brommy

50,065 was the proposed capacity of Villa Park upon completion of the approved next phase works. I'm very interested if they still expect to add an additional 2125 seats, taking the capacity to 52,190, before Summer 2028. An extra 2125 seats is far more than some minor adjustment in seat layouts. My current assumption is expanding the corners of the Holte End, possibly on the Witton Lane side as the Trinity Road position is limiting without building over the road. I'll be disappointed if the 50k capacity isn't achieved in the next few years but won't be surprised if the 52k plan doesn't happen before Summer 28, if at all.

I currently have one major and one minor concern regarding the building of the new North Stand - Major: Could the club cancel or significantly postpone the project, if UEFA announce (in September I believe) that Turkey is hosting the 2028 Euros? Minor: Could WMCA's indecisiveness and/or lack of funding delay the Witton Station work thus delaying the completion of this phase and causing an unnecessary 'rush job' to complete before the Summer 2028 tournament?

In what way?

Could be explained by both teams already realistically having absolutely nothing to play for. The lower placed team, relieved to be virtually safe from relegation, happy not to lose at home - against the low mid-table team, with no chance of a playoff place, happy to get an away point.

There's not been any announcements yet on entry to Villa Live. My guess is pay on the door, perhaps at around £5. Villa will want to maximise matchday revenue by filling it and selling plenty of beer and food, but entry for free or only a couple of quid would probably lead to capacity management issues. I'm guessing there'll be plenty of food and drink counters but not sure about a 'restaurant' as such. If I were Villa I'd go for a food court style giving a choice of different food offerings.

The new North Stand project requires more than demolition of the old stand and building of the new. The plan could still be to start demolition work late this year. Not on the North Stand itself but the North Stand car park infrastructure (club offices & old academy buildings), which will then provide the space for the materials and equipment needed to build the new stand and Villa Live buildings.

Quite likely. Talk of starting the project next season does conjure images of an empty North Stand as it's being demolished, and therefore no season ticket sales this summer. The reality could be that there is so much preparation work to be done, for example demolition and removal of the North Stand car park buildings, that work could start late this year or early next year, whilst still being able to offer North Stand tickets for the entire 23/24 season. Ideally and if feasible, demolition of the current North Stand could then commence the day after the last home game of the season in May 2024 and the new stand be ready, some 15 months later, for the start of the 25/26 season in August 2025. It wouldn't surprise me if, mainly due to the Witton Station work delays, a whole year was added to each of the above dates. An August 2026 completion would still meet the objective of a 50k Villa Park before the 2028 Euros. Just had a thought - surely Villa aren't waiting until September when UEFA announce who will host the 2028 Euros (looks like it's between the UK and Turkey), before fully agreeing to renew the North Stand??!!!

Seems like he's acknowledging Ollie's supreme form whilst hinting at his acceptance of being patient at the start of his Villa career. Good noises.

We all know most owners like to feel good about themselves and important in their social standing. Hopefully, rubbing shoulders with the direct heirs to the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth realms will go some way to nourish their continued ownership of Villa.

Very, very good!

Perhaps @villaajax is holding back on Hannah Hampton's head paint until she commits to a new Villa contract?

Simply open one can at a time and drink straight from that can with the other three cans (unopened or empty, just not opened and full) still attached. It looks especially cool if the can opening is facing towards the middle of the bunch.

European qualification or not, finishing top 8 would be an incredible achievement this season, especially given the legacy left by our most recent manager. Conversely, if we somehow return to average form, perhaps by losing some of the key games against our top half rivals, I hope fans won't be critical of the manager or team for falling away from our current height. I hope I'm not the only Villa fan who thinks that finishing anywhere in the top half of the Premier League will be a great achievement - this season. Having written that, I will allow myself a sigh of disappointment if we finish 11th!

Still one for Dyche's CV though - Spring 2023 - Made a crap team marginally less crap than some other crap teams.

I agree on all that. Even if the Witton station/underpass work gets final approval/funding soon and work starts at Villa Park late this year, it won't be anything major like commencing the demolition of the existing North Stand, but the peripheral and enabling work you referenced.

I think player likeability is strongly influenced by the team's performance. We're riding the crest of a mini-wave at the moment with apparently high squad camaraderie, so it's easy for us fans to like the players. Now imagine exactly the same players, showing the same care for charity and Villa fans in unfortunate circumstances whilst giving their all in training and on the pitch, but, for some reason they just can't win a football match and we are stuck in the relegation zone. I expect the players' likeability to fans and the replies to this to thread would be a lot different, yet the players would be the same people, likeable or not.

I'm pleased there isn't a comma in the middle of that sentence!

I previously mentioned that I thought someone (Purslow?) said October 23 was a possible start date, but nobody else seems to recall that date being mentioned. I've also heard that the stand completion, and therefore commencement date, will need to be synchronised with the opening of a refurbished Witton Station with increased access; the financing of which is still to be formalised.

I like to think that will be avoided by threat of withdrawal by the U.S., Australia and most European countries. I really hope those countries sports associations don't bottle it!

If it's going to take that long, Carlos must be paddling when the tide's out at Weston-Super-Mare.

As Randy Lerner would testify!

'Home free after six months...' but they'll have missed the small print '... or after the war is won, whichever is the latter. Severe injury or death is a significant risk and will NOT lead to repatriation.'

Having previously enjoyed series 1, I'm looking forward to watching series 2. Just one thought from me, your 'excellent, really good 7/10' has me wondering - is it excellent or 7 out of 10? In my mind, 'excellent' is a 9 and a 7 is merely 'good'. I do appreciate my 'matching adjectives to scores' is probably for the Boring Thread!

The destruction of Russian Cruise missiles within Russian occupied Crimea is likely to annoy Vlad!

No worries. I'm very much in the mind of 'whoops, never mind'. He took it well, tbf.