Should I stay or should I go?

[sickbeggar]

Highbury makes me sad. I know it's probably better than being demolished but it's a bit like a stuffed bird in a case. Stands aren't really stands unless they're doing what they were built for.

[VILLA MOLE]

Highbury makes me sad. I know it's probably better than being demolished but it's a bit like a stuffed bird in a case. Stands aren't really stands unless they're doing what they were built for.

Must be weird living in it if you are a fan

[Ger Regan]

Weren't there significant fire safety issues with those apartments at Highbury? From memory owners were expected to shell out massive amounts to bring them up to standard.

[DeKuip]

Talking league positions and trophies, not pounds in the bank, I wonder if Arsenal would have been any worse off if they’d stayed at Highbury, a classy old ground that still sends a tingle up the spine even now when I’ve walked past it going to their smart, comfortable but soulless new place.

And a ground 25 years old that's already looking tatty in parts.

Even worse, they’ve only been there since 2006!

[ChicagoLion]

I do not think any one has come up with a location that would work, maybe there would have been better options 10,15 years ago before a lot of the redevelopment has taken place or been planned..
So New Stadium probably means NEC or similar, do fans really want that?

[Ad@m]

Talking league positions and trophies, not pounds in the bank, I wonder if Arsenal would have been any worse off if they’d stayed at Highbury, a classy old ground that still sends a tingle up the spine even now when I’ve walked past it going to their smart, comfortable but soulless new place.

And a ground 25 years old that's already looking tatty in parts.

Even worse, they’ve only been there since 2006!

They've been at the Emirates for nearly 20 years?!     I still think of that place as a new ground!

[luke95]

I hope we never leave Villa Park Trinity Rd , but if we did I'd hope it would still be local to Aston/Witton, but there just isnt the land to do it , Moor Lane on the council pitches/land  maybe ?

[Axl Rose]

If we left Villa Park, I doubt I'd bother going.

I'm a terrible fan, I know!

[Martin Carruthers]

Couldn't think of anything worse than a horrible, edge of the city, NEC-type location. Wouldn't be completely averse to moving if a decent location could be found but don't see how that would be feasible.

[The Man With A Stick]

Went on a stadium tour at the weekend and the fella doing it said NSWE had plans in place to upgrade VP in 2 phases.  First one is to rebuild the North taking us up to 54k.  Second phase is to take us to 60k if there's demand, regular European football etc.

Based on that I doubt we'll be leaving B6 any time soon.  Would hate us to move out of town personally, even though getting away afterwards is a nightmare it's worth putting up with.

[Villan82]

That sounds exciting!

[darren woolley]

I'm definitely stay we must stay at Villa Park it wouldn't feel right moving from Villa Park it means so much to all of us fans we can build a new stand to replace the North Stand.

[Pat Mustard]

Went on a stadium tour at the weekend and the fella doing it said NSWE had plans in place to upgrade VP in 2 phases.  First one is to rebuild the North taking us up to 54k.  Second phase is to take us to 60k if there's demand, regular European football etc.

Based on that I doubt we'll be leaving B6 any time soon.  Would hate us to move out of town personally, even though getting away afterwards is a nightmare it's worth putting up with.

54k is pretty ambitious from just redeveloping the North Stand - I'm guessing that the only way we'd do this is by filling in the corners and ending up with a horseshoe layout.  I think anything beyond that will involve much longer planning, buying up of properties and bigger masterplan for the whole area.

I still don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility that we could redevelop the North Stand and still end up having to leave Villa Park in the future, or once the land is available that VP ends up being completely rebuilt a la Spurs.  The Alexander Stadium will have scope for temporary stands meaning it might be a viable option if we had to move out for a season, but really can't see that happening for at least 10 years or so.  The question will be how quickly we want/need to get to a capacity much beyond 52-54k.

[The Left Side]

Stay for me.

[DeKuip]

Went on a stadium tour at the weekend and the fella doing it said NSWE had plans in place to upgrade VP in 2 phases.  First one is to rebuild the North taking us up to 54k.  Second phase is to take us to 60k if there's demand, regular European football etc.

Based on that I doubt we'll be leaving B6 any time soon.  Would hate us to move out of town personally, even though getting away afterwards is a nightmare it's worth putting up with.

54k is pretty ambitious from just redeveloping the North Stand - I'm guessing that the only way we'd do this is by filling in the corners and ending up with a horseshoe layout.  I think anything beyond that will involve much longer planning, buying up of properties and bigger masterplan for the whole area.

I still don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility that we could redevelop the North Stand and still end up having to leave Villa Park in the future, or once the land is available that VP ends up being completely rebuilt a la Spurs.  The Alexander Stadium will have scope for temporary stands meaning it might be a viable option if we had to move out for a season, but really can't see that happening for at least 10 years or so.  The question will be how quickly we want/need to get to a capacity much beyond 52-54k.

54k just by redeveloping the Witton End sounds impossible to me, unless it going to be all standing. It currently has 7k seats so would need to go up to 19k to make 54. The Holte currently has 13.5k and Trinity Rd 13k.
I wouldn’t fancy a seat in the back row trying to look through the clouds!