English Premier League side Aston Villa has unveiled plans for the redevelopment of its home ground’s North Stand.
The plans will feature a modernising of the entire precinct surrounding the North Stand and will allow the local community to enjoy the space even outside the football season.
The plan will modernise the suburban ground, boosting the stadiums total capacity to over 50,000. Outside of football the plan will also see the stadium developed into a world class entertainment venue capable of playing host to international sports tournaments and other varied events.
Alongside the redevelopment of North Stand the club announced that they are working closely with the West Midlands Combined Authority, West Midlands Rail Executive, and Birmingham City Council to deliver a new rail station near the North entrance for fans and the wider local community.
“A fundamental part of our redevelopment plans involves the successful implementation of a modern, integrated transport strategy which substantially improves how our fans and visitors arrive and depart Villa Park,” the club said via press release.
The upgrades have come as the stadium was recently selected as a venue for the UK and Ireland’s bid to host the 2028 UEFA Euro Championship.
If the bid is successful, this would be the first time the Euros has been held in the British Isles since 1996.
Announcements and upgrades such as this are therefore going to be vital in helping Villa’s home country secure this prestigious tournament. The results of the Euro bids will be announced in October.
It is apparent that the planned upgrades to Villa Park will be of huge benefit to multiple community stakeholders not just football fans.
The upgrades will clearly be of tangible benefit to Villa supporters on game day with their match experience expected to be heightened as a result of the planned changes but if the development helps to secure the 2028 Euros the whole nation could benefit too.
Following a successful bid, the UK government has predicted that the tournament will produce £2.6bn ($5.1 billion AUD) for the nations involved with 80% of supporters expected to arrive by public transport.
This upgrade is a great example of how the development of football infrastructure can have wider community outcomes beyond the field of play. It shows that in building and improving the game, clubs are able to benefit their communities offering multipurpose facilities and greater public transport access.
Therefore, this announcement bodes well with much excitement and should be met with applause from across the community.
