Aston Villa are one of England’s oldest and most successful football clubs, having won the European Cup in the 1981-1982 season, as well as seven top-flight titles and the same number of FA Cups, in addition to other major trophies.
Villa Park is seen as one of the country’s foremost football stadiums, created by the renowned architect Archibald Leitch. The problem is that the stadium’s capacity stands at a little over 42,000, which isn’t big enough in the modern game. The hope is that the club can expand it, but that can’t happen until transport links in the area have been improved.
Transport Links Need an Overhaul
Having gained promotion out of the Championship, Aston Villa’s hopes of success have seen a major improvement in recent years, making it to the last eight of the Champions League and the FA Cup semi-finals this season. Under the management of Unai Emery, the Villa have given fans some hope that they will be able to witness another trophy being lifted at some point in the not-too-distant future. At the moment, part of the problem with taking the club to the next level is a lack of revenue, which means that spending on the likes of transfers is limited by Profit & Sustainability Rules.
The North Stand redevelopment will increase Villa Park’s capacity to over 50,000, without reducing current matchday capacity in the process.
The enhancements will further modernise the stadium to solidify its status as a world-class sports and entertainment venue. pic.twitter.com/Xhi76Q1P3s
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 24, 2025
One of the ways in which that can be overcome is by improving how many supporters can make it into Villa Park for home matches, with the club boasting a long-term plan to raise the ground’s capacity. Part of the problem with that idea, however, is the fact that the transport network around Villa Park needs a complete overhaul, which is why the club has been working with local authorities in order to ensure that solutions can be found that will allow supporters to make their way to the stadium in a safe and efficient manner, without having to pay through the nose to do so.
@thematchdayman Around the 92: Part 4 A journey across England and Wales visiting every football ground from the Premier League down to League Two. Up next, a trip to @avfcofficial from back in late August. #football #englishfootball #englishfootballleague #efl #premierleague #pl #championship #leagueone #leaguetwo #fyp #foryou #fy #foryoupage #soccer #futbol #stadium #astonvilla #villa #avfc #aston #birmingham #villapark ♬ original sound – The Matchday Man
Overcrowding and long wait times at Witton Railway Station have been the subject of debate for years, which is why the former Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, promised an upgraded station ahead of the 2028 European Championship. Street was replaced in his role by Richard Parker in May 2024, but Parker is also aware of the need for an improved state at the station. Villa, meanwhile, introduced the AV82 bus service last season, which takes people from outside Birmingham New Street Station directly to Villa Park, improving transport links to the ground.