Fan Advisory Board

[Duncan Shaw]

I got an email from the Villa Trust on this, pretty much echoing what was on VT - I haven't seen it referenced on the thread, so for info this is what it said.....

Fan Advisory Board

I wanted to give you a quick update following the Fan Advisory Board meeting on Saturday morning. It is disappointing that the Club scheduled the meeting pre-game as there wasn’t sufficient time (50 minutes!) to question Chris Heck. Another meeting will take place in the coming weeks.

Across social media there are reports that the Holte Suite will become hospitality. Unfortunately, this is true. The Holte Suite is in the process of being refurbished. It will re-open to fans. However, at a premium cost, in exchange for all you can eat food and a couple of drinks. Probably with a program thrown in and a Villa legend appearance. Another erosion of season ticket holder benefits and without consultation.

Chris Heck was reminded that the concourse facilities in many parts of the ground are sub-standard, and improvements in hospitality should not be at the expense of the ordinary fan. He was made aware of the discontent amongst fans especially with considerable price rises and no improvement in service.
 
Redevelopment of the North Stand is on schedule. Demolition will take place next summer.
 
The Club has been liaising with the relevant rail authorities on the issues fans are experiencing.

The FAB was introduced to Ben Hatton, the new Chief Operating Officer and updated on a change to the commercial leadership. Ron Erskine is the new Chief Commercial Officer.

We are still waiting on answers to the ticketing and commercial operations issues raised with the Club directly at the end of July.

[pauliewalnuts]

The sad fact is, there probably will be enough people prepared to pay 70 quid to get into the Holte suite.

And Heck insisting that there is no difference between 'hospitality' and 'normal' fans is quite telling - the problem is that, currently there IS a difference, he wants to have us inhabit a world where there is NO difference.

That lack of difference is going to come from us getting used to paying a lot more for things we are used to getting for free, or very little.

I am sure he will significantly increase our off-pitch revenue, that's what he has been brought in for, but it's also clear that he's going to focus on getting more money from people that can afford it  and not on improving the general product for supporters.

I thought it was telling on that VT write up that it was a casual "we'll unblock the bogs and mop up the piss for the West Ham game" one minute, and getting angry about people not sharing his vision of 70 quid a pop to use a facility they once used to get to use for nothing.

I absolutely get why we need to increase revenue, that is easy to understand, what I do not like is the imbalance of focus on getting that extra money rather than seeing people currently already get their money's worth in terms of facilities (when in terms of ST and ticket prices, you've literally just started charging more for it a few weeks ago).

[London Villan]

have a look at this at Arsenal - nothing comparable to this at Villa Park
https://hospitality.arsenal.com/matchday-hospitality/tottenham-hotspur/packages/the-avenell/

£1700 per person, per match and sold out pretty much for the season.

[aev]

The sad fact is, there probably will be enough people prepared to pay 70 quid to get into the Holte suite.

And Heck insisting that there is no difference between 'hospitality' and 'normal' fans is quite telling - the problem is that, currently there IS a difference, he wants to have us inhabit a world where there is NO difference.

That lack of difference is going to come from us getting used to paying a lot more for things we are used to getting for free, or very little.

I am sure he will significantly increase our off-pitch revenue, that's what he has been brought in for, but it's also clear that he's going to focus on getting more money from people that can afford it  and not on improving the general product for supporters.

I thought it was telling on that VT write up that it was a casual "we'll unblock the bogs and mop up the piss for the West Ham game" one minute, and getting angry about people not sharing his vision of 70 quid a pop to use a facility they once used to get to use for nothing.

I absolutely get why we need to increase revenue, that is easy to understand, what I do not like is the imbalance of focus on getting that extra money rather than seeing people currently already get their money's worth in terms of facilities (when in terms of ST and ticket prices, you've literally just started charging more for it a few weeks ago).

Which is a bit odd really, as it should be possible to do both quite easily.

[aev]

have a look at this at Arsenal - nothing comparable to this at Villa Park
https://hospitality.arsenal.com/matchday-hospitality/tottenham-hotspur/packages/the-avenell/

£1700 per person, per match and sold out pretty much for the season.

Luxury padded seats located directly outside the lounge on Box Level 
Grazing menu showcasing locally sourced, seasonal food
Half-time and post-match refreshments
Complimentary drinks including champagne, house spirits, beer, wine and soft drinks
Panoramic views of the pitch
Official matchday programme for each guest
Occasional appearances from Arsenal legends

Locally sourced? Occassional appearance...chortle.

[PeterWithe]

I liked the 'panoramic view of the pitch' so you can see it all then, a good start I suppose for £1700

[Clark W Griswold]

I'm not sure that the Irish bloke that nearly got head-butted in the Arsenal Corporate area the other week would describe it as a 'nicer experience'.

[Chico Hamilton III]

To put corporate into the Holte once is a disgrace. To do it twice is unforgiveable.

As I keep saying though, it's not corporate, it's just much more expensive tickets with the ability to actually get served. Nobody's going to take a work client they want to impress to sit in the Holte. If you go to the similar type of areas at Spurs or Arsenal, it's just full of fans who can afford to have a nicer experience than people who can't afford it, and the club are banking on there being enough Villa fans who want to do similar.

Both Spurs and Arsenal have terrible atmospheres, to the extent that Arsenal now have to set up an “ultras” zone, where they try to engineer the very atmosphere that they wrecked. I know I sound like a stuck record but the owners will fuck around with the Holte at their own peril. They seem intent on driving a steamroller through something that is really important to thousands of proper Villa fans just to keep a minority - who can afford to fork out a few quid - happy.

[PeterWithe]

I'm not sure that the Irish bloke that nearly got head-butted in the Arsenal Corporate area the other week would describe it as a 'nicer experience'.

It was a locally sourced head butt though.

[Clark W Griswold]

have a look at this at Arsenal - nothing comparable to this at Villa Park
https://hospitality.arsenal.com/matchday-hospitality/tottenham-hotspur/packages/the-avenell/

£1700 per person, per match and sold out pretty much for the season.

Complimentary drinks including champagne, house spirits, beer, wine and soft drinks

I think they'd need to carry me out and provide a stomach pump at full time after i'd tried to get my money's worth.

[Nev]

To put corporate into the Holte once is a disgrace. To do it twice is unforgiveable.

As I keep saying though, it's not corporate, it's just much more expensive tickets with the ability to actually get served. Nobody's going to take a work client they want to impress to sit in the Holte. If you go to the similar type of areas at Spurs or Arsenal, it's just full of fans who can afford to have a nicer experience than people who can't afford it, and the club are banking on there being enough Villa fans who want to do similar.

Both Spurs and Arsenal have terrible atmospheres, to the extent that Arsenal now have to set up an “ultras” zone, where they try to engineer the very atmosphere that they wrecked. I know I sound like a stuck record but the owners will fuck around with the Holte at their own peril. They seem intent on driving a steamroller through something that is really important to thousands of proper Villa fans just to keep a minority - who can afford to fork out a few quid - happy.

That's pretty much it in a nutshell. I shudder when I think that in five years time a "club created" anthem could emerge at the Villa like that godawful thing they play at Woolwich....

[Villan For Life]

The package for the Arsenal - Villa game next April is already sold out out.

[Nev]

The package for the Arsenal - Villa game next April is already sold out out.

I'd imagine they are having a celebratory photo call at the training ground right now if their behaviour at the end of a bog standard 1-0 victory is anything to go by.

[aev]

To put corporate into the Holte once is a disgrace. To do it twice is unforgiveable.

As I keep saying though, it's not corporate, it's just much more expensive tickets with the ability to actually get served. Nobody's going to take a work client they want to impress to sit in the Holte. If you go to the similar type of areas at Spurs or Arsenal, it's just full of fans who can afford to have a nicer experience than people who can't afford it, and the club are banking on there being enough Villa fans who want to do similar.

Both Spurs and Arsenal have terrible atmospheres, to the extent that Arsenal now have to set up an “ultras” zone, where they try to engineer the very atmosphere that they wrecked. I know I sound like a stuck record but the owners will fuck around with the Holte at their own peril. They seem intent on driving a steamroller through something that is really important to thousands of proper Villa fans just to keep a minority - who can afford to fork out a few quid - happy.

They do a cracking shoulder of lamb though.

[dave.woodhall]

The package for the Arsenal - Villa game next April is already sold out out.

That'll be LeeB and Risso.