Villa Park Redevelopment

[Nelly]

I would hate to move from Villa Park. I can't conceive of Aston Villa playing anywhere other than Villa Park. I think I'd almost prefer bobbing along in relative mediocrity if the alternative is to join the 'elite' and lose what makes us 'us'.

[dicedlam]

It used to be the CL revenue that helped keep the big boys at the top. Spurs without CL still have a massive advantage because of the extra commercial revenue their ground now makes.

The owners may be seeing that even if we get in the CL for a few seasons, without a massive increase in matchday revenue we are still going to be well behind. A new stadium may be the most likely way of joining that club.

I really expect Newcastle to do the same at some point, only I wouldn't be surprised if they get moved down south to somewhere more attractive for tourist money.

They are already talking about building a big stadium on the site of the town moor located about a mile or so from St James Park.

[Risso]

When did we get 25k in the championship ?    Maybe 1 game yeh

We had quite a few under 30K the first couple of years down there. A few around the 26-28K on Tuesday nights.

[langleylions]

We had 1 26k, 1 27k ,1 28k and 3 29k ,,the rest well into the 30's , so hardly ' getting 25k ' in the championship is it out of 23 games

[Gareth]

Personally I think the leap from this news to moving to a new ground is still a hell of big jump.

If they are halting development because they think there is a better / quicker / cheaper way to do it then so be it (that is what they are employed for after all) but as we keep finding with Heck and co it feels like you only get the sound bite not the detail.

I would imagine season ticket holders in current North will be happy today…that’s a positive

Would hope we will now see them spend a few quid to improve facilities in the existing stands now…won’t hold my breath on that one though :-)

[London Villan]

How much can they do to the ground without applying for planning permission? Even the new external doors on the Terrace View needed to be approved.

[ChicagoLion]

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...

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?

Like.

Yep, good post.

[eamonn]

The amount of money they ply into the Villa "Warehouse" and doubling the "superstore" might give a hint into how likely we're thinking of moving in the next decade or so.

Overall, this feels really disappointing. As has been pointed-out, we've had blueprints and schemes for a North Stand re-development since the 90s. I thought we at last had a regime who were competent in finally implementing the idea but today suggests not so much.

[Risso]

I don't really see the point in a massive new club shop. How about a decent kit first, and then having it available for purchase in the summer? I would guess that 99% of shirt sales are done over the internet anyway. We don't really have a high proprtion of daytrippers like Man U get for the Old Trafford megastore. I think I've been in once in the last 3 or 4 years, and it mostly seems to be full of people killing half an hour rather than filling their shopping bags.

[astonvilla82]

Where/what is the Wheels site?

Banger/Stock Car/Karting venue in Duddeston/Nechells that the Council have closed down and they are now hawking around to sell it off.

Stone's throw from St Andrews and potential location for their new 10,000 seater stadium.

Think it been designated for commercial and house building only for the local community, possible with the council need to raise money that might change,

[usav]

He's not hiding anything, it's in clear sight: "Over the summer months I became more concerned we were adding too many seats too fast"

He's been here 6 months and the plans were well advanced before he got here.  Let him figure out what is best before criticising him for cancelling plans that weren't even his.

[langleylions]

Yet everton can add 15k seats and not worry about it ffs , in arguably a more deprived city !!  Sounds like bullshit to me as villa would have no problem filling 50+k

[Risso]

He's not hiding anything, it's in clear sight: "Over the summer months I became more concerned we were adding too many seats too fast"

He's been here 6 months and the plans were well advanced before he got here.  Let him figure out what is best before criticising him for cancelling plans that weren't even his.

But that is clearly a load of absolute nonsense. As I said before, we've got the 8th biggest stadium in the country, and it's miles smaller than those in the top 7. Also the facilities in the North are shite, and the hospitality offering is terrble too, as behind glass executive boxes went out with the Ark. 10,000 clearly isn't too many seats, and it's certainly not too fast. The stadium expansion is an investment in our future, and unlike many investments it's an almost guaranteed massive boost to revenue. There's only so much further they're going to be able to increase season ticket prices, and that won't go anywhere near to matching what the extra capacity would have brought in.

It's like investing in the first team, if you don't do it and are happy to stand still, sooner or later you get left behind.

[coreyfeldman]

He's not hiding anything, it's in clear sight: "Over the summer months I became more concerned we were adding too many seats too fast"

He's been here 6 months and the plans were well advanced before he got here.  Let him figure out what is best before criticising him for cancelling plans that weren't even his.

Exactly this, everyone needs to bloody calm down

[langleylions]

He's not hiding anything, it's in clear sight: "Over the summer months I became more concerned we were adding too many seats too fast"

He's been here 6 months and the plans were well advanced before he got here.  Let him figure out what is best before criticising him for cancelling plans that weren't even his.

But that is clearly a load of absolute nonsense. As I said before, we've got the 8th biggest stadium in the country, and it's miles smaller than those in the top 7. Also the facilities in the North are shite, and the hospitality offering is terrble too, as behind glass executive boxes went out with the Ark. 10,000 clearly isn't too many seats, and it's certainly not too fast. The stadium expansion is an investment in our future, and unlike many investments it's an almost guaranteed massive boost to revenue. There's only so much further they're going to be able to increase season ticket prices, and that won't go anywhere near to matching what the extra capacity would have brought in.

It's like investing in the first team, if you don't do it and are happy to stand still, sooner or later you get left behind.

EXACTLY  , it sounds such a weird and smalltime thing to say to me ....he is worried we are adding too many seats too quick ....HUH