Villa Park Redevelopment

[Brend'Watkins]

Fair enough for you admitting it.  I don't have that opinion of him at all. But if you think ripping off loyal fans and exploiting this captive market to the full is a good job then so be it. All our commercial success isn't down to him though, it's what's happening on the pitch that sets that tone. Sure, he's probably very good on head count looking at appropriate spread sheets given our capacity.  I'd class him as doing a good job if he brought in more than a Vodka partner and if he showed us the increased capacity plans if there are actually any.

[Villan82]

I want to believe the feasibility study was genuine and as I previously stated it will be a major positive for Chris Heck if he delivers the extension of the stand. I will openly praise anybody who increases Villa Park to 50,000 or so.

But for now I am not getting my hopes up after last time. For all we know the leaked images could easily have been one of the options considered and ruled out the last time they looked at this in 2021/22.

[paul_e]

Fair enough for you admitting it.  I don't have that opinion of him at all. But if you think ripping off loyal fans and exploiting this captive market to the full is a good job then so be it. All our commercial success isn't down to him though, it's what's happening on the pitch that sets that tone. Sure, he's probably very good on head count looking at appropriate spread sheets given our capacity.  I'd class him as doing a good job if he brought in more than a Vodka partner and if he showed us the increased capacity plans if there are actually any.

The entirity of top level football has been about ripping off loyal fans and exploiting captive markets for the last 30 odd years.

[Somniloquism]

Work still hasn't started on the upgrading of Witton Station. The tunnel connecting Brookvale training ground has not been started either.

Was the tunnel supposed to connect the ground to Brookvale? I don't recall reading that. For what purpose?

Ease of getting fans to the ground parking at the Academy and means the fan bottleneck under Witton Bridge was reduced. It was announced under the Purslow North Stand video so not sure if still in the plans.

[rob_bridge]

Fair enough for you admitting it.  I don't have that opinion of him at all. But if you think ripping off loyal fans and exploiting this captive market to the full is a good job then so be it. All our commercial success isn't down to him though, it's what's happening on the pitch that sets that tone. Sure, he's probably very good on head count looking at appropriate spread sheets given our capacity.  I'd class him as doing a good job if he brought in more than a Vodka partner and if he showed us the increased capacity plans if there are actually any.

The entirity of top level football has been about ripping off loyal fans and exploiting captive markets for the last 30 odd years.

It is a Global Business nowadays. TV, Commerical Spinsors and Fans each contribute.

[PeterWithe]

Work still hasn't started on the upgrading of Witton Station. The tunnel connecting Brookvale training ground has not been started either.

Was the tunnel supposed to connect the ground to Brookvale? I don't recall reading that. For what purpose?

Ease of getting fans to the ground parking at the Academy and means the fan bottleneck under Witton Bridge was reduced. It was announced under the Purslow North Stand video so not sure if still in the plans.

Ok, ta.

Has someone told the Americans that Midlands football fans have a fondness for expensive, largely pointless, tunnels as part of the 'match day experience'?

[paul_e]

Fair enough for you admitting it.  I don't have that opinion of him at all. But if you think ripping off loyal fans and exploiting this captive market to the full is a good job then so be it. All our commercial success isn't down to him though, it's what's happening on the pitch that sets that tone. Sure, he's probably very good on head count looking at appropriate spread sheets given our capacity.  I'd class him as doing a good job if he brought in more than a Vodka partner and if he showed us the increased capacity plans if there are actually any.

The entirity of top level football has been about ripping off loyal fans and exploiting captive markets for the last 30 odd years.

It is a Global Business nowadays. TV, Commerical Spinsors and Fans each contribute.

Yes, and TV companies pay for that with subscription costs, knowing that fans have little alternative but to pay. I'm not defending Heck here, just pointing out that he's exploiting fan loyalty is a pretty weak argument in the context of the sport as a whole.

[Des Little]

I’ll say it again, anyone hoping that a North Stand redevelopment will help to get more GA fans in (or reduce the ST waiting list) is in for a rather nasty shock.

[AV82EC]

I’ll say it again, anyone hoping that a North Stand redevelopment will help to get more GA fans in (or reduce the ST waiting list) is in for a rather nasty shock.

I personally think that’s overly pessimistic but I can see why you’d think that.

[algy]

I’ll say it again, anyone hoping that a North Stand redevelopment will help to get more GA fans in (or reduce the ST waiting list) is in for a rather nasty shock.

I think there's a hell of a lot more chance of it happening with what looks like the current renovation than there was with Purslow's design.

[Percy McCarthy]

I’ll say it again, anyone hoping that a North Stand redevelopment will help to get more GA fans in (or reduce the ST waiting list) is in for a rather nasty shock.

I don’t think the extra wide bits that are rumoured to be added to the North Stand will be prime GA+ seats. I suppose Heck could shift the lumpen proletariat out there though and house the chattering classes in the middle.

Ultimately, as an occasional attendee these days, I just want us to stay competitive and keep my TV subscriptions worthwhile.

I’ll come back if and when they need me - and next Tuesday. You all know what day that is right? Not tomorrow.

[rob_bridge]

I am a bit off the pace here.

What is the short term plan (if any) to increase capacity?

Is this in addition to the Design concept published a couple of weeks back?

[algy]

I am a bit off the pace here.

What is the short term plan (if any) to increase capacity?

Is this in addition to the Design concept published a couple of weeks back?

There's not been much new since then.  There was a video from Chris Heck a few pages back that maybe hinted that they were exploring options, but was vague enough that it could've meant anything.

[The Moose]

Work still hasn't started on the upgrading of Witton Station. The tunnel connecting Brookvale training ground has not been started either.

Was the tunnel supposed to connect the ground to Brookvale? I don't recall reading that. For what purpose?

Its another Small Heath tunnel to syphon fans to the Sty

[PeterWithesShin]

If there are any extra seats at some stage I doubt they'll go as season tickets. Same as Liverpool are still at 27k ST holders despite their capacity increases.