Christian Purslow - Resigned

[Risso]

I don't think that's what they want for the Holte at all. The sort of people you're describing are exactly who they're targeting with the North stand and Trinity redevelopment.

Exactly right Paul. That will expand the corporate offering massively and will more than cater for demand in the area. There'd be too much redevelopment required to do much more than the Holte terrace thing, and I don't think that would be high on their list of priorities at all. What they should look at is finding a parcel of land they can use for parking nearby, then make the Holte End Car park a fenced in 'fans village' with different food and drink vendors on match days. That would go a long way to solving problems of poor service by getting people out of the cramped concourses. If they were all private concessions they might actually employ some half decent staff as well.

[LeeB]

I don't think that's what they want for the Holte at all. The sort of people you're describing are exactly who they're targeting with the North stand and Trinity redevelopment.

Exactly right Paul. That will expand the corporate offering massively and will more than cater for demand in the area. There'd be too much redevelopment required to do much more than the Holte terrace thing, and I don't think that would be high on their list of priorities at all. What they should look at is finding a parcel of land they can use for parking nearby, then make the Holte End Car park a fenced in 'fans village' with different food and drink vendors on match days. That would go a long way to solving problems of poor service by getting people out of the cramped concourses. If they were all private concessions they might actually employ some half decent staff as well.

Same at the other end, although that will change. Done properly it could also help traffic issues with coming earlier or staying for a pint after the match.

[Lastfootstamper]

I stopped going regularly for a while in the mid-90s as I couldn't afford something that I felt had become too expensive. It's not a new thing.

[Drummond]

It seems like he keeps coming back to the Well because he isn’t generating anything like he should be from other commercial activity.
Alienating the fan base in the process is a very slippery slope to go down.

Alienating the fan base? There's a 30,000 waiting list and we sell out every game.

They are not mutually exclusive and I think you know that.

We're the most consistently we'll supported we've ever been. The fan base has never been more engaged.

To be fair to Chicago there are some in the fan base that are being alienated; Chicago and Flin5tone, for starters.

It’s an outrage.

 

[Nev]

I've renewed for next season but I know the clock is ticking. Once we lose the Holte, and Terrace View is the thin end of the wedge, then I can see me relinquishing my ST. I got fed up in the Witton Lane where any expression of passion, rage, vocal opinion or loud support was almost frowned upon. And this was 15 odd years ago.

I was relived to see that little had changed in the Holte when I returned last season but it won't be long until the level of support will in some way upset or offend those who have paid a small fortune to take their clients out for the day.

The game is moving on and will eventually leave me behind.

I don't think that's what they want for the Holte at all. The sort of people you're describing are exactly who they're targeting with the North stand and Trinity redevelopment.

They are charging almost £500 for a sit down and a decent pint in an area where your season ticket allowed you to go this season. I don't know anyone who could afford, or would be willing to pay that. If they can make the money, they will. Just look at the cost to attend the end of season awards.

[Risso]

They are charging almost £500 for a sit down and a decent pint in an area where your season ticket allowed you to go this season. I don't know anyone who could afford, or would be willing to pay that. If they can make the money, they will. Just look at the cost to attend the end of season awards.

I reckon there will be loads of people who can and will pay it. I don't agree with it, but it works out at just over £25 extra a game. About the price of two packets of fags or 4 pints.

[dave.woodhall]

They are charging almost £500 for a sit down and a decent pint in an area where your season ticket allowed you to go this season. I don't know anyone who could afford, or would be willing to pay that. If they can make the money, they will. Just look at the cost to attend the end of season awards.

I reckon there will be loads of people who can and will pay it. I don't agree with it, but it works out at just over £25 extra a game. About the price of two packets of fags or 4 pints.

Exactly; ludicrously expensive for what you're getting. Every dealing I've had with Purslow reinforces my opinion that he wants to squeeze every penny from supporters and his idea of engagement is asking whether we prefer to take it or leave it.

[paul_e]

I've renewed for next season but I know the clock is ticking. Once we lose the Holte, and Terrace View is the thin end of the wedge, then I can see me relinquishing my ST. I got fed up in the Witton Lane where any expression of passion, rage, vocal opinion or loud support was almost frowned upon. And this was 15 odd years ago.

I was relived to see that little had changed in the Holte when I returned last season but it won't be long until the level of support will in some way upset or offend those who have paid a small fortune to take their clients out for the day.

The game is moving on and will eventually leave me behind.

I don't think that's what they want for the Holte at all. The sort of people you're describing are exactly who they're targeting with the North stand and Trinity redevelopment.

They are charging almost £500 for a sit down and a decent pint in an area where your season ticket allowed you to go this season. I don't know anyone who could afford, or would be willing to pay that. If they can make the money, they will. Just look at the cost to attend the end of season awards.

Yes they are, but I don't see how that will lead to fans shushing you if you make a bit of noise and I don't think it will encourage corporate visitors into the Holte either. Add in the standing areas which will be coming before long and I just don't see the reason to worry.

The Holte Terrace isn't great but I can't see it as anything more than some survey or other coming up with a result that there would be a market for giving people the option to pay extra on their season ticket if it gave them a guaranteed access to the bar.

[Risso]

Exactly; ludicrously expensive for what you're getting. Every dealing I've had with Purslow reinforces my opinion that he wants to squeeze every penny from supporters and his idea of engagement is asking whether we prefer to take it or leave it.

He is, but he works for billionaires who wouldn't be billionaires if they weren't adept at accumulating money. If it wasn't Purslow doing it for them, it would be somebody else. Like it or not, if we want to be a top 6 or 7 Premier League club, we're going to have to get used to being treated like the other clubs in that group.

[dave.woodhall]

Exactly; ludicrously expensive for what you're getting. Every dealing I've had with Purslow reinforces my opinion that he wants to squeeze every penny from supporters and his idea of engagement is asking whether we prefer to take it or leave it.

He is, but he works for billionaires who wouldn't be billionaires if they weren't adept at accumulating money. If it wasn't Purslow doing it for them, it would be somebody else. Like it or not, if we want to be a top 6 or 7 Premier League club, we're going to have to get used to being treated like the other clubs in that group.

Let's get top six commercial income as well then. At the moment it seems that we're having to pay for shortcomings in other areas.

[Risso]

Let's get top six commercial income as well then. At the moment it seems that we're having to pay for shortcomings in other areas.

That's not going to happen overnight though. We're up against the likes of Liverpool and Man U who have been huge global brands for decades, and London clubs like Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea who as you (I think?) have said in the past, can charge more for car parking than we can for match tickets. We've also had a decade of being utterly shit including three years in the second division. We're on the right path, but you're correct that the fans are a quick and easy cash cow. Unfortunately there's absolutely bugger all we can do about it, other than make an individual decision not to go any more.

[dave.woodhall]

Which a lot of supporters are doing and which reinforces my suspicion that *WILMA ALERT* our traditional fanbase is being pushed out in favour of the well-heeled.

[paul_e]

I hate to say it but we were 21st on the deloitte list a few months back and there are a fair few clubs that we'll overtake shortly, without European football it will be tough to push into the top 10-12. That said the breakdown of where our money is coming from looks pretty consistent with other English clubs on the list so I'm not sure it's fair to suggest our fans are being fleeced to make up for poor commercial performance.

I don't like how expensive football is, I don't like the wages and fees that are being thrown around but singling us out as a problem when the entire league is the same, and then using that as a stick to beat Purslow with feels like it's more down to not liking him than him doing anything particularly wrong.

[Drummond]

I hate to say it but we were 21st on the deloitte list a few months back and there are a fair few clubs that we'll overtake shortly, without European football it will be tough to push into the top 10-12. That said the breakdown of where our money is coming from looks pretty consistent with other English clubs on the list so I'm not sure it's fair to suggest our fans are being fleeced to make up for poor commercial performance.

I don't like how expensive football is, I don't like the wages and fees that are being thrown around but singling us out as a problem when the entire league is the same, and then using that as a stick to beat Purslow with feels like it's more down to not liking him than him doing anything particularly wrong.

We could leave everything as it is, and not compete of course.

[Mister E]

Let's get top six commercial income as well then. At the moment it seems that we're having to pay for shortcomings in other areas.

That's not going to happen overnight though. We're up against the likes of Liverpool and Man U who have been huge global brands for decades, and London clubs like Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea who as you (I think?) have said in the past, can charge more for car parking than we can for match tickets. We've also had a decade of being utterly shit including three years in the second division. We're on the right path, but you're correct that the fans are a quick and easy cash cow. Unfortunately there's absolutely bugger all we can do about it, other than make an individual decision not to go any more.

Our commercial income line has been pretty flat throughout the period 1998-2021, peaking at £16.2m in 2015, and averaging £11.4m p.a. (in 2005 - when the commercial data were separated out in the accounts - the figure was £10.5m). I haven't benchmarked that against other clubs and I recognise that it includes some 2nd tier seasons, but overall I'm guessing it is poor compared to other similar-status EPL clubs.
I guess that this is why there is such a focus on Villa Live in the new-build plans for the North Stand and I wonder what other plans they have to build this revenue stream because it is surely holding the financial health of the club back. Sponsorship - another underperformer - will take time because it is directly linked to success, the global fanbase and media profile.