NSWE Investment

[VILLA MOLE]

I like the idea of a museum, but ...

Who's going to visit it exactly?  OK, probably all of us at some point because we're Villa supporters.  But how many times are we going to pay it a visit?

It's not going to change massively year-on-year, so maybe for season ticket holders / regular visitors, maybe once every 2 or 3 years being very optimistic.  Visiting supporters?  Maybe, but how many times have any of us have been to the Manchester United museum?  I'd guess a sum total in the region of 0.  Random visitors to Birmingham?   That's possibly your biggest thing, but I can't see that being huge hoards of people.

My feeling is that a museum is only really viable if we become something that, honestly, few of us actually want - a club that tourists visit to take in a game as a one-off event.  That necessarily brings with it a rubbish atmosphere, since anyone going will be more interested in taking selfies than anything on show (not knocking that, I went down to London a couple of weekends ago and spent most of the time taking photos of my little girl in front of landmarks, not actually engaging with those landmarks -- it's no different, it's just maybe not we want particularly).

Maybe a museum incorporated with in a restaurant / fan zone area where people can spend time before and after the game ?

[Brend'Watkins]

I guess the demand for a museum would be similar to the demand for the ground tour.  There's a demand for that. Incorporate them both as a Ground and museum tour with a cafe/restaurant and you have a decent business. Nothing on the scale of Camp Nu but eventually maybe.

[ChicagoLion]

I like the idea of a museum, but ...

Who's going to visit it exactly?  OK, probably all of us at some point because we're Villa supporters.  But how many times are we going to pay it a visit?

It's not going to change massively year-on-year, so maybe for season ticket holders / regular visitors, maybe once every 2 or 3 years being very optimistic.  Visiting supporters?  Maybe, but how many times have any of us have been to the Manchester United museum?  I'd guess a sum total in the region of 0.  Random visitors to Birmingham?   That's possibly your biggest thing, but I can't see that being huge hoards of people.

My feeling is that a museum is only really viable if we become something that, honestly, few of us actually want - a club that tourists visit to take in a game as a one-off event.  That necessarily brings with it a rubbish atmosphere, since anyone going will be more interested in taking selfies than anything on show (not knocking that, I went down to London a couple of weekends ago and spent most of the time taking photos of my little girl in front of landmarks, not actually engaging with those landmarks -- it's no different, it's just maybe not we want particularly).

Maybe a museum incorporated with in a restaurant / fan zone area where people can spend time before and after the game ?

all for that, just dont get the reason for a museum.

A museum should be part of a stadium tour, otherwise its pretty pointkess.

[SoccerHQ]

I like the idea of a museum, but ...

Who's going to visit it exactly?  OK, probably all of us at some point because we're Villa supporters.  But how many times are we going to pay it a visit?

It's not going to change massively year-on-year, so maybe for season ticket holders / regular visitors, maybe once every 2 or 3 years being very optimistic.  Visiting supporters?  Maybe, but how many times have any of us have been to the Manchester United museum?  I'd guess a sum total in the region of 0.  Random visitors to Birmingham?   That's possibly your biggest thing, but I can't see that being huge hoards of people.

My feeling is that a museum is only really viable if we become something that, honestly, few of us actually want - a club that tourists visit to take in a game as a one-off event.  That necessarily brings with it a rubbish atmosphere, since anyone going will be more interested in taking selfies than anything on show (not knocking that, I went down to London a couple of weekends ago and spent most of the time taking photos of my little girl in front of landmarks, not actually engaging with those landmarks -- it's no different, it's just maybe not we want particularly).

Tag it in with a ground tour, I presume those are still going in some form in these times. With the rebuild I presume the corner flag restaurant will be pulled down so stick a decent restaurant next to museum and there's potential for decent number of fans to arrive early on matchday.

Would assume the new club shop will also go into the new stand along with ticket office so that's how you get decent footfall if people have time to kill on non matchdays.

[Villan82]

Of course there is a market for a museum.We have all been saying there needs to be more things to do at the ground. A café/restaurant and museum together would be a big addition to Villa Park.

I understand the grumbles, but come on, it's 2022. We have had an international fan base for as long as I can remember and there have been some very lean periods in there.

[dave.woodhall]

It would work on matchday but we just don't get enough custom during the week to make it viable at any other time. The Holte proved that.

[Drummond]

It would work on matchday but we just don't get enough custom during the week to make it viable at any other time. The Holte proved that.

Yep, and would it generate the revenue that another shop/restaurant/bar would?

[pauliewalnuts]

It would work on matchday but we just don't get enough custom during the week to make it viable at any other time. The Holte proved that.

Not too sure about that - it really depends what you expect from it financially.

The pub couldn't survive on its non match day takings, but I'd imagine the museum would be less a commercial, direct money making venture and more a part of the usual match day experience. We also seem to be able to offer stadium tours year-round as well.

[SoccerHQ]

It would work on matchday but we just don't get enough custom during the week to make it viable at any other time. The Holte proved that.

How about building a hotel aswell? (wink)

[Chico Hamilton III]

There is talk of a museum isn’t there? Lee Preece in charge of the project.

[eamonn]

I wonder how well the Villa Park tours do, financially. They seem to be on year-round at regular intervals.

[DB]

The stadium tours do well and it would be part of that.

[The Edge]

There is definitely scope for a museum and I agree that it would need to incorporate other things such as the official club merchandise shop and a cafe/bar mainly for matchdays. The club seems to be finally capitalising on the monumental efforts of one William Mcgregor with the whole "gas lamp" idea. Imagine a mock up of a victorian street scene complete with a foggy night setting and characters meeting under a gas lamp discussing the formation of a football league. There's plenty of land but will they give up the car park? So many people rely on it. Perhaps a park and ride service could be provided from the new development at Brookvale Road.

[The Edge]

Watched a video earlier showing the new Anfield Rd end at Liverpool. It's being constructed behind the existing stand and will hold just shy of 16k. They have no qualms making it bigger than the Kop. It's also a free standing end and they've resisted filling in the corners. We have a lot more room at the North Stand end and it would be great if we can surpass that 16k figure and even the 17k at Spurs new stadium. It's probably the big kid in me talking but I used to love the fact that when it was built the Holte was the largest "end" in Europe.

[sid1964]

Will the North Stand Lower have a safe standing area incorporated into it?