Should I stay or should I go?

[LeeB]

I honestly think the seats towards the front of the Upper North offer some of the best views in football. That I’ve encountered anyway. Shame about the legroom and facilities.

I'm on the back row, and it's a fantastic view.

[Billy Walker]

I hope the owners consult Simon Inglis before they make any final decisions! For me, we have to stay at Villa Park: rebuild the Witton End, tidy up the Trinity by replacing all the cheap finishes with quality, and then, finally, rebuild the Witton Lane.  An extra little touch - I'd move the McGregor statue to in front of the Holte or new Witton End so that people see the great man welcoming them as they approach the ground.

[Nev]

As a ST holder for the first time in 14 years it is interesting how things have changed. Pre game there were a host of options around the ground back in the last decade, the Manor, Vine, King Edward etc but the only place I'd consider now is the Bartons and the service is in there has been ropey of late.
We've got to the ground early a few times but the Holte concourse is less than welcoming, plastic glasses, nowhere to put your drink and  it's been fucking freezing lately. There's always a queue for the Holte Suite although post match is OK ish.

Generally we go from Town and that's the key for me. We get a taxi but would be more than happy to jump on the bus or train if there were more services.

I can't see us moving anytime soon so it's a case of rebuilding the NS and making further efforts to improve transport links.

[Ger Regan]

Park and Ride with shuttle services is something that should be seriously considered by the club as it would be a relatively quick fix of sorts. Would there be many areas around the city that would be suitable for large numbers of cars and with reasonably bus priority towards VP?

[Chico Hamilton III]

Moving stadium would wipe a lot of our identity for me. Is there another club whose identity is so synonymous with their stadium as Aston Villa's is? just listen to the likes of Carragher, Neville etc to see how intertwined Aston Villa and Villa Park are.

Liverpool and Anfield?

Everton’s former ground

[Duncan Shaw]

I honestly think the seats towards the front of the Upper North offer some of the best views in football. That I’ve encountered anyway. Shame about the legroom and facilities.

I'm on the back row, and it's a fantastic view.

This for me too, I had my first ever ST in there, about in the middle of the middle.  I've seen the league won from there, an unbelievable Euro Cup campaign, Barcelona put to the sword for the Super cup.  We sat in the old Trinity for the Juventus game, I think that's where we went wrong!

So yes, it means the world to me the North Stand, but it's the one area we can utilise.  Surely it can't be beyond a black belt architect to maintain the magnificent view?

[Nii Lamptey]

Fuck that to moving away from Villa Park. It's not just iconic to us, but also to away fans/British football in general, having hosted more FA Cup semi finals than any other ground in the country.

Villa. Park. Those two words fill me with an enormous sense of pride - A proper traditional club, with a grand, traditional football stadium. Every drop of blood, sweat and tears have poured out within those foundations and we wouldn't be Aston Villa Football Club without it.

By all means redevelop the North and Witton stands and the surrounding areas, but don't even contemplate moving us!

[Villan82]

Moving stadium would wipe a lot of our identity for me. Is there another club whose identity is so synonymous with their stadium as Aston Villa's is? just listen to the likes of Carragher, Neville etc to see how intertwined Aston Villa and Villa Park are.

Liverpool and Anfield?

And Liverpool have stayed there for that very reason.

[Monty]

Never move away. Gate receipts are a decreasing percentage of revenue - brand identity (vomits, but true) is more important. 42,000, 46,000, 60,000, it's less important than being a recognisably massive part of the most valuable league on earth. Villa Park, in the Premier League, there's yer money.

[Lastfootstamper]

Lets be honest apart from names there's not much left in a historical sense. Doug destroyed the last bit. I'd prefer to stay local but.....

By far the most impressive stand for me when I first started going was the North Stand, all clean lines and shiny windows. I hated Victorian buildings, probably because of my infants school (Perry Common) and freezing at Erdington baths, the North Stand looked all modern and inspiring.

And now everyone wants to knock it down, bastards.

Not me, not for the sake of it anyway. Only sat in it twice, brilliant view but it took my legs a week to stretch back into shape, and if it ever needed to be evacuated in a real emergency, well, probably best not thought about. However, on the rare occasion I find myself able to look out from the middle of the Holte, I think the old dear looks tremendous. There's not many about, if at all any, like it.

[algy]

I honestly think the seats towards the front of the Upper North offer some of the best views in football. That I’ve encountered anyway. Shame about the legroom and facilities.

I'm on the back row, and it's a fantastic view.

This for me too, I had my first ever ST in there, about in the middle of the middle.  I've seen the league won from there, an unbelievable Euro Cup campaign, Barcelona put to the sword for the Super cup.  We sat in the old Trinity for the Juventus game, I think that's where we went wrong!

So yes, it means the world to me the North Stand, but it's the one area we can utilise.  Surely it can't be beyond a black belt architect to maintain the magnificent view?

We (me, my dad, and my grandad) sat in the North Stand for most of the time we were season ticket holders - I'd guess 1989-1997?  My grandad's eyesight started giving up so we moved for a season to the (then fairly new) Doug Ellis stand for a year, then to the old Trinity Road stand for a couple of seasons.  Nowadays either sit in the North Stand or the Trinity Road depending on where tickets are available.  Love both - the view from the North Stand is wonderful.

[Gary Penrice]

I honestly can't imagine calling anywhere home other than Villa Park.

I'm in the redevelop the North Stand & the Witton Lane camp!

[London Villan]

If anyone does find Andy Street (maybe offer a party invitation?) the transport issue should really tie in with the transport issues for the whole of Birmingham. Are these wonder-buses for the Commonwealth Games going to survive after? If so, it shouldn't be too much effort to lay on football specials on matchdays along the A38 route and up College Road towards Sutton, Kingstanding, etc. Also, are the rail plans that were a big part of his original election going ahead? If so, tag on the Villa as an addition. I can see why it's hard to deal with the Villa Park question in isolation given the lack of use for most of the year, but it's surely easier to combine it with a Birmingham/WM transport plan.

No wonder-buses - just very familiar double deckers.

That said, it shouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility to hire a fleet of 20 buses per match and shuttle fans to a couple of locations in the city centre and maybe Sutton? I'd bet no more than £25k per match. Which, in the grand schemes of football finances is pennies.

[ChicagoLion]

The article confirms that moving would be unlikely to solve the transport problems which is the biggest issue, so it really is about improving all aspects of the Ground and transport.

[London Villan]

Depends where it's moved too. There is a massive vacant piece of land slap bang in the city centre. Easily big enough for a new stadium.  It's a visionary thing to do... which isn't one of the Council's strong points.

But imagine a world class stadium in the centre of town. Football first obviously, but concerts, other sports, events... it would be brilliant for the city.