Aston Villa Fan Advisory Board Notes – Champions League Pricing, Opening Home Game Fan Frustrations and more.

Aston villa lion design

Aston Villa Fan Advisory Board (FAB) – 11th September 2024      

Location – Villa Park 

FAB representatives

Joanne McKibbens                 Aston Villa Disabled Supporters Association 

John Gillett                              Lions Clubs 

Lena Curran                            Fan Representative 

Guri Nandra                            Punjabi Villans

Connor Smith                          Fan Representative

Mo Razzaq                              Aston Villa Supporters Trust

Sarah Breslin                           Villa Bellas 

David Michael                          My Old Man Said 

Dave Woodhall                        Heroes & Villans

Scott Jones                              Villa Talk

Kerry Lenihan                          Fan Representative

Ben Redding                            Fan Representative

Apologies

Julian Bristow                          Independent Supporters Clubs

Nilesh Chauhan                       Villans Together

Club representatives
  

Ben Hatton                               Chief Operating Officer 

Chris Hornbuckle                     Vice President, Business Development & Fan Engagement

Richard Stevens                      Vice President, Strategy & Analytics

Tom Otrebski                           Senior Communications Officer

Lee Preece                               Supporter Liaison Manager 


Agenda items and / or comments provided by FAB Representatives are shown in normal text. 


Villa FAB Notes

The club confirmed that Business President Chris Heck would be at the next meeting (scheduled for November). The stated reason for his absence was a Premier League meeting around PSR.

1      Issues surrounding the Arsenal home fixture explanation

o   Post Arsenal statement – lack of an apology

o   The FAB suggested to “walk the floor” ahead of the season opener, as it would have been done in a typical event management. 

o  The FAB expressed concerns that there seems to be issues every year (i.e. catering and fire alarms in previous seasons) and the club should be better prepared for the season opener. When it is convenient it was suggested a return to a having a home friendly would be useful as a dry-run for any new developments at Villa Park.

o   Late release of digital tickets/ no education videos etc

o   Late opening of turnstiles and availability of stewards to help. The FAB suggested a perimeter pre-check system, similar to those seen and successfully implemented at away European fixtures – especially Ajax.

o   Problems with turnstiles and digital ticketing

o   The FAB expressed concerns that it was not only the fans that could not get in that were affected. The stadium was not full for kick-off, for one of the most important games of the season. 

o   Toilet facilities

o   The club encouraged the FAB to report acts of vandalism and wants this message passed onto the wider fan base. The FAB stated more security needs to be present and the ways of reporting acts like this should be clearer. A suggestion to remove outdated posters in the toilets with ones informing this and the consequences of vandalism should be implemented.

o   No rail seating where it was indicated there would be on purchase

o   Season ticket supporters in the Doug Ellis with no seats

o   When will supporters who were forced to relocate receive their vouchers?

The FAB challenged whether a store voucher was fair compensation for the above two issues, as people paid cash for the experience. The club confirmed they believe it was as that was the offer given

o   Perceived lack of beverage choices compared to last season

2      Champions League tickets

After three consecutive sharp increases in season and match day tickets, we don’t accept the excuse of PSR to justify unsavoury prices that have priced some long-term match-going fans out and compromised match-going families too. Fans had expected to pay a premium price, but not these alarming prices which demonstrate an alarming lack of empathy and respect of the fanbase.  This is blatant exploitation of what should have been a joyous occasion for all Villa supporters and which the club’s commercial team have already soured.

o   Examples of fans not being able to go were given 

o   The FAB presented benchmark costs to other UK teams and the significant difference. The club stated that benchmarking cannot apply as those clubs have more tickets to sell. This doesn’t seem to apply for Premier League prices.

o   The FAB stated that Bayern is a one-off special game in Villa’s history, but in terms of a demand and supply, people will certainly be put off by the price in terms of attending the Bologna game.


Can the club not source additional sponsorship (training kit, travel partners, training ground naming rights, for example) to avoid Champions League pricing? And what is the current situation with the Villa Women’s team not having a shirt sponsor?

Will the club increase price further if we progress through the group stages?

o   Will the prices be the same for other group matches? 

o   Based on conversations in the meeting, the FAB expect the ticket prices to go up if we play the likes of Real Madrid at Villa Park in the knockout stages, with member’s prices potentially going over the £100 mark. 

o   Hospitality away allocation – remains the same at 9%, but how that team allocates them is up to them. Only change is that they are now visible on the online site.

o   The FAB raised the consistent concern of not being able to contact the ticket office. The club was asked to raise the issue further.

3      Disabled parking

Who at the club signed off on doubling the price of disable pricing?

Can we book a designated meeting around disability & access issues that have been continually kicked down the road over the years.

4      Timetable for remaining Villa Park improvements.

5      Villa (Pride) Rewards?

What’s happening with Rewards, as it’s been offline despite the season already starting.

6      150th Anniversary

7 Euro 2028

Following the meeting, the Club acknowledge and accept the resignation of Dave Woodhall. The Club would like to thank him for his efforts and contribution to the Board and wish him well for the future.

The above notes are the standard issue from the club and FAB, there will be more insights and discussion ahead on My Old Man Said to come.

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