Villa Park Redevelopment

[eamonn]

I did the Real Madrid tour/museum about a decade ago and it seemed, from memory, heavily reliant on technology and story telling rather than physical memorabilia. That said, the passage of time may have clouded my memory.

I did the Barça tour about 25 years ago, and my main memory is that one of their ex-players was the spit of Robbie Williams.

What a waste - of your time and his training.

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

I did the Real Madrid tour/museum about a decade ago and it seemed, from memory, heavily reliant on technology and story telling rather than physical memorabilia. That said, the passage of time may have clouded my memory.

I did the Barça tour about 25 years ago, and my main memory is that one of their ex-players was the spit of Robbie Williams.

I bet he was a better singer. I'll only get 1/50, mind.

[Dante Lavelli]

A hotel and museum would complement each other down in that corner and the building is stunning too.  The VR/museum might not need to be that big as you’d potentially need a couple of rooms kitted out with the latest technology and then update the ‘display’ each six months so people have reason to return.

I also think the hotel should be the away fans’ designated pub.  It’s close to where the buses drop off and it would encourage a few hundred to pay a tenner before the game.

It’s got the potential to be very classy.

[Dogtanian]

It’s definitely something that should be done, as it’s something that can stretch beyond Villa fans, and appeal to all sorts of football and football history buffs.

Think of all the historically significant things that could be featured;

The early years of football.
The founding of the football league.
The founding of the Premier League.
The 79 Villa players playing for England + other national teams.
The 34 Villa players scoring for England.
Villa Park and the 1966 World Cup & Euro 96.
Villa Park and the FA Cup semi-finals.
The history of the FA Cup and all our finals appearances, including the last ever at the original Wembley.

There’s loads that if done right would have a very broad appeal.

[Tayls_7]

Plus a special stand on The Story of The African Car Reverser.

This could be designed as an interactive feature that appeals to fans of all ages.

[Percy McCarthy]

Some great ideas in this thread.

[Chris Harte]

Villa could recreate the smashing of the shop front window and stealing of the FA cup. Santa getting stuck on the Trinity, the Sheff Utd goal that never was with a full size prop showing it wasn’t. Even the green sand pitch would be of interest.

A sly dig about Villa losing the physical trophy more times than certain other twelve-dildo-dreaming clubs from across the expressway have actually won it would be a good thing. That Sheffield United thing for me was a Banks 1970-esque save.

Meanwhile, if the hotel was a bit of a destination in it's own right - I'm thinking with a spa and a rooftop beach for exclusive use in the summer then the beach could have green sand. It could also have a Les Sealey Chill Out zone as well.

[PeterWithesShin]

Best thing would be absolutely no reference to sha if we ever do have a museum.

[Chris Harte]

Best thing would be absolutely no reference to sha if we ever do have a museum.

Yeah, you're probably right.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Best thing would be absolutely no reference to sha if we ever do have a museum.

True, it would be very Altrincham.

[CT Villan]

With the advances in AI, the list of events that could be recreated for VR headsets is endless - imagine being in the six yard box as Withey scores, or standing next to Youri as he volleys his screamer  ! You could be at training at BMH with the boys and Unai - a day in the life maybe, with Meatball as your mate ! Unai gives you a pep-talk, then you step out onto the pitch as a player at the Europa League final. Even on-stage with Ozzy at VP. I'll be honest, not keen on the Stefan Postma adult VR idea though.

[Dave P]

We would certainly need a cabbage as an exhibit.  Maybe even that Preston goalie's gloves that saved the penalty in the same match.

[Drummond]

A fanzine corner entitled 'Is that the Programme?'

[Billy Walker]

Other ideas for Villa Museum to widen potential visitor interest: Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osbourne final concert section; World Cup section focusing on Emi Martinez and his winning save, David Platt and his volley v Belgium, and Paul McGrath v Italy (with a bit of Houghton and his goal  thrown in, too). A section on Prince William and his support, even.
There's plenty for non-Villa fans to appreciate there.  We have enough history and associated history to come up with a genuinely first rate, world class museum - if the will is there, of course.