Villa Park Redevelopment

[Sexual Ealing]

I wonder if we could move to Brentford's old ground. That was a belter.

[sid1964]

Maybe the reason for not rebuilding the North Stand - is that that NSWE are trying to have an American soccer franchise to be based in Vegas - the cost for doing this is £700 million +(building stadium etc..)  I would imagine our owners cannot afford to do both projects at the same time.

[curiousorange]

I wonder if we could move to Brentford's old ground. That was a belter.

Let's not be greedy - we've just taken their current one.

[LeeB]

There's the Paget site down the Vale, would be right handy for me.

[dave.woodhall]

Moving stadium and location is a double whammy in terms of losing emotional attachment. Spurs and Arsenal’s new grounds are pretty much next door to their old ones, meaning no impact on how fans get to the ground so they can maintain long held pre-match rituals. Something we would never be able to do.

But at the same time, White Hart Lane was for ages considered a bit of a bastard to get to, yet they've moved next door.

I could see us buying chunks of Aston Park from BCC and creating space for a new stadium, and having upgrading rail links as part of that deal.

I can't see us ever getting permission to buy a park and do anything that would infringe on Aston Hall.

[langleylions]

Pissed off is an understatement , just when villa are taking off with a great team fantastic manager , 20k plus waiting lists , i was sure i was gunna finally find out just how big villa can be before i pop it , oh well guess we will always be run like a corner shop ffs

[paul_e]

Has a new stadium ever been developed in tandem with a new railway station?

The red tape and wider implications of new stations create a massive problem - look at the three stations on the Camp Hill line. Planned for over 15 years - still not ready and they require no new tracks, sidings etc... All the stuff at Witton is superficial - queueing and access - not an increase in the number of trains or the number of carriages. These decisions are well beyond the influence of football clubs and (bankrupt) local authorities.

I can't recall one in this country. Munich did for the Allianz Arena.

Coventry arena had a station build but not until a few years later.

The only other one I can think of is the olympic park but that was a far bigger project.

[Risso]

Moving stadium and location is a double whammy in terms of losing emotional attachment. Spurs and Arsenal’s new grounds are pretty much next door to their old ones, meaning no impact on how fans get to the ground so they can maintain long held pre-match rituals. Something we would never be able to do.

But at the same time, White Hart Lane was for ages considered a bit of a bastard to get to, yet they've moved next door.

I could see us buying chunks of Aston Park from BCC and creating space for a new stadium, and having upgrading rail links as part of that deal.

I can't see us ever getting permission to buy a park and do anything that would infringe on Aston Hall.

No chance at all, it's a Grade I listed building.

[ozzjim]

The actual stadium at Spurs is brilliant, I went fully expecting to hate it and thought it was brilliant. Getting to it, not so great.

If Villa want to push on the capacity and corporate has to grow. At present to do that in the current space is very difficult and i would imagine doesn't give the return on investment needed to justify it, at a time where filling Villa Park is vital.

The answer isn't easy, but there has to be a compromise along the way I fear.

One thing is for sure, no newly built stadium can feel like Villa Park did last week against Man City and Arsenal. The history, the pitch, the emotion, connectivity with the players and people around you. How you retain the soul of a football club in that move, I just don't know.

[Sexual Ealing]

Moving stadium and location is a double whammy in terms of losing emotional attachment. Spurs and Arsenal’s new grounds are pretty much next door to their old ones, meaning no impact on how fans get to the ground so they can maintain long held pre-match rituals. Something we would never be able to do.

But at the same time, White Hart Lane was for ages considered a bit of a bastard to get to, yet they've moved next door.

I could see us buying chunks of Aston Park from BCC and creating space for a new stadium, and having upgrading rail links as part of that deal.

I can't see us ever getting permission to buy a park and do anything that would infringe on Aston Hall.

I'm not au fait with the intricacies of Birmingham's local politics, but I'd be amazed if a Tory mayor wasn't up for selling off public assets for 'development'.

[KevinGage]

You don't, as all recent ground moves have shown.

So best not to do it.

[Risso]

The actual stadium at Spurs is brilliant, I went fully expecting to hate it and thought it was brilliant. Getting to it, not so great.

If Villa want to push on the capacity and corporate has to grow. At present to do that in the current space is very difficult and i would imagine doesn't give the return on investment needed to justify it, at a time where filling Villa Park is vital.

The answer isn't easy, but there has to be a compromise along the way I fear.

One thing is for sure, no newly built stadium can feel like Villa Park did last week against Man City and Arsenal. The history, the pitch, the emotion, connectivity with the players and people around you. How you retain the soul of a football club in that move, I just don't know.

The atmosphere when we beat Derby at Wembley was pretty special. The atmosphere when we played Luton at home this season was as flat as a witch's tit.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Maybe they are going to build a 50/60k purpose built stadium at Bodymoor Heath.
Isn't a leg of HS2 still going through right next to it ? Stick a platform alongside and you could get from the middle of London to outside the ground in 45 minutes.
Probably complete bollocks I'm talking, plus it will be bloody hard getting to the bar pre-match in the Dog & Doublet.

[paul_e]

In terms of possible sites what's happening with the old LDF site now, is it still needed for HS2? Even half that site would be enough for a 60k beast. Would need a lot of infrastructure work to make it viable though.

[pablo_picasso]

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.

Indeed.

He is working for his own figures to be good on his CV in the merry-go-round of top brass jobs.

We were sold on his figures when improving the basketball place he was at in America, & he didn't get those numbers by reducing capacity when tickets were in demand.

Even if it does appear to be short term & personal interest driven.

Now that might be completely wrong, & I really hope it is, but the shitty communication from Heck right from the start doesn't really help when it comes to speculation about his motives.