Topic: Henry: Liverpool could stay at Anfield

[La Ligapool]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/9387492.stm

I know he has said this before but these latest comments seem more solid.
What is the general feeling here about redeveloping Anfield as opposed to moving?

Personally, if we can up our capacity and improve the facilities around the ground I'd be made up to stay.

Views?

[Kite]

No brainer.  If there is way to increase capacity at Anfield we stay.

[Breitner]

Don't think he hints at anything there other than how much he likes the Kop. He's right, it would be hard to replicate it elsewhere.

[Jimmy Conway]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/9387492.stm

I know he has said this before but these latest comments seem more solid.
What is the general feeling here about redeveloping Anfield as opposed to moving?

Personally, if we can up our capacity and improve the facilities around the ground I'd be made up to stay.

Views?

Loads of room round the ground now too.

[bleedsred1978]

At least they didn't spend 50 million on drawings this time.

[balticred]

Really big questions as to what capacity we need - seeing empty seats in last couple of seasons has not been nice. Post 2005 thoughts that we would regularly fill 70,000 seem wide of the mark.

To see 10,000+ empty seats regularly would be horrible.

If we can stay and add 7-10,000 that would be my vote every time

[SkinHimHesShite]

No brainer.  If there is way to increase capacity at Anfield we stay.

definately. makes sense to stay with our roots and redevelop anfield- its one of those few things we have that makes the club special. makes huge economic sense too. spend 50m on a refurb or 450m on a new ground, to achieve the same capacity.

i dont like the idea of 400m of debt.

[La Ligapool]

Could it be done in a close season though or would we have to move out for a while?

[itsgunnabebarnes!]

definately. makes sense to stay with our roots and redevelop anfield- its one of those few things we have that makes the club special. makes huge economic sense too. spend 50m on a refurb or 450m on a new ground, to achieve the same capacity.

i dont like the idea of 400m of debt.

50m on Refurb? To get the current Anfield up to a suitable standard would cost a hell of alot more than that

[Baz Smythe]

Should just dig down in the ground and make 3/4 tiers all round the ground then stuff the away fans right at the back in the highest tier so they can be seen and not heard. Madrid and United did that to accommodate and now they have massive grounds

[Trump's tiny tiny hands]

Could it be done in a close season though or would we have to move out for a while?

One completely new stand could be done in the off season but we would have to operate at a reduced capacity while we do the other stands up, one at a time.

[Vidocq]

No brainer.  If there is way to increase capacity at Anfield we stay.

they should do that...our capacity is too low for a top club like Liverpool...even shit clubs have more capacity than us

[markcd]

Really big questions as to what capacity we need - seeing empty seats in last couple of seasons has not been nice. Post 2005 thoughts that we would regularly fill 70,000 seem wide of the mark.

To see 10,000+ empty seats regularly would be horrible.

If we can stay and add 7-10,000 that would be my vote every time

you could probably do it in stages like the mancs have done at OT.

[sidneyroughdiamond]

Should just dig down in the ground and make 3/4 tiers all round the ground then stuff the away fans right at the back in the highest tier so they can be seen and not heard. Madrid and United did that to accommodate and now they have massive grounds

A new ground may be more financially viable than this. If we could extend capacity in the main stand and the Anfield Road end then thats our best case scenario.

[Breitner]

The size of the pitch is a problem as well. Not only does it help teams to sit in and frsustrate us, but we need special dispensation to play in Europe. Maybe they could push the Anny road stand back and reroute the road either through the park or through a tunnel under the stand.

[rickythered]

Really big questions as to what capacity we need - seeing empty seats in last couple of seasons has not been nice. Post 2005 thoughts that we would regularly fill 70,000 seem wide of the mark.

To see 10,000+ empty seats regularly would be horrible.

If we can stay and add 7-10,000 that would be my vote every time

This if it's possible if not lets concentrate on building a successful team again which will increase revenue and attendance figures then lets think about a new stadium.

[Regi]

There are some top class mock-ups that various people have done of a redeveloped Anfield in the new stadium forum here.
If we could build a new 3-tier Main Stand, maybe add another lavel to the Annie Road and leave open the option for another small tier on top of the Centenary, then staying is a great option

[itsgunnabebarnes!]

We have had three new satnds in the last twenty years, the planning and progression of the club still winds me up.

[Trump's tiny tiny hands]

Corporate facilities are what NESV want. Accommodating them will take precedence in whatever plans they go with

[Baz Smythe]

The size of the pitch is a problem as well. Not only does it help teams to sit in and frsustrate us, but we need special dispensation to play in Europe. Maybe they could push the Anny road stand back and reroute the road either through the park or through a tunnel under the stand.

That would be class, it'd feel like your in Monte Carlo.

[The Flying Pig]

The question is whether Anfield can be re-developed to at least 60,000 with the costs incurred and loss of income during re-development being equal to,or less than,the cost of a new stadium.

If this is the case then staying at Anfield has to be the only option.

[montysmum]

There would be lots of hurdles to get through before this could happen wouldn't there.

The Council have always been for a new stadium linked in with regeneration of the Anfield area, so discussions on anything other than that would have to start from scratch.

The whole planning permission process would have to be gone through again, along with talks about funding etc.

It really is starting from scratch again, which in a way would be a shame.  I am a bit torn on this to be honest.  I love the thought of staying at Anfield - how could anything replace it, with all the memories and history, and yet at the same time I did like the design the last lot had done, it looked so impressive and original.

One thing is obvious, if they do decide to stay at Anfield it is going to be a few years before we get a stadium of increased capacity.

The good thing is that now we have decent owners, financially the need to rush is no longer there.  They are willing to invest into the club regardless, so they can take their time and make a good decision.

[itsgunnabebarnes!]

we could redevelop anfield to what? 60,000?. What happens in 10 years times when we are crowned kings of europe for the 10th time and need 70,000 or 80,000?

[_Lfc_]

No brainer.  If there is way to increase capacity at Anfield we stay.

[stjohns]

Have any of our photoshop geniuses had a go at what a developed Anfield might look like?

[KENNYS DUGLEASH]

As a lifelong Celtic fan I think you should redevelope Anfield,for us it was less of a pain as we had full use of Hampden park so the logistical problems were minimalised.
We now have a fairly decent ground by modern standards although weve lost 7,000 due to the loss of terracing.
I would suggest LFC go down a similar road but poss look into using say the Millenium Stadium or approaching another team within reach Like Blackburn or Bolton to ground share whilst they are away from home?
Another thing Ive mooted this amongst Celtic Forums..
What about a sensible return to part Terracing?
Say a new Kop fully terraced bringing back the real essence of a vibrant bouncing support?
We of course have "The Jungle" and most of our fans old enough to remember terracing would relish and support its return to our game?
The attendance would be up several 1,000 in the 'Kop' surely with it's return?

[balticred]

Have any of our photoshop geniuses had a go at what a developed Anfield might look like?

new stadium forum

[_Lfc_]

we could redevelop anfield to what? 60,000?. What happens in 10 years times when we are crowned kings of europe for the 10th time and need 70,000 or 80,000?

What happens ? the glory hunters dont get to go 

[Breitner]

There would be lots of hurdles to get through before this could happen wouldn't there.

The Council have always been for a new stadium linked in with regeneration of the Anfield area, so discussions on anything other than that would have to start from scratch.

The whole planning permission process would have to be gone through again, along with talks about funding etc.

It really is starting from scratch again, which in a way would be a shame.  I am a bit torn on this to be honest.  I love the thought of staying at Anfield - how could anything replace it, with all the memories and history, and yet at the same time I did like the design the last lot had done, it looked so impressive and original.

One thing is obvious, if they do decide to stay at Anfield it is going to be a few years before we get a stadium of increased capacity.

The good thing is that now we have decent owners, financially the need to rush is no longer there.  They are willing to invest into the club regardless, so they can take their time and make a good decision.

I don't believe these new stadiums are the saviour they're made out to be. We'd just be suffocated by more debt and unable to benefit from the proceeds. Build a winnig team first and gradually update Anfield. If in 10/15 years time there is the demand for a hulking great stadium then we can re-examine it.

[stjohns]

Sorry guys, just found redeveloped section in New Stadium.

[rickythered]

What happens ? the glory hunters dont get to go 

[cammier]

I think Henry has just shown that he really does feel for the club - not like the other twats he replaced. He can see how much Anfield means to the fans and the Kop in particular. If the ground can be redeveloped to a suitable standard with enough capacity then it is a no brainer, we stay at HOME in a new old ground! You cannot build atmosphere and a new ground would never replace Anfield.

[TomDcs]

Do it, as many seats as possible please.

[bleublancRed]

Who drew up the plans for the new stadium last time, if it was H&G's crew then moving cash around on paper could have been an inviting option for them. Anfield is unique, but so are the Liverpool supporters, not being able to replicate Anfield may be true, not being able to replicate the atmosphere elsewhere should not be the case.

I as everyone else have only ever known Anfield as a home ground and whilst it'd be difficult to imagine having a new home ground, the extra revenue would be good for the club and I'd imagine that the extra seating could enable ticket prices to be kept down a bit. Playing in the same stadium as the shite across the park shouldn't come into anyones way of thinking though.
 

[west_london_red]

I don't believe these new stadiums are the saviour they're made out to be. We'd just be suffocated by more debt and unable to benefit from the proceeds. Build a winnig team first and gradually update Anfield. If in 10/15 years time there is the demand for a hulking great stadium then we can re-examine it.

Only thing is that the redevelopment will cost hundreds of millions itself and probably be borrowed money, and could be a waste if in the end we still need a new stadium (borrowing even more money).

And how are we going to finance a winning team without increased revenues?

[Breitner]

Only thing is that the redevelopment will cost hundreds of millions itself and probably be borrowed money, and could be a waste if in the end we still need a new stadium (borrowing even more money).

Not sure about that. Starting with one stand is going to be a lot easier to finance than borrowing 400 odd million.

[CraigDS]

Its not just about seats, its about making people spend whilst at the ground - so improved merchandise sales, improved food/drink sale, seating/bars to encourage people to come earlier before games and stay later afterwards.

Even in the newest parts of Anfield (Ive been an Upper Centenary ST holder since it opened) this just cannot happen without the stand being totally redone as the concourse area is just too small. So IMO all four stands would have to be totally redone, and by the time you do that surely a new stadium would be easier, quicker and just as cost effective (by the time you take in to account closing down stands for a period of time, etc.).

[Dave_the_Red]

Leader of the council Joe Anderseon has already said no development of the ground. So, I don't know where that leaves  us.

[Roy of the rovers]

Financial and emotional no brainer if we can make 60,000 at Anfield

[west_london_red]

Not sure about that. Starting with one stand is going to be a lot easier to finance than borrowing 400 odd million.

while im no expert on construction, there are some on this site however and they have said that redevelopment is likely to be in the hundreds of millions to get anfield up to 'scratch'.