Villa Park Redevelopment

[Drummond]

I don't get the hate for this extension - as long as they don't make a mess of the roof then it doesn't really do much more than extend what is already there, and if anything adds to the feel of VP as a unique ground.  A pavillion (which essentially this resembles) is exactly the kind of structure that would be in keeping with the heritage of the place, surely?  I also doubt it would have much of an impact on any longer terms plans for a more comprehensive redevlopment of Trinity Road.

It will hopefully also tidy up that corner externally, which really does look awful at the moment.

Quite. Though it's a good reason to focus on the North Stand not being a total rebuild.

[DB]

Genuinely, that looks like the sort of cheap shite Ellis would have put up. It's properly awful.

What in the blue hell is that?!  It looks like the tiny stand at Vicarage Road.

I actually think thats an act of architectural vandalism on our beloved Villa Park. We need to let the club know we dont want this crap tacked onto the side of another piece of crap that Doug Ellis installed.

Trinity.

I wasn't saying the whole Trinity was a piece of crap. I meant that little block of maisonettes with balconies tacked onto the side of it. I sit in the Trinity and its a good stand although the exterior does remind me of the back end of a shopping mall.

I was just pointing out that the picture above is of the Trinity and the comment about another piece of crap added to it.
Yep, the outside poor, it os much better than when it was 1st built with that awful yellow plastic lettering Doug had on it.

[itbrvilla]

Genuinely, that looks like the sort of cheap shite Ellis would have put up. It's properly awful.

What in the blue hell is that?!  It looks like the tiny stand at Vicarage Road.

I actually think thats an act of architectural vandalism on our beloved Villa Park. We need to let the club know we dont want this crap tacked onto the side of another piece of crap that Doug Ellis installed.

Trinity.

I wasn't saying the whole Trinity was a piece of crap. I meant that little block of maisonettes with balconies tacked onto the side of it. I sit in the Trinity and its a good stand although the exterior does remind me of the back end of a shopping mall.

I was just pointing out that the picture above is of the Trinity and the comment about another piece of crap added to it.
Yep, the outside poor, it os much better than when it was 1st built with that awful yellow plastic lettering Doug had on it.

Could be a nice canvas for a giant artwork or our badge etc.

[chrisw1]

The Trinity, from the pitch, is a fine looking stand, it is big and imposing.

Tacking that sort of shite on for, what, a few hundred seats, is horrible. it just looks cheap and shit, like the sort of thing you'd see at some fucking dump like Molineux or Selhurst Park, it says "fuck what it looks like, we need the dough, so tack it on".

And yes, the current situation there looks shit, too, this just looks even shitter.

The thing is the boxes are already there.  The extension of them will be a barely noticeable change in the scheme of things.

[Drummond]

They could hang a tifo of the trees in that corner prior to kick off

[algy]

The Trinity, from the pitch, is a fine looking stand, it is big and imposing.

Tacking that sort of shite on for, what, a few hundred seats, is horrible. it just looks cheap and shit, like the sort of thing you'd see at some fucking dump like Molineux or Selhurst Park, it says "fuck what it looks like, we need the dough, so tack it on".

And yes, the current situation there looks shit, too, this just looks even shitter.

The thing is the boxes are already there.  The extension of them will be a barely noticeable change in the scheme of things.

Yeah, that's my thoughts.  It'll at least make it look like it belongs in a football ground, rather than just a random block of flats.

Longer term, and just riffing off what Pat Mustard had said .... if we're able to build over Trinity Road, I'd turn that in to a really nice red brick pavillion.  Make it look properly fancy, no expense spared type thing - certainly on the exterior.  Give it 30 years, any visiting fans will assume it's been there forever like the cottage at Fulham's ground (but better, obvs)

[eamonn]

Like folk think the Holte's been there forever!

[pauliewalnuts]

Like folk think the Holte's been there forever!

It is amazing how often you hear that.

A while back I corrected someone who posted a pic on twitter of the Holte and referred to it as Leitch’s work. I told him it was 30 years old and he wouldn’t have it.

[kippaxvilla2]

It is becoming like Trigger's Broom. 

[Crown Hill]

Like folk think the Holte's been there forever!

It is amazing how often you hear that.

A while back I corrected someone who posted a pic on twitter of the Holte and referred to it as Leitch’s work. I told him it was 30 years old and he wouldn’t have it.

A pastiche of a pastiche!

[SoccerHQ]

Wonder how long it will be in next ten years before we turn attention to the Witton.

Once the North is redone the Witton is going to look very small compared to the other three stands and while the views are excellent in both tiers we all know it is ridiculously cramped in the concourses.

For some strange reason when coming in from Witton and walking towards the Holte End I now tend to walk through the little community area with Basketball court so I was judging how much space there is to properly expand over the road.

Was actually surprised how wide some of the back gardens were overlooking the courts and then we get to the tricky subject of compulsory orders....

I assume the eventual plan is build over the road and replicate the Trinity a bit and then we'd probably get up to 60k and that would be enough really for next couple of decades.

[PeterWithesShin]

Stadium tours and a chance to quiz Aston Villa football players will be keeping people entertained during the annual fundraising Big Villa Sleep Out at the club's stadium.

Former players Ian Taylor and James Chester will be spending the night between the seats of the Upper Holte End, where the sleep-out will be held for the first time, to raise money for the community.

They will be joined by BBC Radio WM presenter Katharine Merry, who is also an Aston Villa Foundation ambassador.

Taylor's tips were to sleep on the stadium concourse and bring a pillow and a sleeping bag and "just be nice and warm".

Stefan Ferencz CH, development manager at Aston Villa Foundation, said the sleep-out was one of the foundation's most popular, longstanding fundraising events, and since it was launched in 2018 had raised in the region of £100,000.

"All of the money goes to distributing essential items that young people and families across Birmingham might not have access to," he said, "such as food, hygiene products and clothing".

He said it was the first time ever the event had taken place in the "iconic" Holte End, which is known as one of the most famous stands in English football.

Entertainment during the night includes a quiz, a raffle, food from Kerbside Cobs and stadium tours, along with a question and answer session with football players.

Mr Ferencz said: "We'll have James Chester, external and Ian Taylor, external joining us for the night and also worth mentioning that we're going to have an exclusive DJ set from our foundation ambassador Nathan Dawe, external."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg92zd9jd7o

[Exeter 77]

Is Katherine Merry's greatest achievement really working for Radio WM?

[john e]

It is becoming like Trigger's Broom. 

Already is for me
My first visit was mid 70’s not one of those stands that were there back then remain
All gone along with the 20p at the turnstile to get into the Holte

[Mister E]

It is becoming like Trigger's Broom. 

Already is for me
My first visit was mid 70’s not one of those stands that were there back then remain
All gone along with the 20p at the turnstile to get into the Holte

My first visit - in 1967 - was in the Witton Lane stand; the second was the open Witton End; the third was the standing section of the Trinity Road.
All completely different now, of course. I abhor the renaming of the Witton Land stand and dislike the 'new' Trinity Road stand: the ground, however, is still an icon representing the traditions of football and fan-experience and I hope it continues to be a symbol of traditional values (which is not to say, old or hackneyed).