Some stuff from Billy Hogan:
It has been a lucrative summer for Liverpool, with Taylor Swift playing three sellout concerts at Anfield. Fellow American singer Pink also played two dates. “It went unbelievably well,” Hogan says. “Turning what I’d say is the best football venue in the world into one of the best concert venues in the world involved a lot of hard work at the end of a long season.
“Having Taylor Swift followed by Pink — five fantastic events — over 250,000 people came through the doors of Anfield, many of whom wouldn’t ever come for a football match. A lot were experiencing Anfield and Liverpool for the first time.
“Many people travelled in from outside the area, which is very valuable. As a key stakeholder in the city, it’s important to promote what a great city Liverpool is. The overwhelmingly positive response was extremely gratifying. We look forward to doing more of it in the years to come.”
With Everton’s new stadium on the city’s waterfront close to completion, competition for hosting events like that is about to crank up but Hogan is unconcerned. “Take a look at New York, London, Boston — there are multiple venues where big acts come through on a regular basis,” says Liverpool’s CEO. “The thing that we contend with is a relatively short window of time where we can host events. It has to be in the close-season, leaving sufficient time for the pitch to be relaid for the upcoming season.
“I don’t see another venue close by being a big issue. There are a lot of different acts that will be touring in the years ahead. We’re focused on making Anfield the best venue it can possibly be.” Since the concerts, the final stages of the Anfield Road Stand redevelopment have been taking place, lifting capacity to around 61,000.
