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Stadium Survey Results

By ToffeeWeb  :  02/08/2007 :  Comments (23) :

Your opinions on the ground move debate

We put together the most detailed survey on the opinions of Evertonians regarding the stadium debate thus far and asked for your thoughts on a number of the issues and options involved.

2,689 people responded to the survey and even allowing for a margin of error more than 1,00 of them are eligible to vote in the Kirkby Project ballot. We would like to thank each one of you for taking the time.

The collated results, with duplicate entries removed, are below. If there is a metric not provided below for which you would be interested to see the results, please notify the Webmaster

Key
Eligible voter
Not eligible to vote

Notes:

  • Where percentages don't total 100%, the remainder accounts for "no response given" (none of the questions were mandatory)
  • The results are split by those eligible (blue bars) and those ineligible (orange bars) to vote in the upcoming ballot on the Kirkby project.

1. Do you meet the Club's criteria for eligibility to vote in the proposed vote on relocating Everton FC to Kirkby?


Yes
44%
No
55%

2. What is your opinion on the eligibility criteria?


Too restrictive
22%
37%
About right
75%
61%
Not restrictive enough
2%
1%

3. How often do you attend home games each season?


Season ticket holder
76%
2%
75% of home games
5%
6%
50% of home games
5%
8%
25% of home games
9%
36%
Barely once a season
4%
29%
Once every few seasons
0.5%
14%
Never / Have never been to Goodison Park
0.5%
5%

4. How important is it to you that Everton FC's stadium is located within the City of Liverpool?


Not important at all
4%
4%
It would be nice but it should not be an obstacle to any new stadium proposal
45%
48%
Very important, the club should do everything it can to stay in Liverpool
32%
32%
Essential. Everton must stay in Liverpool at all costs
19%
16%

5. Would you support a move to a location like Speke that is in Liverpool but geographically further away from Goodison than Kirkby?


Yes
52%
55%
No
48%
45%

6. If Everton were to move to Kirkby or another location outside of Liverpool you would:


stop going to the match altogether
6%
5%
choose the matches you attend more carefully
16%
12%
not change your current attendance habits
74%
68%
be more likely to go home games
4%
15%

7. If you're a season ticket holder would you consider not renewing?


Yes
22%
8%
No
69%
43%

7a. Would a move to Kirkby make you more likely to buy a season ticket?


Yes
13%
10%
No
55%
33%

8. Your answers to the two/three previous questions were based:


on principal ? I won't support the move to Kirkby
37%
30%
on financial considerations ? I can't afford to attend regularly in Kirkby
16%
8%
on convenience considerations ? Kirkby is harder for me to access
15%
9%
on increased benefit ? Kirkby is easier for me to access/afford
26%
27%

9. Do you believe that Everton have to leave Goodison Park?


Yes, it can't be redeveloped in a cost-effective and timely manner, nor will it provide sufficient revenue from commercial interests to enable the Club to compete financially in the Premier League
70%
73%
No, it can be redeveloped in a cost-effective and timely manner and still provide sufficient revenue from commercial interests to enable the Club to compete financially in the Premier League
30%
27%

10. What is your opinion of the design of the proposed Kirkby stadium released by the club on 20th July?


Really like it
36%
30%
Pretty good but not great
37%
42%
Not that impressed
22%
18%
Really don't like it
3%
4%

12. Assume you approve of the proposed stadium design and that moving to Kirkby or staying at an un-redeveloped Goodison were the only two options on the table for the next 5 years:


you would vote for Kirkby over staying at Goodison
55%
60%
would vote to sit tight at Goodison
45%
40%

13. Assume you approve of both proposed stadium designs and that moving to Kirkby or staying at a redeveloped Goodison were the only two options on the table:


you would vote for Kirkby over staying at a redeveloped Goodison
25%
28%
you would vote for a redeveloped Goodison over a move to Kirkby
75%
72%

14. Assume you approve of the proposed stadium designs and that moving to Kirkby or sharing a stadium with Liverpool were the only two options on the table:


you would vote for Kirkby
61%
60%
you would vote for groundsharing with Liverpool
38%
39%

15. Assume you are in favour of the Kirkby proposal and redeveloping Goodison is not on the table: If Liverpool City Council and/or a local fans group announced on the eve of the proposed Kirkby vote that viable opportunities existed for funding and a location within the City of Liverpool would you:


Vote for Kirkby regardless
29%
26%
Vote no for Kirkby in order to explore these potential new proposals
70%
73%

15. What capacity do you think any future stadium (re)development should aim for?


45,000 or less
4%
2%
50,000
34%
29%
55,000
41%
40%
60,000
17%
24%
More than 60,000
3%
5%

16. Do you agree that the Club should sell the naming rights to any new stadium to help fund the development?


Yes, no choice really
73%
70%
No
27%
30%

17. If they don't, should the Club retain the name Goodison Park (including "New Goodison Park") for any new stadium?


Yes
70%
69%
No
28%
30%
Footnotes Due to a programming errors:
  • Question 11, asking whether the artist's impressions of the proposed stadium had changed the respondent's view on the move to Kirkby, returned no results and is therefore not shown above.
  • Question 15 concerning stadium capacity returned 45,000 for the option labeled 40,000 so the results for those two capacity options have been merged into one "45,000 or less" result

Reader Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer


Greg Murphy
1   Posted 02/08/2007 at 10:08:28

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I wonder if the club will use yesterday’s news, that the wildcat postal stikes will continue until Aug 20, as a PR-face-saving basis for a postponement of the vote? Thereby allowing them some "well, while we’ve got a chance we’ll look at it" time to explore the Loop options? That’s the big gamble, though, for both sides isn’t it? For 10 days ago the Loop didn’t really exist in many Blue minds, yet anyone who was gonna firmly vote "no" back then might now actually be swayed to switch camps if the Bradley plan doesn’t stack up. Conversely, if it does stack up, then that’s the end of Kirkby, judging by the TW poll. So, over to you Everton: the postal strike is a heaven sent opportunity: no loss of face and it’s a chance to appear thorough. Then over to you Warren: best make a good go of it boy.
KJ
2   Posted 02/08/2007 at 10:35:41

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With more people saying that thay are less likely to go to the Kirby stadium than they do now it makes a mockery of the clubs projections of increased attandances meaning more money...
Gerard Madden
3   Posted 02/08/2007 at 10:37:26

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Very encouraging results for a pro-mover like me. The only slight encouraging sign for the ’no’ brigade is if there’s a viable alternative option before the vote many people would switch sides - I don’t believe they will because most of us will see them for what they are - an unrealistic spoiling tactic to prevent or delay the move.

As I said very encouraging and far better than what i was expecting - Roll on the vote...
Billy sea
4   Posted 02/08/2007 at 10:35:47

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Even if we voted yes to the move the club could still delay talks for a short while.Bestway and LCC are gonna have to come up with a really good offer though.Our club has to stay as near to our city centre as possible.If it’s not then it’s off to Kirkby.We have got to move.
Phil s
5   Posted 02/08/2007 at 10:55:50

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Its that time isnt it? Yes or no to Kirkby. Well I was going to vote with my head until this morning, I drove through the mersy tunnel and was greeted by a sign "Welcome to Liverpool home of Everton FC & Liverpool Fc"
A message from above maybe, I want to stay in our home, I dont want to see a sign with "Welcome to Liverpool home of the RS" There got be a better way!
Karl Parsons
6   Posted 02/08/2007 at 11:41:26

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What worried me the most about us the fans voting was the business of driving EFC was strategically handed over to us, the fans.

Great PR and in sync with the people’s club ethos but potentially a massive mistake if the majority vote with their hearts and not their heads.

When did you ever hear a board say to its shareholders "Help us we don?t know what to do here" ? The board would be sacked on the spot!

I feel a little relieved by these results but it does make me wonder whether the whole thing is cleverly managed charade.

If it is we are definitely doomed. If it isn?t are we definitely doomed?
Yozzer Hughes
7   Posted 02/08/2007 at 10:55:03

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Its obvious by the poll results that Kirkby is not perfect by a long way,even for those in favour. Would you move home if you were only given one average option? Kings Dock, however flawed, was at least exciting! I know of not one pro-mover who is even so much as enthusiastic.Pragmatic yes, but shouldn’t the most important decision in 115 years be a landslide?
Pete
8   Posted 02/08/2007 at 11:58:51

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At the risk of re-stating the glaringly obvious: As everyone is hopefully aware, for the ’Loop’ site to be truly ’viable and deliverable’ i.e. ’realistic’ for Everton, it must have HUGE bone fide financial backing from somewhere ASAP! It seems clear the massive funding required for an EFC Loop stadium will not be forthcoming from the current Everton Board, Bestway, Tesco or Liverpool City Council; accordingly a bone fide multi millionaire backer needs to appear forthwith and put up the cash with guarantees (otherwise the ’Kirkby Project’ is a relative ’no brainer’). Without this it really is just a pipedream. Since there ain’t the cash (as there wasn’t for the Kings Dock), we really have to get back to reality and look at the cheaper end of ’town’ and not be attracted by the brights lights of the ’City’...we just can’t afford it. Heed the warning of Icarus!
Strewth
9   Posted 02/08/2007 at 11:09:23

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Well done TW for this very informative survey. It reflects the kind of inner turmoil we all have about this momentous decision. But the central, indisputable and unavoidable fact is that we are skint. We cannot afford the construction or land costs something that will be well beyond us for decades/for ever(?). Believing that some sugar daddy will turn up and buy us a stadium is simply naive. Railing against those we might blame for our financial plight is, right now, simply not going to help matters either. All we can do is make our decision on the basis of the real options which MUST include a firm financial commitment by some partner/s to fund the land & construction costs else its all mirage. As things stand I don’t see anything to rival whats on the table. Lets see if KEIOC/LCC can come up with a cunning plan. But so far all alternatives to Kirkby are simply "undeliverable". Still believe our only real choice is Kirkby or nothing - and there are big risks associated with both.
Greg Murphy
10   Posted 02/08/2007 at 12:23:17

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Mathew Street festival cancelled. Bradley’s reputation holed benath the water-line. The chorus of calls for him to step down will reach crescendo within 24 hours. Tomorrow’s event, no matter how slick, will probably now be viewed as a "pigs might fly show". Shorthand: Everton are going to Kirkby. Pack your bags boys. The pro-movers nicked it at the death. No time even to restart the match.
jaybee_efc
11   Posted 02/08/2007 at 12:50:19

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How do only 44% meet the criteria to vote but 76% claim to be season ticket holders.
Gerard Madden
12   Posted 02/08/2007 at 13:09:02

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Judging by the release of the pictures of a ’re-developed Goodison’ option by Tom Hughes...We really are going to Kirkby folks.
Charles Meadows
13   Posted 02/08/2007 at 14:14:33

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As an expat in South Africa I can only imagine what a tough decision this must be for our fiercly proud supporters. Before us, and mostly those with the vote, is a massive question, stay or go.
Sentiment plays a huge role in decisions like this and unfortunately, sentiment has no place in business. Our beloved game is about business, we can’t change that, and with every passing year business will play a bigger role in football. Proof of business demise is all around us, point in case being the entire British motor industry, lost because of reluctance and arrogance to change. Everton needs change and before us is a once in a life time offer. So for some the sentiment is not seeing EFC on the Mersy tunnel, for some the sentiment is Kings Dock, some the sentiment is to redevelop and the list goes on... This is all sentimental posturing, an assumption that by not facing our reality a magic geanie will jump out and fix the problem and if not, then we can blame the the board. Time to think of the next generation of supporters, what would they be happier supporting, a club that is in Kirby or a club that languishes in the lower leagues? We all know the answer. Just think, one day we will be old enough to say we were at Goodison and tell halcion stories and get free drinks, that’s as sentimental as we can go. To those who vote, use your head and not just the heart. Best of luck to all.
Steve Corley
14   Posted 02/08/2007 at 16:20:49

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Interesting that 22% of eligible supporters will stop going all together or at least less often. This is very much in line with Manchester City and the fall in their support since their first season at the City of Manchester stadium. Could we be looking at 30,000 average crowds 2 or 3 years into our Kirkby residence?
Phil Bushell
15   Posted 02/08/2007 at 16:25:02

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I believe we should not go to Kirkby. This is all smoke and mirrors again by Everton to wangle some extra cash that we will not even see. We will sincerely regret leaving the city in years to come. Don’t want to have a stadium stuck just off the motorway in some wasteland area like Bolton amd Middlesborough. There are much more viable options (The Loop) where we can appease both sets of supporters with a new stadium, stay in the city and have a corporate sponsor to boot. In the words of Amy Winehouse "I don’t want to go to Kirkby - No No No"
Lyndon
Editorial Team
16   Posted 02/08/2007 at 18:46:37

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jaybee_efc: "How do only 44% meet the criteria to vote but 76% claim to be season ticket holders."

76% of the 44% (i.e. 76% of 1,179 who are eligible) are season ticket holders.
Eamonn Byrne
17   Posted 02/08/2007 at 22:09:35

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Well done toffeeweb, I guess this was Lyndon?s work but it is job exceedingly well done.
lee smith
18   Posted 03/08/2007 at 12:22:44

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re: jaybee_efc... it is 76% of those who are eligible to vote who are season ticket holders, not 76% of the total number who took part in the survey.
Robbie Muldoon
19   Posted 04/08/2007 at 13:08:50

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Question 13.

My problem is that nearly 25% of those surveyed ’would vote for Kirkby over staying at a redeveloped Goodison’.

I am shocked.

Who are these ’fans’? How could you possibly rather move to the shithole that is Kirkby Town Centre over stying at our spiritual home!?

I fear the worst about this vote, I fear it will return as a yes to Kirkby.

Moving to Kirkby will be like a fatal wound to our great club, a wound we will never fully recover from.

JUST VOTE NO! There ARE other options!
ChappoEFC
20   Posted 04/08/2007 at 13:25:55

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EVERTON NEED TO MOVE ON BUT I HOPE WE STAY IN LIVERPOOL. WE SHUD GET A 60,000 SEATER STADIUM AND KEEP THE NAME GOODISON PARK. KENWRIGHT IS 2 GREEDY AND IF HE WAS A TRUE BLUE LYK ALL US SEASON TICKET HOLDERS THEN HE WUD SELL UP LYK ALL THESE UTHER CLUBS ARE GETTIN BIG OWNERSHIP DEALS, BUYINBIG NAMED PLAYERS FOR BIG MONEY. 4 MILLION SPENT IN THE TRANSFER WINDOW SO FAR WITH 27 DAY TO GO AND ALL THE PLAYERS WHO HAVE WANTED TO CUM TO THE PLAYERS CLUB HAVE NOT AGREED ANYTHINK SUCH AS THE LIKES OF JASON KOUMAS, ALAN SMITH, DAVID NUGENT, KIEREN RICHARDSON. LAST YEAR THEY SHOULD OF PUT ANOTHER £250,000 EXTRA INTO YOUNG RYAN TAYLOR. THE MOVE IS RIGHT FOR ME!!!
Derek Thomas
21   Posted 04/08/2007 at 01:33:08

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What the survey says to me is, it sort of confirms what I have thought all along... that, Q.9, not to stay is more or less a given (whose fault that is is another question and hindsight/blamegame is easy). Then, the Hobsons choice of Q.13 therefore is also a given.

Which leads me (us?) IMHO to the whole crux of the matter, Q.15! if another viable option comes up, then Q9 notwithstanding, all bets are off.

BESTBUY (or anbody else), FFS, if you are going to come in with a million-to-one shot, Hail Mary, 90-yd, last-second touch down pass, then now is the time to do it. There is a mandate there, well a Toffeeweb one any way.

Steelboy
22   Posted 05/08/2007 at 23:21:20

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This whole survey is ’loaded’.
Question 6 , will give the club a mandate to anything.
Thank You Toffeewebb guys , for putting your size ten’s in it...you have just given Wyness/Kenwright and co the green light to do anything they please
colin Riley
23   Posted 06/08/2007 at 11:13:36

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will somebody ask that Paul mcartny for a loan of 50 mill and the fans can pay him back every week.He’s supposed to be a blue eh!.just a thought.


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