Chris Heck - President of Business Operations

[frank black]

I would be surprised if the Celtic game doesn't sell out. It's a novelty match, the first time we've played them competitively, and if Villa fans don't want the tickets I dare say there will be Celtic fans who will.

Probably just me, but I really can’t be arsed to get excited about playing Celtic. It’s definitely now on my “I ain’t paying that to watch them! list”

[frank black]

Yeah, if you're a Celtic fan in the midlands, £97 to see them play in the Champions League without a day off work, travelling to Scotland, and booking a hotel is not a bad deal.

And with away-ticket pricess being capped, won't most opposition fans at CL games at VP this season be paying up to £40+ less than a many Villa supporters?

They’ll take home tickets

[Billy Walker]

I do find it funny how the general consensus is that Heck can't be trusted and most of what he says is complete bullshit. But the one thing we take as gospel is that we're not getting a redevelopment! 

Because we had a window to do it before the Euros in 2028 and his biggest decision to date has seen us miss that window,

I doubt very much it was Heck's sole decision, the multi-billionaires he works for would be the drivers of all decisions, surely?

[Villan82]

I do find it funny how the general consensus is that Heck can't be trusted and most of what he says is complete bullshit. But the one thing we take as gospel is that we're not getting a redevelopment! 

Because we had a window to do it before the Euros in 2028 and his biggest decision to date has seen us miss that window,

I doubt very much it was Heck's sole decision, the multi-billionaires he works for would be the drivers of all decisions, surely?

He claimed recently he decided it last November. That he looked at it and decided it wasn't a good idea.

Then again he also said we'd never leave Villa Park in his own lifetime!

He talks so much shit you just can't really know what to think. Reminds me of another American.

[ChicagoLion]

I do find it funny how the general consensus is that Heck can't be trusted and most of what he says is complete bullshit. But the one thing we take as gospel is that we're not getting a redevelopment! 

Because we had a window to do it before the Euros in 2028 and his biggest decision to date has seen us miss that window,

I doubt very much it was Heck's sole decision, the multi-billionaires he works for would be the drivers of all decisions, surely?

Pretty sure it was the biggest thing on his remit and would have had a massive say in the decision.
Put it this way, if Heck had said, yes great idea let’s go ahead, do you think it would have been cancelled?

[purpletrousers]

The more I think about it, despite the raft of bad publicity I think you are right Algy, I think 3 out of 4 at least the GA will sell out. I think the club have been lucky with the home draw and if we qualify next year maybe even prices might be lower, but…

Having nailed his colors (sp) to the mast it would be an unexpected climb down from Heck, even to introduce a discounted 4 match package, which would I surely be the simplest/easiest/least humiliating climb down and ensure a higher attendance for Bologna.

I feel so so sad about the alienation of the very fans that have stood by Villa - more consistently than me, yes ‘better fans’ than me - and can’t afford to enjoy the rising to the top of the wave period

It’s a simple issue of what price success, and a moral one. This feels wrong.

It would be fascinating how closely our owners were consulted, but I do hear the argument Heck is doing exactly what his job is, this is the modern game, etc.
I think there is poor judgement/misreading the room but also question the value of making it only personal to Heck, this is a systemic issue, as that German tweet indicated, comparing prices. 

I know I’ll be accused of eating up spin if i acknowledge that these hard choices by those that run the club could mean not selling a crown jewel next summer, but if they’ve priced it “right” in a profit maximisation sense, I do also think there is truth in that.

Growing pains that are not worth it, if it kills the heart, sells the soul?

[Villan82]

In the grand scheme of things an extra £4-£5m quid in the coffers wont make a huge difference to a club who can sell an academy player like Kellyman for £17m. I take a dim view of the 'oh, poor Villa they have to do this to compete' line of argument.

[Clampy]

In the grand scheme of things an extra £4-£5m quid in the coffers wont make a huge difference to a club who can sell an academy player like Kellyman for £17m. I take a dim view of the 'oh, poor Villa they have to do this to compete' line of argument.

He had to be sold though.

[purpletrousers]

In the grand scheme of things an extra £4-£5m quid in the coffers wont make a huge difference to a club who can sell an academy player like Kellyman for £17m. I take a dim view of the 'oh, poor Villa they have to do this to compete' line of argument.

I think you are part right. Though when you cobble together GA+ and a lot of painful marginal gains (if they sorted the catering it would be the easiest win?!) it gets closer; this is not a decision in isolation.

[London Villan]

Heck knows (like most individuals in these sorts of roles) he has a limited lifespan in position - 3-4 years maybe... He'll have been tasked with sorting our shocking commercial efforts out - let's be honest they have been crap for years.

He'll have seen the problems of the upheaval of the new stand and seen it as a massive distraction. One that won't begin to pay-back on the investment for 5 or 6 years. Armed with this he'll have pushed to bin the expansion and instead rinse the stadium and fans to generate revenue - every little bit helps then. From shirt prices, disabled parking spots, limited investment in the existing infrastructure, annual summer concerts which impact footballing activities etc etc.... He'll be long gone when the decision is made for the stadium or stand  - but he'll have done what was asked of him and also happy to take the flack he is getting - based on the size of his bonus at the end of it all.

[john e]

The owners delegate people into top jobs and then give them authority to do it
so yes Heck is just doing his job same as Dean Smith and Gerrard but when it doesn’t work out they get sacked

so it’s not just a case of Heck putting up prices because that’s his job, his job is also about a better experience, working out how to best create new hospitality areas that suit the Villa fan base and prove to be successful

if he gets it wrong he goes the same way as Deano and Gerrard whether he was ‘just doing his job’ or not

[Demitri_C]

We are a few weeks into our 150th year/season and it’s been a disaster off the pitch. The first home game was nothing short of a disaster and I’ve still yet to read an apology or any admittance of guilt. Now this ticket price fiasco which is a disgraceful slap in the face again for supporters. He should be shown the door by the owners and hopefully he will be. If not I dread to think how much our season tickets will rise by for next season.
As for protests, I don’t think Emery and the players deserve it during the game.
Maybe at half time or afterwards. Let’s hope we hear something today which admits mistakes have been made and rectifies them.

I get called a bit negative on certain things but even i think this is abit OTT paul. Losing two nil to arsenal a disaster.? They may win the league so i dont agree with that.

I agree with your point about the protests part not during the game. Thats not productive and can back fire. We dont need the negativity before the everton home game. We need to be looking to win that.

He's clearly talking about the off-field issues like the toilets and queues fpr the Arsenal game, not the actual result. Honestly mate, try reading the posts a bit more carefully!

Ooops my mistake, apolgies paul. Sorry was inbetween a boring meeting just skimmed through it 👌

[Bad English]

I would be surprised if the Celtic game doesn't sell out. It's a novelty match, the first time we've played them competitively, and if Villa fans don't want the tickets I dare say there will be Celtic fans who will.

Probably just me, but I really can’t be arsed to get excited about playing Celtic. It’s definitely now on my “I ain’t paying that to watch them! list”

Agreed. I can see pub football down Meriden Park.

[Paul.S]

We are a few weeks into our 150th year/season and it’s been a disaster off the pitch. The first home game was nothing short of a disaster and I’ve still yet to read an apology or any admittance of guilt. Now this ticket price fiasco which is a disgraceful slap in the face again for supporters. He should be shown the door by the owners and hopefully he will be. If not I dread to think how much our season tickets will rise by for next season.
As for protests, I don’t think Emery and the players deserve it during the game.
Maybe at half time or afterwards. Let’s hope we hear something today which admits mistakes have been made and rectifies them.

I get called a bit negative on certain things but even i think this is abit OTT paul. Losing two nil to arsenal a disaster.? They may win the league so i dont agree with that.

I agree with your point about the protests part not during the game. Thats not productive and can back fire. We dont need the negativity before the everton home game. We need to be looking to win that.

He's clearly talking about the off-field issues like the toilets and queues fpr the Arsenal game, not the actual result. Honestly mate, try reading the posts a bit more carefully!

Ooops my mistake, apolgies paul. Sorry was inbetween a boring meeting just skimmed through it 👌

No problem. To be honest I thought you were joking and it made me smile.

UTV

[Stinkin_Thinkin]

Its bad publicity every week with this clown, the odd occassion when its "good news" (ONLY 5% increase) he makes a video breaking the news himself.
You'd think someone at the club would have "read the room" come on lads it's a obviously bit high, but no. It's like they're happy for the drama to blow up. Is it part of some new genius marketing plan to get Villa angry engagement clicks or something more sinister?
I actually think he's trolling the Villa fans. I've never heard the term vomitories before this summer, prison cells for a hospitality box, wtf? - of all the names to come up with, the season card fiasco, over priced shirts, rivers of piss and now the champions league ticket extortion, Heck or someone else high up can't help disguise their distain for the Villa fans with their words or actions and seem to love veiwing the fallout afterwards. Very sad when on the pitch has been so very good.