Villa Park Redevelopment

[Chris Harte]

This whole situation of cancelling (or at least postponing) the North Stand rebuild has the mark of half-arsedness. I never thought NSWE were like that. I'm still hoping that they're not.

[Ads]

What would the new North have delivered per season do we think?

13,000 seats. 70% season tickets and say 80% would be "normal" but the more expensive at ~£850? The Premium ones at maybe ~£1500?

The balance of match day tickets split 80/20 (rounded to 3k:1k) again at upper Trinity prices and at Lower Grounds prices would be £16m ish a year in revenue and probably a net increase of £10m.

Food/drink would be guess work but more people would spend more with better access. It would pay for itself in likely 8 years or so.

[Chris Harte]

What would the new North have delivered per season do we think?

13,000 seats. 70% season tickets and say 80% would be "normal" but the more expensive at ~£850? The Premium ones at maybe ~£1500?

The balance of match day tickets split 80/20 (rounded to 3k:1k) again at upper Trinity prices and at Lower Grounds prices would be £16m ish a year in revenue and probably a net increase of £10m.

Food/drink would be guess work but more people would spend more with better access. It would pay for itself in likely 8 years or so.

I'd go with the extra 8,000 seats for your calculations.

I'd have thought the premium seats would be a lot more than two grand a season, but who knows?

[KevinGage]

Can you really offer the full premium experience with a stand behind the goal?   I know Arsenal used to have the Clock End at Highbury, but that was out of necessity. As the two art deco stands running the length of the pitch were listed buildings.

It doesn't really happen anywhere else.

Maybe we're putting a pause on it whilst Heck looks at the viability of doing something with the Doug Ellis stand. Which, lets face it, has little sentimental value.

[Villan82]

The North Stand is much more urgent. It is really poor in there, it is the oldest stand, we have plenty of room behind it to do something special and it just ruins the look of the stadium.

[LeeB]

The North Stand is much more urgent. It is really poor in there, it is the oldest stand, we have plenty of room behind it to do something special and it just ruins the look of the stadium.

It maybe older but it's miles better than the Witton in my experience, and it doesn't ruin the look at all, it's a brutalise masterpiece next to that piece of crap, Barratt-home esque monument to mediocrity with the travel agent's name on it.

[Villan82]

You could probably safely land a jet in between the gap from the upper North to the Upper Trinity!

[avfc_1874]

Was in the Lower North, for the 1st time since the England - Spain friendly in 2001.

It definitely is in need of an upgrade.

I'm guessing the question wasn't raised in the meeting, in how they were going to add those extra few thousand seats?

[Broadlee]

My view would be similar to others - possibly including Heck, but to demolish a stand and take away the ability of supporters seeing the Villa for Two years whilst in the most competitive vain the team has been in for Years would not make sense.
Let them look at smarter ways to construct a new stand - if possible to minimise the reduction in seats similarly as done at Anfield I believe?

[Russ aka Big Nose]

I noticed today in the corner of the holte and Witton, where the latter appears to partially block the view of, at least, some seats. These were mostly empty, could this account for a large proportion of the mythical 200 unsold seats per game?

I know someone who has a ST in that section. It is discounted because it has a restricted view. Whenever he can, he moves into an unoccupied seat towards the middle as do others, so I think that explains why a few seats at the edge of the stand are noticeable when the odd seat in the middle of a row would not be spotted. UTV

[The Edge]

There is potential to put seats on both sides of the North Stand.

Not a n easy task though. The massive pillars holding up the roof would need to go. It would cost millions to put a new cantilever roof on the stand. They are just pissing about and delaying the inevitable. To put it into perspective Wolves have built two brand new stands at the North Bank in the time we've had our North Stand. It's really small time and I'm shocked the owners haven't stepped in and told Heck to piss off. Unless there's a much bigger redevelopment afoot . In which case bloody tell us.

[Villan82]

Cancelling this is the most small time thing NSWE have done since the takeover.

It was stated at one time that they considered moving us but decided instead to redevelop what we have. There was even a consultation. I remember ticking the box about retaining the four stand look at Villa Park.

Like the badge situation in June I can only conclude the thing that changed is Heck arrived and has persuaded them to ditch it. It's quite incredible really that someone who will probably be here for 5 years max can change our strategy so radically.

The reason it annoys me so much is that it's such a bad signal. Similar happened around 2010-11. The strategy changed and look where that left us. I really wish they would just stick to the bloody plan.

[tomd2103]

Cancelling this is the most small time thing NSWE have done since the takeover.

It was stated at one time that they considered moving us but decided instead to redevelop what we have. There was even a consultation. I remember ticking the box about retaining the four stand look at Villa Park.

Like the badge situation in June I can only conclude the thing that changed is Heck arrived and has persuaded them to ditch it. It's quite incredible really that someone who will probably be here for 5 years max can change our strategy so radically.

The reason it annoys me so much is that it's such a bad signal. Similar happened around 2010-11. The strategy changed and look where that left us. I really wish they would just stick to the bloody plan.

I don't know why you are getting so wound up about this.  It's likely to be a temporary pause while all options are assessed, especially now a new company who specialise in this field are now on board. 

[Bad English]

Was in the Lower North, for the 1st time since the England - Spain friendly in 2001.

It definitely is in need of an upgrade.

I'm guessing the question wasn't raised in the meeting, in how they were going to add those extra few thousand seats?

I was in the Upper North for the debut of Milan Baros against Blackburn; the scabs on my knees are just starting to heal.

They had better not be thinking of reducing the seat pitch.

[john2710]

I don't think the delay to the North Stand is any more controversial than they see us being competitive for the first time in decades, probably well ahead of what they considered possible even 12 months ago. The prospect of playing in the Champions League & compeating at the top end of the PL in a ground with a reduced capacity is rightly being seen as a huge disadvantage.

Heck's remit is increase the clubs revenue & I have no doubt that's what he'll do. They'd be foolish if they didn't consider the option of moving to a new stadium & the potential revenues that could be generated from that.

In the meantime they'll squeeze every penny they can from the existing stadium, with minimal levels of investment.