Villa Park Redevelopment

[algy]

Even in 83 I can remember our supporters calling the UEFA Cup the Losers’ Cup so it’s a natural reaction after seeing such riches the year before.

It might be a generational thing.  Some of my favourite Villa memories are UEFA cup matches in the 90s when I was 20ish years old.  Phil King v Inter Milan springs to mind.

Consequently, I have a soft spot for the randomness of the Europa compared to the bling and predictability of the Champions League.

Yeah, was going to say that the 1990/91 season home game against Inter was one of my favourite games ever.  Seeing Jurgen Klinsmann, Lothar Matthäus, and Andreas Brehme at a point when I was utterly besotted with the West Germany national side was amazing.  Even more so because we beat them 2-0

[Dante Lavelli]

Even in 83 I can remember our supporters calling the UEFA Cup the Losers’ Cup so it’s a natural reaction after seeing such riches the year before.

It might be a generational thing.  Some of my favourite Villa memories are UEFA cup matches in the 90s when I was 20ish years old.  Phil King v Inter Milan springs to mind.

Consequently, I have a soft spot for the randomness of the Europa compared to the bling and predictability of the Champions League.

Yeah, was going to say that the 1990/91 season home game against Inter was one of my favourite games ever.  Seeing Jurgen Klinsmann, Lothar Matthäus, and Andreas Brehme at a point when I was utterly besotted with the West Germany national side was amazing.  Even more so because we beat them 2-0

I forgot about the Bilbao fans in 1998(?).  I think that’s my favourite football day.

I imagine, one day soon, the conference league will be seen as a burden, but I wouldn’t tell a West Ham fan that.  In fact europe is probably a better opportunity for a trophy than the our domestic competitions.

[The Edge]

Even in 83 I can remember our supporters calling the UEFA Cup the Losers’ Cup so it’s a natural reaction after seeing such riches the year before.

It might be a generational thing.  Some of my favourite Villa memories are UEFA cup matches in the 90s when I was 20ish years old.  Phil King v Inter Milan springs to mind.

Consequently, I have a soft spot for the randomness of the Europa compared to the bling and predictability of the Champions League.

Yeah, was going to say that the 1990/91 season home game against Inter was one of my favourite games ever.  Seeing Jurgen Klinsmann, Lothar Matthäus, and Andreas Brehme at a point when I was utterly besotted with the West Germany national side was amazing.  Even more so because we beat them 2-0

I forgot about the Bilbao fans in 1998(?).  I think that’s my favourite football day.

I imagine, one day soon, the conference league will be seen as a burden, but I wouldn’t tell a West Ham fan that.  In fact europe is probably a better opportunity for a trophy than the our domestic competitions.

Yeah that was a brilliant day/night. Spent the afternoon drinking with their fans on Broad St.

[Pete3206]

Bilbao fans were class. Had a load in the King Edward swapping scarves and joining in with It's up to you Dwight Yorke.

[aldridgeboy]

Even in 83 I can remember our supporters calling the UEFA Cup the Losers’ Cup so it’s a natural reaction after seeing such riches the year before.

Paul Birch totally outclassed Matthaus that day. But he was an amazing player,and I also really liked that Germany team. What a fab night that was

It might be a generational thing.  Some of my favourite Villa memories are UEFA cup matches in the 90s when I was 20ish years old.  Phil King v Inter Milan springs to mind.

Consequently, I have a soft spot for the randomness of the Europa compared to the bling and predictability of the Champions League.

Yeah, was going to say that the 1990/91 season home game against Inter was one of my favourite games ever.  Seeing Jurgen Klinsmann, Lothar Matthäus, and Andreas Brehme at a point when I was utterly besotted with the West Germany national side was amazing.  Even more so because we beat them 2-0

[Exeter 77]

Even in 83 I can remember our supporters calling the UEFA Cup the Losers’ Cup so it’s a natural reaction after seeing such riches the year before.

It might be a generational thing.  Some of my favourite Villa memories are UEFA cup matches in the 90s when I was 20ish years old.  Phil King v Inter Milan springs to mind.

Consequently, I have a soft spot for the randomness of the Europa compared to the bling and predictability of the Champions League.

Yeah, was going to say that the 1990/91 season home game against Inter was one of my favourite games ever.  Seeing Jurgen Klinsmann, Lothar Matthäus, and Andreas Brehme at a point when I was utterly besotted with the West Germany national side was amazing.  Even more so because we beat them 2-0

My favourite memory from that night is Chris Price running at Andreas Brehme and tying him up in a knot at one point in the second half.

[FatSam]

Going back to the earlier discussion, here is the comparison between the existing North Stand, the Purslow scheme, and the new scheme:





As you can see, the new scheme occupies a smaller footprint than the Purslow scheme, and consequently the upper tier doesn't extend as far back. I'm assuming this is to avoid having to re-direct the below ground utilities which were supposedly preventing the existing stand remaining in use during construction.

The fact that the overall capacity for both schemes following redevelopment is comparable can only be due to the bowl optimisation that is now being proposed, and perhaps the seat spacing being tighter in the new scheme (which would make sense given that it is largely an existing stand).

[rob_bridge]

Going back to the earlier discussion, here is the comparison between the existing North Stand, the Purslow scheme, and the new scheme:





As you can see, the new scheme occupies a smaller footprint than the Purslow scheme, and consequently the upper tier doesn't extend as far back. I'm assuming this is to avoid having to re-direct the below ground utilities which were supposedly preventing the existing stand remaining in use during construction.

The fact that the overall capacity for both schemes following redevelopment is comparable can only be due to the bowl optimisation that is now being proposed, and perhaps the seat spacing being tighter in the new scheme (which would make sense given that it is largely an existing stand).

Not for me I hasten to add but do we know how much 'proper' hospitality (and by extension revenue) will increase after extension is built?

[chrisw1]

I think the Purslow stand was going to be approx 2k larger than the current plan.  The 'bowl optimisation' would have happened with both.

But there are two points, firstly the Purslow stand would have been far better for fan space (we all know how cramped the seats are in the North) and hospitality space, which seems to be the key to a competitive turnover.

But also, the Purslow stand didn't have to be the final solution.  Rather than a scaled-back plan, the club could easily have gone for a scaled-up plan, maximising the large amount of space we have behind that stand. We could have got to 55k without having to wait a decade or more for a solution on the DE stand, which in my opinion will never come.

I'm not looking to re-address the arguments about playing in front of a closed stand, just adding a comment given the comparisons raised above.

[Ads]

The Purslow plan was still <50k. Marginally, but it was 49,9-and change.

[chrisw1]

The stand was bigger than the current plan.  The difference is the bowl optimisation, which could and would have happened with either.

[LeeB]

Whatever the rights and wrongs of each plan we clearly cannot consider shutting down a large chuck of revenue stream for a season or more, that much has been made abundantly clear over the summer.

[Pat Mustard]

Whatever the rights and wrongs of each plan we clearly cannot consider shutting down a large chuck of revenue stream for a season or more, that much has been made abundantly clear over the summer.

And that is without the issues around transport as well - going up to 55k+ is a non-starter until the train stations are sorted.