Villa Park Redevelopment

[Exeter 77]

I think it has decent potential for being a live gig venue for "smaller" artists/productions, a bit like the AV Leisure Centre was, back in the day.

I agree. There's huge appetite for live music and the transport would not be an issue for a venue of that size. Witton and Aston stations would be ideal. It's not just live music either. There's boxing events and conferences and many other events which are currently held at The Holte Suite which doesn't have to generate revenue to survive as it's part of the main structure of the ground.

Didn’t there used to be basketball at Aston Villa Leisure Centre too?

Birmingham Bullets

[dave.woodhall]

Is that Digbeth Dining Club/street food stuff particularly popular round the ground? I know there are always queued but is that because of the limited timescale or is it genuinely worth their while?

The fact they come back week after week and the prices they charge I’d suggest it’s well worth their while.

I’ll mention this for the umpteenth time again as we’re going round this topic, the fan zone area outside the Trinity would be much better located on the Holte Car Park. Yes some drivers would be inconvenienced and have to be relocated but the revenue/atmos/vibe having it there would be fantastic. Me and a mate have been talking about this for about 10 years and we don’t seem any closer.

The reason I asked is that last time I was there, there seemed fewer stalls. As for the Holte car park, I can't imagine Christian 'A bar in every broom cupboard' Purslow wouldn't have looked at its viability. 

[Nev]

There's always scores of folk loafing about on the steps and the surrounding area prior to KO so there is some sort of audience. The weather would have an impact though, it's bitter inside, never mind out.

[Percy McCarthy]

I used to love Digbeth Dining Club. Is it still going or has it moved to Hockley Social? The last time I went to HS there were a few DDC stalls. Hockley Social is ace as well

[paul_e]

I used to love Digbeth Dining Club. Is it still going or has it moved to Hockley Social? The last time I went to HS there were a few DDC stalls. Hockley Social is ace as well

HS is run by the same people, I think they've got a sites in Longbridge and Cov now but don't run in Digbeth any more.

[dekko]

I used to love Digbeth Dining Club. Is it still going or has it moved to Hockley Social? The last time I went to HS there were a few DDC stalls. Hockley Social is ace as well

Hockley Social is run by Digbeth Dining Club.  They've also got Herbert's Yard in Longbridge and Coventry Dining Club.

They were doing a touring thing for a while (eg 1 off Bromsgrove Dining Club, Redditch Dining Club etc) but not sure if thats still on.

[Ads]

There is quite a big space at the back of the Holte Pub. Why not chop half the car park back and have marquee, pop up bar areas, food stalls there?

[Percy McCarthy]

I’m a big fan of all these ideas. How about adding the Aston Hotel to the mix?

[edgysatsuma89]

I've been to Digbeth Dining club quite a few times now they go to Sandwell Valley (this Saturday!) and Lightwoods (which is literally my doorstep). I mean you get fleeced but the food is almost always very good and when it is very good, you don't mind being fleeced. I absolutely think it would work at Villa Park, I know me and my brother's family would use it and we're not exactly minted.

[Rico]

It seems to me that the big stumbling block to increasing the capacity past 52k is the Doug Ellis. The question for right now imo is do we need a larger capacity? If in say ten years or so we are selling out at 52k then fair enough, but again it's begs the question what could be done to improve or increase the capacity of that stand considering the way it is hemmed in by the road, and the local residents right to light.

Have you been reading the thread? Or anything else about the ground since last night?

Yes.

In that case I’m surprised that news of us demolishing and rebuilding the Witton Lane stand and going to 60k capacity appears to have passed you by.

I'm not being facetious but the news of us knocking down the Doug Ellis does seem to have past me by. Can you link to it please?  I'd be interested to read about it thanks

[Percy McCarthy]

It seems to me that the big stumbling block to increasing the capacity past 52k is the Doug Ellis. The question for right now imo is do we need a larger capacity? If in say ten years or so we are selling out at 52k then fair enough, but again it's begs the question what could be done to improve or increase the capacity of that stand considering the way it is hemmed in by the road, and the local residents right to light.

Have you been reading the thread? Or anything else about the ground since last night?

Yes.

In that case I’m surprised that news of us demolishing and rebuilding the Witton Lane stand and going to 60k capacity appears to have passed you by.

I'm not being facetious but the news of us knocking down the Doug Ellis does seem to have past me by. Can you link to it please?  I'd be interested to read about it thanks

Apologies for my tone mate. After listening to the MOMS podcast last night it appears that some who went to the consultation got a bit carried away and I took my cue from them, probably in part because it sounded so exciting.

Sounds like the Witton Lane will be coming down, but not as quickly as some suggested. There were reports of 60k capacity by 2028 or 2031, but MOMS seem to think it might be longer term than that.

The podcast gave a pretty good overview if you can access it. Here’s a Twitter exchange I had with Chris from MOMS:

https://twitter.com/stephenpennell2/status/1677125559430656002?s=46&t=mIHQsbmXlotxpG7TEzRhpA

[The Edge]

I think it has decent potential for being a live gig venue for "smaller" artists/productions, a bit like the AV Leisure Centre was, back in the day.

I agree. There's huge appetite for live music and the transport would not be an issue for a venue of that size. Witton and Aston stations would be ideal. It's not just live music either. There's boxing events and conferences and many other events which are currently held at The Holte Suite which doesn't have to generate revenue to survive as it's part of the main structure of the ground.

I don’t see the point of building a new venue with the aim of taking away the events at the Holte Suite. I was invited to the boxing there once, not really my thing but the missus and I quite enjoyed it and the venue was perfectly adequate.

The Holte Suite isn't a stand alone venue as such doesn't need to be financially viable. It's primary function is matchday amenities. All the events currently held there can be move to any new venue at the other end of the ground. I just think we should be moving on from re-inventing an old factory for the umpteenth time and building a brand new state of the art venue fit for our club. If Villa Park is to keep it's status as one of the top venues in the country it's vital imo.

[Risso]

Well said.

[Percy McCarthy]

Apparently Man City have a Villa Live type facility and it’s a bit of a flop.

[London Villan]

The 60,000 is based on the change in regulation around rail seating. Currently, rail seats conversions are 1:1, but the space allows for 1:1.8 for safe standing, which gives the scope for an increase in capacity, but using the same space.