Home is where the heart is...Feb 19 2007
by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo
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WORK is set to start on Liverpool’s new stadium in Stanley Park in the coming weeks.
The state-of-the-art £200 million project should be finished in time for the Reds to kick-off the 2009/2010 season in their new home.
But will the move from the current 44,500 capacity Anfield to a 60,000 seater stadium really satisfy the demand for tickets? It would seem not.
There are currently a staggering 56,000 supporters on the season ticket waiting list.
The move to the new ground will allow many more fans to claim their own seat, but for the vast majority the long wait will go on.
At present Anfield has 24,000 season ticket holders and it’s unlikely that figure will rise beyond 40,000 at the new ground, with the remaining 20,000 taken up by members of the priority ticket scheme, general sale and away fans.
The new Anfield will be the same size at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and second in Premiership capacity only to Old Trafford, which now holds 76,000.
But with so many fans desperate to get a slice of the action, why didn’t the Reds set their sights even higher?
The answer lies in the club’s commitment to stay close to its roots.
Stadium manager Ged Poynton said: “We could have possibly gone elsewhere, where there is more space, and built a 70,000 or 80,000 stadium, but the overwhelming desire was to stay in the Anfield area.
“If we wanted to build a ground in Stanley Park then 60,000 was the biggest it could be.
“It’s not just a case of the size of the land available but also the infrastructure. Things like transport links have to be taken into consideration.”
Liverpool Football Club supporters club chairman Richard Pedder believes the vast majority of fans are happy with the plans.
“It’s very important to supporters that we aren’t moving far,” he said.
“The ground is called Anfield and it’s in the constituency of Anfield.
“The area has always been the home of the club and it’s very important that there is that continuity.
“I think from day one Rick Parry has appreciated that. Staying local is also vital for the regeneration of Anfield.
“Anfield is known across the world. That’s why whatever the new stadium is called it has to have the word ‘Anfield’ in it. The name Anfield can be added to but it cannot be completely changed.
“Some people will say a 60,000 capacity isn’t big enough but you’ve got to remember that filling a massive stadium still depends on the side being successful.”
New American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks are currently re-assessing plans for the new stadium, although due to the time scale and planning permission, any changes they make are likely to be minor.
Hicks, who partly built his billion dollar fortune in the construction industry, has vowed to ensure the unique Anfield atmosphere isn’t lost by the move.
“I’m assured that the design that’s already been done and is in place will ensure that the individuality and aura of Anfield remains in our new home,” he said.
“That uniqueness is what makes Anfield such a famous stadium and no-one wants to lose that.
“We’re going to try and tweak a few minor things that people may not even be able to see.
“The stadium will retain the same level of noise and excitement that makes it such a special place. A lot of new stadiums haven’t done that but ours will, I’m sure.
“The alterations are things like the design of the suites, and how many suites there are. Can we maximise capacities?
“We’ll also be looking at the functionalities of the suites and also at the idea of supporter focused bars which open early on matchdays and stay open late after games.
“We’re taking a fresh look at things to see if there are any other creature comforts we can fit in to make it special for supporters.”
