Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
Construction work is well underway for Everton's new state-of-the-art stadium on Liverpool's Bramley-Moore Dock. The 52,888-capacity stadium has been in the works since the summer of 2021, with the Toffees pencilled in to kick off the 2024/25 season in their new home. This means the 2023/24 campaign will be their 131st and last at the iconic Goodison Park. Everton's senior hierarchy believe that a new purpose-built arena gives the club the best possible chance of progression in the Premier League.
The 2023/24 Premier League campaign looks like being as competitive as ever, especially in the bottom half of the table. Burnley are returning to the top-flight after a rebirth under Vincent Kompany, with a playing style that befits the Premier League. Sheffield United are combative and have plenty of top-flight experience and the likes of Brighton and Brentford continue to improve on and off the field. All of which heightens the pressure on Everton to get their own house in order, providing they stay up this term.
It's a mark of how progressive clubs like Brighton are making an impact in England's top division that the Seagulls are considered eighth favourites in the football betting markets, which already offer futures lines on the next winner of the 2023/24 Premier League. It's also telling how low Everton are in this market, underlining just how quickly the Toffees have been overtaken by the likes of Brighton and Brentford.
Good question. Liverpool Council's general purposes licensing committee is taking a keener than usual interest in the building work – and the future financing to close the build – because Everton's owner, Farhad Moshiri, has secured an exclusivity agreement with MSP Sports Capital with a view to seeking investment from the New York investment group.
Moshiri has previously stated his intention to secure outside investment to ensure the £500m Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium was 100% financed. Moshiri had also insisted that he was prepared to cover any shortfall should external investors not prove forthcoming. However, Everton's on-field plight – a relegation dogfight – means Moshiri may be considering his long-term future as owner of the club.
Liverpool Council are therefore seeking assurances from all concerned that funding to complete the stadium exists and it won't become an unwanted white elephant on the Liverpool cityscape. Senior executives from MSP Sports Capital travelled to Merseyside in the New Year, watching the Toffees in action against Southampton at Goodison Park before a visit to the Bramley-Moore Dock site.
On the stadium's own official website, it describes the new project as a "stunning stadium fit to grace Liverpool's famous waterfront". From a purely architectural perspective, the stadium is a perfect example of fusing the old with the new. A blend of brickwork, glass and steel creates a unique aesthetic, one which pays tribute to the waterfront's heritage as a thriving dockland.
The brickwork was selected as a tribute to the latticework from Archibald Leitch that's visible on the surrounds of Goodison Park.
One of the showpieces of the Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium is the fully restored Grade II-listed hydraulic tower that will act as an iconic landmark and a nod to the city's past. The club is also investing millions in retaining the cobbled streets of the surrounding dockland, as well as the tramlines and capstones that adorn the area.
The club has even taken the decision to preserve the structural integrity of the dock walls beneath the new ground. This means that, should the club ever decide to move to a new home in future decades, the area could be returned to a working dockland if necessary.
The barrelled stadium roof recently underwent stringent weather testing prior to its installation. In addition, the top-tier terracing units are almost complete, creating the bowl-like aesthetic. Bowl-shaped stadia are by no means adored by traditionalist football fans. Goodison Park was a relic to an era of four unique stands, each with their own architectural appeal. However, for the Toffees to keep pace with Premier League rivals Liverpool, a new stadium was a necessity to drive revenues and take Everton to the next level.
My daughter's first ever football match - Orlando City v Atlanta United, August 2019. Written for Izzy to read when she gets old enough. Vamos Orlando
All good things have to come to an end, and the same unfortunately has to be said for football stadiums too. This article looks at the grounds which are soon to host their last match, the stadiums whose days are numbered and where fans will be watching their football from next.
Taking my son to his first football match was one of the best experiences I've had as a father so far. I've written this article for Alex to read when he gets older.
Tony Incenzo has been to over 2,000 football grounds - is he the world's barmiest football fan? Read about his love for Non-League football and groundhopping obsession, including watching a match in prison!
