Our New Stadium

Paul Skelhorn 20/07/2007 41comments  |  Jump to last
I work for a professional football club in West London. This morning, we have given a presentation to staff regarding the future of the club. As part of the presentation we had a number of visuals depicting our proposed stadium move to just around the corner (5mins) from our existing ground at Griffin Park.

Our plans are ambitious and involve community focussed sports facilities, hotels, housing and apartments, new rail links and shops, all built into and around the stadium. The designs are impressive and, for a club of our stature, represent a real opportunity to develope an economically sustainable future for a club drowning in the avarice of the Premier League clubs that surround us and the truley fickle nature of the modern young supporter.

Most of all, our stadium looks good!

I have just seen the images of Evertons proposed new stadium... Dissapointed would be an understatement. That stadium looks Championship at best... It is what you would call off the shelf, available (literally) in kit form, and at the most economical price. The type of stadium Southampton and Liecester City have. Not the stadium of the longest-serving top-flight club in the league, winners of 9 titles and 5 FA Cups.

Is what they have served up meant to inspire us to opt for Kirkby? Is it meant to send a message to the councillors and MPs of Liverpool that we mean business?? That we're not here to be placated for the greater good of the city (which means LFC)???

As a first impression, that vision of Everton's future is weak, timid and smacks of limited imagination.

Have they visited the new stadiums in Germany, where they have state-of-the-art facilities yet manage to incorporate outstanding design...(Frankfurt's is in the middle of a forest!); that are truly inspiring places for any visitors??? They cite Cologne as being the inspiration; yes there is a definite likeness, but without resonance.

If that's all they can offer at a critical moment in the history of our club, then my mind is made up now... no way do I support the move to Kirkby.

Our new stadium (here in West London) is 20,000 capacity; it's not over the top, niether is it off the shelf... it looks good though... and our architects work pro bono!

I accept that these are inital designs for "The Kirkby Project" and will change, and that the stadium is traditional, but that looks second-rate to me.

On another note, on visiting my home town recently, I noted to my utter disgust, that somehow the Liverpool 08 logo is red and yellow! To the average person, this may not mean much, but being a designer my immediate response was to associate this with the colours of LFC. Therefore, the city belongs to Liverpool FC ? it's not even subtle... did this upset any other blues?

Today has gone from good to bad in a very short space of time... I am so dissapointed.

Reader Comments

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Ed MacDonald
1   Posted 20/07/2007 at 14:30:21

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Great article, you are dead right.
Barry
2   Posted 20/07/2007 at 14:40:29

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Do you have some pictures of Brentford's new stadium that we can look at for comparison purposes? I personally like the pictures of our new stadium, especially when compared to Goodison Park.
Brian Waring
3   Posted 20/07/2007 at 14:35:25

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What makes it worse,they show two photos.Two fucking photos.And this is supposed to make you vote for Kirkby?Kenwright and Co must think we are all fucking daft.It wouldn’t suprise me if they have just got someone in to draw this up at the last minute,so they could get something out before the vote.I can picture Wyness and Kenwright saying " just stick them pictures out,this lot who support us are fucking daft as fuck"
Erik Dols
4   Posted 20/07/2007 at 14:38:53

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I do concur with you that it looks like the stadium has very little added facilities besides being a stadium.

Actually the most important thing I wanted to say was that I visited the stadiums of Frankfurt, München and Köln, and that the atmosphere at the Köln-ground was by far the best. At Frankfurt, I though tI was visiting a cinema or something like that...
Joe Rourke
5   Posted 20/07/2007 at 14:54:45

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I’m an architect (and a blue) and those 3D model images don’t look so much like a detailed design proposal as opposed to a starting point/image to sell an outline project...I wouldn’t expect a finalised design eithier at this stage...the outline proposal of the 3/4 tier 4 sided stadium is the logical option - you can look at how to dress it up when you know your budget...I don’t think its a fair comparison that you are making Paul, as we don’t know how much work has gone into or what exact (planning/tender/appeal) stage the two relative projects are at...
Erik Dols
6   Posted 20/07/2007 at 15:10:15

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Well, Brian, there are 6 photo’s on the site currently. Think they read your post and reacted immediately?

I really do not understand why some people always have to be so negative. BK and KW can’t do anything right with you, no matter what they try.
Dean
7   Posted 20/07/2007 at 15:11:41

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I was hoping for them to incorporate the tower from our badge into the corners of the stadium.
However, I think that this article is a load of crap. I mean, how can you make those assumptions based on 2 images? (as you rightly pointed out)

So you’ve effectively contradicted yourself.

the Rhein-energie and Westfalen stadiums have the best atmosphere in germany, why? because they have 4 steeply banked stands.....
Brian Waring
8   Posted 20/07/2007 at 15:20:51

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Erik,when I looked there were 2 photos,so Could you blame me for being negative?They want my yes vote on Kirkby by showing me 2 pictures.
Fowkesvargen
9   Posted 20/07/2007 at 15:42:26

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Stop your moaning!!! It looks ace and you all know it.

Lets just blooming move and get on with it.
Paul Skelhorn
10   Posted 20/07/2007 at 15:37:01

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I cant show any images of our stadium designs yet as they are not public at this time Im afraid. />
I appreciate everyones comments on my article, and yes Joe, I agree with your point on these being initial designs, but they have ununispired written all over them.

Im not a negative Blue, but our stadium is our statement to the world...We can do better than this surely, otherwise we’ll end up with another Madjeski!
Steve Mc
11   Posted 20/07/2007 at 15:40:43

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Erik, they can’t do anything wrong for you, no matter what they do, works both ways mate.
You’re a salesman’s dream.
David Barks
12   Posted 20/07/2007 at 15:46:38

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To say that stadium looks like crap or a Championship side is just not being honest. I can understand peoples abjection to it being in Kirkby, although I don’t agree with many of them, but those pictures show a very nice stadium. Brian, when I looked last there were only 2 pictures as well and I was very let down, and I’m in favor of the move, so don’t feel bad about that. If our final stadium comes out looking like that I think we can be very proud of it. But maybe incorporating the Tower somewhere would be nice, as others have mentioned.
Richard Jones
13   Posted 20/07/2007 at 16:07:37

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Like the stadium design or not you have to admit it offers pretty decent value for money if the £10m quoted is accurateand it will increase revenue so job done on that front, plus judging by the initial designs it’s not out of the realms of posibility of it being expanded - Joe Rourke - Can you chip in on this one?
Marc R
14   Posted 20/07/2007 at 16:07:29

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Barks you are either 12 or a kopite, admit it.
Marc R
15   Posted 20/07/2007 at 16:12:25

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The price just went up to £150m aswell. Lets hope LA Galaxy have got their eye on Beattie.
Brian Waring
16   Posted 20/07/2007 at 16:19:43

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Richard,Wyness has said the corners can be filled in, and that would take the attendance to 60,000.So, it looks like they will never be filled in.To get a full house they might even have to take one of the stands away.
wes bray
17   Posted 20/07/2007 at 16:40:28

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ooh look at the shiny lights, what the f***!!!,
no day shots cause it would look like st marys, majeski, reebok, ( see other crap designs ) wholeheartedly agree with main article, the only thing that looks good on that design is the name and badge, kings dock crapped all over that design as well as "new anfield" for that matter, oh well best get over it cause thats the future every one, we need to move, but at least put some thought into the design, just look at what pompey are thinking of doing to see how dated our "new" stadium will look like in 10 years time.

ps get well vaughny and bloody quickly pleeaaseee
Erik Dols
18   Posted 20/07/2007 at 16:55:18

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Steve Mc, you’re full of crap. If you read my posts in the mailbag or anywhere else you’d know that I do not want to move to Kirkby. I will vote against it. I just can’t stand it when people are giving the wrong reasons to support a good cause, or when they’re negative about everything.

It doesn’t work both ways, the way you reason there are only two types of fans: totally positive and totally negative ones. That’s just not true, I think the majority of us lives somewhere in between. I don’t see a dodgy secret plan in everything the club does, but that does not mean I’m willing to swallow everything they present me.
gee
19   Posted 20/07/2007 at 16:54:40

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i for one think the pics look really good and have also read about the rhein stadium having an awesome atmosphere just think "if you know your history" will sound like in that....and i know people will say what about the history? but times change and so do homes....come on lets do it and create new history
Gary Cummins
20   Posted 20/07/2007 at 17:03:37

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Link to pictures of the cologne stadium http://www.stadiumguide.com/rheinenergie.htm See also my comments emailed last night re: capacity of the stadium.

I was of the view that we were getting a 55,000 all seater built? but today everyone is talking of a 50,000 stadium. Cologne’s ground holds 50,000 when the terracing is in use otherwise its 46,000.
Mark Stone
21   Posted 20/07/2007 at 16:53:08

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Looks alright to me. I don’t care where we move to any more (I used to!). As far as I’m concerned Kirkby is Liverpool, as much as Huyton is at least, and how many reds would say that Gerrard is not from Liverpool? Plus I live in Aigburth and it would be just as easy for me jump onto the M57 as it is to go through town or down queens drive to get to the match. How contraversial of me!
Jason Broome
22   Posted 20/07/2007 at 17:14:57

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Paul, I have just compared our stadium with Liverpool FC’s new project and I am sorry to say that you are right.

I live in London but have supported Everton all my life. I was in favour of moving to Kirkby for selfish reasons, but now feel cheated by the very club that I have given my life to.

This project has been bambi-arsed from the beginning. We have watched desperate men make desperate decisions and have sold out the city, our traditions and Evertons’ soul for this cheap looking, middle of the road, average statement of an average club.

Yes it is important to move forward, but it is also important to move forward in the right direction, and I cannot helped feeling that something is wrong about all of this.

We are still the fourth most successful team in Premiership history. Yet we have become Ishmael to Liverpools’ Isaac.

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum... Settle for less!
J.harris
23   Posted 20/07/2007 at 18:17:05

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Looks like Goodison with Bullens Road developed and a new exterior to me.
Why is everyone saying a new stadium in Liverpool will cost more?
Everything is about supply and demand.
A stadium in LIverpool has to be much more attractive to Investors, sponsors,corporate marketeers etc.so it may even cost less.
WHY? - because population, infrastructure, City of culture , ETC etc.
Would BK prefer to put one of his shows on In Kirkby no theatre or in the City of Culture.
Wake up guys this deal is to line some pockets and protect BK?s ownership not to develop the legend that was Everton pre BK.
Paul Caslin
24   Posted 20/07/2007 at 18:21:34

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The club I love are treating us all as idiots. They know that they are giving the city over to the other team who share our great city. That?s why they have include the banners at each corner of the ground in those pictures proclaiming "The People?s Club" thinking that will change the FACT that we will not be in the city.

We will be the People?s Club, but the People?s Club of Knowsley. Shame on them. They are killing our club's future, our fan base will drop year on year. KW said people will follow a successful club, this coming from a board that won?t spend any money. Keep Everton in the city of Liverpool, where it was born.

Chris Mat
25   Posted 20/07/2007 at 19:39:54

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Let’s see what’s missing from the photos of the new stadium. Well for starters there’s the great big Tesco’s store. Anyone remember the Co-op jutting in to the corner of the old Burnden Park? Or the Sainsbury’s end at Selhurst Park? How much of the car parking space is a clampers’ playground, reserved for shoppers and with an £80 release fee on matchdays. What else is missing? Oh yes decent public transport links such as buses a short ride from Lime Street and a Merseyrail connection that doesn’t require people coming from the north of Merseyside to change trains at and go back up a different line.
Anyway let’s be clear the design of the new stadium is largely a red herring...the key issue in this debate is the location. And I will be voting NO.
Gav
26   Posted 20/07/2007 at 22:17:28

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I’ve been watching the Blues for 25 yrs as a season ticket holder and travel all over country for away games week in week out, most of it of course was utter crap. Now we have a team thats going places and the finances are getting better. Now it looks like we’ll get a stadium for free which we’ll own! Pretty decent business sense if you ask me! Furthermore, if the stadium was being funded by Nike rather than Tesco we’d all be well happy.
Lastly, I come from the Wirral just like William Ralph Dean, does that make me a him lesser Evertonians because we are not from within the city bounderies? For that matter neither did Tommy Lawton, Andy Gray, Neville Southall, Kev the Rat, Barry Hooooooorne!, AJ, Yobo, Arteta, Alex Young. Stop crying about Kirkby and get a grip.
Brian Waring
27   Posted 20/07/2007 at 22:33:51

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Gav,"we have team that is going places"Okay,we finished 6th last season,but for most of the season we played some of the worst football I had seen at goodison for a long time."The finances are getting better"yeah right Gav,We have bought 1 player for £4m and the other signings are going to be on loan.Reason being we are fucking skint,not because Moyes is a shrewd manager."we’ll get a stadium for free"Someone has already mentioned today that we will probalby have to cough up about £50m,hardly free.Also,why would we all be happier if it was funded by Nike?I wouldn’t,because they use sweat shops to make their gear.
Jim
28   Posted 20/07/2007 at 23:16:26

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I’m still waiting for someone to show me exactly where we will get £150M plus to buy the land and build our own stadium. LCC will give us nothing for free, nobody else has shown the slightest interest in the last 5 years of investing considerable sums in EFC. We are buying players in basement corner - the club is skint and will not go into the level of debt others have. Remember the RS have to make £21M EXTRA each year just to pay off the INTEREST on their debt of building their stadium. What happens when they ask for the loan to be paid back???

As for all the amateur architects out there get real, what on earth do you know about stadium design and construction. I haven’t got a clue and I suspect most of you haven’t either. Draw some pictures if you like but unless you know about construction I doubt any of your ideas would work. We all know what we like and dislike but at the end of the day surely its down to a concept and then the designers. Put your specifications forward by all means but don’t carp on about good and bad designs because sadly its all down to personal taste. The RC cathedral was roundly castigated when it was first opened, what price peoples views now !!!
Nick Entwistle
29   Posted 21/07/2007 at 00:42:30

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I’m for staying at Goodison, and these pictures are a good example of polishing a turd.
Flag poles with light bulbs and search lights does not make a great ground.
It also doesn’t make a difference how it looks from the exteria... i.e. Goodison.
No pictures from the interia view of course, but we already know what Ewood Park looks like.
An obvious but better design would be our main stand design replicated in the 4 stands... but maybe we can leave that for Goodison’s renovation... cough.

Oh and to the person who said we were the 4th most succesful team in Premiership history... behave!
Another Tony
30   Posted 21/07/2007 at 08:32:31

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No "wow’ factor indeed, but plenty of "bow-wow" factor......’cos it’s a fucking dog. It looks like it was designed by the same bloke who designed the white handkerchief!
Jip Foster
31   Posted 21/07/2007 at 09:28:24

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The problem that the board have is that they raised everybodies expectations with the Kings Dock proposal - how amazing did that look! And to show us this stadium now is just a smack in the face. Nil Statis Nisi Optimum it aint.
darran hughes
32   Posted 21/07/2007 at 11:08:00

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How anyone would want to buy into this bewilders me. These images are the images that are supposed to sell the move to us. How underwhelming.
The laughable thing is that the eventual build wont even look this good, it wont have those lovely computer generated 3d lighting effects.
A ’state of the art stadium’ this is not. It’s a cheap toy-town concrete block of a ground that you can guarantee will have sick building syndrome within a decade.
Oh, and IF we ever fill it, the corners will be filled in. That will make it bowl and hey presto, it’s a larger, blue Riverside. I should give up caring, it’s sad!
lee rogers
33   Posted 21/07/2007 at 11:13:41

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has anybody thought about us getting a roof on especially the way the weather is like at the moment
bee eater
34   Posted 21/07/2007 at 13:25:11

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Great article, spot on. I’ve Just seen the artists impressions of the project. And I am overwhelmed by how poor it is. But, fellow Everton fans, just have a look at what other similar sized and smaller clubs are planning around Europe (including in places like Gdansk, Donetsk and Bilbao) and make you’re own comparisons:

http://www.stadiumguide.com/balticarena.htm

http://www.stadiumguide.com/sanmamesnew.htm

http://www.stadiumguide.com/shakhtarnew.htm

http://www.stadiumguide.com/zaragozanew.htm

http://www.stadiumguide.com/espanolnew.htm

If you really care about what we’re being offered have a good look round the site:

http://www.stadiumguide.com/future.htm

The only one I could find that looks like ours was this one from Poland:
http://www.stadiumguide.com/wisla.htm

I was against the plan to move to Kirkby anyway, but thought I’d wait and see what the actual stadium plans were to make a final decision. The result is so conservative, boring, outdated and parochial that I’m actually embarrassed by it.
Mark Pendleton
35   Posted 21/07/2007 at 13:58:06

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I’m beginning to wish the club had just announced they were doing this and hadn’t proposed a ballot. Anyone who believes that Bill Kenwright wouldn’t do what he GENUINELY believes is the best thing to do for Everton is misguided. Of course if we stay put then in a few seasons, when we genuinely can’t compete with the Wigan’s, Aston Villa’s, Boltons etc then at least Goodison will be possibly one of the best 3 or 4 stadiums in the Championship.
Brian Waring
36   Posted 21/07/2007 at 14:10:59

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Bee eater,we are getting one of those stadiums.You know?One were the pieces are lettered.You put end A into joint B,put wall C up,and cover with plastic cladding found in box lettered X.
Dave M
37   Posted 21/07/2007 at 16:36:09

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I would prefer it if each stand was different. At least in Goodison teams know they are kicking towards the Gwladys Street!You can see for miles where the main stand is. The design is basically like Pride Park only in colour.
Mike Owen
38   Posted 21/07/2007 at 19:05:58

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the Liverpool 08 logo is red and yellow! ... colours of LFC... did this upset any other blues? >

Cheers Paul, I thought i was the only Blue who was bothered about this.

I complained to the 08 mob (it was the first thing which hit my enthusiasm for CoC) I complained to the club and I moaned to any Blue who would listen to me.

No-one really seemed interested.
However they do have a blue logo which I’ve seen used occasionally.

And, if I remember rightly, they have a tie with a blue liver bird.
Been meaning to buy one.
Paul Skelhorn
39   Posted 23/07/2007 at 11:41:43

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Cheers Mike, the article got a lot of interest but at last somebody mentioned this point!

Imagine if Glasgow had CoC and the logo was green and white...no, actually, we cant, because it would never have happened!

As for the stadium links that Bee Eater put on, shows what can be done with limited budget but great imagination.

Thanks to all who posted responses.
paul moran
40   Posted 24/07/2007 at 22:33:00

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i can only think mr skelhorn that you are a very bitter little man.
so its red and yellow - big deal - as far as i was aware liverpool fc colours are red and white. i grant some kits have had yellow included but by and large its still red and white.
everton are a little club hence the little ground. stop living in the past, the blues only season highlight is the occasional win in the derby.
think a little bigger and you may one day be a bigger club.
paul skelhorn
41   Posted 25/07/2007 at 17:53:31

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Please don’t call me bitter, Ive spent nearly 20 years down south defending Liverpool the city, including both clubs, from vitriolic, un-informed Surrey stock brokers, Thames Valley London wannabe’s and wide boy Enfield impersonators. Little club etc etc, heard it all before, I dont need to argue with you...



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