Villa Park Redevelopment

[DB]

The cynic in me thinks they have become aware that the 30k season ticket list isn't "real" and they may not fill it every week.   It also seems like Chris Heck will want everything done his way - everything has been paused and changed.  The Conference league turnouts probably add to that.  Also - the premium seats won't sell if there are spares elsewhere

I wouldn't want us to leave Villa Park

The cynic in me thinks they have become aware that the 30k season ticket list isn't "real" and they may not fill it every week.   It also seems like Chris Heck will want everything done his way - everything has been paused and changed.  The Conference league turnouts probably add to that.  Also - the premium seats won't sell if there are spares elsewhere

I wouldn't want us to leave Villa Park

I say the other way is more likely. They have looked at clubs like Spammers, Everton moving to bigger stadiums and decided not to fix VP but start again.

[TonyD]

So where will the new ground be built?

[DB]

So where will the new ground be built?

Knocking down Aston Hall.

[Risso]

The Emirates is dreadful.

It's not. Good seats, good views, good facilities and in a great area. What didn't you like about it?

[TonyD]

So where will the new ground be built?

Knocking down Aston Hall.

Makes sense.  It’s terribly old. 

[pauliewalnuts]

The Emirates is dreadful.

It's not. Good seats, good views, good facilities and in a great area. What didn't you like about it?

Full of Arsenal fans.

[curiousorange]

If outside Brum, needs plenty of parking and/or a rail stop. But I don't travel away with Villa so I don't know if decent travel facilities are factored into these out of town places.

[curiousorange]

The Emirates is dreadful.

It's not. Good seats, good views, good facilities and in a great area. What didn't you like about it?

You have to watch Arsenal.

[Dogtanian]

The cynic in me thinks they have become aware that the 30k season ticket list isn't "real" and they may not fill it every week.   It also seems like Chris Heck will want everything done his way - everything has been paused and changed.  The Conference league turnouts probably add to that.  Also - the premium seats won't sell if there are spares elsewhere

I wouldn't want us to leave Villa Park

The cynic in me thinks they have become aware that the 30k season ticket list isn't "real" and they may not fill it every week.   It also seems like Chris Heck will want everything done his way - everything has been paused and changed.  The Conference league turnouts probably add to that.  Also - the premium seats won't sell if there are spares elsewhere

I wouldn't want us to leave Villa Park

I say the other way is more likely. They have looked at clubs like Spammers, Everton moving to bigger stadiums and decided not to fix VP but start again.

The new investment specifically mentioned infrastructure projects, which made me think it was going to fund the new North. It may be part of a bigger project, definitely. I mean, you don't need a huge amount more investment if you're just renovating the ground and making more improvements to the training facilities.

[pauliewalnuts]

Heck is going to be massively unsentimental about things like a ground move.

If it were to be mooted, he'd be pointing out that Spurs, Arsenal, West Ham, soon Everton have all done it and they too had grounds they were attached to. Then he'd point at Milan and Inter who are both leaving San Siro.

[olaftab]

The cynic in me thinks they have become aware that the 30k season ticket list isn't "real" and they may not fill it every week. 

This could certainly be part of the thinking.

But isn't this the polar opposite of entertainment business where "you build/make it they will come" the usual mantra?

[KevinGage]

If Heck is thinking about his own legacy - and how he sells himself to the next sports club- saving his employers a cool £100 million by not going ahead with this and the extra revenue from the 6000 seats per game we won't lose is an easy win.

A new North Stand (or Witton Lane) is, of course, better for the club's long term future.

But the last guy was in the role for five years. If Heck's tenure is similar one train of thought is he might not see much of a benefit from the increased capacity in that time. Or not enough to justify the costs and headaches that go with it.

[London Villan]

As I said where the location is now is fine for transport - if all the relevant parties could sort it.

NEC - one rail line, but loads of surface car parks to be built on or used.
Washwood Heath - now HS2 don't need all the land has been downgraded has loads of land - but crap connections
Longbridge - Has the land free - but wrong location

[curiousorange]

I never thought VP was a long-term attachment for NSWE. For every pro about redeveloping it, there were probably two cons, and there's a bottom line in every decision, which is why they're successful businessmen. And they know for every fan who vows not to set foot in a new Villa ground, there'll be one starting to follow the club who will take that place.

[Sexual Ealing]

The Emirates is dreadful.

It's not. Good seats, good views, good facilities and in a great area. What didn't you like about it?

All those things are true, but it's not a football ground. It feels like going to the cinema. I've been as an away fan (obviously) and with an Arsenal season ticket-holder. It's worse in the home areas. It's really shit.