The Aston Villa Fan Advisory Board (FAB) met on Wednesday 2 April 2026 for our latest internal meeting, held online. The session focused on preparations for the upcoming ticket consultation, extending the reach of the FAB, and progress across Working Groups.
As always, our aim is to represent supporters’ voices independently, constructively, and transparently.
Preparing for the Ticket Consultation
A central focus of the meeting was the upcoming ticket consultation with the Club.
The FAB discussed its approach and agreed that price increases for the 2026/27 season are likely. While we recognise the financial context in which clubs are operating, we also agreed that it is important to challenge constructively on behalf of supporters.
The FAB will therefore be preparing a coordinated response ahead of the consultation, setting out key areas where we believe the Club must demonstrate fairness, transparency, and a clear commitment to improving the supporter experience alongside any price changes.
Extending the Reach of the FAB
We also discussed how the FAB can broaden its engagement with supporters.
This includes exploring opportunities to engage with independent fan media channels, such as podcasts, to better communicate our work and gather wider feedback. The aim is not to become a media voice, but to ensure supporters better understand what the FAB is doing and how their views are represented.
We recognise that this approach requires careful consideration, particularly in maintaining confidentiality and adhering to our Code of Conduct. A proposal will be developed and shared with the Club as a courtesy.
Strengthening Dialogue with the Club
The FAB agreed a number of questions and topics to raise at the next meeting with the Club.
These include ticket pricing decisions, future Fan Forums, and the need for clearer forward planning around supporter engagement activity. We also discussed the importance of establishing best practice in how the FAB operates, drawing on examples from other Premier League clubs.
A consistent theme was the need for greater transparency, clearer timelines, and more structured engagement to ensure supporter input is meaningful and timely.
Working Group Updates
Fan Engagement & Communications
The Fan Engagement Working Group reiterated ongoing concerns about access to matchday experience data. Without this information, it is difficult to fully understand supporter issues or measure improvement.
We will continue to press for greater transparency and will explore alternative sources of insight where necessary.
Culture
The Culture Working Group continues to progress its programme of work, with a particular focus on aligning elements of the Culture Plan with potential funding opportunities through the Premier League Fans Fund.
Initial pilots with supporter groups have been positive, and further work is planned to build on this momentum. We are also seeking clarity from the Club on scheduling for upcoming Culture and EDI-related meetings.
Ticketing
Ticketing remains a priority area. Updates included early testing of a new version of the Club’s ticketing app and ongoing work to review the away ticketing policy.
The FAB will continue to advocate for fair, transparent, and accessible ticketing processes, particularly as consultation for next season approaches.
Planning Ahead
Looking beyond the immediate consultation, the FAB agreed to schedule a dedicated end-of-season review. This will allow us to reflect on progress, identify lessons learned, and set priorities for the 2027/28 season in collaboration with the Club.
All Working Groups are also completing updated dashboards to support a clearer, more structured view of progress and priorities across the FAB.
A Continued Commitment to Supporters
This meeting reinforced the importance of the period ahead. Ticketing decisions, supporter engagement, and the overall matchday experience remain key areas where supporters expect to see progress.
The FAB remains committed to working constructively with the Club while representing supporter views clearly and independently. As always, our focus is on ensuring that supporter voices are heard—and that they lead to tangible improvements.
Further updates will follow as the ticket consultation and subsequent discussions progress.
UTV — Prepared, one voice.