Goodison's summer upgrade

, 14 August, 24comments | Jump to most recent

Goodison Park has undergone a summer makeover with Evertonians set to notice a host of improvements when they return for the Blues' first home game next week.

Both inside and outside the stadium, significant work has been undertaken to upgrade Goodison and get ready for another memorable season under Roberto Martinez.

Incidentally, the Blues' boss is the subject of one of the major changes that supporters will spot on their approach to the stadium, as he kicks off a new brand campaign on the Park End stand.

A striking image of Martinez, alongside his own slant on the famous Club motto, has been erected as the first in a series of images that will be displayed on the side of the stadium.

The new installation allows images to be backlit and changed to support the Club's biggest campaigns throughout the year, including the sale of Season Tickets and kit launches.

And that's not the only sign that has been changed, with a major operation being undertaken to remove previous versions of the crest and roll out the 2014-15 fan-chosen badge throughout the stadium.

Meanwhile, one of the biggest projects of the summer has been the installation of an improved floodlight system to meet new Premier League and UEFA standards.

Supporters will notice much brighter lighting for night games at Goodison Park and it's to enable the TV cameras to provide the highest quality coverage of the Blues.

The previous floodlights flickered on and off, undetectable to the human eye but picked up by television cameras, so the improved system will provide viewers with a clearer view of all the action on the pitch.

Work has also been undertaken to reveal Goodison architect Archibold Leitch's trademark design on the Gwladys Street.

The famous architecture could already be seen on the Bullens Road but a decision was taken to restore this interesting piece of Everton history on the Gwladys too.

A host of other areas have also been revamped, including:

Various hospitality lounges
Dressing room areas
Toilets in the Lower Bullens concourses
Extension of the main television gantry to allow more broadcasters' matchday access
And new pitch perimeter LED boards have been installed.

It's also been the first season that the Club has been able to reap the rewards of the new Desso pitch that was installed last summer, with the ground staff carrying out a simpler maintenance schedule to ensure the Goodison turf remains at the highest standard.

Speaking about the summer upgrade, Everton's Chief Executive Officer Robert Elstone said: “We continue, as we do every close season, to do lots and lots of work on the stadium. With the new television money, we've been give more options than we had a few years ago when finances were tighter so there's been big improvements across the board and lots of improvements to concourse and branding specifically.

“The most expensive improvement might be something that fans don't see that often, which is state-of-the-art floodlights. We've invested in our floodlights, as we've had to do because of European football and new Premier League broadcaster regulations, so I'm hoping they're going to be very bright and make night-time football at Goodison crystal clear.

“We will continue to look at how we can improve Goodison. It's all part of our initiative to make matchdays more memorable so Fan Zone enhancement and activities on matchdays will continue to be a big priority for us too.”

Reader Comments (24)

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Paul Hewitt
1 Posted 14/08/2014 at 18:27:32

The only improvement we need is a new ground.

Tom Hughes
2 Posted 14/08/2014 at 18:42:18

Or a properly revamped Goodison Park.....

Bobby Thomas
3 Posted 14/08/2014 at 19:00:54

Relentless Tom Hughes!!

Bravo!!

Let the 3 day long exchange with any random dissenter who has no idea what they are on about commence soon!!

Patrick Murphy
4 Posted 14/08/2014 at 20:33:33

Bobby - very sarcastic that my friend - however, when a ground has been your home for over a century it is very difficult to contemplate leaving it. If the Board put into action a plan that convinces the majority that it is the right thing for the club as a whole there won't be many objections to moving.

If however, it looks like the board are only interested in making their money back whilst leaving us with a concrete bowl reliant on a major supermarket subsidy then quite rightly their will be vociferous complaints. Whatever happens, it will always raise debate because it is such an important element for the future of the club.

John Daley
5 Posted 14/08/2014 at 21:30:28

Bollocks. Had my hopes up there that they'd finally binned off that droning dropout from Bingo Caller College who stinks the place out as 'stadium announcer', or stopped serving the over chilled contents of Camilla Parker Bowles colostomy bag otherwise known as 'Chang'.

Carl Sanderson
7 Posted 15/08/2014 at 00:39:12

Tom 2:

Correct. We need a redeveloped Goodison. For a million reasons. For example, if Russia were to be stripped of the World Cup, as is rumoured, and it was awarded to England Goodison would have no chance of hosting a match.

We need a redeveloped Goodison.

David Ellis
9 Posted 15/08/2014 at 02:47:36

Where did the phrase "stink the place out" come from? Is it an Americanism? Was not common parlance when I lived in England (PS I hate it)

Eric Myles
10 Posted 15/08/2014 at 06:54:54

Old English David, probably something to do with farting, like when that guy banished himself from Queen Elisabeth's court for 7 years because he farted in her presence.

Thomas Surgenor
11 Posted 15/08/2014 at 08:31:46

Excuse the ignorance Â— but what's the trademark architecture that's been restored to the gwladys?

Denis Richardson
12 Posted 15/08/2014 at 17:49:51

Was really expecting something dramatic with the title but basically the floodlights have been upgraded. Important but hardly news worthy......

Ray Roche
13 Posted 15/08/2014 at 18:12:48

Thomas, it's the lattice-like, criss-crossed steel balustrades on the front of the stands, a trademark of the architect Archibald Leitch who is famous for several stadium designs.

Ray Roche
14 Posted 15/08/2014 at 18:16:41

But have they lagged the pipes....?

Chris Williamson
15 Posted 15/08/2014 at 18:42:58

Pitch perimeter led signs. Don't care about the revenue, hate them. Always have always will. Soooo distracting.

Karl Masters
16 Posted 15/08/2014 at 20:53:10

Not criss-cross on the Gwladys Street, Ray. You should remember just the blue rectangles with the little triangular pieces that stick out every six rectangles or so. Same as Bullens Road, but no crosses.

I was hoping they would get rid if that faded blue gravel round the pitch. Well past its sell by with colour virtually washed out and so deep it sounds like people clambering around on a pebble beach when the ball is collected for a throw in.

Karl Masters
17 Posted 15/08/2014 at 21:02:23

And how about cleaning that filthy glass screen on the side of the Main Stand? When it went up in the 1970s it was crystal clear. Nowadays it looks like it hasn't been cleaned since about 1975. Don't they have window cleaners in Liverpool?? :)

Ray Roche
18 Posted 15/08/2014 at 22:46:15

You're right, Karl, I'm sacked. I'll clear my desk and go.....

Karl Masters
19 Posted 16/08/2014 at 08:47:06

To be fair Ray, they have been covered up by ads for taxi companies and leaflet businesses for about 15 years so I'll give you another chance!

Now if you could just get over to Goodison now with a ladder and a bucket the glass screen on the side of the Main Stand hasn't been cleaned in nearly 40 years.......:)

Ray Roche
20 Posted 16/08/2014 at 08:50:44

Sorry, Karl, I'm retired....

Karl Masters
21 Posted 16/08/2014 at 08:52:01

Plenty of life in the old dog yet Ray!

Get a couple of wet t-shirt car wash girls in to help you if you like. Send the bill to Robbie Elstone, he says he's got loads of TV cash to splurge on the stadium.

Yours will be more of a consultancy role. No need to actually go up any ladders. You are outsourcing the work itself. It's the Everton way and has been for a while now.

Jeff Armstrong
22 Posted 16/08/2014 at 09:15:27

Got to agree about that knobhead "DJ" from 194 Radio City.
He canÂ’t pronounce any of the foreign players names, including our own!

Jim Gore
24 Posted 20/08/2014 at 17:57:54

Karl, I’ve been thinking the same, mate; clean those panels on the side of the main stand please!

Mike Connolly
25 Posted 20/08/2014 at 20:15:37

That Rossie larr does my head in. When we are live on the box, he makes sure he gets his voice on. We’re on the attack, willing the players on and his voice will boom out... "And today’s Golden Goal is... !!" Why he can’t wait until half-time or full-time is beyond me. Bring back Tilley or the bloke who does the Fan Zone.

Eugene Ruane
26 Posted 22/08/2014 at 22:15:01

David Ellis - "Where did the phrase "stink the place out" come from?"

I first read it in Ring Magazine (a US boxing publication, not a gay magazine) in the early 80s and I remember Tyson using the expression (about Jack Johnson’s style) so my guess is it came from America and was first used to describe bad fights and/or fighters

That said, having read John Daley’s post (5) maybe Prince Charles first coined the phrase.

Dick Fearon
27 Posted 23/08/2014 at 10:09:58

Dare I say it but what we really need is the kind of financial support the RS gets from FSG. Those yanks took over a club that was up to its neck in debt and poured money into it from day one.
I can't help but wonder at Roberto's current thoughts are seeing as he turned them down.

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