Chris Heck shown how it’s done as Aston Villa make huge Villa Park statement
Chris Heck became a hugely controversial figure in his time at Aston Villa.
Heck was appointed as Villa’s President of Business Operations in 2023 and was tasked with making the Villa Park club a global brand.
This saw the American play a key role as Villa signed a record-breaking sponsorship deal with Betano that saw the B6 outfit pocket £20million per year over two seasons.
Heck also oversaw the renovation of the club shop as well as The Warehouse on the grounds of the stadium on Witton Road.
With that being said, the 56-year-old is still remembered for all the wrong reasons by Villa fans, with Heck’s behaviour described as “cloak and dagger” last season.
Aston Villa go back on Chris Heck policy
It was huge for Unai Emery and his side to qualify for the Champions League, opening themselves up for massive clashes against the likes of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in the process.
These matches are some of the most memorable in the recent history of the claret and blue outfit, but they were marred by controversy before kick-off.
This came as Heck named hugely inflated prices for Villa’s European home fixtures, in a decision which was widely criticised by the wider football world.
Despite this, the Villans refused to back down, leaving fans with a decision of whether they want to pay a huge price to watch their side in Europe’s elite competition.
Many bit the bullet as they wished to watch their side in the Champions League, but that same sentiment was unlikely to work in the Europa League this campaign.
As a result, supporters will be glad to learn that a change has been made that will benefit matchgoing supporters moving forward.
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Villa fans are some of the most passionate in English football, and they truly don’t ask for much from the leadership in the Midlands.
Having been treated so poorly by Heck last season, supporters just want to feel wanted by the club as opposed to an annoyance and a tool to make as much money as possible.
That is why supporters are already taking to the new President of Business Operations, Calvo, who has confirmed a ticket price discount for the upcoming Europa League campaign.
| Price Zone 1 | Price Zone 2 | Price Zone 3 | Price Zone 4 | |
| Under 14 | £67 | £20 | £20 | £20 |
| Under 18 | £67 | £20 | £20 | £20 |
| Under 21 | £67 | £55 | £53 | £49 |
| Armed forces | £67 | £58 | £55 | £51 |
| Over 66 | £67 | £55 | £53 | £49 |
| Adult | £67 | £61 | £57 | £55 |
This will see Season Ticket holders receive 20 per cent off the previously announced Season Ticket Holder price, when purchasing a package of four, for the league phase.
Although this will still represent a £223 outlay for an adult in the most expensive area of the ground, it still represents a step in the right direction for the claret and blue outfit.
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