ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

'Loop' site

First thought on the loop site was 'How do we fit a 50k-seater plus amenities such as shops, carparking etc in that space?'

Within seconds, thoughts turned to the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne. Holds 52,000 (around a much larger, Australian Rules field), has plenty of shops etc nearby, and has 2 levels of carparking underneath the stadium.

Obviously, I don't know the exact specifications of what type & size of stadium would need to be there, and there would be no need for roof, IMO. But it just happened to be the first answer to the first question I had about the site.

As for the other questions (funding, timeframes, land purchase etc), I think that's been covered pretty well by the rest of you.

Attached some links to pics of the stadium in Melbourne to - day & night to keep you all happy:

Link 1

Link 2

I haven't been to Liverpool since I was a young chap, so can somebody fill me in on what building is currently inside the loop?
Jarrod Prosser, Melbourne, Australia Posted 24/07/2007 at 03:18:30

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Comments

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Mike McLean
1 Posted 23/07/2007 at 21:28:42

The owners of the Scotland Road site have asked fans to show support if they are to move ahead quickly. Does anyone have any idea how such support can be shown?

Paul Momber
2 Posted 24/07/2007 at 05:30:10

So what do people think about this one? Location sounds good but can it get out there before the big ballot on Kirby? Why wasn't it put forward before?

Phil Prescott
3 Posted 23/07/2007 at 22:27:17

I can just hear them now...........the selfless souls from L4. "You can shuv Scottie Road up yer arse, 'av ya seen ow far it is from the Winslow, I ain't movin'!"?

Adam Fenlon
4 Posted 24/07/2007 at 07:37:52

The same Docklands Stadium dubbed "Shocklands" by the locals after all of its teething problems......

But it is a good stadium these days.

Steve L
5 Posted 24/07/2007 at 08:45:33

As well as whether there’s enough space has anyone not noticed how inaccessible the site is? It’s surrounded by 3-6 lanes of traffic and there doesn’t appear to be any access by foot.

Putting in foot bridges or subways would introduce some congestion - isn’t Stoke’s Britannia stadium access limited in this way?

Dan Mckie
6 Posted 24/07/2007 at 08:56:53

Looks to me like they have just found some roundabout to stick us on! I wouldnt mind for the first time ever to actually be able to park near the ground,but that dont look like it will happen on this site!

patty blue
7 Posted 24/07/2007 at 09:34:40

I am for it. We stay in Liverpool and I, and others, emerging from the Mersey Tunnel have easy access. Go for it!!

paddy b
8 Posted 24/07/2007 at 09:47:19

A marvellous idea. In the heart of the city and in the Everton district. And the commercial backing to go with it. If it costs EFC more than the kirkby site so be it. The long term benefits far outweigh short term gain.

Dan Mckie
9 Posted 24/07/2007 at 10:19:29

Having been looking at the photo of "the loop" I have to say the site looks awful,I know its within the boundaries and all that but come on,its in the middle of the road next to a big ugly warehouse! Unless major work was done around the site i.e carpark and foot access it would be a complete death-trap for people on foot and total gridlock for people in cars!My ’yes’ for Kirkby still stands!

Keith Slinger
10 Posted 24/07/2007 at 10:24:39

Whilst the feasability looks great,can you imagine the carnage of being a car driver and trying to get home after a match.

D
11 Posted 24/07/2007 at 11:07:30

First impression, it looks like a terrible place to put a footy stadium.

A.W.
12 Posted 24/07/2007 at 11:14:10

Could it be that Bestway are desperate to realise this land asset because they have no hope of getting planning permission for retail and no sensible housing developer would go near it?

Ben
13 Posted 24/07/2007 at 11:34:25

Would an underground car park, underneath the stadium, be allowed - for security reasons?

Dan Mckie
14 Posted 24/07/2007 at 11:51:05

An underground car park could prove difficult Ben,it depends how far you can dig down whilst making sure you dont weaken the foundations or have to re-direct sewers or whatever else is down there! I cant believe this is what Warren Bradley has been going on about,no wonder BK and KW have blanked him if this is all he has!

Ste Boileau
15 Posted 24/07/2007 at 11:51:36

Dan, do you really thinkg they’ll just plonk a stadium in the middle of a roundabout and leave it at that? There will be access roads built, walkways for fans over the roads and a lot of reconstruction. Come on mate, be positive and lets give them a chance. You seem quite happy to give Bully and his boys a chance with Kirkby. This site is ideal and with the right plans and developement (inc funding of course), better than the ’cow shed’ in Knowsley

Dan Mckie
16 Posted 24/07/2007 at 12:14:55

I see your points Ste and im not just pro Kirkby and anti everything else,but they cant just show us a photo and say "here you go,theres a site"! Where are the plans? The vote is very soon and anyone thinking of voting ’yes’ aint going to be swayed by this. That and the fact that its all about money and that Everton havent got a lot of it,at the end of the day Tesco are huge with probably the most finacial muscle in the UK (reports say £1 in every £8 that was spent in the UK was spent in a tesco in 2006)and i’ll be very surprised if Bestway can compete with that!

Lee Spargo
17 Posted 24/07/2007 at 13:08:50

Jarrod, the underground car parks that you suggest could not happen - it’s the entrance to the Wallasey Tunnell.

There are hardly any shops, pubs or chippies around that neck of the woods so all those banging on about their ’complete’ matchday experience would be dissapointed if this new suggestion miraculously came off. Although - Town on a matchday would be chocker with blues!

Mike Davies
18 Posted 24/07/2007 at 13:48:46

The city centre is 10 minutes walk away.There are plenty of pubs,shops and take aways there. Lots of venders will set up on matchdays as they do now.

The loop can’t stay uncovered if the scheme is to work. It shouldn’t cost much relatively to cover most of it to take away the roundabout feel and allow easy access.

Newcastle, the Millenium even Sheffield United are good awaydays because the grounds are close to the city centres.

Bestway is a better way than Project Kirkby if the package is decent.

Liam G
19 Posted 24/07/2007 at 14:33:13

This Site As got to be better that Kirby! Its about 10 mins away from town and goodison so it should be relatively easy for most match going blues to get to and this is in the Everton district of Liverpool! With the right plans from the council this site could be transformed to suite the needs of a stadium, bestway and Warren Bradley must be serious about this site and must have a good idea of how it can be developed for a footy stadium otherwise they wouldnt be so hopeful of this idea working and they wouldnt be already in talks with stadium developers. I think we should try and support this idea and see what they have to offer the club.

james capper
20 Posted 24/07/2007 at 18:55:42

the fact that I am from over the water does not lean me towards this prospect, after 50 years of travelling to watch " our team". It’s amazing that it has taken a lad from OZ to get us talking about this site! I was checking it out last weekend as soon as the news was released and I am excited at the thought of a stadium so close to the city, the buzz in town before and after the game would be great, I am not a building genius or an investment expert, and we know Bestway cannot compere with Tesco, but they are a big company, and might be able to help us get what lots of us want!! lets keep talking about this and see how far we can go with it!!!!

james capper
21 Posted 24/07/2007 at 19:51:30

Jarrod, the loop is currently covered by a very large 1 level cash and carry warehouse, and a number of smaller business’s