Re: Naming rights for Holte End up for grabs?

by kimbo Sun Dec 07, 2014 2:58 pm

I still refer to the Doug Ellis Stand as 'The Witton Lane' so I don't see that the Holte would be an issue for me. I probably wouldn't even remember who the bloody sponsor was.

Still, it'd be low down on my list of things to do unless it was part of a huge deal.

by mrshnn Mon Dec 08, 2014 9:31 am

to be honest i don't care, for me it changed the day the holte was knocked down and replaced with current holte end, as people say we will always know it as holte end and villa park , if revenue is to come in to the club then i am all for it unless its something like wonga.com or something contentious.

by **De Kuip** Mon Dec 08, 2014 10:11 am

As long as it is called something attractive that evokes the slick marketing world of modern football. I'm thinking along the lines of Mansfield Town's sojourn into big business sponsorship with their wonderfully romantic and evocative "British coal open cast mine stand" that stood out like a beacon of sophistication in the seventies and eighties.

by Cathal Coughlan's Dog Mon Dec 08, 2014 10:55 am

They'd make more money by playing attractive football and filling the ground.

by **NARLA24** Mon Dec 08, 2014 11:07 am

Tom Fox will do what is best for the financial future of the club, no doubt. The Holte will always be the Holte, no matter what.

by ember Mon Dec 08, 2014 10:24 pm

villabromsgrove wrote:I think Tom Fox is brighter than this. Why sell The Holte End naming rights for a pittance, when he can sell the whole stadium naming rights for a much larger sum.

Selling individual stand naming rights is small time even with an historic stand like The Holte.

And that's what this is all about, it's a false flag op. Upset everybody by proposing renaming the legendary Holte, much beloved of Villa fans worldwide then sell the rights to the whole stadium whilst everyone breathes a sigh of relief having forgotten previous objections to losing the Villa Park name.

by Rawlie Tue Dec 09, 2014 3:47 am

I've got no problem with something like, 'The Holte End' by Samsung or, 'The Turkish Airways Holte End'. But, I've got massive reservations as to whether the club in its current incarnation has, A) the pulling power to get a big (or relatively big) name, and, B) has the necessary EQ to get a name that won't be reviled by the supporters and denigrate our famous name.

Just look at the name on the shirt... an online betting company. The last one, Genting (Casino operator), FX Pro (who?), 32 Red. In the 80s/90s we had Muller, Rover and Mita Copiers... not in the JVC (Arsenal) or Sharp (United) class but a sight more lucrative and well known than teams below us. If Lerner is willing to pimp the shirt out to the highest bidder then what hope do we have for our historic ground?

For me, it's a big ask for the club to get the mix right and, to be honest, I don't trust them to do so.

by **Trotters** Tue Dec 09, 2014 12:42 pm

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-three-quarters-villa-8247878

by VillaBill Tue Dec 09, 2014 1:08 pm

It will always be The Holte to me, if it raises a few quid to pay off Lambert , i m all for it Laughing

by avfc85 Tue Dec 09, 2014 7:59 pm

If the money is not going to change much, then I don't see the point.

by Green Villan Tue Dec 09, 2014 10:49 pm

FUCK YOU LERNER!

by **Trotters** Fri Dec 12, 2014 10:36 pm

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tom-fox-aston-villa-not-8279115

Tom Fox: Aston Villa will NOT rename the Holte End to generate sponsorship money

Aston Villa will not be re-naming the Holte End, chief executive Tom Fox has confirmed.

Rumours surfaced last week that the naming rights for the iconic stand could be up for grabs, but Fox insists there’s no truth in those claims.

But he is open to the idea of knocking down the North Stand, with a commercial partner helping ‘build and own’ a redeveloped stand.

Fox said: “I’ve never said to anybody that we would do that.

“I can’t imagine a brand saying ‘I want to sponsor that’, anyway.

“It just wouldn’t make any sense.

“Think of it from a sponsorships point of view - think about the emotional connection that our fans have to the Holte End.

“If you’re a sponsor, do you want to put yourself between the fans and the name of that stand.

“I’m not sure that’s great brand play.

“I just can’t see anyone wanting to get between the club and it’s tradition and the incredibly loyal support of the Holte End. I just don't think that is a great place for a brand to want to be.

“I’ve spent most of my career on the opposite side, on the brand side figuring what to invest in and it’s something I’ve never contemplated.”

One option that Fox would consider in the future is the redevelopment of the North Stand with the possibility of attracting new sponsors.

Plans have been drawn up in the past but the scheme has been put on the back burner by owner Randy Lerner.

“I would love at some point to build a new North Stand which the fans are proud of,” said Fox.

“It’s probably the last piece of our puzzle.

“We’ve got some things to do in the much shorter term but I think that would be a really exciting time.

“I read the stories about the Holte End but we’ve never had those conversations.

“I think a much better option is for someone to come in and help us build and own The North Stand.

“I could see that having a strong title.”

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