Part Time Blogger

Thursday, January 26, 2006

New Anfield Stadium

Liverpool were originally granted planning permission for the new stadium, but have since had this withdrawn. Predicted costs of £80million have now nearly doubled to £150million. You can read the interview with Rick Parry.

View from outside the stadium

The new Anfield

Containing 60,000 seats with unrestricted and comfortable viewing for all spectators, the stadium will be of the highest quality. Four 'traditional' stands will be linked by one roof, with the lower tiers closed in, providing greater proximity to the pitch. Fans will be consulted on the naming of three stands and of course there will be a Kop end, which will effectively be a single tier. The full title of the new stadium has not been finalised but Rick Parry sees no reason why it would not remain as Anfield.

One side of the stadium will house a purpose built, much bigger, museum - the role model being FC Barcelona's, which attracts 1 million visitors each year. All community activities, including a new Vernon Sangster Sports Centre, will be in another, along with a further education centre to be run by Liverpool Hope University. Underneath the stadium will be #4.5 million car deck

Master Plan for new stadium at Stanley Park

Hillsborough / Memorials

Following discussions between the club and the Hillsborough Family Support Group, it has been decided the Hillsborough Memorial will remain where it is until the plans evolve further. There are also plans to erect a memorial garden as a tribute to those who have had their ashes scattered inside the current Anfield stadium. No decision has yet been taken about where the Shankly Gates and Paisley Gateway will be situated but they'll definitely figure somewhere in the plans.

Finances

80 million is being invested in the new stadium but this will have no affect whatsoever on team building. Should Liverpool fill the stadium on a regular basis, the stadium will become self-financing and in approximately 15 years it will have been totally paid for. Everything has been planned down to the tiniest detail. Contractors are already on board, with prices fixed, and the club foresee no problems with rising construction costs.

Internal view from East Stand

Anfield Plaza

Situated on the site of the current Anfield ground which will be totally flattened, the Plaza will be an area the size of two Liver Buildings or St Georges Hall in its entirety. It will be an area of high quality open space that will maximise tourist attraction and provide more jobs. Consultation is currently ongoing with the local community - including young people - about what they'd like to be built on and around it, but some of the proposed ideas so far include a hotel, cafe/restaurants, offices, health centre, ice-rink and an open-air market.

Stanley Park

The famous park will be restored to its former glory and made fit for the 21st century. New improved football pitches will laid on the site of the current ones, while the restoration of the historic Gladstone conservatory, built in 1898 but currently lying derelict, and the nearby Anfield cemetery will be high on the agenda. Improved security will also be foremost in the implementation of these plans.

Transport

New park and ride services will be put in place and the club are in talks with Merseytravel about opening up an old unused railway line that could potentially link to Lime Street Station and Aintree.