Topic: Anfield Road Extension - Construction work resumed on 12th September 2023.

[Welshred]

Makes clear how fucking stupid it was the club selling Skerries for £1 per property rather than keeping ownership and refurb/renting them out themselves.

Incredible isn't it? If you follow the footprint for the Main Stand with the Sir Kenny Stand then Anfield can easily get to 70k without affecting sight lines or supporter experience, you just have the logistical issues of getting fans to and from the ground to encounter. Even more so because of the way the build would have to be done you could close off the Sir Kenny stand after the ARE has been rebuilt for only a minimal loss of current capacity which makes it easier to do financially as the club wouldn't be losing out on too much financially.

[Alan_X]

Planning Application is here... does not look complete.

http://northgate.liverpool.gov.uk/PlanningExplorer17/Generic/StdDetails.aspx?PT=Planning%20Applications%20On-Line&TYPE=PL/PlanningPK.xml&PARAM0=1200084&XSLT=/PlanningExplorer17/SiteFiles/Skins/Liverpool_WIP/xslt/PL/PLDetailsDates.xslt&FT=Planning%20Application%20Details&PUBLIC=Y&XMLSIDE=/PlanningExplorer17/SiteFiles/Skins/Liverpool_WIP/Menus/PL.xml&DAURI=PLANNING

Some of the elevations aren't loading but the Design & Access Statement (3 parts) is there as well as plans of each level.

Documents including plans are here:

http://northgate.liverpool.gov.uk/DocumentExplorer/Application/folderview.aspx?type=MVMPRD_DC_PLANAPP&key=1200084

[redgriffin73]

I presume it won't affect capacity while it's being built?

Mad to think the Kemlyn will be the smallest stand capacity-wise.

[CraigDS]

I presume it won't affect capacity while it's being built?

At some point they are going to have to demolish the top tier. It’s a bit different in that regard to the Main as they basically added on to what was there for the most part.

Guess it will come down to how much they can build behind during the season, and how long they expect it to take to demolish and join up the new to old and if this can be done in a summer. Seems a big ask.

[Alan_X]

 

At some point they are going to have to demolish the top tier. It’s a bit different in that regard to the Main as they basically added on to what was there for the most part.

Guess it will come down to how much they can build behind during the season, and how long they expect it to take to demolish and join up the new to old and if this can be done in a summer. Seems a big ask.

From the revised section I assume they'll build everythig behind during the season and then demolish the upper tier close season. The front few rows of the new upper tier will be built once the old upper tier has been demolished.

[Scouser-Tommy]

Makes clear how fucking stupid it was the club selling Skerries for £1 per property rather than keeping ownership and refurb/renting them out themselves.

Yeah, it probably looked good for the club at the time giving back to the community but it has shot ourselves in the foot moving forward for what would have probably cost us very little.

[RedSince86]

I found these pics on LFC Reddit.

[TepidT2O]

Pretty clear here that they can pretty much build the new upper tier being the existing upper tier whilst still using it.

I guess there will be a phased opening like the main stand?

The King Kenny looking quite small all of a sudden.  I remember going in it shortly after it opened and feeling a bit like I was in the side of a mountain.... now it’s tiny...

[18 yard line]

Looks very impressive and I like the steep rake of the upper tier, it looks similar to the Main Stand. Although  I’m guessing there will still be a few lousy views from the corner of the new Anny/Sir Kenny?

[Red Beret]

FC Big Stands

As I'm looking at that. I'm guessing the roof will have to come of the ARE because that support truss will need to come down before work can start?  Can't imagine it would be easy to build around it, but then they did build the Main Stand.

Crazy to think we can top 61k with only two stands redeveloped.

[Kashinoda]

[Indomitable_Carp]

Looks fantastic. Couldn´t ask for better really with the steep and imposing upper tier. It also goes to show you don´t need a soulless shiny glass dome to have high quality modern facilities and capacity.

[Brain Potter]

I’m so glad we have stayed and redeveloped Anfield. It’s the best ground anywhere. Steep stands close to the pitch, all the history, it’s fucking brilliant. I’ve been 100s of times and I still get a buzz walking up Arkles Lane seeing the stadium come into view.

[redgriffin73]

The King Kenny looking quite small all of a sudden.  I remember going in it shortly after it opened and feeling a bit like I was in the side of a mountain.... now it’s tiny...

Same, I sat in the back or next to back row once years ago and it felt like the highest seat ever!

I’m so glad we have stayed and redeveloped Anfield. It’s the best ground anywhere. Steep stands close to the pitch, all the history, it’s fucking brilliant. I’ve been 100s of times and I still get a buzz walking up Arkles Lane seeing the stadium come into view.

Me too.

[calvin]

That first picture looks amazing. The Kop is starting to look even smaller and more outdated. Hopefully something can be done with it in the future. But for now, it's going to look amazing. Definitely the right decision to stay at Anfield.

[Alan_X]

That first picture looks amazing. The Kop is starting to look even smaller and more outdated. Hopefully something can be done with it in the future. But for now, it's going to look amazing. Definitely the right decision to stay at Anfield.

I know I've said this before and sound like a broken record but that's the view from a helicopter or a drone. This is the view that matters:



Old? Yes. Outdated? No. 

[Indomitable_Carp]

That first picture looks amazing. The Kop is starting to look even smaller and more outdated. Hopefully something can be done with it in the future. But for now, it's going to look amazing. Definitely the right decision to stay at Anfield.

I think its been done to death on this forum, but short of maybe the Kop expanding capacity through safe-standing, I don´t think it is ever going get expanded further back.

I think the main way to have it retain its unique status going forward would for it to become the grounds only all-standing side. I would say that is maybe increasingly likely going forwards, depending on steepness restrictions, as all the signs point towards safe-standing being introduced to top-flight English football sooner or later.

Looking at the Anny Road as well, if they could sort out of the facilities to enable it, I would say that Lower Tier is also a prime location for the possibility of standing spaces.

Obviously the Kops reputation always stemmed from those on it. But they´re getting older year on year. And in terms of being architecturally imposing, this Anny Road second tier makes it look tiny.

[Alan_X]

I think its been done to death on this forum, but short of maybe the Kop expanding capacity through safe-standing, I don´t think it is ever going get expanded further back.

I think the main way to have it retain its unique status going forward would for it to become the grounds only all-standing side. I would say that is maybe increasingly likely going forwards, depending on steepness restrictions, as all the signs point towards safe-standing being introduced to top-flight English football sooner or later.

Looking at the Anny Road as well, if they could sort out of the facilities to enable it, I would say that Lower Tier is also a prime location for the possibility of standing spaces.

Obviously the Kops reputation always stemmed from those on it. But they´re getting older year on year. And in terms of being architecturally imposing, this Anny Road second tier makes it look tiny.

I agree with this.

[Mark Walters]

I think its been done to death on this forum, but short of maybe the Kop expanding capacity through safe-standing, I don´t think it is ever going get expanded further back.

I think the main way to have it retain its unique status going forward would for it to become the grounds only all-standing side. I would say that is maybe increasingly likely going forwards, depending on steepness restrictions, as all the signs point towards safe-standing being introduced to top-flight English football sooner or later.

Looking at the Anny Road as well, if they could sort out of the facilities to enable it, I would say that Lower Tier is also a prime location for the possibility of standing spaces.

Obviously the Kops reputation always stemmed from those on it. But they´re getting older year on year. And in terms of being architecturally imposing, this Anny Road second tier makes it look tiny.

As opposed to... going sideways? Up and down? Back to the future?! 

[AnthonyStabile]

I know I've said this before and sound like a broken record but that's the view from a helicopter or a drone. This is the view that matters:



Old? Yes. Outdated? No.

Deffo, all standing would be even better.

The beauty of the kop is that it’s dark and imposing. It’s that dark you struggle to see where it ends.

[Indomitable_Carp]

For me this new Anny Road, coupled with an all standing Kop and and all-standing lower Anny and the stadium would be perfect (or rather perfectly imperfect!). I honestly don´t see what more could be added within the current confines.

As opposed to... going sideways? Up and down? Back to the future?! 

It´s definitely not going back over the Walton Breck Road - that´s my main point! 

[AnthonyStabile]

If 1:1.25 safe standing was allowed and they added rail seats to accommodate this to the kop and lower ARE you could increase capacity by a further 4K taking the total to 65k.

[Lusty]

Said it before but if the KOP stayed exactly as it was (although converted to safe standing) and the KD got redeveloped in line with the other two then that would be my perfect Anfield configuration.  Standing on the KOP would feel like the Alamo, surrounded on all sides, back to the wall, I think it would lead to a great atmosphere in there.

There's always going to be a limit to how big you can make a single tier anyway and I'd hate to see it go more than one tier, so leave it as it is and it will be the KOP against the world.

[AnthonyStabile]

We’ll probably be the last to implement it for obvious reasons but safe standing is inevitable at some point. Provide more than 1:1 is allowed you can increase your capacity for minimum outlay so its a no brainer.

[Samie]

Oh boy when that issue is raised by the club in the future to do it or not, it's going to be hell.

[Danny Boy]

Love the look of the new extension, really fantastic.

I wondered whether the placing of the away fans will fall foul of the requirement to have away fans at pitchside level - does anyone know if it has to be all of the away fans or just some/specific %?

I assume this would have been thought of already.

[Welshred]

Just some of them otherwise Man City and others wouldn't be able to split them over a few tiers like they do no

[CraigDS]

Love the look of the new extension, really fantastic.

I wondered whether the placing of the away fans will fall foul of the requirement to have away fans at pitchside level - does anyone know if it has to be all of the away fans or just some/specific %?

I assume this would have been thought of already.

Some.

[Alan_X]

Love the look of the new extension, really fantastic.

I wondered whether the placing of the away fans will fall foul of the requirement to have away fans at pitchside level - does anyone know if it has to be all of the away fans or just some/specific %?

I assume this would have been thought of already.

If you want to be pedantic, only the front row is pitchside anyway.

[GoldenGloves25]

If theres no truss, what the fuck is holding the roof up??

[CraigDS]

If theres no truss, what the fuck is holding the roof up??

I imagine it’s internal.

[Red Beret]

When you look at the overall stadium, you do realise that The Kop is probably at its limit for a single tier stand.  Unless we want to break with tradition and add a tier then the only reasonable alternative is safe standing.

[CraigDS]

When you look at the overall stadium, you do realise that The Kop is probably at its limit for a single tier stand.  Unless we want to break with tradition and add a tier then the only reasonable alternative is safe standing.

There are almost certainly other options, but yeah safe standing is the obvious easy option in the short term.

[Son of Spion]

Said it before but if the KOP stayed exactly as it was (although converted to safe standing) and the KD got redeveloped in line with the other two then that would be my perfect Anfield configuration.  Standing on the KOP would feel like the Alamo, surrounded on all sides, back to the wall, I think it would lead to a great atmosphere in there.

There's always going to be a limit to how big you can make a single tier anyway and I'd hate to see it go more than one tier, so leave it as it is and it will be the KOP against the world.

I pretty much agree with that.

I'm not bothered about the Kop being the biggest end in the country or stuff like that. The Holte End at Villa was always bigger than the Spion Kop, yet it never had anything like the same reputation. Most people wouldn't even know what Villa's 'end' was called, yet virtually everyone knows the Anfield Spion Kop.

To be honest, I always felt that the Spion Kop was sort of like a theatre. The other three sides of the ground look towards the Kop all the time. I've been in all sections of our ground, and I'd spend half my time watching the Kop. As I said, it was like a theatre, and theatres tend to have a small stage but towering balconies looking over them. With a standing Kop and an expanded Anny and Kenny, the Kop would almost feel like a theatre to perform from as fans once more.

[Macred]

I pretty much agree with that.

I'm not bothered about the Kop being the biggest end in the country or stuff like that. The Holte End at Villa was always bigger than the Spion Kop, yet it never had anything like the same reputation. Most people wouldn't even know what Villa's 'end' was called, yet virtually everyone knows the Anfield Spion Kop.

To be honest, I always felt that the Spion Kop was sort of like a theatre. The other three sides of the ground look towards the Kop all the time. I've been in all sections of our ground, and I'd spend half my time watching the Kop. As I said, it was like a theatre, and theatres tend to have a small stage but towering balconies looking over them. With a standing Kop and an expanded Anny and Kenny, the Kop would almost feel like a theatre to perform from as fans once more.

FSG have announced big red curtains in front of the Kop as Phase 3

[Mo2000]

Does anyone know if the pitch will be extended to uefa requirements so we can stage future finals etc?

[The Lord Admiral]

Does anyone know if the pitch will be extended to uefa requirements so we can stage future finals etc?

Doesn't appear so.

[CraigDS]

Does anyone know if the pitch will be extended to uefa requirements so we can stage future finals etc?

Lower tier is remaining so I doubt pitch will be extended. Capacity is probably a bigger issue anyway as think they want closer to 70k to host finals.

We’re a UEFA 4* stadium though, so not sure pitch size is much of an issue.

[Welshred]

Pitch size is an issue for finals, its too small at Anfield but we can't extend the pitch without screwing up sight lines from the other stands

[dudleyred]

Didn't notice in the plans any special features for making hosting concerts etc easier. Know we've applied for permission to be a permanent venue. Was there anything?