The Terrace View - Holte End Upper

[Mister E]

Good and free wifi should be a standard - a norm - anywhere in the UK in my opinion (the reason it isn't at VP - I suspect - is that they don't want people accessing in-game betting sites instead of using the in-stadium booths).

Do you mean wifi or do you mean 4G/5G? The signal on 4G is poor during half-time, but useable at other times. I've never tried the wifi.

I mean wifi and 4G; both shite most of the time, in my experience.

[aldridgeboy]

4G is usually woeful in the  ground. But I have noticed a marked improvement in the last few games

[dave.woodhall]

Would anyone now be in the slightest bit surprised if, the season after next, the front and centre blocks of the upper Holte were corporates?

[UK Redsox]

Would anyone now be in the slightest bit surprised if, the season after next, the front and centre blocks of the upper Holte were corporates?

Same goes for C4 (where I am) & C5 behind the dugouts

[chrisw1]

These are the exisiting and proposed plans for the new terrace bar.  It looks like we just lose the central bar and toilets.  Will make getting into the toilet at half time harder, but if they can up the catering throughput with the new walk through kiosks it may not be too bad.

exiting



proposed

[Nev]

Would anyone now be in the slightest bit surprised if, the season after next, the front and centre blocks of the upper Holte were corporates?

I made that point yesterday. Once the invisible wall is breached I think it's open season. The atmosphere will be affected and Villa Park will never be the same again.

[placeforparks]

the planning application for all of this is with the Council at the moment - http://eplanning.idox.birmingham.gov.uk/publisher/mvc/listDocuments?identifier=Planning&reference=2023/01507/PA

the design statement is the easiest to understand - http://eplanning.idox.birmingham.gov.uk/publisher/docs/4234B4812EFD89672DA37BCA4F5C6533/Document-4234B4812EFD89672DA37BCA4F5C6533.pdf

[Exeter 77]

the planning application for all of this is with the Council at the moment - http://eplanning.idox.birmingham.gov.uk/publisher/mvc/listDocuments?identifier=Planning&reference=2023/01507/PA

the design statement is the easiest to understand - http://eplanning.idox.birmingham.gov.uk/publisher/docs/4234B4812EFD89672DA37BCA4F5C6533/Document-4234B4812EFD89672DA37BCA4F5C6533.pdf

Does that mean objections to the plans can be made?

[Flamingo Lane]

Objections to the plans can be made, but the council will only take into account objections that relate to 'material planning considerations', which probably won't include the sorts of concerns that have been articulated on this thread, however real and legitimate those concerns might be. (In actual fact, there doesn't seem to be very much about the proposal that actually requires planning permission as such).

[chrisw1]

Whilst this has annoyed me as there's bound to be a downgrade in experience (toilet access, space etc) for the majority, I'm starting to come to terms with it.

Having spent a few games in the Witton upper, the revised Holte will still be infinitely superior.  Particularly if they install the walk-through kiosks etc. 

But looking at the bigger picture, we have a world class manager and are sitting 5th in the table.  We're getting a 50k seater stadium and I think we're all expecting a big splurge in the transfer market this summer and another push for top 6 next season. 

I don't think there should be corporate facilities in the Holte and am convinced the survey was a stitch-up.  But if a bit less concourse space is one of the prices I have to pay for progress I'm starting to think I can live with it.  I think corporate seats in the Holte would be a step too far - the club should recognise the traditional fan dynamic in the ground, but unfortunately that feels inevitable.  I'll definitely be going all NIMBY when they take my seat.

[Holte L2]

Whilst this has annoyed me as there's bound to be a downgrade in experience (toilet access, space etc) for the majority, I'm starting to come to terms with it.

Having spent a few games in the Witton upper, the revised Holte will still be infinitely superior.  Particularly if they install the walk-through kiosks etc. 

But looking at the bigger picture, we have a world class manager and are sitting 5th in the table.  We're getting a 50k seater stadium and I think we're all expecting a big splurge in the transfer market this summer and another push for top 6 next season. 

I don't think there should be corporate facilities in the Holte and am convinced the survey was a stitch-up.  But if a bit less concourse space is one of the prices I have to pay for progress I'm starting to think I can live with it.  I think corporate seats in the Holte would be a step too far - the club should recognise the traditional fan dynamic in the ground, but unfortunately that feels inevitable.  I'll definitely be going all NIMBY when they take my seat.

This is exactly where I'm at.  My matchday experience won't change at all. In and out on the train.  Pre match at the Bartons when I've got the time to do it. The odd drink in town post match.

[LeeB]

Whilst this has annoyed me as there's bound to be a downgrade in experience (toilet access, space etc) for the majority, I'm starting to come to terms with it.

Having spent a few games in the Witton upper, the revised Holte will still be infinitely superior.  Particularly if they install the walk-through kiosks etc. 

But looking at the bigger picture, we have a world class manager and are sitting 5th in the table.  We're getting a 50k seater stadium and I think we're all expecting a big splurge in the transfer market this summer and another push for top 6 next season. 

I don't think there should be corporate facilities in the Holte and am convinced the survey was a stitch-up.  But if a bit less concourse space is one of the prices I have to pay for progress I'm starting to think I can live with it.  I think corporate seats in the Holte would be a step too far - the club should recognise the traditional fan dynamic in the ground, but unfortunately that feels inevitable.  I'll definitely be going all NIMBY when they take my seat.

This is exactly where I'm at.  My matchday experience won't change at all. In and out on the train.  Pre match at the Bartons when I've got the time to do it. The odd drink in town post match.

You need to give yourself a couple of hours to get a pint in there these days, they were bloody hopeless again the other night and it was half empty.

[AV82EC]

Whilst this has annoyed me as there's bound to be a downgrade in experience (toilet access, space etc) for the majority, I'm starting to come to terms with it.

Having spent a few games in the Witton upper, the revised Holte will still be infinitely superior.  Particularly if they install the walk-through kiosks etc. 

But looking at the bigger picture, we have a world class manager and are sitting 5th in the table.  We're getting a 50k seater stadium and I think we're all expecting a big splurge in the transfer market this summer and another push for top 6 next season. 

I don't think there should be corporate facilities in the Holte and am convinced the survey was a stitch-up.  But if a bit less concourse space is one of the prices I have to pay for progress I'm starting to think I can live with it.  I think corporate seats in the Holte would be a step too far - the club should recognise the traditional fan dynamic in the ground, but unfortunately that feels inevitable.  I'll definitely be going all NIMBY when they take my seat.

This is exactly where I'm at.  My matchday experience won't change at all. In and out on the train.  Pre match at the Bartons when I've got the time to do it. The odd drink in town post match.

You need to give yourself a couple of hours to get a pint in there these days, they were bloody hopeless again the other night and it was half empty.

When you do get served make sure it’s a double round.

[Nev]

Whilst this has annoyed me as there's bound to be a downgrade in experience (toilet access, space etc) for the majority, I'm starting to come to terms with it.

Having spent a few games in the Witton upper, the revised Holte will still be infinitely superior.  Particularly if they install the walk-through kiosks etc. 

But looking at the bigger picture, we have a world class manager and are sitting 5th in the table.  We're getting a 50k seater stadium and I think we're all expecting a big splurge in the transfer market this summer and another push for top 6 next season. 

I don't think there should be corporate facilities in the Holte and am convinced the survey was a stitch-up.  But if a bit less concourse space is one of the prices I have to pay for progress I'm starting to think I can live with it.  I think corporate seats in the Holte would be a step too far - the club should recognise the traditional fan dynamic in the ground, but unfortunately that feels inevitable.  I'll definitely be going all NIMBY when they take my seat.

This is exactly where I'm at.  My matchday experience won't change at all. In and out on the train.  Pre match at the Bartons when I've got the time to do it. The odd drink in town post match.

You need to give yourself a couple of hours to get a pint in there these days, they were bloody hopeless again the other night and it was half empty.

When you do get served make sure it’s a double round.

I don't go in as often these days but the service was as poor as ever on Tuesday. Working a bar and seeing who's next is an art in itself but these days, as demonstrated on Tuesday, the bar person will serve someone, the customer will then vacate the space which is in turn occupied by someone who on occasion has just walked in and they are served straight away. The people either side waiting patiently are all but ignored. It then gets a bit fractious for no real reason.

[LeeB]

Whilst this has annoyed me as there's bound to be a downgrade in experience (toilet access, space etc) for the majority, I'm starting to come to terms with it.

Having spent a few games in the Witton upper, the revised Holte will still be infinitely superior.  Particularly if they install the walk-through kiosks etc. 

But looking at the bigger picture, we have a world class manager and are sitting 5th in the table.  We're getting a 50k seater stadium and I think we're all expecting a big splurge in the transfer market this summer and another push for top 6 next season. 

I don't think there should be corporate facilities in the Holte and am convinced the survey was a stitch-up.  But if a bit less concourse space is one of the prices I have to pay for progress I'm starting to think I can live with it.  I think corporate seats in the Holte would be a step too far - the club should recognise the traditional fan dynamic in the ground, but unfortunately that feels inevitable.  I'll definitely be going all NIMBY when they take my seat.

This is exactly where I'm at.  My matchday experience won't change at all. In and out on the train.  Pre match at the Bartons when I've got the time to do it. The odd drink in town post match.

You need to give yourself a couple of hours to get a pint in there these days, they were bloody hopeless again the other night and it was half empty.

When you do get served make sure it’s a double round.

I don't go in as often these days but the service was as poor as ever on Tuesday. Working a bar and seeing who's next is an art in itself but these days, as demonstrated on Tuesday, the bar person will serve someone, the customer will then vacate the space which is in turn occupied by someone who on occasion has just walked in and they are served straight away. The people either side waiting patiently are all but ignored. It then gets a bit fractious for no real reason.

Exactly this, at one point on Tuesday I was stood with several others on the 'Elbow Room' side of the bar and there were 4 staff standing shoulder to shoulder serving the opposite side with less people, and two of them had just walked up. They also seem to have an inordinate number of staff doing things other than serving customers.