I am getting wet at the moment - anyway here is some more information from the Echo....
LIVERPOOL FC will unveil the first images of its planned new £280m stadium in Stanley Park today.
As the club this week wins over a new generation of fans in Asia, officials back in Liverpool will hand in a planning application to the city council and release the first impressions of the new ground.
It has been redesigned following the takeover of the club by Americans George Gillett and Tom Hicks.
Last night a source close to the scheme said the redesigned 60,000-seat capacity stadium would have a “significant wow factor”.
Last night Labour leader Cllr Joe Anderson said the plans would be impressive and he was expecting a quality stadium that would last 50 years into the future.
“What I have seen of the new stadium, certainly it’s impressive to look at, clearly it’s better than the original design.”
Liverpool’s plans come just days after Everton unveiled their own plans for a new 50,000 to 55,000-seat stadium in Kirkby.
George Gillett and Tom Hicks called off the previous bowl-shaped scheme in favour of a more traditional ground, with distinct ends, in order to preserve the unique atmosphere of Anfield.
The new design will give the option to expand the ground to a 70,000 to 80,000 capacity at a future date.
“The initial capacity will be the 60,000 previously approved, but the design will accommodate an eventual capacity in the high seventies,” said Tom Hicks recently.
The Kop will be a key feature of the design, and is expected to be raised and very steep, in order to fit in more rows.
But the club will have to bankroll a new rail link to the stadium if it wants to expand in future.
Councillors have already granted a 999-year lease for the site to new company Stadco, which is being set up by Liverpool to develop the ground.
The club will have to pay rent of £300,000 a year.
It is still expected that the ground can be built by 2010, though a tight schedule will need to be followed to meet this.
It is hoped the city council will grant planning permission by October, with the Government Office North West looking at the plans in November to decide whether they should be called in for further investigation, sparking a public inquiry.
Anfield councillor Jimmy Kendrick said: “I have not seen the proposals, but I am looking forward to them.
“It’s going to be fantastic news for the regeneration of Anfield.”
Cllr Anderson said that it would have regeneration benefits for the area, but that these should not be over-estimated. A council spokesman said: “The council is expecting the club to submit a planning application tomorrow.”
LOG on to liverpooldailypost.co.uk from 11am, to see the first images of the redesigned 60,000-seat LFC stadium.
