Disappointing news. You obviously can't develop without some loss of capacity and revenue. The North Stand desperately needs replacing. The facilties are outdated. Liverpool have added a lot more capacity over several years and I understand their capacity will be around 57,000. Not a single seat has been added to Villa Park in over 20 years - Deadly Doug replaced the Trinity Road stand in the last major redevelopment of the stadium. Demand is at record levels, and the club has failed to satisfy that demand. I can't believe the redevelopment will take over 2 years to complete. Surely the lower part of of the North Stand can be retained and demolish the rear structure for expansion?
The LDV/HS2 site is the interesting one - a load of the land has just been released by HS2 because they don't need it. That was before the downgrade too.Tie that into the planned new stations on the existing railway line there and the Metro to Star City - as well as the existing station at Aston, which is a similar walking distance, then the transport doesn't look too bad...
Whatever the merits or otherwise of not proceeding with the new stand, the means of communication (buried in an interview described as a mid-season update) is pretty poor.
Quote from: ozzjim on December 19, 2023, 02:47:22 PMThe 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.
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.
Ground share with Blues incoming!
Quote from: London Villan on December 19, 2023, 02:59:58 PMThe LDV/HS2 site is the interesting one - a load of the land has just been released by HS2 because they don't need it. That was before the downgrade too.Tie that into the planned new stations on the existing railway line there and the Metro to Star City - as well as the existing station at Aston, which is a similar walking distance, then the transport doesn't look too bad...The Metro isn't going to Star City anytime soon though, and new stations are pie in the sky if they can't even get the old ones up to scratch. That LDV site would have all of the disadvantages of an out of town bowl (no easy access to the city centre, no local amenities etc.) with none of the advantages of ease of car access.Realistically, the only site in the whole of Birmingham that might make sense for a new ground would be the Wheels site (plenty of land, close to city centre, on existing rail and metro routes), but it just wouldn't be right for Villa. Other than there, Villa Park is already the best site available for a 50k+ stadium, and it's a pisser that the plans have been kicked back again for what is now the third or fourth time. Added to everything else Heck has overseen (badge fiasco, Holte Suite, Terrace View, price increases) it leaves a bad taste when everything else is so positive. Does anyone have any idea what his remit is, other than to piss off existing supporters?
Quote from: Risso on December 19, 2023, 03:14:08 PMGround share with Blues incoming! :'(
Where/what is the Wheels site?
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Topic: Villa Park Redevelopment (Read 1221595 times)
