Villa Park Redevelopment

[Jon Crofts]

Maybe he’s just waiting to see what total and complete global domination will bring.

[Risso]

I think Arsenal's ground is shite, a soulless bowl. Just a bigger version of Reading's ground.

Would rather stick to Villa Park than do that.

If you are planning to build a new stadium, it needs to be unique and not an identikit stadium. Tottenham and proposed Everton stadium for example.

The Emirates and West Ham's ground are the worst places I've watched football, apart from, as you say, Reading. I ended up sharing a cab with some Reading fans when we played them in the last season in the Championship (0-0 Tyrone trod on the fella's face). I was deliberately being very respectful, not wanting to be the 'big club' fan. I can't remember what comment prompted me to do so, but I eventually had to say, "well yeah, but you're fucking Reading and we're Aston Villa!" It quietened down a bit after that, to my embarrassment.

There's nothing wrong with The Emirates, it felt identical inside to the new Spurs stadium. West Ham is a different kettle of fish entirely, because that's what you get when you move into a stadium that isn't designed for football. I haven't sat in the Doug Ellis stand for about 15 years, but I remember it being dreadful in terms of leg room, with miserable half time facilities.

[olaftab]

So a tremoundsely shite decision.

It says "we are revenue driven, not interested in tying up our money in long term infrastructure investment, business plan is to continue to squeeze maximum juice out of 42,000 as long as we can"

Pathetic excuse based on "current form" so astonishingly short term. Duck you Mr Heck and all those who sail with you.

[Sexual Ealing]

The Emirates is dreadful.

[Jon Crofts]

I think Arsenal's ground is shite, a soulless bowl. Just a bigger version of Reading's ground.

Would rather stick to Villa Park than do that.

If you are planning to build a new stadium, it needs to be unique and not an identikit stadium. Tottenham and proposed Everton stadium for example.

The Emirates and West Ham's ground are the worst places I've watched football, apart from, as you say, Reading. I ended up sharing a cab with some Reading fans when we played them in the last season in the Championship (0-0 Tyrone trod on the fella's face). I was deliberately being very respectful, not wanting to be the 'big club' fan. I can't remember what comment prompted me to do so, but I eventually had to say, "well yeah, but you're fucking Reading and we're Aston Villa!" It quietened down a bit after that, to my embarrassment.

There's nothing wrong with The Emirates, it felt identical inside to the new Spurs stadium. West Ham is a different kettle of fish entirely, because that's what you get when you move into a stadium that isn't designed for football. I haven't sat in the Doug Ellis stand for about 15 years, but I remember it being dreadful in terms of leg room, with miserable half time facilities.

I had a ST in the Doug Ellis Upper, decent view, terrible legroom, cramped walkways with little or no space to socialise, pitiful for a modern stadium.

[London Villan]

Interesting this happens a few days after our new investors get involved.

Pause all big investments - review the options.

On paper you couldn't get a better location than Villa Park - two stations - with links to the city and parts of the city where we draw our fans from - close to a motorway junction, and plenty of big roads leading to the city centre. If we can't get it right there where is a better spot?

All that interview has done has increase speculation. What a mess.

[AV84]

Might just come down to money? Removing the revenue from the North Stand for however long, so that in 2 years time there’s more income, is maybe not as financially viable as leaving it as it is and spending less on implementing new facilities around the ground to bring in more money immediately.

I know people don't like the money driven aspects of football but at the end of the day, if we want to make this season a sustainable thing, the club needs to be making huge amounts of money for itself. A lot of Heck's interview sounds like that's what he's here to do, and he might take the fans into account when he's doing it but his ultimate goal is to bring in cash regardless.

[pauliewalnuts]

Here's a thought.

Atairos deal just announced but has obviously been discussed for a while, as such things don't just happen overnight. Club goes quiet on the North Stand for a while, too. Deal announced, and literally days after, the NS pause comes to light.

When the Atairos thing hit the news, the club made it clear it doesn't affect ownership of Villa, that will be remaining under the control of NSWE.

However - the stadium doesn't belong to the same company any more, they changed that a couple of years ago.

So, will it be that the holding company that holds the ground IS considered part of the V Sports Atairos deal, and that's what it is largely about?

[Beard82]

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

[robleflaneur]

So a tremoundsely shite decision.

It says "we are revenue driven, not interested in tying up our money in long term infrastructure investment, business plan is to
continue to squeeze maximum juice out of 42,000 as long as we can"

Pathetic excuse based on "current form" so astonishingly short term7. Duck you Mr Heck and all those who sail with you.

"Maximum juice",sounds like a  big hike in ticket prices,especially my old 'f**t concession. Anyway,very small,short term thinking.

[ChicagoLion]

The Emirates is soulless as is the Etihad. The Spurs stadium is very grand but no atmosphere in comparison the WHL, they have now regressed to one song and its not even their own.
I love Villa Park, its special, its where my family have been going for generations. I get that for some, this is not important but nothing can replace the atmosphere we experience against Arsenal and City last week.
I dont trust this Heck fella.

[Beard82]

Wheres flintstone when you need him

[usav]

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.

[ChicagoLion]

Here's a thought.

Atairos deal just announced but has obviously been discussed for a while, as such things don't just happen overnight. Club goes quiet on the North Stand for a while, too. Deal announced, and literally days after, the NS pause comes to light.

When the Atairos thing hit the news, the club made it clear it doesn't affect ownership of Villa, that will be remaining under the control of NSWE.

However - the stadium doesn't belong to the same company any more, they changed that a couple of years ago.

So, will it be that the holding company that holds the ground IS considered part of the V Sports Atairos deal, and that's what it is largely about?

Its hard to tell but I don't believe in coincidences.
The New Investment and the non development of the ground are obviously related.
Which without doubt means that a move is more likely.

[frank black]

Mmm, just watched the interview. They are definitely going milk  existing supporters for all we are worth. Not a hint of any future capacity plans either