Chris Heck - President of Business Operations

[Chris Smith]

On a quick look, I'd estimate about a third of season ticket holders haven't taken up their tickets.

The flip side I know a couple of former season ticket holders who are on the waiting list looking at this as probably the only Champions League game they are likely to be able to go to. I am absolutely not using that as a justification for the prices but just to suggest that there is still some demand there.

[Holte132]

My grandson, who is 7, would love to come to the Villa games, but the only way he can is for one of his parents to miss the game so he can use their ticket. Meanwhile, seats are available in the Upper Holte, but they are all Terrace View seats at a ridiculous price! Where are the new young Villa fans going to come from if they can't get to see a game?

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

On a quick look, I'd estimate about a third of season ticket holders haven't taken up their tickets.

The flip side I know a couple of former season ticket holders who are on the waiting list looking at this as probably the only Champions League game they are likely to be able to go to. I am absolutely not using that as a justification for the prices but just to suggest that there is still some demand there.

I’d agree. When the draw was first made I thought, as a member, I’d try and get to all the champions league games. I was lucky enough to get a Bayern ticket and will try and get one for Celtic and Juve but as it stands something has got to give so I’ll save my money for better games.
If I hadn’t got a Bayern ticket I’d probably go to Bologna to say I’d seen us in the champions league.

[Mister E]

Reply from club regarding empty seats

The match on Saturday did not sell out.  Some of the larger groups of seats are GA+ seating.  Had the match of sold out and demand still there, these would have been released in stages as we do for most fixtures.

We all know if these were listed earlier they would sell out as groups/couples/families can't get seats together. It seems  they aren't willing to change and are happy to have empty seats for a 3pm KO local derby when we're the best we have been for years. As I said before who has empty seats in the premier league these days? especially a club of our size
 

A bit crazy: dynamic pricing works both ways - if an organisation can't sell out at £x, they would normally reduce 'x' until they find traction on sales. Heck doesn't seem to be doing this.

[Gareth]

On a quick look, I'd estimate about a third of season ticket holders haven't taken up their tickets.

The flip side I know a couple of former season ticket holders who are on the waiting list looking at this as probably the only Champions League game they are likely to be able to go to. I am absolutely not using that as a justification for the prices but just to suggest that there is still some demand there.

I know what you are saying, the two old guys I sit next to aren’t going to Champs League games due to the prices but they have reallocated their tickets to others who were ‘desperate’ to go….upgrade from concession to adult, only a few quid but exactly why they made the concession prices so damn high

[Chip Butty 111]

£83 for my lad, a member ,18 Yr old student. He can't afford to go.

[itbrvilla]

On a quick look, I'd estimate about a third of season ticket holders haven't taken up their tickets.

The flip side I know a couple of former season ticket holders who are on the waiting list looking at this as probably the only Champions League game they are likely to be able to go to. I am absolutely not using that as a justification for the prices but just to suggest that there is still some demand there.

I’d agree. When the draw was first made I thought, as a member, I’d try and get to all the champions league games. I was lucky enough to get a Bayern ticket and will try and get one for Celtic and Juve but as it stands something has got to give so I’ll save my money for better games.
If I hadn’t got a Bayern ticket I’d probably go to Bologna to say I’d seen us in the champions league.

I wonder if the criteria will change for Juve e.g. priority to members who have attended both games in CL prior.

[Chip Butty 111]

On a quick look, I'd estimate about a third of season ticket holders haven't taken up their tickets.

The flip side I know a couple of former season ticket holders who are on the waiting list looking at this as probably the only Champions League game they are likely to be able to go to. I am absolutely not using that as a justification for the prices but just to suggest that there is still some demand there.

I’d agree. When the draw was first made I thought, as a member, I’d try and get to all the champions league games. I was lucky enough to get a Bayern ticket and will try and get one for Celtic and Juve but as it stands something has got to give so I’ll save my money for better games.
If I hadn’t got a Bayern ticket I’d probably go to Bologna to say I’d seen us in the champions league.

I wonder if the criteria will change for Juve e.g. priority to members who have attended both games in CL prior.

I hope not, despite being a member and going to all the European games last season including Hibernian I couldn't get a Bayern ticket despite being in the queue at 9am

[Ads]

I get you don't like Heck, your Carthago daellenda est approach to every post you make leaves us in no doubt, but I really don't understand the analysis there.

We hit the "rocks" in 2010 because we'd allowed 1 man to max out the (limited) Lerner family trust. Lerner was more interested in Jewish folk history come 2010 than running a football club by that point and it appeared that his sister had been updated by the family lawyer to see just how much money he'd wasted. A discreet set of circumstances.

We're owned by 3 entities of extreme wealth. As miraculous as our rise has been, it would be equally miraculous to go the same way in reverse. It is all indexed to those 3 entities and Emery, with Emery's structure around him.

Great Man Theroy in action; Lerner and O'Neil these lot are not. They're infinite levels of wealth, knowledge and ability above.

Prices are elastic, they can expand or contract. There's no way of carving £90 or £79 anyway that I'd like or many of us would like. There might be reasons for this beyond maximising revenue  such as structural or regulatory ones- that would make a lot of sense.

But the idea that if Heck leaves in say 18 months when his son has finished at university, that the club with a ~£400m turnover is some how irreparably damaged and not significantly financially stronger is just garbage. And garbage that's repeated time and time again.

[itbrvilla]

On a quick look, I'd estimate about a third of season ticket holders haven't taken up their tickets.

The flip side I know a couple of former season ticket holders who are on the waiting list looking at this as probably the only Champions League game they are likely to be able to go to. I am absolutely not using that as a justification for the prices but just to suggest that there is still some demand there.

I’d agree. When the draw was first made I thought, as a member, I’d try and get to all the champions league games. I was lucky enough to get a Bayern ticket and will try and get one for Celtic and Juve but as it stands something has got to give so I’ll save my money for better games.
If I hadn’t got a Bayern ticket I’d probably go to Bologna to say I’d seen us in the champions league.

I wonder if the criteria will change for Juve e.g. priority to members who have attended both games in CL prior.

I hope not, despite being a member and going to all the European games last season including Hibernian I couldn't get a Bayern ticket despite being in the queue at 9am

I suppose for group games they will keep it open to give opportunity to all fans (as if they really care...).

[Villan82]

OK. I get it ADs thanks.

[Ads]

OK. I get it ADs thanks.

I'm not sure you do. Being the Steve Bray of H&V is really tedious.

[London Villan]

On a quick look, I'd estimate about a third of season ticket holders haven't taken up their tickets.

The flip side I know a couple of former season ticket holders who are on the waiting list looking at this as probably the only Champions League game they are likely to be able to go to. I am absolutely not using that as a justification for the prices but just to suggest that there is still some demand there.

I know what you are saying, the two old guys I sit next to aren’t going to Champs League games due to the prices but they have reallocated their tickets to others who were ‘desperate’ to go….upgrade from concession to adult, only a few quid but exactly why they made the concession prices so damn high

My dad is the same - as he said, you can buy a firestick and watch every single Villa game for the cost of one ticket.

[Ads]

On a quick look, I'd estimate about a third of season ticket holders haven't taken up their tickets.

The flip side I know a couple of former season ticket holders who are on the waiting list looking at this as probably the only Champions League game they are likely to be able to go to. I am absolutely not using that as a justification for the prices but just to suggest that there is still some demand there.

I know what you are saying, the two old guys I sit next to aren’t going to Champs League games due to the prices but they have reallocated their tickets to others who were ‘desperate’ to go….upgrade from concession to adult, only a few quid but exactly why they made the concession prices so damn high

My dad is the same - as he said, you can buy a firestick and watch every single Villa game for the cost of one ticket.

Watching football on the tele is really shit though. Especially when you'd rather be there, hence the exploitative wankery of £90+ notes.

[AV82EC]

I get you don't like Heck, your Carthago daellenda est approach to every post you make leaves us in no doubt, but I really don't understand the analysis there.

We hit the "rocks" in 2010 because we'd allowed 1 man to max out the (limited) Lerner family trust. Lerner was more interested in Jewish folk history come 2010 than running a football club by that point and it appeared that his sister had been updated by the family lawyer to see just how much money he'd wasted. A discreet set of circumstances.

We're owned by 3 entities of extreme wealth. As miraculous as our rise has been, it would be equally miraculous to go the same way in reverse. It is all indexed to those 3 entities and Emery, with Emery's structure around him.

Great Man Theroy in action; Lerner and O'Neil these lot are not. They're infinite levels of wealth, knowledge and ability above.

Prices are elastic, they can expand or contract. There's no way of carving £90 or £79 anyway that I'd like or many of us would like. There might be reasons for this beyond maximising revenue  such as structural or regulatory ones- that would make a lot of sense.

But the idea that if Heck leaves in say 18 months when his son has finished at university, that the club with a ~£400m turnover is some how irreparably damaged and not significantly financially stronger is just garbage. And garbage that's repeated time and time again.

I suppose Ads at what cost to goodwill from your supporter base. Could that be long lasting or could it be repaired?

I fully agree with your post btw.