Villa Park The Budweiser Bowl!

Here we go again. An old story re-surfaces because someone at Radio WM doesn’t spend the time getting their facts right.

I did an article a month back about the end of the soap opera Villa, in future any ‘announcements’ will be made via the club, not a newspaper article or radio show. No More Soap Opera Villa

Radio WM this morning made the shock announcement that Villa Park was going to be re-named.

BBC WM’s sports reporter Dan Wheeler says: ‘The chances of a local company being involved look remote. Ever since Randy Lerner replaced Doug Ellis as the Villa owner, speculation on what the American billionaire has planned for the club has been rife. Sources close to Mr Lerner have said the re-naming of Villa Park is on top of their agenda. What sort of company they’re looking at is unclear but whoever wins the auction will be a firm ‘of substance’ with the necessary spending power. Reports of a figure of £120m have been dismissed but the deal could be worth tens of millions of pounds.’

So, just the old story with a new reported price.

The club have been quick to deny the report with a statement saying:

Aston Villa wish to make it clear that rumours surrounding the renaming of Villa Park are completely untrue. Reports this morning suggested the new Board was prepared to sell the re-naming rights of the stadium to the highest bidder, but there is no foundation to any such suggestion.

Phil Mepham told the official site: ‘There is no truth to the rumour whatsoever. The board clearly has plans for the future but these, at all times, will preserve the history of Aston Villa Football Club. ‘There are no discussions regarding the naming rights of the stadium and
any future commercial activity will retain the brand and tradition that has been synonymous with the club throughout three centuries.’

So, that is that then. Not sure about the 3 centuries though?

These stories are just speculation and it does no one any real good. At least now Villa are quicker at communicating and have shown today they will come out and deny such press reports. I truly believe the days of the leaks from Villa Park are over. When Randy Lerner and his merry men have something to say, they’ll say it effectively and truthfully, until then lets not believe the hype!

Anyway, I’m not able to get to the Budweiser Bowl this weekend. WHOOPS!