Aston Villa have been slammed for the amount they’re charging disabled fans a season for parking at their home games from the 2024/25 season.
Just days after causing anger over ticket prices for the Champions League at Villa Park, there is fresh concern regarding the pricing and availability of disabled parking spaces at Aston Villa’s Villa Park.
Villa has increased the price of disabled matchday parking spaces up by 100%, with the cost rising from £190 to £380 for the season.
Have just been messaged that we’re now doubling the price of disabled parking at Villa Park from £190-380.
We’re teetering on the edge of legitimate financial progression and making life difficult for our most loyal supporters.
I sincerely hope the club and supporters groups… pic.twitter.com/FsPggWoPnP
— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) September 6, 2024
#AVFC have increased the price of disabled matchday parking spaces outside the North Stand by a whopping 100%, from £190 to £380.
Disabled fans were given no prior warning when asked on the week before the first home game of the season to pay double to keep their spot.
— John Townley (@johntownley11) September 6, 2024
This decision was communicated to supporters but only shortly before the start of the season got underway, causing frustration due to the lack of prior warning and the financial burden it places on disabled fans.
The price hike has sparked outrage on Twitter, with the likes of Stan Collymore and reporters expressing yet more disappointment over the club’s decision.
There’s a sentiment that this move might alienate fans who are already facing financial challenges or those with disabilities who rely on these spaces.
Fans were given the option to either pay the increased rate for parking at the Villa Village car park or choose a different location at Yew Tree Community School for £228, which is still a significant increase but less than the new rate at Villa Village.
While there’s talks of ongoing construction reducing the number of available disabled parking spaces, Aston Villa are looking to create more spaces. Additionally, they are developing software to allow disabled supporters to sell their parking space if they can’t attend games, aiming to make the system more flexible for those who might need it.
This issue comes at a time when Aston Villa is experiencing financial progression, preparing for the Champions League, which might explain the infrastructure and pricing changes. But, it also reflects broader discussions on how sports clubs manage accessibility and pricing for disabled supporters, balancing between commercial interests and fan welfare.
This situation at Aston Villa underscores the ongoing challenge for football clubs to balance commercial growth with maintaining accessibility and affordability for all fans, especially those with disabilities.
One fan said to BirminghamLive: “I didn’t just feel under pressure to pay the increase [for Villa Village disabled parking], I knew I was under pressure because whatever decision I made was likely one which would stick.
“I had absolutely no other option than to pay the £380 if I wanted to continue watching the Villa. It is a fiasco.”
Another added: “It was such short notice and while we did expect an increase, not double. How can you find that money in that time? My disabled brother relies on income from benefits and he has to pay for carers for himself. He has to use his money to pay for his carers, so to ask for another £190 to pay in a week is just unacceptable. They didn’t give us six or eight weeks to get the money together, it felt like now or never.”
BirminghamLive write that the price rise for disabled parking outside the North Stand ‘is in line with increases to hospitality parking too’.
A third fan said: “Many disabled fans won’t be able to go to matches if they can’t afford a carer or if they are in pain.”
Then another: “There are so many matches that I can’t go to, like evening matches. I know I can’t go to some games, so I could lose lots of money.”
Aston Villa can confirm that disabled supporters who have booked matchday parking at Villa Park for the 2024/25 season will be charged last season’s parking rates.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 6, 2024
Villa have since reversed their decision, saying: “Aston Villa can confirm that disabled supporters who have booked matchday parking at Villa Park for the 2024/25 season will be charged last season’s parking rates.
“Those supporters will be contacted directly by the clubs’s ticket office via telephone prior to the next match at Villa Park against Everton and for those who were overcharged for parking for the Arsenal match, the club will issue reimbursements.
“The club wishes to apologise to those affected.”
A thanks to @chrisheck76 and Villa staff for reversing the disabled parking price rises so swiftly this evening. I'm sure many will thank you in person.
Supporters groups and individual supporters are also open to find a way for the club and supporters to enjoy Champions League…
— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) September 6, 2024
Aston Villa have now reverted back to last season's prices for disabled parking spaces at Villa Park. Those fans who were overcharged for parking for the Arsenal match will receive reimbursements.#AVFC https://t.co/Bdl6aogC4l
— John Townley (@johntownley11) September 6, 2024
As mentioned, Aston Villa have been slammed for the amount they’re charging disabled fans a season for parking at home games…
@chelletothea: Disabled parking at Celtic Park is free with a blue badge, just have to email the club a few days before each game to guarantee a spot. Charging disabled fans for parking is shocking
@welshjb: Disabled fans should have free parking facilities – it’s the right thing to do surely
@gerry0703: German fans must piss themselves laughing at the state of our game.
@awaveacrossabay: In the last theee days, I’ve found this club completely unrecognisable. I hate them for what they’re doing, and at a time when Unai and the team are working so hard – all the focus has been dragged away from them. Heck has previous – Get him out.
@ImJamieMartin: Who on earth is making these decisions – awful week for #AVFC in terms of decision making….
@DeanAVFCL7: What a fucking shitshow the club are turning into. Shambles.
@utvHarry: When it can’t get any worse they somehow find a way.
@MorganStoddart: Must be big bonuses related to revenue for certain people at the club. So all the focus is on raising funds to earn themselves money without looking after what’s morally right. Zero thought of the impact just themselves 💰
@garypatchett: Club not covering themselves in glory on the PR front John. Doing so much right on the pitch and so little right, off it.
@brummieinde65: This is just not justifiable. No PSR excuse on this one. I assume this relates to a handful of car park spaces for people who are unlikely to be able to attend matches without such a facility being available. So they are effectively denying them access if they can’t afford it.
@lovett70: Wow the club must really think fans have struck gold, won the lottery or had massive pay rises either that or they are losing touch & just don’t care about the fans anymore, I appreciate they want to increase revenues but going in hard on fans is brutal.
@GarySmithJnr: This week has been an absolute PR disaster for the club, and @chrisheck76’s silence is deafening.
@MathewForth: This is dreadful, and it baffles me why clubs try stuff like this. It’s always going to cause a backlash, will be reversed, and would make them very limited money anyway. It seems Aston Villa fans are getting rinsed to the max this year…
@tompearce97: This is absolutely disgusting. @chrisheck76 you should be ashamed of yourself. Been a terrible PR week for the club. What a joke.
@AvfcJak: In just a week I feel like the club have destroyed everything than Aston Villa is about. It was a working man’s club who looked after its loyal fans. Now we’re just a money grabbing club. That’s the bottom line of it #avfc
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