I think you can absolutely build a new Villa Park and work hard to keep some of the aesthetic. The brickwork, the mosaics, the statues could all be worked in to a new and modern stadium and i'd expect them to be. Like with everything about how we brand ourselves, we can't ignore our history but we also can't be limited by it. A modern stadium with modern facilities that pays a very strong homage to Villa Park would be ideal for me.
I live in a city which had a major stadium upgrade a decade ago, and it's centrally located, which absolutely makes it more useful. The two biggest sports clubs in the city moved from a stadium out in the suburbs with terrible transport options and it was horrible and congested trying to get out every time.
I'm not fully aware of the public transport options in Birmingham but the ability for people to get in on busses and trains and utilise the extensive amount of parking options available in the Adelaide CBD and surrounds definitely boosts attendance. It also boosts the stadium's use as an entertainment venue.
There is always plenty to do around the stadium in terms of eating and drinking with money that goes back to the club. People go elsewhere before and afterwards, but that's a good thing, because you get people that might not have gone to the football attending anyway because they can continue their night out in town afterwards. Going to the football becomes part of a night out instead of the entire night out, and that's appealing to people.