IN-DEPTH NEWS

Bestway forward with The Loop

By Colm Kavanagh : 16 Aug 2007

First image of how stadium at the tunnel Loop site off Scotland Road could look has been revealed.

Bestway Statement:

This is the first look at how a proposed stadium for the Bestway Loop site off Scotland Road might look.

Architects have completed an initial rendering of some of the early thoughts surrounding the site to produce an image of a stadium complete with an iconic sweeping tower structure.

The tower would help lend the site a landmark status and increase its visibility. The tower element will also provide a hotel, leisure facilities and other associated commercial uses.

Bestway Head of Property Malcolm Carter said: “We hope that fans can see that there is a reason for voting to keep Everton in Everton.”

Bestway maintain that from their initial study of the site it could house a 50,000 seat stadium.

Other early thoughts have included bridging roads to provide access to the site, making a suitably dramatic entrance to the stadium itself.

Bestway and Liverpool City Council are currently undertaking a series of technical and commercial studies to explore the viability of a stadium development at the Scotland Road.

The possibility of the Loop site being used for a stadium was first discussed around two months ago, and significant progress has already been made to reach this stage.

And Bestway have now announced that they are working with one of the world’s leading stadium architects supported by a major international engineering firm in order to help demonstrate the suitability of the site as a new home for Everton.

HOK – whose previous projects include Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff amongst others – are to lend their expertise to the feasibility study.

They are to be joined by WSP Group – a leading global and award-winning engineering consultancy with a specialist stadium team.

“The size and stature of these two companies shows how serious we are about the project and I know that the City Council shares our determination,” said Malcolm Carter.

These early images were not produced by HOK but are intended to demonstrate how a stadium would look at this important city gateway location.

“We also remain committed to our existing business, and are continuing to make progress in securing a suitable location for this as part of any deal,” added Mr Carter.

“When the ballot’s over we want to be in a position to sit down with the club and demonstrate that our site is a viable option.”

Cllr Warren Bradley, City Council Leader, said: “The Loop site is a real possibility – companies with this background would not be involved with it otherwise - and I would hope that Everton would give it serious consideration. They owe it to their fans to consider this option.”

These images, as stated above, are initial renderings and updated images will follow shortly.

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