Villa Park Redevelopment

[Dogtanian]

They've removed one row of steps haven't they? So you probably haven't moved a great deal.

[Villafirst]

Not sure if it's been mentioned: Lower Grounds seats have been moved from Block A (Trinity Road) to the Holte End Lower?

[PeterWithesShin]

Among the new features is a stunning statue to help celebrate Aston Villa’s 150th anniversary. The club have had a lion crafted from brick and engraved with the names of every player to captain the club, with the statue set to be permanently on display in the new Villa Store.

[Toronto Villa]

The lion is facing the wrong way based on what side you are on and how you prefer the lion directionally positioned on the badge. Heck out.

[Dogtanian]

It’s on a revolving base so the lion can point in a new direction every day.

[Toronto Villa]

Does it come with a drop shadow as the sun sets?

[Bad English]

Why is the star above its head?

[eamonn]

Heck screamed "Why do I fucking bother my ass for these entitled jerks?! Fuck off back to your no-hoping last 30 years, you goddamn amateurs!" before launching a kick at the fully-bricked lion which remained unmoved.

[amfy]

My seats in the lower holte have been moved a block over - from L4 to L5. Must be a worse view?

I assumed it was to generate extra capacity, if not - what the hell have they moved us for?

They’ve changed aisles and filled in gangways. It has generated extra capacity. Just not very much. They’ve also shunted people along to change individual spare seats into clusters of at least 2, as these are easier to sell.
Your view probably isn’t much different, but your position in relation to the end of row is likely to be altered more.

[Villan82]

I really would like to see Heck come out and address, properly, the future of the stadium. Surely standing still making cosmetic changes can't be the plan? Surely an extra 8-10,000 on a match day spending in the shop/ fan area has to be the eventual goal?

[AV82EC]

An extra 8-10k makes piss all difference to match receipts and merchandising. I’ll concede it makes some difference but in the grand scheme of the race to £400m turnover there’s easier ways to do it.

[nigel]

An extra 8-10k makes piss all difference to match receipts and merchandising. I’ll concede it makes some difference but in the grand scheme of the race to £400m turnover there’s easier ways to do it.

I suppose we have to start somewhere. 8-10k takes us past 50k which seemed to be an acceptable figure a few months back.
For me, though, it has to be the eventual re build of the North and Witton Lane stand’s which would take us to +60k

[Percy McCarthy]

An extra 8-10k makes piss all difference to match receipts and merchandising. I’ll concede it makes some difference but in the grand scheme of the race to £400m turnover there’s easier ways to do it.

I suppose we have to start somewhere. 8-10k takes us past 50k which seemed to be an acceptable figure a few months back.
For me, though, it has to be the eventual re build of the North and Witton Lane stand’s which would take us to +60k

Agreed. I’ve always felt we are in a quite enviable position that we could get up to that figure for about half-a-billion. Maybe 3 or 4 hundred million for the stands, plus what it might cost to sort out whatever needs doing with the housing beyond Witton Lane.

[PeterWithe]

An extra 8-10k makes piss all difference to match receipts and merchandising. I’ll concede it makes some difference but in the grand scheme of the race to £400m turnover there’s easier ways to do it.

 I disagree, a big full ground makes us more attractive to sponsors and to the overseas Tv market.

[Risso]

Also, once you've rinsed everybody in the existing seats, you've not got many avenues left to you. With a much bigger ground you've got far more scope.