--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-07-27T19:52:24.152Z last_updated: 2026-07-19T10:00:00+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/aston-villa/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmlybWluZ2hhbW1haWwuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvZm9vdGJhbGwtbmV3cy9mcmFuY2VzY28tY2Fsdm9zLWJpZy12aWxsYS1wYXJrLTM0MzA4NzIz --- # Francesco Calvo's big Villa Park conundrum can fix ticket problems - **Source:** - **Published:** 19 Jul - **Club:** Aston Villa - **Original URL:** https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/francesco-calvos-big-villa-park-34308723 Francesco Calvo is exploring the sale of Villa Park's naming rights as Aston Villa look to boost commercial revenue, but he insists that any agreement must preserve the stadium's rich history and identity. Speaking to BirminghamLive , Calvo said Villa Park's heritage is central to the club and stressed that the right commercial partner is more important than simply securing a sponsorship deal. On the latest episode of the Claret & Blue podcast, John Townley and Mat Kendrick discussed Calvo's comments, weighing up the potential benefits of a naming rights deal and whether supporters would ultimately accept the change. You can read Calvo's comments about Villa Park here, and the podcast discussion below. “Do you think he's being a bit too patient and perhaps overthinking it? I'm not saying Villa have already turned down offers, but I'm sure they've looked at different partners by now,” Townley said. “This has been an ongoing issue, with Villa battling against these financial rules for some time, and they'll continue to do so. Part of me thinks: don't overthink it. Get a naming rights partner on board - something that reflects well on Villa Park. “I'm sure there's a company out there where it would be mutually beneficial: good for them, good for Villa, and a positive long-term partnership. “For example, we've had Sports Illustrated branding on the Warehouse and other sponsored areas around the North Grounds. So there are opportunities. I just wouldn't want him to overthink it. “Every bit of revenue helps, especially when supporters are being asked to pay significantly more. Instead of a £60 Champions League ticket, it's now close to £100. Some of that financial pressure could potentially be eased by bringing in a naming rights partner. “As we've said before, if the difference is only a couple of million pounds over the course of a season, that's roughly what Villa are trying to generate by increasing ticket prices beyond what clubs like Liverpool, Arsenal or Newcastle have been charging. “If naming rights could cover that gap, it could ultimately benefit supporters as much as the club. Do you think Calvo is too concerned about the backlash if the name of Villa Park changes?” Kendrick said: “I do think it can be done in a way that works. Some people will disagree in the comments, but fans will still call it Villa Park regardless. If the Match of the Day commentator says, "We're here at..." followed by the sponsored name, then so be it. “York City's old "KitKat Crescent" always made me smile - that was one of the early examples of stadium naming rights. The sponsored name appears on TV graphics, in newspaper reports, and on official broadcasts, but supporters still use the traditional name. Fine. It's still Villa Park.” You can follow our dedicated reporter John Townley on X by clicking here - he follows Villa home and away and offers you comprehensive coverage from matchdays, press conferences and everything that happens in between. You'll also get competition offers and stories around discounts on Villa merchandise. WhatsApp: You can also get all your favourite content from BirminghamLive's Villa team on WhatsApp. Click here to sign up for breaking updates about the biggest stories in and around the club.If you prefer reading our Villa stories on your phone, consider downloading the BirminghamLive app, in which you can personalise the content you see by selecting Villa as one of your designated topics. You can get it from Apple here and for Android here. Social: We have a Facebook page waiting for you with daily updates, some of which we don't post anywhere else - click here You can also folllow our Villa updates on X - here Podcast: Our weekly Aston Villa podcast, Claret And Blue, is also available to watch and listen on all major streaming services. You can subscribe to the YouTube channel here, while you can access the podcast on Spotify here and via Apple here.