Villa Park Redevelopment

[ChicagoLion]

If they are not going ahead because it would take money from other areas, well what areas are these? We don't need £100m spent on the training ground or academy. I don't think we can spend £100m on transfers with FFP. And if we only have £100-150m available overall, where has the appetite for investment gone? Do they really want us to think that's all they can muster and it was all talk?

Was thinking the same. I really hope not when everything has been going so well, but this decision together with the news about the outside investment could lead to that conclusion.

On the flip side, it is difficult to believe a word that Heck says.

Some of the "excuses" he has given for some of his actions in his first six months have been downright insulting.

You 'might' be able to excuse the first fuck up because he had only been here for three minutes, (I don't personally), but 6 months later & the communication has been just as shit.

I have read that he needs to get his feet under the table, but what the fuck has he been doing with his feet for the past 6 months & where the fuck is the table?

Leopards and spots, once a bullshitter.

[Dogtanian]

I know I keep banging on about it, but I really do think they're looking at a long-term project of a new stadium and the Atairos deal lends weight to it.

They partner with "growth oriented businesses" - I don't think a few upgraded gyms in the training ground really cuts it as an attractive investment.

They provide "long-term capital to high-potential companies" - long-term says more stadium than just enhancing facilities, and high potential means the investment is going to directly enable growth.

Comcast is the sole investor in Atairos. Comcast Spectacor currently own several arenas, stadiums, and convention centres in the US, and manage dozens more.

I have decided. New stadium is on the agenda, even if that's top-secret for now. 

[Rodders]

I'm bewildered by some of these responses. Heck, C bears ultimate responsibility, yes - that's his job. But there is no scenario in which he has carte blanche as an individual to make strategic/operational decisions of this magnitude without endless discussion with and ratification from the whole board, up to and including NS/WE.

On a much, much, much smaller scale I was a trustee and director and interim manager of our local town hall when it was undergoing modernisation/development. Had I appeared at a board meeting to say that I'd taken an executive decision such as this and appeared on official SM channels to disseminate it I'd have been fired and sued.

There's no reason to believe that the combined experience and acumen of these incredibly successful businessmen wouldn't be applied to the enormous investment they have already made in their asset (the club). Any hiatus on the NS development plans would hopefully in practice mean that something even better is in the pipeline*


*Hopefully not moving the stadium

[Simon Page]

I say this as someone who was at best whelmed by the North Stand plans, so not that bothered about alternatives being looked at. I defer totally to those who know about designing and building big structures, but until that interview the club had been telling us how wonderful their now shelved plans were. I assume the previous North Stand redevelopment wasn't a Purslow unilateral decision any more than the halting of those plans is simply Heck fancying a change. What I struggle with is just trusting people who lob out such contradictions with a gushing lack of self-awareness.

Hopefully better alternatives have been put forward to the chiefs, even if publicly the decision making looks as sane and stable as an inflatable outside a car showroom.

[Ads]

New plans for Witton Station in.

[nick harper]

New plans for Witton Station in.

https://www.wmca.org.uk/news/plans-to-upgrade-witton-railway-station-ahead-of-euro-2028-tournament-revealed/

[Risso]

Well that's one of the excuses that can go in the bin then.

[Dogtanian]

And another piece slips into place... 

[AV82EC]

So basically we’ve moved from the feasibility study to prepping the Business Case. Come on Street, keep it moving…..

[dave.woodhall]

What excuses and what pieces?

[Ads]

I like how happy the chap bybthe telegraph pole looks.

[DB]

Witton Station plan are in….good timing eh?

[VillaTim]

New plans for Witton Station in.

ramps , a tunnel, some canopies and widening the platform. Hardly building Grand Central are they, why has this taken so long

[AV82EC]

New plans for Witton Station in.

ramps , a tunnel, some canopies and widening the platform. Hardly building Grand Central are they, why has this taken so long

It’s the way public planning and investment policy works. There are plenty of other projects WMCA could be investing in for rail improvements, this will be one of hundreds looking for funding.

[dave.woodhall]

It doesn't make sense. Where would you have a foot-only tunnel underneath the line with a side road on the right hand side?