FFP

[tomd2103]

Surely that's just a challenge the club needs to rise to, i.e. if they're already on your premises, you have an advantage. Just make sure that what you're offering isn't shit/unaffordable.

This.  For me, there is a balance for the club to meet and this is it.  Moving away from Aston means a complete loss of identity.  It's what gives us/gave us our unique status.  Buy the streets, redevelop around Villa Park.

The identity question is a big one.  We are a Birmingham club and I think a move to the city centre would tie in with that identity, as well as giving the city a boost. 

A move to the NEC or somewhere equally far out would mean a loss of identity to me.

[dave.woodhall]

Something in or close to the city centre would be brilliant for the club and the city as a whole. You only have to go to Newcastle to see the heaving bars and restaurants before and after  their home games to see how beneficial it would be.

But those heaving bars are a problem for the club as that's potentially lost revenue.

I don't see a city centre move appealing to the club for that reason, too many other places to spend your money before and after the game.

Yes, that’s a concern. We’re far enough away to have a captive audience where we are.

Realistically, how much do the Villa take from people who would go elsewhere if they had the option? Certainly less than they'd get from another ten thousand in the ground.

[The Man With A Stick]

Something in or close to the city centre would be brilliant for the club and the city as a whole. You only have to go to Newcastle to see the heaving bars and restaurants before and after  their home games to see how beneficial it would be.

The Principality Stadium in Cardiff is another example of a city centre stadium.  I suppose rugby has the 'benefit' that fans can drink during the game, so they can coin it in while fans are in the stadium.

The Principality Stadium is great, my favourite 'modern' stadium. If we were building a new ground, I'd want us to take a lot of cues from that. City centre location, stands that feel like they're almost on top of the pitch, retractable roof so we can turn it in to a giant city centre arena.

I think my overall feeling is that I don't particularly want us to leave Villa Park as I think, for all it's faults, it's not a bad site and it has a lot of history attached to it. But if we were to move, I'd want it to be so that we have the stadium that every other club wants. Like Spurs' ground at the moment, but bigger, better, end visually stunning. It should be like the Holte façade, where even though we all know it's a new(ish) pastiche of the old Trinity Road stand, in 20 years time people will look at ot and assume its been that way for a hundred years.

I said similar yesterday, I only want us to move if we create something the rest of the country envies.  The last development of the stadium 30 years ago was completely half-arsed, we need to learn from that mistake.

[Risso]

Something in or close to the city centre would be brilliant for the club and the city as a whole. You only have to go to Newcastle to see the heaving bars and restaurants before and after  their home games to see how beneficial it would be.

But those heaving bars are a problem for the club as that's potentially lost revenue.

I don't see a city centre move appealing to the club for that reason, too many other places to spend your money before and after the game.

Yes, that’s a concern. We’re far enough away to have a captive audience where we are.

I'm not sure it would work like that. Newcastle and Arsenal are the two away grounds I like going to, as they're a few minutes walk from loads of pubs and restaurants. Both though, are absolutely full of punters still buying food and drink when you get in there. If it's set up properly, then people enjoy being in the ground, and aren't all trying and mostly failing to buy a pint in the same ten minutes before the game, and during half time. And then after the game, give them a reason to hang around for another 30-60 minutes, spending their money.

[pauliewalnuts]

Something in or close to the city centre would be brilliant for the club and the city as a whole. You only have to go to Newcastle to see the heaving bars and restaurants before and after  their home games to see how beneficial it would be.

But those heaving bars are a problem for the club as that's potentially lost revenue.

I don't see a city centre move appealing to the club for that reason, too many other places to spend your money before and after the game.

Yes, that’s a concern. We’re far enough away to have a captive audience where we are.

I'm not sure it would work like that. Newcastle and Arsenal are the two away grounds I like going to, as they're a few minutes walk from loads of pubs and restaurants. Both though, are absolutely full of punters still buying food and drink when you get in there. If it's set up properly, then people enjoy being in the ground, and aren't all trying and mostly failing to buy a pint in the same ten minutes before the game, and during half time. And then after the game, give them a reason to hang around for another 30-60 minutes, spending their money.

Yep, and all those people who currently can't get away from Villa Park quick enough on the final whistle (predominantly because they don't fancy spending over an hour getting back to the motorway despite it being, what, a mile and a bit away) wouldn't need to do so, and would be more likely to stay back if there were decent facilities.

I honestly don't think we have much of a choice on all this, FFP being what it is.

[Villan82]

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being dead against moving from Villa Park, I have always been a 10.

I am probably a 5 now which leaves me wondering if there is some dark arts and subliminal messaging going on from certain quarters in the club!

[Sdwbvf]

We could do a spurs and go to Wembley. Transport infrastructure is fabulous...

HS2 may be built by then...ha. How far is Old Oak Common to Wembley?

Not far but would probably take longer han the journey from Brum

[Goldenballs]

I've always thought they could have a Villa ladies game on either before or after some of the Saturday 3pm games.

[dave.woodhall]

I've always thought they could have a Villa ladies game on either before or after some of the Saturday 3pm games.

It would affect the pitch.

[Hillbilly]

I've always thought they could have a Villa ladies game on either before or after some of the Saturday 3pm games.

It would affect the pitch.

I’m pretty sure girl cooties are not a thing.

[langleylions]

A quick thought , it might sound far fetched with the money spent but what about a swap around with alexander stadium , we get that area with all the park to build a new ground and im sure villa park could be downsized to accomodate a sparse athletics crowd , thoughts?

[pauliewalnuts]

A quick thought , it might sound far fetched with the money spent but what about a swap around with alexander stadium , we get that area with all the park to build a new ground and im sure villa park could be downsized to accomodate a sparse athletics crowd , thoughts?

Where are you going to be putting a full size running track and all the required area around it at Villa Park?

[langleylions]

I dunno m8 i aint an architect , take the lower tiers out ? Lol , im just thinking of how much land that alex has for such small crowds etc seems rediculous to waste such land

[pauliewalnuts]

Take the lower tiers out and the uppers just float in the air?

[aj2k77]

Moving grounds would have to be for something so advantageous for us to make it worthwhile that you couldn't say no, the Alex is not it. That would be a downgrade.