Chris Heck - President of Business Operations

[PaulWinch again]

I heard a really good point on a podcast the other day which summed it up quite nicely. Football clubs see the fans as customers, but they should really think in a more rounded way because they really don’t want them to start behaving like customers.

[luke95]

If they're all sat alone maybe , but the likelihood of getting 4/5/6 tickets together isn't  To get sat together you're most likely have to pay the higher price bracket.

[ChicagoLion]

If they're all sat alone maybe , but the likelihood of getting 4/5/6 tickets together isn't  To get sat together you're most likely have to pay the higher price bracket.

If they have STs they can automatically retain their seats.
If not they will struggle to be inthe same section.

[Rigadon]

I heard a really good point on a podcast the other day which summed it up quite nicely. Football clubs see the fans as customers, but they should really think in a more rounded way because they really don’t want them to start behaving like customers.

Yeah that was the Guardian's football weekly, which I listened to especially because they were talking about Villa (for a fucking change but that's another thread!!!!).  It's a good point.  They went further to say that at some point, the match going fan base might not be there because newer generations won't actually be match going like we were as kids (when tickets were less outrageously priced).

I'm kind of torn on this though.  The cost is ridiculous, and is probably more restrictive for most people.  But is there enough merit to the argument that in order to carry on competing at this end of the league we need revenue to increase?  How much does the match income actually matter?  I think I read it was about 15% of total revenue, so if that's right, it's not meaningless. 

Also, when you look at match day revenue, we are way behind the usual suspects.  That's down to stadium size too, but also location, with London prices being higher.

Anyway, at the very least, they need to fix the bogs. 

[john e]

You really can’t compare other forms of entertainment to football I paid well over £100 for AC/DC tickets for Wembley a couple of months ago but that will probably be the only time I ever see them whereas Villa is ongoing financial drainage from week to week

[danno]

You really can’t compare other forms of entertainment to football I paid well over £100 for AC/DC tickets for Wembley a couple of months ago but that will probably be the only time I ever see them whereas Villa is ongoing financial drainage from week to week

Plus if you go see a band you like, you’re almost guaranteed to go home happy. That’s just not the case with sport, even as a neutral you can go home fed up because it’s been a 0-0 snooze fest.

[pauliewalnuts]

That thing about the future match going generation not being there.

Pretty sure we (fans in general) have been saying exactly that since the mid 90s.

[PeterWithe]

That thing about the future match going generation not being there.

Pretty sure we (fans in general) have been saying exactly that since the mid 90s.

But we’ve always been able to get tickets in the main, the younger generation now can’t. So why not support other more successful teams that they also cant get tickets for?

[astonvilla82]

In general I keep hearing that people haven't got any money, but is that a myth because all I see is the opposite especially in the younger generation,I acknowledge that there is some in society that may be not financially well off

[Risso]

In general I keep hearing that people haven't got any money, but is that a myth because all I see is the opposite especially in the younger generation,I acknowledge that there is some in society that may be not financially well off

So, not really a myth at all then.

[CLEEVE]

It's all on finance

[PeterWithesShin]

From early this year

Just under half of Birmingham children are now living in poverty - up 10% in a decade. And to get out of it, many of their parents would need to DOUBLE their income.

Birmingham is now second only to London's Tower Hamlets estate when it comes to the proportion of kids living in real hardship. Some 46% are now impoverished, with many of them growing up in overcrowded, substandard homes, with bare cupboards and sharing beds.

"This is social failure at scale," said Paul Kissack, group chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which carried out the research.

The Birmingham rate of 46.4% is a huge jump from a decade ago, when just over a third of city children (36%) were in the same position.

[Mellin]

In general I keep hearing that people haven't got any money, but is that a myth because all I see is the opposite especially in the younger generation,I acknowledge that there is some in society that may be not financially well off

Spend a lot of time in the poorer parts of Birmingham?

[lukey27]

This was the response I got re: the complaint about queues and toilets. It's a fairly non answer and no explanation or solution but I suppose the test will be at the Everton game. But I certainly won't be buying anything in the ground for the foreseeable future.

On behalf of everyone here at Villa Park, thanks again for taking the time to register your feelings on your experience at our first match versus Arsenal.  We reiterate our apologies that you had cause to complain.

As we are sure you can appreciate, your feedback was not isolated, so it has taken considerable time to log those we have received, acknowledge receipt and then collate all of the points made within the complaints.  Whilst the club emailed a statement to all of those in attendance on Tuesday 27th, we wanted to ensure we followed up with the reply below.

Immediately following the match, those directly involved in stadium operations had already begun to collate and understand the elements that contributed to the late opening of stiles and build-up of queues that we had not shifted entirely by kick-off. The depth of feeling expressed by yourself, and others is completely understood by all here at Villa Park, and our determination to see those arriving early given an appropriate welcome and safe entry to the stadium is of paramount importance.

The issues with toilets around the stadium was escalated to our owners, who immediately recognised the importance of both immediate and long-term solutions to avoid repeats of what you had to endure.  Our facilities team have already worked to ensure all blockages have been investigated and repaired.  A longer-term programme has also begun, including the installation of Air Admittance Valves being added to all male urinals to aid waste removal, hand dryers in all toilets replacing paper towels, new flooring and facilities painted.  We will work through the stadium as quickly as we can throughout the season, using gaps in the fixtures to address every area.

All of the specific and general comments received regarding catering service, product availability, prices etc have been shared with our Catering provider Levy.  As with our own operations, the first match is problematic for new staff understanding new facilities and the complexities of Villa Park.  We will keep a close eye on them as we know they need to deliver an appropriate level of service throughout the season.

[VillaTim]

In general I keep hearing that people haven't got any money, but is that a myth because all I see is the opposite especially in the younger generation,I acknowledge that there is some in society that may be not financially well off

"some" is probably the majority.