It’s only a quick one, but it’s something I’ve often thought about too. I’m really not convinced the plan to rebuild solely the North stand has ever been the solution and it should be the Witton lane that should be rebuilt too, even if it means you have to pay the residents on that side loads of bunce to accept being kicked out.
I just don’t get the idea of the North stand. It used to be where the opposition fans went and you abused each other and supported your club. While it’s better than it used to be (I remember sitting up there in the 90’s and it was bleak) it’s still not good imo.
Rebuild the North stand and then build a new Witton lane at the same height.
But most importantly, don’t wrap it. Retain the seperate stands, because that’s what people like about Villa Park, I think. It’s traditional.
However, here’s the view that made me post this;
“Apparently there are now 30,000 fans on the waiting list for a season ticket, my uncle has reliably informed me. Despite being a season ticket holder, he hasn’t been able to get me two tickets together for the Burnley match so I won’t be taking my 6 year old lad to his first game. Very disappointed and the little man will be gutted.
I’ve said it before, but going through all the rigmarole of redeveloping the North Stand for only a 15,000 increase in capacity seems mad! Go as high as you can behind the goal and wrap it with the Doug Ellis, I say! In fact, why not do it in two stages: the North Stand massive two tier development first (as big as it will go), followed by the levelling of the Doug Ellis and another two or three tier monster to join it! Leaving the iconic Holte End and Trinity Road as stand alone landmarks. A perfect balance of tradition and modern progress. St James’ Park is a very good example, with the massive redevelopment wrapping with the lower original stand. 55,000 is not enough and limits the club’s seemingly unlimited potential!!
I want some tickets! 🙁”
Totally agreed, wrapping the stands apart.
The current solution seems seriously lacking ambition?
There must be reasons for that.
Have no ‘inside knowledge’ on this but suggest it’s about what’s achievable in planning terms linked to the balance between investment and returns.
Whilst Villa Park is an iconic, traditional stadium it suffers from (a) being in a residential area and (b) lacking the public transport infrastructure to support a (say) 60,000 seater stadium.
Whilst it’s pretty clear that the owners could invest large sums on the development of the stadium, I think the planning issues around protecting residential areas and public transport can only be dealt with on a phased and strategic basis.
I don’t think the majority of Villa fans would countenance the development of a brand new stadium on some brown field site with no historic, social or passionate links to the club. Aston Villa and its fans are Villa Park and VP is Aston Villa and its fans.
Maybe they just can’t decide on a final design. I’m not fond of wraparound stands. Being in the corner is shit. Just like stadium gigs.
Seems Brentford have quite a few in the treatment room too at the minute. Cool!!!! I wonder if we should go for Toney in the window? Rumour has it we’re looking for a couple of attacking players. Support in midfield and up front? I think if anything happens to Ollie, Diaby will step straight into that role.
Bum bum,
Diaby, Zaniolo or Duran.
You might not like those options, but they are there as surprises.
I don’t believe the lack of an out and out striker is such a problem for us. I think the fact that we have one in Watkins gives the opponents more of a clue how we’re going to set up.
Imagine we have no striker, yet are known for having threats all over the park?
With this side, I’d take us to score at least one.
In fairness, I totally forgot about the logistics.
It’s a nightmare getting away from the ground nowadays, whereas it never used to be (well, not as bad).
So while the Mayor and the council spout all their crap, we have to wait.
The only good thing is that big outfits have a much bigger shout than the mug on the street.
So we’re only talking 5 years then 🙂 🙂 🙁
Tbf Badger, Villa have, it seems, won the support of the LA and wider investment in public transport / logistics to underpin the next phase of the development in VP with one eye on the Euros.
Without that support it’s probable that Villa would have to look elsewhere to build a bigger stadium.
But I’m no expert on this.
Thanks for picking up on my post, Badger! Would happily sacrifice the wrap around for two massive new stands – I agree that it would be weird for VP to have full wrap around, although we do already have some at the lower levels. Essentially, the North Stand mirroring the Holte (or bigger if possible) and Witton Lane mirroring the Trinity Road would be very impressive and would surely get us up to at least 60,000, which is needed by the sounds of it!
Why not go 70k if possible, and get it close Old Trafford? I don’t get how Old Trafford has such a high capacity, while we’re on it. It’s only one of the sides that’s huge; the other 3 wrap around sides are essentially one tier as they have been for as long as we can remember. Odd. Anyway, I still want some tickets! 🙁
Totally off topic but a must watch.
https://youtu.be/xufR0RELRxQ?si=RPrMcQ4C2rU6wSVJ
I could have watched 2 hours of that! A brilliant watch.
I never realised he came from a footballing family. Funny what they said about body shape. When you look at so many modern footballers and physically they look like models, very lightweight, especially at Arsenal and Spurs, Super John McGinn is so well built, clearly part of his success. He’s built like a pitbull.
Love the guy!!!!
Sure I read somewhere his grandfather was head of the Scottish FA back in the day,
so a proper footballing pedigree.
It was previously reported last years that the intention is to eventually increase the capacity to near 60,000 after North Stand development to just beyond 50,000.
Personally I have no problem with the corners being filled in. Further, I’d like the Ellis stand demolished for capacity increase and renamed.
At least the new North stand will not have the fraud squad all over it, unlike the 1970s build!
I’m no expert on these matters but doesn’t filling in the corners stop the airflow and a have an adverse effect on the pitch?
Sid, I think that was the plan, but I’ve not seen it mentioned for a good while.
I think Hitchens has this right and it’s about local infrastructure, which is shocking, the same as it is everywhere now.
The fraud squad? I don’t recall those issues for the North stand???
Looking back it was a £1 mill bargain really.
I do however remember Ellis scrimping on the Trinity. He concentrated on the posh part and left some of the cheap part looking like a bloody building site, imo.
Still, it looks like £12 mill well spent really.
RSS, I believe you’re correct and that defintely used to be the case. They’ve probably invented some grass that doesn’t need as much air now.
It certainly doesn’t need as much sun, as they’ve constantly got the sodium lights on it.
Badger I recall reading a few years ago that the fraud squad were counting the bricks in the North Stand. I’ve tried a quick internet search and not found it, but will keep searching. Don’t want to be sued if wrong
Bloody hell, Palace drawing with a late penalty did us a big favour!!!
Just found a reference to fraud and the North stand. Ironically it is on Aston Villa FC Wikipedia site (I appreciate authenticity is an issue with this site) but it does reinforce my recollection.
“ Doug Ellis returned as chairman and majority shareholder in November 1982. The club was saddled with significant debts and questions had been raised by the police regarding fraudulent financial activity surrounding the building of the North Stand at Villa Park……… The cost of the work was £1.3 million. An internal investigation found that £700,000 of the £1.3 million worth of bills were unaccounted for.[citation needed] A later report by accountants Deloitte found that there were “serious breaches of recommended codes of practice and poor site supervision”.[42] Ellis immediately set about trying to reduce the club’s overheads.
Sid, sounds to me, as a former quantity surveyor, that the project was overspent due to poor management rather than it being a deliberate fraud – although ‘ringing’ was a problem for some time in the industry.
If that is the case Villa may well have sued for negligence against which all professional advisors have to be insured.
On a different subject AC Milan, it seems, have enquired to Barca about Lenglet. This reinforces the article I read which suggested Barca we’re looking at whether they could recall him from the loan – on the face of it for lack of game time – but more likely because they want to sell him in January!
I wonder why I’ve not had notification on the last 3 posts ?
Has anyone else noticed Diarby will not pass to Cash?
If was in Cash’s shoes we’d be having serious words in the dressing room.
I’ve thought the same but Cash can’t cross or dribble past a player.
Diarby’s doing a bit of a Grealish, playing back instead of having a go at the fullback.
A bright start.
I’m going for 2-1 to us.
Never noticed that RSS, but I’ll be looking for it now.
We should be 3 up here 🤦♂️
Ramsey’s off it today
Pau has carried the ball more than any other player this season.
Bollocks.
Just have to go with Badger’s 2-1.
For all our pressure and possession we look a smidge off the boil…
Brentford probably deserve that. They’ve edged the half, imo and we don’t look right at all.
0-1
Missing Luiz’s craft and Digne’s defending.
Nearly two! Ouch!
If that wasn’t off, it would have been game over, imo.
Poor at the back and it’s easy for the Bees.
We’re just not on it and playing another of our bogey sides!