Fans Advisory Board Meeting - 16th September

[OutByEaster?]

Hello,

There are a number of concerns that the Fans Advisory Board would like to take to the club at an upcoming meeting.

Our primary concerns are around ticketing and I've listed a number of the outstanding issues below. 

If there's anything you'd like to add, on anything at Villa Park or with the club that affects you (other than the actual football), please add it to this thread and we'll look to add it to the agenda where possible.

Quote

 

Terrace view - away tickets - how many tickets are being put to one side for Terrace View season ticket holders - the figure being quoted is 10% of the total?

If that's true it's a kick in the teeth for loyal supporters who have built up a history over time.

If it's not true and the figure is 10% of the Hospitality allocation, then Terrace View season ticket holders are being mis-sold a benefit that's nowhere near as powerful as they are being told.

Terrace View - will the situation with the Holte End being locked out for Members and Season ticket holders until such time as the Terrace View has been accommodated continue throughout the season or is this a problem that will exist only for the Everton game?

Terrace View seating - are terrace view season ticket holders properly aware of their seating positions within the Upper Holte and does the presence of existing Holte End season ticket holders mean that these seats will quite often not be in central areas with the best views?

Can the club confirm that those on the season ticket waiting list who take up the Terrace View offer will not be considered as 'normal' season ticket holders, that the option to renew may not be available and that they will lose their place on the waiting list in all cases?

Terrace View Seating - can the club confirm that those that have bought Terrace View season tickets will not be able to purchase cup tickets in other parts of the ground, other than in the general sale window, even if they also hold a membership? In effect, locking them into the Terrace View for cup matches.

Can the club confirm that North Stand season ticket holders will be relocated during the construction of the New North Stand and that the previous suggestion that they would be given priority in purchasing season tickets in the new stand once it opens will be upheld?

Can the club confirm the plans and the timescale for the movement of season ticket holders in the Lower Trinity Road stand once the construction of the new Hospitality areas begins there?

Can the club explain the reasoning and benefits of the 1888 seating price changes which were not revealed in advance of their sale?

Does the club appreciate that Upper Holte Enders feel that the survey on facilities which was put to them in advance of the Terrace View project was misleading and that they feel let down in having very little communicated to them about any improvements to the general facilities for Upper Holte Enders - particularly as it was these facilities they believed they were being surveyed on?

Does the club appreciate the hardship that the very large price increases over the last two seasons have placed on supporters that are afraid to lose their season ticket places and are having to tighten their belts in order to keep supporting the team - will this be reflected in thinking on next season's prices?

Can the club confirm if there have been any increases to the number of away tickets allocated to corporate and hospitality members this season?

Is the club able to provide a breakdown of those tickets that go to corporate/hospitality members, Lions Clubs, guests of the club and players and ballot winners and how this affects the allocation available generally via a purchase history?

With the redevelopment of the North Stand, additional tickets assigned to the Terrace View and new Lower Trinity hospitality and the slight reduction for new disabled spaces, tickets will be at a Premium next season - how will the club be looking to allocate the remaining tickets in its sales windows?

With as few as 3,000 tickets potentially available to members from the start of next season, does the club still intend to sell an unlimited number of memberships for next season and will pricing reflect the de-valuing of the main benefit of membership - the availability of tickets?

Can the club confirm that they will still continue to sell 1 year memberships at full price beyond mid-August this year, despite knowing that the benefits will be reduced?

On current sales, it would seem extremely unlikely that there will be any availability of tickets for season ticket holders to buy additional tickets on matchdays next season - does the club recognise that season ticket holders see this, alongside the removal of the free cup ticket, as a continuing erosion of the way the club values season ticket holders at a time when prices are sharply increasing?

 

Thank you

[rjw63]

Can you ask why the club never reaches out to lapsed season ticket holders with discounted one-off games orthe like to try and lure them back?

 

What's that you say?

10,000 person waiting list for ST's?

 

 

Oh never mind.

What flavour pies are they offering then?

 

 

[Rodders]

Can you ask them why the **** they pursued a sponsorship deal with a betting firm after the public intention to prevent further betting sponsorship in the game. It seems they've exploited the timescale technicality until 2026 with breathtaking cynicism and with a firm already dropped by another club for being offensive already. Not that any betting firm is honourable, but they seem particularly shitty. 

If they are going to persist with having no moral scruples whatsoever with where they source their sponsors, could they have the basic decency to provide a clubshirt without that bollocks scrawled all over it for fans to purchase?

Thanks. 

[Don_Simon]

Appreciate you asking about the Upper Holte for Claret Members @OutByEaster?.

[sidcow]

Unless they've done it close season the exterior of The Holte Hotel was in a bit of a state last season and is well overdue a lick of paint. Looked well scruffy to the point it's going to be a false economy leaving it because the woodwork is going to need replacing. 

 

And I hope they're going to sort out the "The Holte End" wording on the lower Holte seats after the new disabled area took away the tops of some of the letters.

[Unused Sub]

Can you ask for any feedback regarding the bus shuttle relay experiment from the Brighton game in May.

Any plans from the club to try again this season? (especially as more train strikes are due at the arse-end of this month)

[TDR V2]

1 hour ago, sidcow said:

Unless they've done it close season the exterior of The Holte Hotel was in a bit of a state last season and is well overdue a lick of paint. Looked well scruffy to the point it's going to be a false economy leaving it because the woodwork is going to need replacing. 

 

And I hope they're going to sort out the "The Holte End" wording on the lower Holte seats after the new disabled area took away the tops of some of the letters.

Will be renamed Chipotle End

[I Make Pies]

Could someone ask why the club still has pricing categories for different teams when every match is a sell out please.

[Davkaus]

19 minutes ago, I Make Pies said:

Could someone ask why the club still has pricing categories for different teams when every match is a sell out please.

They're still boiling the frog, give it a couple of seasons and they'll all be category A.

[delboy54]

What is the difference between Fans Advisory Board and Aston Villa Supporters Trust?

[thabucks]

• Can you ask them do they have any near future plans to replace the frankly awfully designed & poorly laid out website & app. 
• why is the social media output so poor and  is it only set up to appeal to the younger fan base ? it’s just regurgitated content mostly. 
• Why has communication from club to client been so poor time and time again of late.

[thabucks]

1 minute ago, delboy54 said:

What is the difference between Fans Advisory Board and Aston Villa Supporters Trust?

Ego’s IMO … The supporters trust are useless, self seeking and not fit for purpose IMO … 

[sidcow]

4 minutes ago, delboy54 said:

What is the difference between Fans Advisory Board and Aston Villa Supporters Trust?

About four and a half miles.

[OutByEaster?]

4 minutes ago, thabucks said:

• Can you ask them do they have any near future plans to replace the frankly awfully designed & poorly laid out website & app. 
• why is the social media output so poor and  is it only set up to appeal to the younger fan base ? it’s just regurgitated content mostly. 
• Why has communication from club to client been so poor time and time again of late.

So I'm clear; club to client?

 

[thabucks]

1 minute ago, OutByEaster? said:

So I'm clear; club to client?

 

Yes and also wider fan base in general. 

[OutByEaster?]

1 minute ago, thabucks said:

Yes and also wider fan base in general. 

Ah sorry, I'm not sure who you mean by client - you mean individual fans or something else?

 

[nick76]

More info around the badge situation.  While fans have mixed views, the lack of information was poor around reasoning for the change in plans.  What is the roadmap for any decisions around what we will decide to do next season and will fans be consulted re any further rebranding. 

[Villatillidie95]

Do the club have any plans to address the sweating issue of our shirts? It looks ridiculous watching on TV, i think in person it wouldnt be too bad and i will find out this weekend however a number of fans from other clubs have commented on the sweat issue and i can't blame them!

[nick76]

What plans are there to celebrate 150 years of the club?

[S-Platt]

Any chance of replacing the claret seats that are now a bit pink in The Holte End?

Are there any plans to buy property for further expansion plans?