve said yeah I wouldn’t mind a bit of this
Not a single one even Tottenhams,

If we moved from Villa Park the outcry would be from football fans in general not just Villa fans, we all want improvements, but right now we have a stadium which most of the premiership match going fans are jealous of, it always comes out of best away  ground visited for away fans

In the 60s and 70s we knocked down fantastic old buildings and built shit in their place. Everyone regrets it now But it’s too late
They said then it was progress. It was moving forward we want something better and bigger and ended up with something crap.
Even in my own little town those designers of the 60s and 70s are hated to this day

We could do the same with Villa Park
People who are for the move want a stadium which is different from everyone else’s. But you won’t be designing it you’ll get a bowl like everybody else, it will be nice and shiny and new corporate will be fantastic, but it will be much the same as everything that’s gone before

I don’t want that, and I don’t want to destroy the history we have at Aston Villa

Yes john_e, absolutely this on every point.

I'm not against moving as of such.  We all know Villa Park's limitations.  But I have precisely zero faith in us getting something that isn't an identikit bowl.  It's fine saying "Oh, we could be different". Yeah, we could be.  But we won't, we'll get a soulless identikit bowl called "The CryptoCurrency Stadium" because ... where's your examples of that not happening?  Do you think every other fanbase has gone "oh yeah, a nice bland stadium named after a global corporation - that's what we need".  No, they've all thought they're getting something nice and they've all ended up with the same boring bowl.

And I'd much rather stay at Villa Park and do what we can there - e.g. rebuild the North Stand and start putting in favourable offers for the housing the other side of Witton Lane - than do that.

[Rotterdam]

What concerns me is the cost, and how them money is recouped.

I would move if it was financially viable.

[chrisw1]

I think my knocking down old buildings probably isn’t the best analogy to use
As there’s not one single stand that remains the same since I started going to Villa Park even

I suppose it’s more the location our home since 1897 and the history and tradition that goes with it

I don't think anyone would disagree with you John.  Tired as the old girl may be, there's still magic in the location and VP is pretty universally loved.

I guess some fans would accept sacrificing this for success on the pitch - writing a new history rather than looking back.  I see it both ways, but what I do know is after 30 years of the doldrums, it's been fantastic having a taste of competing again.  But we're punching above our weight and it's just not sustainable with FFP restrictions.  Much as I love VP, I think I want to watch an elite team more.

[Risso]

The new Spurs stadium is brilliant, as in from a facilities and somewhere decent to watch a game of football point of view. Something like that, but with a nod to our Victorian heritage shouldn't be beyond the wit of man. I don't want some steam punk-esque industrial revolution pastiche, but the example of the Holte exterior is a good one. Everybody likes it, because it looks great and most away fans think it's original. If we can build something like that to tart up a modern stand under the penny pinching era of Doug Ellis, why can't we do that now?

[paul_e]

The new stadium in egypt built by the company run by one of our new directors:



Bucks new stadium, build under the leadership of another of our new directors:



I'm not sure either fits the "soulless identikit bowl" description that a few of you are absolutely certain is the only alternative to staying where we are (and presumably doing very little to the ground to avoid the risk of turning it into a soulless bowl).

[john e]

The new stadium in egypt built by the company run by one of our new directors:



Bucks new stadium, build under the leadership of another of our new directors:



I'm not sure either fits the "soulless identikit bowl" description that a few of you are absolutely certain is the only alternative to staying where we are (and presumably doing very little to the ground to avoid the risk of turning it into a soulless bowl).

Your not really helping your case there mate

[paul_e]

Your not really helping your case there mate

You're confusing you not liking them with them not having an identity.