FFP

[LeeB]

Ratty's plans are to build in the general area of Trafford, but not on the exact same spot which is very similar to what Arsenal did. And isn't Old Trafford falling apart now if he wanted to talk Shitholes......

Most Yanited fans would acknowledge Old Trafford is in a very poor state, but many would still rather redevelop their historic home than move to a new stadium (even if it's in the area). Can't say I blame them.

The trouble is they are in the same boat we are that the surrounding land doesn't give much options in expanding further. The canal and railway pinch off three sides and then what looks like a very busy freight terminal further up. So they would either have to "do a Spurs" and play elsewhere for two seasons whilst a new ground is built on part of the old ones foot print, rebuild a stand at a time with the loss of spectators that will now bring, or build elsewhere and move across.

There's enough space behind the Stretford End to build a complete new stadium that's just a car park at present.

[ChicagoLion]

There must be 15 acres we could get in the whole area of Digbeth/Deritend/south of Highgate Park? Everywhere round there seems to be full of ratty warehouses, a lot of which seem empty. It's surely easier dealing with a few businesses than trying to use CPOs for housing around Villa Park?

The traffic around there would be murder on matchday, it's terrible at the best of times. I had the misfortune to be passing at about 2pm on Saturday with them at home and it was choc-a-block with their piss poor gates.

But round there surely the need to drive would be greatly reduced? Obviously depending where, but you're a 10-15 minute walk from Moor Street and therefore not much further to New Street. I'd love to be able to get the train if it was easier to get to the ground once you were in Brum.

Uber or Black Cab takes 10 to 15 minutes from Colmore Row.

[chrisw1]

There must be 15 acres we could get in the whole area of Digbeth/Deritend/south of Highgate Park? Everywhere round there seems to be full of ratty warehouses, a lot of which seem empty. It's surely easier dealing with a few businesses than trying to use CPOs for housing around Villa Park?

The traffic around there would be murder on matchday, it's terrible at the best of times. I had the misfortune to be passing at about 2pm on Saturday with them at home and it was choc-a-block with their piss poor gates.

But round there surely the need to drive would be greatly reduced? Obviously depending where, but you're a 10-15 minute walk from Moor Street and therefore not much further to New Street. I'd love to be able to get the train if it was easier to get to the ground once you were in Brum.

Uber or Black Cab takes 10 to 15 minutes from Colmore Row.

And on the way back?

[ChicagoLion]

There must be 15 acres we could get in the whole area of Digbeth/Deritend/south of Highgate Park? Everywhere round there seems to be full of ratty warehouses, a lot of which seem empty. It's surely easier dealing with a few businesses than trying to use CPOs for housing around Villa Park?

The traffic around there would be murder on matchday, it's terrible at the best of times. I had the misfortune to be passing at about 2pm on Saturday with them at home and it was choc-a-block with their piss poor gates.

But round there surely the need to drive would be greatly reduced? Obviously depending where, but you're a 10-15 minute walk from Moor Street and therefore not much further to New Street. I'd love to be able to get the train if it was easier to get to the ground once you were in Brum.

Uber or Black Cab takes 10 to 15 minutes from Colmore Row.

And on the way back?

Depends whhat time you leave the ground.

[Somniloquism]

Ratty's plans are to build in the general area of Trafford, but not on the exact same spot which is very similar to what Arsenal did. And isn't Old Trafford falling apart now if he wanted to talk Shitholes......

Most Yanited fans would acknowledge Old Trafford is in a very poor state, but many would still rather redevelop their historic home than move to a new stadium (even if it's in the area). Can't say I blame them.

The trouble is they are in the same boat we are that the surrounding land doesn't give much options in expanding further. The canal and railway pinch off three sides and then what looks like a very busy freight terminal further up. So they would either have to "do a Spurs" and play elsewhere for two seasons whilst a new ground is built on part of the old ones foot print, rebuild a stand at a time with the loss of spectators that will now bring, or build elsewhere and move across.

There's enough space behind the Stretford End to build a complete new stadium that's just a car park at present.

I covered that in do a Spurs bit where they would need to knock down Old Trafford and move the whole stand to encompass the car park. If they can buy out the railway freight yard as well then they could build without ground sharing for two years.

[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!

I’m an 11

Always will be

Villa Park is Aston Villa
Aston Villa is Villa Park

This for me too.
I'd accept a couple of seasons away at a revamped Alex while New Villa Park be built. But if we moved out completely I think I'd stop going & I don't think I'd be the only one.

I am a bit surprised at myself to be honest. I have been dead against but the past few days the tide seems to be turning.

I just wish Heck hadn't made that announcement and we were knocking down the North stand in June as planned. This debate wouldn't be happening then

And one more edit, I still believe it is a major failure of imagination if we cannot make our current location work given the acreage, the location, the history and what we have to work with on two sides of the ground,

[Clive W]

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!

I’m an 11

Always will be

Villa Park is Aston Villa
Aston Villa is Villa Park

This for me too.
I'd accept a couple of seasons away at a revamped Alex while New Villa Park be built. But if we moved out completely I think I'd stop going & I don't think I'd be the only one.

I feel exactly the same but I think it’s probably an age thing

My first visit to VP was 27 December 1965 against West Ham - a Christmas present from my parents

We lived in Kent and had a horrendous drive up through the snow and ice (don’t think the M6 existed in those days)

We had a Hillman Minx and even though it was the “de-Lux” version it didn’t have a radio - but it did have a bench front seat and a gear stick on the steering wheel

All the way up I had my ear glued to my transistor radio trying to hear whether the match was still on

It was - but was abandoned after 30 minutes because of the frozen pitch

Memories like that make it very hard for me to imagine watching Villa in some shiny new stadium

[Risso]

I feel exactly the same but I think it’s probably an age thing

My first visit to VP was 27 December 1965 against West Ham - a Christmas present from my parents

We lived in Kent and had a horrendous drive up through the snow and ice (don’t think the M6 existed in those days)

We had a Hillman Minx and even though it was the “de-Lux” version it didn’t have a radio - but it did have a bench front seat and a gear stick on the steering wheel

All the way up I had my ear glued to my transistor radio trying to hear whether the match was still on

It was - but was abandoned after 30 minutes because of the frozen pitch

Memories like that make it very hard for me to imagine watching Villa in some shiny new stadium

But obviously there's a barely a single brick of the ground from that day still in place. Since then there have been four completely new stands, and now two of those desperately need replacing. We've got a 70s concrete eyesore (/ brutalist masterpiece, whatever), a 90s cheap as chips piece of shit that looks like a warehouse, a modern replacement for the Leitch masterpiece, and the Holte End with a modern frontage that everybody seems to think is old, but isn't.

[Pat Mustard]

I still really can't see us moving from Villa Park - it will be far easier for us to get hold of the land needed for a full rebuild of the North Stand and Witton Lane than it will be to find space for a brand new 60k+ seater nearer town.  If anything, over the next 10 years the city centre is going to expand to get nearer to Aston anyway - there are loads of developments in the Gun Quarter, and Curzon Wharf (opposite Matalan) has got planning permission for the tallest building in the city.  There is nowhere nearer to town where there is enough space that isn't already being developed for something.

I'm still convinced that the delay in the North Stand is just Heck attempting to squeeze the pips out of every seat we have now - ticket prices will go up massively whilst we can't meet demand, and then these become accepted as normal before we rebuild.

[Bad English]

There must be 15 acres we could get in the whole area of Digbeth/Deritend/south of Highgate Park? Everywhere round there seems to be full of ratty warehouses, a lot of which seem empty. It's surely easier dealing with a few businesses than trying to use CPOs for housing around Villa Park?

The traffic around there would be murder on matchday, it's terrible at the best of times. I had the misfortune to be passing at about 2pm on Saturday with them at home and it was choc-a-block with their piss poor gates.

But round there surely the need to drive would be greatly reduced? Obviously depending where, but you're a 10-15 minute walk from Moor Street and therefore not much further to New Street. I'd love to be able to get the train if it was easier to get to the ground once you were in Brum.

Uber or Black Cab takes 10 to 15 minutes from Colmore Row.

And on the way back?

Depends whhat time you leave the ground.

On 70 minutes is about right if you want to 'beat the traffic™'

[Risso]

I still really can't see us moving from Villa Park - it will be far easier for us to get hold of the land needed for a full rebuild of the North Stand and Witton Lane than it will be to find space for a brand new 60k+ seater nearer town.  If anything, over the next 10 years the city centre is going to expand to get nearer to Aston anyway - there are loads of developments in the Gun Quarter, and Curzon Wharf (opposite Matalan) has got planning permission for the tallest building in the city.  There is nowhere nearer to town where there is enough space that isn't already being developed for something.

I'm still convinced that the delay in the North Stand is just Heck attempting to squeeze the pips out of every seat we have now - ticket prices will go up massively whilst we can't meet demand, and then these become accepted as normal before we rebuild.

I don't know. That Comcast lot would only usually get involved if they can see a return on their money, and a new North Stand isn't going to do that for them. It would help US with our turnover and FFP calculations, but that just means spending the extra income on players and their wages. They're going to want a big shiny new development that's pulling in money all year round from a variety of sources, not just every other weekend from August to May.

[luke95]

I feel exactly the same but I think it’s probably an age thing

My first visit to VP was 27 December 1965 against West Ham - a Christmas present from my parents

We lived in Kent and had a horrendous drive up through the snow and ice (don’t think the M6 existed in those days)

We had a Hillman Minx and even though it was the “de-Lux” version it didn’t have a radio - but it did have a bench front seat and a gear stick on the steering wheel

All the way up I had my ear glued to my transistor radio trying to hear whether the match was still on

It was - but was abandoned after 30 minutes because of the frozen pitch

Memories like that make it very hard for me to imagine watching Villa in some shiny new stadium

But obviously there's a barely a single brick of the ground from that day still in place. Since then there have been four completely new stands, and now two of those desperately need replacing. We've got a 70s concrete eyesore (/ brutalist masterpiece, whatever), a 90s cheap as chips piece of shit that looks like a warehouse, a modern replacement for the Leitch masterpiece, and the Holte End with a modern frontage that everybody seems to think is old, but isn't.

But it's still Villa Park

We've had thousands of different players & managers represent us over the years but it's still Aston Villa FC.
They both go hand in hand you can't have one without the other.

[Drummond]

I still really can't see us moving from Villa Park - it will be far easier for us to get hold of the land needed for a full rebuild of the North Stand and Witton Lane than it will be to find space for a brand new 60k+ seater nearer town.  If anything, over the next 10 years the city centre is going to expand to get nearer to Aston anyway - there are loads of developments in the Gun Quarter, and Curzon Wharf (opposite Matalan) has got planning permission for the tallest building in the city.  There is nowhere nearer to town where there is enough space that isn't already being developed for something.

I'm still convinced that the delay in the North Stand is just Heck attempting to squeeze the pips out of every seat we have now - ticket prices will go up massively whilst we can't meet demand, and then these become accepted as normal before we rebuild.

I don't know. That Comcast lot would only usually get involved if they can see a return on their money, and a new North Stand isn't going to do that for them. It would help US with our turnover and FFP calculations, but that just means spending the extra income on players and their wages. They're going to want a big shiny new development that's pulling in money all year round from a variety of sources, not just every other weekend from August to May.

Maybe they have ideas about the new North, Villa Live, the Holte End car park, the coach park for away coaches etc that far outstrips what was proposed before.

The vacuum created by Heck's decision, without an explanation, is what's causing all this debate of course, but I can't see us moving.

[Clampy]

I feel exactly the same but I think it’s probably an age thing

My first visit to VP was 27 December 1965 against West Ham - a Christmas present from my parents

We lived in Kent and had a horrendous drive up through the snow and ice (don’t think the M6 existed in those days)

We had a Hillman Minx and even though it was the “de-Lux” version it didn’t have a radio - but it did have a bench front seat and a gear stick on the steering wheel

All the way up I had my ear glued to my transistor radio trying to hear whether the match was still on

It was - but was abandoned after 30 minutes because of the frozen pitch

Memories like that make it very hard for me to imagine watching Villa in some shiny new stadium

But obviously there's a barely a single brick of the ground from that day still in place. Since then there have been four completely new stands, and now two of those desperately need replacing. We've got a 70s concrete eyesore (/ brutalist masterpiece, whatever), a 90s cheap as chips piece of shit that looks like a warehouse, a modern replacement for the Leitch masterpiece, and the Holte End with a modern frontage that everybody seems to think is old, but isn't.

Blimey, it's not that bad.

[Clive W]

I feel exactly the same but I think it’s probably an age thing

My first visit to VP was 27 December 1965 against West Ham - a Christmas present from my parents

We lived in Kent and had a horrendous drive up through the snow and ice (don’t think the M6 existed in those days)

We had a Hillman Minx and even though it was the “de-Lux” version it didn’t have a radio - but it did have a bench front seat and a gear stick on the steering wheel

All the way up I had my ear glued to my transistor radio trying to hear whether the match was still on

It was - but was abandoned after 30 minutes because of the frozen pitch

Memories like that make it very hard for me to imagine watching Villa in some shiny new stadium

But obviously there's a barely a single brick of the ground from that day still in place. Since then there have been four completely new stands, and now two of those desperately need replacing. We've got a 70s concrete eyesore (/ brutalist masterpiece, whatever), a 90s cheap as chips piece of shit that looks like a warehouse, a modern replacement for the Leitch masterpiece, and the Holte End with a modern frontage that everybody seems to think is old, but isn't.

But it's still Villa Park

We've had thousands of different players & managers represent us over the years but it's still Aston Villa FC.
They both go hand in hand you can't have one without the other.

My thoughts too Luke

Perhaps others can phrase it better than me (I think this was Peter Morris)


“The door to the lavishly appointed Guest Room at Villa Park was open and out in the corridor the little boys, dodging the commissionaire, were calling for Brian Little and John Gidman. Quite rightly, they took no notice of myself and the elderly bald-headed man, bespectacled, stooping a little, who was quietly finishing his tea. He looked over at them for a moment, a whimsical look, and moved to the long window overlooking the now deserted playing pitch.

"Every time you come here it must bring back memories Pongo," I said. He stared out for a long while. I thought he'd forgotten I was there. "Aye", he said suddenly "aye, they're a great club...the greatest." I stood and looked with him, this old man whose goals had set the Villa crowds roaring so long ago. It was not quite dusk on that March afternoon and I saw them too...they were out again, the old ghosts...Jack Hughes, scorer just about one hundred years earlier of Aston Villa's first goal (perhaps to the very day)...George Ramsay...the Hunter brothers...Willie McGregor...Denny Hodgetts...legion upon legion of them on parade now, filling the field with claret and blue...the century with pride.”