Chris Heck - President of Business Operations

[Villan82]

If only we had a plan to build a huge fucking stand that would increase our competitiveness in the very short term, maybe even 2 years.

But it wasnt really was it?
And to do it when we are at our most marketable was crazy

What do you mean?  We had planning permission and the redev was scheduled.  It would have been completed by the Euros.  It would have been big enough to massively increase our premium lounge space.

Under the plan he scrapped we would have had a state of the art modern new stand ready for mid 2026!

If there isn't a case to redevelop now there never will be. If anything the way heck is going about if people who can't get seats might just give up on trying.

I really don't like this- should have pressed on with the development.

[pablo_picasso]

Thats superb news that we are staying at Villa Park. As is the 5% season ticket increase.

I still do not understand the need to stop increasing the stadium capacity when we need FFP revenue more than ever, just to cram in a few extra "prawn sandwich" seats dotted around the stadium.

No news about the crest either, which was supposed to be publicly released in Feb...

[Drummond]

Good interview. 5% on tickets. Holte End left alone. Stay at Villa Park. More revenue from sponsorship and advertising. Better entertainment. Better travel. More options.

[oldhill_avfc]

If only we had a plan to build a huge fucking stand that would increase our competitiveness in the very short term, maybe even 2 years.

But it wasnt really was it?
And to do it when we are at our most marketable was crazy

What do you mean?  We had planning permission and the redev was scheduled.  It would have been completed by the Euros.  It would have been big enough to massively increase our premium lounge space.

Under the plan he scrapped we would have had a state of the art modern new stand ready for mid 2026!

If there isn't a case to redevelop now there never will be. If anything the way heck is going about if people who can't get seats might just give up on trying.

I really don't like this- should have pressed on with the development.

The problem was most likely that redeveloping a quarter of the ground wasn’t worth it in isolation.

[LeeS]

I’m not sure this ownership group has done anything to be criticized about yet. And I include Heck in that. The interview was very good. We can all stop scouring google maps now for derelict spaces to pop a new stadium. For some reason, watching the video has given me a new confidence for tonight. Come on the Villa!

[Dazvillain]

Thats superb news that we are staying at Villa Park. As is the 5% season ticket increase.

I still do not understand the need to stop increasing the stadium capacity when we need FFP revenue more than ever, just to cram in a few extra "prawn sandwich" seats dotted around the stadium.

No news about the crest either, which was supposed to be publicly released in Feb...

Although Gabby asked about ST prices, the answer was referred to as 5% to general admission….. I take that as match day tickets or basic ST seats in upper North . As for many new premium seating area and lots of new seats in Holte as well as rails , I think you’ll find that ST holders will pay premium prices for premium seats …… that is how they will increase this revenue stream without adding lots of seats

[Chris Smith]

Thats superb news that we are staying at Villa Park. As is the 5% season ticket increase.

I still do not understand the need to stop increasing the stadium capacity when we need FFP revenue more than ever, just to cram in a few extra "prawn sandwich" seats dotted around the stadium.

No news about the crest either, which was supposed to be publicly released in Feb...

I think there are a couple of obstacles to enlarging the ground. Firstly, while it’s happening attendances and therefore revenue is reduced. Secondly, the transport infrastructure is creaking at our current capacity, add any more without accompanying improvements to that and it will be gridlock.

[eamonn]

He says premyerr, everyone knows it's prem-ya.

Doug's pronunciation used to be a bit Hyacinth-Bucket, didn't it?

[LeeS]

Thats superb news that we are staying at Villa Park. As is the 5% season ticket increase.

I still do not understand the need to stop increasing the stadium capacity when we need FFP revenue more than ever, just to cram in a few extra "prawn sandwich" seats dotted around the stadium.

No news about the crest either, which was supposed to be publicly released in Feb...

I think there are a couple of obstacles to enlarging the ground. Firstly, while it’s happening attendances and therefore revenue is reduced. Secondly, the transport infrastructure is creaking at our current capacity, add any more without accompanying improvements to that and it will be gridlock.

Some of that is eased if people come early and/or stay later. That seems to be the plan.

[chrisw1]

Thats superb news that we are staying at Villa Park. As is the 5% season ticket increase.

I still do not understand the need to stop increasing the stadium capacity when we need FFP revenue more than ever, just to cram in a few extra "prawn sandwich" seats dotted around the stadium.

No news about the crest either, which was supposed to be publicly released in Feb...

I think there are a couple of obstacles to enlarging the ground. Firstly, while it’s happening attendances and therefore revenue is reduced. Secondly, the transport infrastructure is creaking at our current capacity, add any more without accompanying improvements to that and it will be gridlock.

We shouldn't be putting off a development because the transport infrastructure may not be up to it in 2026.  They're already trying shuttle buses and hoping to extend people's visits to spread the load.  If the train stations aren't improved people will still find a way.

As for revenue, I'm sure Risso has said in the past that you can allow for lost revenue due to redev works in FFP, so really it should be a non point?

[pablo_picasso]

Thats superb news that we are staying at Villa Park. As is the 5% season ticket increase.

I still do not understand the need to stop increasing the stadium capacity when we need FFP revenue more than ever, just to cram in a few extra "prawn sandwich" seats dotted around the stadium.

No news about the crest either, which was supposed to be publicly released in Feb...

I think there are a couple of obstacles to enlarging the ground. Firstly, while it’s happening attendances and therefore revenue is reduced. Secondly, the transport infrastructure is creaking at our current capacity, add any more without accompanying improvements to that and it will be gridlock.

Liverpools wasn't... I don't know how because Im not a structural engineer or an architect, but it's possible to build a stand without it affecting attendances.

Im not saying its going to be easy, especially if we have to shut down parts of the stadium, but if they are expecting Villa to dine at the top table from now on, when is it that we can improve the stadium?

We need to do it to help with whatever the fuck FFP is now called, but if we cant do it when we are successful, do we wait until we aren't to build the stadium? When its not actually needed...

As for transport, it seems they are trying to improve that with shuttles, pushing politicians to improve the trains & having fans arrive earlier & leave later to help ease the rushes.

[Chris Smith]

Thats superb news that we are staying at Villa Park. As is the 5% season ticket increase.

I still do not understand the need to stop increasing the stadium capacity when we need FFP revenue more than ever, just to cram in a few extra "prawn sandwich" seats dotted around the stadium.

No news about the crest either, which was supposed to be publicly released in Feb...

I think there are a couple of obstacles to enlarging the ground. Firstly, while it’s happening attendances and therefore revenue is reduced. Secondly, the transport infrastructure is creaking at our current capacity, add any more without accompanying improvements to that and it will be gridlock.

We shouldn't be putting off a development because the transport infrastructure may not be up to it in 2026.  They're already trying shuttle buses and hoping to extend people's visits to spread the load.  If the train stations aren't improved people will still find a way.

As for revenue, I'm sure Risso has said in the past that you can allow for lost revenue due to redev works in FFP, so really it should be a non point?

“They’ll find a way” strikes me as a bit of wishful thinking. It would be negligent of the club to ignore their responsibilities to fans, local residents and the relevant authorities to just plough ahead without having an accompanying plan to mitigate the impact. Getting people to stagger departure and arrival times is a start but even if the shuttle buses and trains are improved there will still be an increase in the number of cars needing to park somewhere and as things stand I don’t see how the local area will cope.

[pablo_picasso]

Apologies Chris, reading that back it seems Im being a bit aggressive towards you.

Im genuinely not mate.

I need to work on my communication skills, lol...

[Nii Lamptey]

Thats superb news that we are staying at Villa Park. As is the 5% season ticket increase.

I still do not understand the need to stop increasing the stadium capacity when we need FFP revenue more than ever, just to cram in a few extra "prawn sandwich" seats dotted around the stadium.

No news about the crest either, which was supposed to be publicly released in Feb...

I think there are a couple of obstacles to enlarging the ground. Firstly, while it’s happening attendances and therefore revenue is reduced. Secondly, the transport infrastructure is creaking at our current capacity, add any more without accompanying improvements to that and it will be gridlock.

Liverpools wasn't... I don't know how because Im not a structural engineer or an architect, but it's possible to build a stand without it affecting attendances.

Im not saying its going to be easy, especially if we have to shut down parts of the stadium, but if they are expecting Villa to dine at the top table from now on, when is it that we can improve the stadium?

We need to do it to help with whatever the fuck FFP is now called, but if we cant do it when we are successful, do we wait until we aren't to build the stadium? When its not actually needed...

As for transport, it seems they are trying to improve that with shuttles, pushing politicians to improve the trains & having fans arrive earlier & leave later to help ease the rushes.

I seem to remember reading that the North Stand development is a different beast to the Liverpool redevelopment, as there is major structural work required to relocate services, etc before even thinking about building the new stand, thus putting the current one out of action entirely the second they break ground.   

[Chris Smith]

Thats superb news that we are staying at Villa Park. As is the 5% season ticket increase.

I still do not understand the need to stop increasing the stadium capacity when we need FFP revenue more than ever, just to cram in a few extra "prawn sandwich" seats dotted around the stadium.

No news about the crest either, which was supposed to be publicly released in Feb...

I think there are a couple of obstacles to enlarging the ground. Firstly, while it’s happening attendances and therefore revenue is reduced. Secondly, the transport infrastructure is creaking at our current capacity, add any more without accompanying improvements to that and it will be gridlock.

Liverpools wasn't... I don't know how because Im not a structural engineer or an architect, but it's possible to build a stand without it affecting attendances.

Im not saying its going to be easy, especially if we have to shut down parts of the stadium, but if they are expecting Villa to dine at the top table from now on, when is it that we can improve the stadium?

We need to do it to help with whatever the fuck FFP is now called, but if we cant do it when we are successful, do we wait until we aren't to build the stadium? When its not actually needed...

As for transport, it seems they are trying to improve that with shuttles, pushing politicians to improve the trains & having fans arrive earlier & leave later to help ease the rushes.

I imagine that the Liverpool style change is far more complex compared to just knocking down and rebuilding and consequently requires a lot more in terms of planning. Perhaps that is why the new firm were brought in.