Premier League club puts £100m plans to expand their stadium on hold because of their excellent recent form… despite previously revealing their ‘stunning vision’ to increase the ground’s capacity to 52,000
- A Premier League football club has shelved plans to redevelop their stadium
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- It's extraordinary how people behave in football stadiums… champion Ollie Watkins for what he did to give it to the fans – Listen to It all starts
Aston Villa have announced that they will postpone plans to redevelop Villa Park for the foreseeable future, despite being granted planning permission for the redevelopment of the historic stadium.
Villa unveiled their 'spectacular vision' to expand the stadium's capacity by adding an additional 10,000 seats to the 42,640-seater stadium.
The proposals included the addition of a new two-tiered North Stand, which was completed in 1977, and upgrades to the Trinity Stadnd, which could potentially accommodate a further 7,500 supporters.
Despite this, Villa's president of operations, Chris Heck, has admitted that the proposals may be a little too ambitious to be completed in the coming years, with the director noting how well the team has played this season.
'We have 42,000 seats. A substantial amount. “I don't think it is practical to add 10,000 now,” he told the newspaper club website.
Aston Villa have announced that they will suspend plans for the redevelopment of Villa Park
The expansion would add another 10,000 seats to the iconic 42,000-seat stadium
It included a redevelopment of the North Stand and the addition of a new fan zone
'I'll tell you why. We talk about Villa Park being a fortress. It's true. There is no better home advantage than at Villa Park.
'I think it would be a bad idea to demolish one of the stands for two years, while we play the way we do.
“I think in the future everything should be about all fans and not just one particular point of view.”
In total, the club had predicted that the regeneration project would have cost the club around £100 million to complete.
As well as replacing the original North Stand and upgrading the Trinity Stand, the club would also look to create a new multi-use communal area which would be called 'The Warehouse' and could also be used on non-match days.
Villa Park currently has a capacity of 42,785 people and the club has a waiting list of around 28,000 fans.
The iconic stadium has been home to the Villans since 1987, with the most recent redevelopment taking place in 2000, after the Trinity Road Stand was built.
“These are extremely ambitious ideas,” Heck added of the proposals. “During the summer months, I started to worry that we were adding too many seats too quickly.
“I think it was important that we take a step back and reevaluate what is best for our fans.
Heck called the redevelopments “ambitious ideas” and particularly noted how well his party has been playing lately
He added that the club may be “adding too many seats too quickly” and needed to take a step back
Aston Villa have turned their stadium into a fortress this season, winning all eight home matches in the Premier League this season
'I mention this in relation to the transport and parking situation.'
As Heck states, Unai Emery's side have turned Villa Park into a fortress, winning all eight home games in the Premier League this season.
Their excellent form has seen them remain unbeaten in their last nine games, with the Midlands side rising to third in the Premier League, level with Liverpool on 38 points.
Despite the club's plan to halt stadium redevelopment, Heck stated that the club would continue to create 'The Warehouse' fan zone outside Villa Park and would also complete several upgrades to their Bodymoor Heath training ground.