Villa Park Redevelopment

[Drummond]

I love the Lower North. It's the closest thing to a traditional football experience you can get at Villa Park.

[Nii Lamptey]

The main reason I'm disappointed it's not going ahead is because the current North Stand is ugly as hell. That new stand would have given even more prestige to Villa Park (*as well as more bums on seats).

[Flamingo Lane]

I really like the North Stand, the view from the Upper is magnificent, and notwithstanding its relatively small capacity I think it looks impressive too. Can't help thinking though that the lack of legroom may have contributed to a worsening in the condition of my dad's knees, as he had a season ticket up there from the time it was opened, for several years.

[nigel]

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.

This has crossed my mind, too.
Get it all done in one, rather than two phases.
Or, get the one done in a way that the second can can just fit onto it

[Des Little]

My take is the pause in building the North is that the new thinking is a full rebuild, on the current site, or possibly even Alexander stadium. The latter obviously means we play at VP until it’s ready, thereby not dropping any revenue in the meantime.

[LeeB]

I know Dave is insistent were not moving but I agree, they may say there are no plans to move as they've not yet properly investigated it but that could now change. They may also conclude the original idea is best but I now doubt that, if only as he'd look even more of a twat if he held everything up for a year or two to then go ahead with it anyway.

[Villan82]

Or, option three, get rid of Heck and bring in somebody who won't rip up everything we had planned.

[LeeB]

Or, option three, get rid of Heck and bring in somebody who won't rip up everything we had planned.

Don't kid yourself that he's just some guy acting out his own wishes, he may be cack handed with his comms but he's not making these decisions alone.

[Villan82]

Or, option three, get rid of Heck and bring in somebody who won't rip up everything we had planned.

Don't kid yourself that he's just some guy acting out his own wishes, he may be cack handed with his comms but he's not making these decisions alone.

I know that but I have no doubt he is a major part of what has gone on since end of the 22/23 season. It was previously in the public domain that NSWE were committed to Villa Park and there was a consultation about its redevelopment.

Heck seems to have persuaded them to change course on a lot of stuff. I honestly believe that. NSWE didn't put a foot wrong really until he arrived.

[jon collett]

Suspect whereas Purslow was mainly about image and PR that Heck is more about financial targets and bottom line.

And in any case their briefs are different.

[KevinGage]

Aside from the fanzone areas and Wembley way-style walk from Witton station to the ground, the new North proposals didn't really have the wow factor for me. That weird bit in the drop down from the North to the Doug Ellis looked a bit weird and unsightly to me.

For all its faults, the North Stand is the last link we have to teams and games of the past; Tony Morley v Anderlecht, Platt, Houghton and Phil King against Inter twice, Bozzie's heroics against Tranmere all played out against that backdrop.

If we're ditching it it should be for something majestic.

[ez]

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.

It's been said plenty of times on here. The lower North is a solid Bank and could be kept. The upper North could be removed and built entirely new just as Liverpool did. We would only lose less than 4,000 seats during construction by doing it that way.

The lower north is not suitable for seating. Never has been.

[The Edge]

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.

It's been said plenty of times on here. The lower North is a solid Bank and could be kept. The upper North could be removed and built entirely new just as Liverpool did. We would only lose less than 4,000 seats during construction by doing it that way.

The lower north is not suitable for seating. Never has been.

I'm thinking a two stage plan. Keep the lower North open whilst the new stand is built behind it. Once that's ready they can open it and rebuild the lower section to suit. It's not that difficult. It's a shame though as that lower tier is the oldest part of the ground. They just re-profiled the old Witton End front section when the North Stand was built.

[Hookeysmith]

Although I am not a supporter of moving to a new ground the Architectural rendering on The Holy Trinity YT (Sheff utd review) looked unbelievably sexy. Mixture of modern and historic and looked like a cathedral.

I'm not savvy enough to capture the images nd put them on here. Would appreciate if someone could as worthy of discussion

[The Edge]

Although I am not a supporter of moving to a new ground the Architectural rendering on The Holy Trinity YT (Sheff utd review) looked unbelievably sexy. Mixture of modern and historic and looked like a cathedral.

I'm not savvy enough to capture the images nd put them on here. Would appreciate if someone could as worthy of discussion

They were on here a while back, maybe a week but I can't be arsed to scroll back. I agree they are superb.