Stadium Plans to be unveiled by the end of the month.

[Mystic]

Liverpool’s Anfield stadium plans to be revealed this month, prior to Chelsea match

News
Apr 11, 2014










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Liverpool are set to reveal the long-awaited plans for an expanded Anfield on the last weekend of April, prior to the visit of Chelsea.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 30, 2014: A general view of Liverpool's Anfield Stadium, from the Spion Kop showing the Main Stand and Anfield Road stand, before the Premiership match against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool plan to redevelop Anfield’s Main Stand and Anfield Road Stand (above). Photo: David Rawcliffe/Propaganda.

EXCLUSIVE, BY ALEX MILLER

Officials close to Liverpool recently suggested the date had slipped back by a few days to 26th or 27th April – nothing to be concerned about, these things happen – otherwise we would already have been able to see the plans by now.

Liverpool appointed highly-respected London-based architects KSS to work on the stadium redevelopment plans – the same company that oversaw the design of executive areas at the City of Manchester Stadium in 2002, the Chelsea Village at Stamford Bridge and the company behind the designs of the proposed new stadium for Tottenham.

The designs – when they are unveiled – will detail the club’s plans to increase the capacity of the famous stadium to 58,500 in two stages.

An expanded Main Stand is the club’s priority but Liverpool will also seek planning permission to refurbish the Anfield Road end – however that stand is viewed as the second phase of building work, which will only begin once the Main Stand has been completed.

Sources close to the project say that the current seated section of the Main Stand will remain, with the old roof being removed.

Two new tiers will be added meaning the Main Stand becomes one huge three-tiered stand with a capacity of over 20,000. The Anfield Road Stand will simply look like a bigger version of the current one.

The Liverpool City Council document, called the ‘Anfield Spatial Regeneration Framework’, confirms that the Main Stand will become the biggest stand in the ground, eclipsing The Kop, which has a capacity of 12,390.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 8, 2014: The view from the Spion Kop at Liverpool's Anfield home before the Premiership match against Arsenal. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The same sources also believe that the new stands will not look out of place, in other words they will sit neatly alongside the two stands that will remain unchanged – The Kop and Centenary Stand – rather than stick out like a sore thumb.

This is very believable when you bear in mind the excellent way in which John Henry redeveloped and knitted together the old and new buildings at Fenway Park, the spiritual home of his beloved Boston Red Sox.

So rest assured, the new-look Anfield will retain its distinct character and thankfully the stadium won’t end up looking like it came flat-packed from Ikea.




In addition, the atmosphere at Anfield will be retained as the distance from the pitch will be unchanged. We also know that all extension and redevelopment work will go on around the current stands, so that fans will not be prevented from attending due to a reduced temporary capacity. Another plus of working this way is that the club won’t miss out on crucial match day revenues.

While on the subject of revenues, Liverpool have comprehensively ruled out selling the naming rights to Anfield.

Again for clues, look across the pond and consider how John Henry approached the stadium expansion in Boston. He has constantly resisted the urge to enter a naming rights deal on Fenway Park, considered to be the most historic stadium in baseball.

Naming rights haven’t happened at Fenway and they won’t happen in L4 even though companies would be very eager to spend millions of pounds to splash their brands across both grounds.

However, sponsorship deals for the naming rights to the new Main Stand and Anfield Road Stands as individual stands are under discussion. Although club officials insist that finance for the expansion projects aren’t in any way dependent on them.

Out of interest, leading sports marketing experts suggest that naming rights for the two stands could generate as much as £3-5million a year for Liverpool, which would represent welcome additional revenues, alongside the increased revenues from the additional 14,000 fans who will soon be able to attend match days.

The view of the Anfield pitch from the Main Stand, centre of Block MW.

Liverpool’s current match day revenues are in the region of £45m a year, but the new stadium is likely to boost that figure considerably towards the likes of Arsenal who currently generate a whopping £92m a year from the Emirates. In the age of FFP that will prove critical to a resurgent Liverpool.

We eagerly look forward to the visit of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea but equally so, we look forward to seeing the stadium plans, which will represent a glimpse into the future of our great club, one that looks increasingly ready to sit back on our perch.

http://www.thisisanfield.com/2014/04/liverpools-anfield-stadium-plans-revealed-chelsea-roll-town/

 

[Judge Jules]

Fenway Park is one of the best-known sports venues in the States. It's good that John Henry understands Anfield's similar stature here.

Amazing that the Arse generate over twice as much matchday revenue as we do. Just think what we'll be able to do with that kind of money.

 

[the count]

Fenway Park is one of the best-known sports venues in the States. It's good that John Henry understands Anfield's similar stature here.

Amazing that the Arse generate over twice as much matchday revenue as we do. Just think what we'll be able to do with that kind of money.

Seeing that we are enlarging the capacity by about thirty percent I don't think we can expect matchday revenue to double unless there are alot of extra corporate seats or regular ticket prices increase

 

[Judge Jules]

Indeed. I'm not expecting us to close the gap completely, not yet awhile anyway. I would expect us to get reasonably close though - you'd have to question if the whole thing would be worth it otherwise.

 

[Red Bird]

Seeing that we are enlarging the capacity by about thirty percent I don't think we can expect matchday revenue to double unless there are alot of extra corporate seats or regular ticket prices increase

In term of numbers through the turnstiles, that would give us just under 60k which would be just under Arsenal's. What would blow us are the average ticket prices-- Arsenal's has the highest in the land.

 

[#roadred]

Seeing that we are enlarging the capacity by about thirty percent I don't think we can expect matchday revenue to double unless there are alot of extra corporate seats or regular ticket prices increase

Doubled is perhaps an exaggeration but, increasing £45m x 33% gets us to £60m and with plans to increase the current annual intake per seat from under £1000 to £1350 - £1400(the new stand is rumoured to have bigger, faster & and better food outlets as well as a decent walk in restaurant and fan bars all designed to get folks to spend an extra £15 a visit((£15 x 58,000 fans x 25 games a season = £21,75m)) then you are up to the mid eighties in millions. The 25 games includes premier league, league cup, FA cup and from next season Champions League.
These are all "up in the air, ball park" figures but I can understand where some of the crazy monopoly money numbers come from.
I also reckon that whatever about them being lizards or not(they definitely are), FSG know money and they are sure it would work or they wouldn't do it.

 

[FoxForceFive]

I'm baffled there are no plans for am LFC hotel directly behind or to the side. It could be big enough that it had rooms overlooking the stadium & they could charge a small fortune for the rooms that did so.

 

[Modo]

We're gonna increase the capacity and that's all well and good, but how long will it take and how decimated will the attendance be during the time it takes to complete the changes.

 

[FoxForceFive]

We're gonna increase the capacity and that's all well and good, but how long will it take and how decimated will the attendance be during the time it takes to complete the changes.

According to that report the attendance won't be effected at all, cos the seats aren't being removed but two tiers added in above them. How that would work, I don't know, but frankly I don't really care either.

 

[Modo]

According to that report the attendance won't be effected at all, cos the seats aren't being removed but two tiers added in above them. How that would work, I don't know, but frankly I don't really care either.

Ok.
Sounds great.

 

[peterhague]

Seeing that we are enlarging the capacity by about thirty percent I don't think we can expect matchday revenue to double unless there are alot of extra corporate seats or regular ticket prices increase

The inference I'd make from the expanded main stand being 3 tiers rather than 2 is that it is being designed specifically to cram as many corporate seats as possible in.

We're never going to match Arsenal in that respect but it's good we're trying as hard as possible to compete.

I'm a bit disappointed the capacity will be below 60k - although recent rumours had suggested as much - but I suppose it's a small price to pay for being able to remain at Anfield.

 

[#roadred]

We're gonna increase the capacity and that's all well and good, but how long will it take and how decimated will the attendance be during the time it takes to complete the changes.

According to that report the attendance won't be effected at all, cos the seats aren't being removed but two tiers added in above them. How that would work, I don't know, but frankly I don't really care either.

The supporting structure for the upper sections can be cantilevered off structures built behind the current stand(e.g. Borussia Dortmunds "Westfalenstadion", I think) during the season and the roof and seating sections added during the two closed seasons it is rumoured to take. Or something else, maybe, perhaps, possibly.

 

[Mystic]

The stadium will look bloody weird whilst the works going on, that's for sure.

 

[Mystic]

The inference I'd make from the expanded main stand being 3 tiers rather than 2 is that it is being designed specifically to cram as many corporate seats as possible in.

We're never going to match Arsenal in that respect but it's good we're trying as hard as possible to compete.

I'm a bit disappointed the capacity will be below 60k - although recent rumours had suggested as much - but I suppose it's a small price to pay for being able to remain at Anfield.

That should be fine for now, I'm sure they have plans for more expansion afterwards.

 

[737Max]

(the new stand is rumoured to have bigger, faster & and better food outlets as well as a decent walk in restaurant and fan bars all designed to get folks to spend an extra £15 a visit((£15 x 58,000 fans x 25 games a season = £21,75m)) then you are up to the mid eighties in millions. The 25 games includes premier league, league cup, FA cup and from next season Champions League..

You're figures are well out mate, there's no way 58,000 fans will be in the Main stand for each match, you can't get into a stand if your ticket is for elsewhere

 

[Mystic]

You're figures are well out mate, there's no way 58,000 fans will be in the Main stand for each match, you can't get into a stand if your ticket is for elsewhere

I'd hazard a guess that the area with those facilities would be open for everyone.

 

[SummerOnions]

Alex Miller the old lfc coach?

 

[RedZeppelin III]

It's a pity they can't extend the kop . That was the main aspect of the previous cunt owner's design that i liked , a "kop" with 18000 people . Would have been immense for the big games .

 

[juniormember]

It's a pity they can't extend the kop . That was the main aspect of the previous cunt owner's design that i liked , a "kop" with 18000 people . Would have been immense for the big games .

Yes, if there's an emphasis on the history of the club for this redevelopment, then I would much prefer the Kop to be the biggest stand with the largest audience bellowing their support from it. They really should expand it.

 

[RedZeppelin III]

guess they are limited , they're pretty much as close to the road as they can go .

 

[juniormember]

guess they are limited , they're pretty much as close to the road as they can go .

Close off the road and build a new one!

 

[Farkmaster]

It's always strange to me when they talk about preserving the historical character of a stadium which is a frankenstein of stands rebuilt at all different times, none of which have much of any architectural character. If I'm honest, its an ugly stadium, from the outside at least. Fenway isn't exactly gorgeous, but has a lot more worth preserving. The reasons for redevelopment have nothing to do with preserving some gorgeous brickwork no one is aware of, and everything to do with boring functional business reasons. It's refreshing in some ways how little it matters that the place is ugly. Everyone would take pretty football and ugly stands every day, and the history is the place as an imaginary, not in the bricks.

That said, while they are tacking on the most recent barnacle in the series of redevelopments, rebuilds, and ammendments, it wouldn't kill them to make it a little pretty, and perhaps unify the whole cobbled together lot, in some way. Extra points if they are tied into the greater redevelopment in such a way that the whole thing makes some unified aesthetic sense, with the new avenue etc.

 

[Spionkop69]

It's a pity they can't extend the kop . That was the main aspect of the previous cunt owner's design that i liked , a "kop" with 18000 people . Would have been immense for the big games .

I remember a Kop with 27000 people on it. A piffling 12000 or 18000? Pah!!

 

[keniget]

It's always strange to me when they talk about preserving the historical character of a stadium which is a frankenstein of stands rebuilt at all different times, none of which have much of any architectural character. If I'm honest, its an ugly stadium, from the outside at least. Fenway isn't exactly gorgeous, but has a lot more worth preserving. The reasons for redevelopment have nothing to do with preserving some gorgeous brickwork no one is aware of, and everything to do with boring functional business reasons. It's refreshing in some ways how little it matters that the place is ugly. Everyone would take pretty football and ugly stands every day, and the history is the place as an imaginary, not in the bricks.

That said, while they are tacking on the most recent barnacle in the series of redevelopments, rebuilds, and ammendments, it wouldn't kill them to make it a little pretty, and perhaps unify the whole cobbled together lot, in some way. Extra points if they are tied into the greater redevelopment in such a way that the whole thing makes some unified aesthetic sense, with the new avenue etc.

Agree with all of that.

I am probably in a minority of one but would've quite liked a new stadium.

 

[juniormember]

Agree with all of that.

I am probably in a minority of one but would've quite liked a new stadium.

If it was anything like the original fantasy design H&G had, I would have loved to have seen a new stadium too.

 

[Frogfish]

According to that report the attendance won't be effected at all, cos the seats aren't being removed but two tiers added in above them. How that would work, I don't know, but frankly I don't really care either.

Probably the convergence of the existing and new build will happen in the Summer of 2015 or 2016 (I've no idea how long it'll take to build the extensions).

 

[Judge Jules]

On balance I'd have gone for a new stadium myself.

 

[Frogfish]

It's a pity they can't extend the kop . That was the main aspect of the previous cunt owner's design that i liked , a "kop" with 18000 people . Would have been immense for the big games .

Hopefully once these two stands are complete they will have a much more modern look to them. Then it may be possible to continue the theme with a redevelopment of the Centenary and The Kop to complete the modern theme and expansion.
That would probably be conditional on filling the new 60k capacity week-in-week-out to prove there is the demand and that would be conditional on the team's continued qualification and performance in the CL and at the top of the PL.

 

[peterhague]

I don't think Anfield's ugly at all, not compared to other grounds. The Anfield Rd end looks a bit messy but hopefully that'll be tidied up in the redevelopment. Otherwise I think it's quite smart and compact, and the Kop looks suitably stark. It's certainly not a beautiful ground like the Luigi Ferraris or Highbury, but nor is it very ugly like Old Trafford.

I couldn't really care less what FSG's motivation is for staying put. Whatever it is, it suits me, because I never wanted to leave in the first place and it was something close to a dream come true when I knew Anfield was going to be expanded. Something irreplaceable would've been lost.

 

[Squiggles]

I would have gone for a new stadium too. I wanted a Kop like Dortmund have and that was never going to happen with a redevelopment.

On the plus side, I'm hoping this is cheaper than a rebuild and therefore Rodgers will be restricted less financially, which for the short-term at least is extremely important. It would have been horrible to see no money made available to a coach who is charging us up the league.