Everton’s new stadium capacity yet to be determined

Regarding Everton’s plans for the new stadium at the Bramley Moore docks, there are two main questions right at the top of every fan’s mind - how many will it hold, and when are moving there.

Of course, it’s hard to answer the second when the first is still not decided, and that is because design work is still continuing for the new stadium. Earlier yesterday club chairman Bill Kenwright spoke on talkSPORT about how the club and architect Dan Meis are continuing to work with the fans and the city council on a number of elements regarding the new facility.

Today, the newly-appointed Stadium Development Director Colin Chong released a statement on the club website regarding his role.

The question I have been asked most often from people outside the Club in the month since being appointed into my new role has been, “What does a Stadium Development Director do?” The answer is fairly simple - I am responsible for the delivery process of the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock and, along with that, the Goodison Legacy Project. It’s an exciting and complex role as we look to bring together what will be an exciting and historic development not just for Everton but for the city of Liverpool.

More than once architect Dan Meis has stated that he is looking to create something unique yet world class for the Blues, and that was reiterated by Chong.

The opportunity we have to develop a stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock offers Everton a platform for growth and success. But it isn’t just a great opportunity for the Club. A new, iconic stadium will benefit the entire city region. The development at Bramley-Moore Dock, alongside the legacy project at Goodison Park, will act as a catalyst to regenerate the whole of north Liverpool. It will deliver a £1bn boost to the local economy, create around 15,000 jobs and increase tourism visitor numbers to Liverpool. The knock-on effect of a stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock will also kick-start the Liverpool Waters waterfront development and extend into the Ten Streets creative development.

The transformation to the city will be on a remarkable scale - and that transformation will be beamed across the globe every time we play a home match. I’m sure there will be no better backdrop to a stadium in the country. From a marketing perspective alone, the increased media focus afforded to both the Club and the city cannot be underestimated.

With little to no information made public yet about designs for the stadium, just concept ideas, fans have been getting understandably restless, especially around the question of capacity.

We want to deliver something that Evertonians will be proud of for generations to come and the simplest little questions can help inform strategic decisions.

With regards to capacity, we are carrying out feasibility studies and have surveyed our fans. We are working with industry experts to assess what the optimum capacity should be and, so far, a final number has not been determined. It is important we get this right and there are a multitude of factors we need to take into consideration, such as planning, size, mass, the look and feel of a stadium set in Bramley-Moore Dock. It is a lot more complex than just picking a number that feels right.

I think it is fair to say that Bramley-Moore Dock is the best site in Liverpool to develop a project of this size, scale and significance. Everton is part of the cultural fabric of the city and when the Bramley-Moore Dock site became available we felt the history of the site was very much in keeping with our own.

Another area of concern has been how the club will back this project financially. The project is expected to cost in the £500 million range, with the Liverpool City Council offering to loan £280m of that amount.

Understandably, a lot has also been said about funding. Like all developments of this size and nature, the funding is complex. We have a number of options available to us. Liverpool City Council is one of those options and there are other opportunities we are exploring too. Any deal we do will be the best deal for Everton Football Club.

Chong also said there is going to be more consultation coming up in the next few weeks.

Moving forward, we will be doing more engagement with all stakeholders, including our supporters. We will also be issuing a travel survey that will be going out in the next few weeks and publishing a project website that will keep everybody informed on our progress.

The planning application will be submitted at the earliest opportunity and will be complete and thorough. It will be a full planning application and, therefore, we need to make sure that everything in it is absolutely correct. This, too, is a complex process. We’re reliant on third-parties and a lot of the work simply can’t be rushed.

We are all focused on delivering a very special stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock but it is also important to emphasise the importance of the legacy project at Goodison Park as part of the whole project. As fans will know, Liverpool 4 is one of the most deprived areas in the UK. By moving to a new stadium, we believe we have a real opportunity to leave a legacy which can help regenerate this area for generations to come. Our ‘Goodison Campus’ already includes the Everton Free School and Sixth Form College, The People’s Hub, The Blue Base and our plans for The People’s Place – a permanent mental health facility on Spellow Lane. Through the redevelopment of the current Goodison site we have the opportunity to expand on the work Everton in the Community already delivers in Liverpool 4.

Once the planning application has been submitted and approved, there will be a big sigh of relief from the fanbase as we come closer to making this dream a reality.

There is a long journey ahead and we’ll need your help and backing every step along the way.

We’re incredibly grateful for your support and patience up to now and look forward to working with you to make our dream of an iconic new stadium on the banks of the Mersey and a transformed L4 a reality.