NSWE Investment

[Somniloquism]

I honestly don't think that Nas, Wes and the new Atairos lot will think that they won't bother with a new project because a station is having a bit of an upgrade. It's not our station, and presumably it's not our cash being used to do it up.

That's not the point. The head of WMCA would not be making statements about rebuilding Witton Station if we were leaving. What would be the point? The station is perfectly adequate for daily usage.

We are still hosting the Euros in 202 whatever at VP. So the station needs the upgrade the same as Perry Barr Station needed it for the CommonWealth Games.

[Demitri_C]

Sorry, have I missed something?

With all this talk of gentrifying Aston, I was under the impression the area around Tottenham's stadium was still a shithole. I'm sure it was being talked about on this very thread a few days ago. Or did I imagine that?

They have massively developed the spurs area. They slowly shifting all the council tenants out. Its nowhere as shit as it use to be but traffic still horrific

And where did they put the council tenants in the name of progress, do we know if they wanted to move?

There are no council tenants around Villa park in Aston and Witton. All residential property is privately owned and most would do a deal if it's an attractive offer.

Has there been a consultation to residents regarding that ?

[john e]

If your dream is a city centre stadium that’s fair enough, it might be possible it might not

But this narrative that a city centre stadium will provide easy access for 60,000 people is probably the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever read on here
You’ve totally lost your heads because you want something enough

Any ground in the city centre is difficult to get in and out of anywhere in the UK took me an hour to get away from Manchester couple of weeks ago, and it’s basically the same anywhere else

Yes the trains will provide a quicker access but not everyone uses trains and they certainly won’t provide transport for 60,000 people and that would cause its own problems anyway

Trains cost money, it takes me just over an hour to get to Villa Park. It’s as easy access as any ground in the country really, takes about half an hour to get away sometimes less, and that’s pretty good for a Premier League ground
I also use the train, but when there’s 3/4 people going to be expensive not everyone’s got the money so car is the cheapest way

The financial debate is different of course, and there is a lot of merit in things people are saying, if we need to change location to bring in a whole load of different clientele to come and spend money to stay competitive than I am admittedly an old timer and the whole Football thing is moving away from me altogether

So argue all you like about where we should build a new Stadium it won’t really matter because as others have said they will do what they are going to do anyway without consulting our little group

[Chris Smith]

Do you think we’d be wanted any more in a different area?

In a less congested residential area closer to the city centre, absolutely. The businesses round there would love it.

Which area, which businesses?

I've no idea. I don't know Birmingham that well, I'm not a chartered surveyor or property developer, and I'm not a billionaire who's just appointed a team of specialist land developers to the board.

So all of those same reasons apply to why we’re not qualified to make the decision to leave the current site in the first place.

[Somniloquism]

So, to help with suggestions.... 😉

How about Motorpoint and East End Wholesale on Lichfield Rd?

Or

And I've said this before, but the Royal Mail Distribution Centre on the A34?

Now now Drummond, we are not allowed to reasonably suggest obvious sites which might meet the goal of closer to the city centre, still close enough to our roots, and a reasonable chance of it happening because we are not "Billion Dollar property developers". All we can do is shout "City Centre", "Cranes" or "An office block over there was recently built, why not a stadium".

Plus I've been shouting for that bit of land as well. It is closer to the centre but still close to our roots and what transport we lose from no train stations we make up with lots of bus routes,  dedicated cycle lanes (and bike/scooter hire) and almost straight route access to both Spaghetti, the Walsall Junction AND the inner ring road / A38 Southbound. And loads of new student accommodation so that could maybe sustain any facilities that open nearby to give them more then just occasional weekend business.

Downside, it is Newtown......

[The Edge]

I honestly don't think that Nas, Wes and the new Atairos lot will think that they won't bother with a new project because a station is having a bit of an upgrade. It's not our station, and presumably it's not our cash being used to do it up.

That's not the point. The head of WMCA would not be making statements about rebuilding Witton Station if we were leaving. What would be the point? The station is perfectly adequate for daily usage.

We are still hosting the Euros in 202 whatever at VP. So the station needs the upgrade the same as Perry Barr Station needed it for the CommonWealth Games.

The Commonwealth games is a national event and the government stumped up a lot of the money. The money to upgrade Witton stn would come from local authorities and the club. There's no way they would spend 30/40m just to host a few group matches in the Euros.

[144 Hard Boiled Eggs]

Have we ever seen gentrification in Birmingham outside of the city centre? Maybe Stirchley ? Genuine question as I don't really spend any time in the South of the city.

Harbourne and kings Heath dragged up Stirchley.  Which is down to the University and QE, rather than anything intrinsic to the area itself.

So if it can be done there then why not Aston?

As an aside to the main issue, Harborne and Kings Heath didn't drag up Stirchley. It's been predominantly local people with vision opening up some wonderful bars, breweries, cafes, restaurants etc.

[dicedlam]

Make it about the fans, not the people who want a prawn-fucking sandwich and a comfy seat. Give me a standing space, a pie and a pint. Give me the chance to buy them, a chance to piss and shit them out after and let me get to and from the ground.

Football hasn't been about that for decades, though, and it never will be again, either. You also mentioned the sponsors - sponsors are the very people who want those improved corporate facilities.

If the area is a shithole, help the community have some pride, invest money in that and welcoming local people to the club and give them something too.

The club aren't going to be able to turn Aston around, it's a much bigger problem than that, and it's not even the club's problem to fix.

In fact, the thing the club could do to improve Aston most (for the people who live there) would probably be to leave it.

It's all very well for us as (largely middle class) fans who go in and straight out 20 times a season to talk about what's best for the area, but it's another thing for the people who have to live with the disruption caused.

Totally agree paulie.

If there was to be a poll conducted around the local area, I would say at the very least 70% of the people would vote for us to leave.

So my question is why would the club spend all that money on a new stand/stadium when you are not wanted in the area?

Is that 70% based on anything?

When the initial plan to redevelop the North was put forward, the local area was consulted and a positive response was given wasn't it?

I know that's slightly different argument, but still, if people really don't like the club being there, they are hardly likely to vote to make it bigger.

Based on my parents living on Kenilworth Rd up until 2015 and also my Uncle who lived on Aston Lane.

My mother was a carer for the local Asian community (home help) and often said that some of the community she cared for were frightened to go out whenever the Villa were at home. Believe me, I have heard some awful stories of being subjected to racial abuse whenever there is a game on.

Things may be a little better now than they were a few years back but it is very hard to convince the locals that it would be in there interest to support any expansion of Villa Park.

[Drummond]

So, to help with suggestions.... 😉

How about Motorpoint and East End Wholesale on Lichfield Rd?

Or

And I've said this before, but the Royal Mail Distribution Centre on the A34?

Now now Drummond, we are not allowed to reasonably suggest obvious sites which might meet the goal of closer to the city centre, still close enough to our roots, and a reasonable chance of it happening because we are not "Billion Dollar property developers". All we can do is shout "City Centre", "Cranes" or "An office block over there was recently built, why not a stadium".

Plus I've been shouting for that bit of land as well. It is closer to the centre but still close to our roots and what transport we lose from no train stations we make up with lots of bus routes,  dedicated cycle lanes (and bike/scooter hire) and almost straight route access to both Spaghetti, the Walsall Junction AND the inner ring road / A38 Southbound. And loads of new student accommodation so that could maybe sustain any facilities that open nearby to give them more then just occasional weekend business.

Downside, it is Newtown......

Ah, so it's another 'shithole'? No good for a sparkly stadium then.

[kippaxvilla2]

Think of all the car minding jobs that would be created though.

[dave.woodhall]

Has anyone asked Royal Mail what they think?

[Chris Harte]

So, to help with suggestions.... 😉

How about Motorpoint and East End Wholesale on Lichfield Rd?

Or

And I've said this before, but the Royal Mail Distribution Centre on the A34?

Now now Drummond, we are not allowed to reasonably suggest obvious sites which might meet the goal of closer to the city centre, still close enough to our roots, and a reasonable chance of it happening because we are not "Billion Dollar property developers". All we can do is shout "City Centre", "Cranes" or "An office block over there was recently built, why not a stadium".

Plus I've been shouting for that bit of land as well. It is closer to the centre but still close to our roots and what transport we lose from no train stations we make up with lots of bus routes,  dedicated cycle lanes (and bike/scooter hire) and almost straight route access to both Spaghetti, the Walsall Junction AND the inner ring road / A38 Southbound. And loads of new student accommodation so that could maybe sustain any facilities that open nearby to give them more then just occasional weekend business.

Downside, it is Newtown......

That site is only as wide as our current site is now, across its maximum width. It would need the purchase of other adjacent properties as well to make it viable.

I still think that, as ambitious, as wacky, as expensive, as difficult to achieve it would be to pull off, the suggestion I made last Saturday is the most likely. We are playing in the richest football league in the world, so if it can happen anywhere then why not in Aston?

[PeterWithe]

Has anyone asked Royal Mail what they think?

What actually happens there? Is it a letter sorting centre or do they do parcels as well, or is that now Parcel Force?

[Chris Harte]

Has anyone asked Royal Mail what they think?

What actually happens there? Is it a letter sorting centre or do they do parcels as well, or is that now Parcel Force?

The way Royal Mail is going it might not exist in a few years.

I expect they do letters and parcels at that site. They prioritise parcels over letters now, not that they'll admit that in public.

[Drummond]

Has anyone asked Royal Mail what they think?

No, not me. I'm just looking at large sites, that would therefore cause disruption to fewer people/businesses.

Of course they wouldn't want to move, but we keep being told we have super-rich owners who can do what they like, so I'm sure a bit of dosh chucked their way would enable something..... Isn't that how it works?