Chris Heck - President of Business Operations

[Flamingo Lane]

Putting it as politely as I can, the statement is nothing more or less than his very own 'yah boo sucks' to the complainers.

[Ads]

Sells out despite the complaints. There lies the problem you pay they will continue to have prices that fucks the fans over

It's probably the most price inelastic product in the history of the world when things are going well. Stick prices up by 50%, and demand stays just as high as it was before.

Exactly. It's also what makes it exploitative. If we do decide to cash our chips in on these ticket prices to grow the ground, it's sadly a pretty smart move.

[VILLA MOLE]

'Our priority will always be to match our collective ambition while ensuring that we are able to increase stadium capacity each season and provide the best matchday experience for all our fans'


Oh really ? how is that working out ??

[Villan82]

Sells out despite the complaints. There lies the problem you pay they will continue to have prices that fucks the fans over

It's probably the most price inelastic product in the history of the world when things are going well. Stick prices up by 50%, and demand stays just as high as it was before.

Exactly. It's also what makes it exploitative. If we do decide to cash our chips in on these ticket prices to grow the ground, it's sadly a pretty smart move.

Just one word of caution, if you are basing these last few posts on one sentence in a Heck statement prepare to be disappointed as you cannot take anything he says as any kind of evidence.

[Brazilian Villain]

That's general admission that's sold out.

Is that him patting himself on the back

I doubt it, his arms are probably too short.

[pauliewalnuts]

while ensuring that we are able to increase stadium capacity each season

Where's the increase in capacity this season, then?

The 2,000 seats that were meant to get added?

[Chip Butty 111]

That's general admission that's sold out.

Is that him patting himself on the back

I doubt it, his arms are probably too short.

....or he's too rotund..

[pauliewalnuts]

Didn't manage to get tickets sadly, so now, if they're available do i go for GA+?
Or do I order a takeaway and watch it on the TV with the boy, and use the money I saved to take her indoors away for a nice city break in europe?
Answers on a postcard

The latter. Happy in the knowledge you've done a good thing... Keeping your powder dry for another day.

Even better, send the boy and the Mrs away for a nice weekend break in Europe.

[Dogtanian]

In our house, we wage an endless war with those of us who want a takeaway (me) and those of us who want to be sensible (the other half). So in my experience, any thing you can use as leverage to get a takeaway should be taken advantage of.

In fact, you triggered me to fire a pre-emptive salvo via text - "Young Boys sold out, so no trip away for me.  Looks like it's a takeaway and watch at home!  "

[wince]

I was never a regular down VP so the CL prices affect me the least. However I feel for all of you who have spilled blood sweat and tears in supporting Villa. I get the need to make money but when the inevitable slump happens and the seats are lying fallow, will the daytrippers stand with us?
When the club struggles to serve the most basic of food and drink to the 'general admissions' or even provide sanitary facilities what will that look like to those on a day out to Villa Park? Dave W's latest article hits nail on the head that we are acting like a starving person at an all you can eat buffet. Eat now as tomorrow there is going to be nothing there.
How far have we moved away from the fans being rewarded for loyalty under the veil of 'the brand' makes me wonder if the club would just be happier making money without the on-pitch success. Because we haven't actually won anything yet have we? We are acting like a small club in regards to the CL in over-pricing the tickets knowing there is a captive audience who don't have to be there but will go because it is in their blood.

Not saying we should have tenner tickets but there will be those who will not justify the cost anymore regardless of the success and the pricing model does feel like a concert pricing model. But unless you are a diehard fan, you go to that one special gig and splash the cash. With football they want that every week. Nothing wrong with that but when a ticket is a King's ransom, it spits in the face of every fan who turns up week in week out, rain, shine, Paul Lambert and Gerrard to support their team. The ticket pricing is not the panacea to get PSR compliant when the very experience of going to a match is anything but pleasant off the field meaning fewer want to spend their money on poor service or no service at all. To be sidelined for the well heeled or pleasure seekers to have that hospitality treatment, an offshoot of the gig VIP experience means you pay more or don't come, an attitude that has permeated throughout society these last few years, sidelining those who are outpriced and have paid more than their fair share of silver into Villa.

As I said at the start I am not one of them, not as bigger fan as some of you are, to others probably not a proper fan at all. However, I don't know if I will ever be able to get inside VP anytime soon, nor do I deserve to go to the CL games given I have missed so many other games. Very sad given I was a bun in the oven last time we were in the competition. But for those who are the loyal fans, who have made the effort, I understand the anger at what should have been our finest year in over 40 years. To that I say, I am very disappointed that we managed to take the shine off the gilt edged season we just had acting like we need to alienate the very people who are the 12th man........

It's just a bloody shame

[caster troy]

Waited until the'd sold out before acknowledging the pricing criticism, I see what he did there. The comment about increasing capacity really annoyed me considering that has completely failed so far.

[Flamingo Lane]

The golden rule of dealing with complaints is to not respond in such a way as to leave the complainant feeling more disgruntled than he was feeling when he made the complaint. Heck's statement today, by dint of its transparent opportunism, callowness and dare I say cowardice, is a classic case 'how not to deal with a complaint.'

[London Villan]

He is a proper weasel.

[VillaTim]

The golden rule of dealing with complaints is to not respond in such a way as to leave the complainant feeling more disgruntled than he was feeling when he made the complaint. Heck's statement today, by dint of its transparent opportunism, callowness and dare I say cowardice, is a classic case 'how not to deal with a complaint.'

Very well put Sir

[rob_bridge]

He'll be apologising for any offence taken soon.