Move from Goodison to stadium on banks of Mersey edges closer

I was positive until this week's media offensive with Sky Sports, particularly the tone of Elstone's interview, which to me looked like we are still a long way off with finances still not in place.

I deeply hope I am wrong and this happens, but am worried, very worried.

"The wheels are in motion. US architect Dan Meis, whose new Colosseum-inspired Stadio della Roma on the banks of the Tiber is set to open in 2019, has been commissioned. A capacity of 52,000 has been mentioned."

Looks like these routes will be reinstated soon. Stonebridge here we come! (30-35,000 anyway).

I'd be made up if this happens but, like the Kings Dock, time will tell us. It will be interesting to see what the status is at to end of this season.

Wouldn't 52,001 be an odd number?

In a project this massive, why does anyone think all the moving parts and major players involved would be in place this fast?

For all we know, things are moving along at a rapid pace.

The Mayor has said that Liverpool would be willing to host the Commonwealth Games in either 2022 or 2026, and admits that the Blues plans for a new ground could represent an opportunity to bolster the city's hopes.

But Mr Anderson said that the council are not solely relying on Everton's design plans for their possible new ground at the Bramley-Moore Dock to bolster their chances of staging the games.

He said: "We've not formally launched our bid yet, but obviously a new stadium presents the city with an opportunity to showcase what we have to offer.

"However, what I would say is that our bid is not reliant on a new stadium for Everton – nor how it is designed."

Mr Anderson also said that he remains hugely positive about the Toffees hopes of moving to a new stadium under the leadership of Farhad Moshiri.

I've found the Mayor's high regard for Mr Moshiri as a little puzzling because he doesn't necessarily view the other main stakeholders at Everton in the same regard.

The Echo ended the article by saying 'The club are expected to make an announcement about the next stage of their financial plans to build a new ground this month.'

Not long to wait for some news but I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Docks isn't the Club's preferred site, more's the pity.

Mayor Speaks

I've heard the exact opposite mate from an associate of the club. To be fair, they're all rumours, but this guy is well placed to know. Personally I think it's going to happen.

I think the delay has been Peel trying to hold us to randsom, or trying for a shareholding. I believe Moshiri has "made them an offer they can't refuse". He's no mug our man when it comes to business deals. He's so good that his mate the oligarch gave him major shareholdings in recognition of his loyalty and business acumen.

Rumour has it, the oligarch is trying his best to sell his shares in Arsenal to join us and take us onto the next level (think Man city funding). Because the yank at Arsenal won't buy or recognise other major shareholders, it's difficult to sell as any buyer would effectively be a sleeping partner.

But I do know Kenwright is in a Tom Pepper league of his own and I'd trust Elstone about as far as I could throw Mick Bernard.

No chickens will be counted at Chez Ruane and the very worst will be expected.

Just negotiations taking time to iron out – which is no surprise for something of this size and complexity. These sort of deals can take a couple of years to put together before a spade hits the ground.

Mr Moshiri is reportedly a billionaire, just. That means he's way off the wealth of other Premier League owners, including the likes of Stoke. Therefore he's dependant on the money from others and that means they, whoever they are, will want a mega-screw, as well as him, and Kenwright, and other board members.

And who's gonna get screwed? Answers on a postcard please.

Still, it'd be nice not to have an obstructed view, wouldn't it?

We now have a professional management structure in place not one that "matey" Dave Whelan recommended over a brandy and got £1.5m for.

Our commercial deals are getting the rule run over them and we got Finch Farm sponsored.

The council, after refusing to deal with Kenwright ever again after the Kings Dock fiasco, seem to have taken a liking to Moshiri and, though it's only a feeling at this juncture, we are light-years away from the Kenwright and cronies pantomine that went on for the previous 15+years.

We are not doing a Hull so please put the cyanide away for now.

You are a bullshitter, you couldn't even lift Mick Bernard never mind throw him. He had more gravitational force than Jupiter.

We have had more let-downs than an anxious young scally trying to pull in the Beachcomber (historical reference). Perhaps this, at last, is the time we metaphorically arrive home the next morning whistling a happy tune and thinking everything is right with the world.

You're dead right about the 19 but did you ever have to catch the 75?

I lost three years of my life waiting for that bastard bus!

As for the naming of the stadium – well, if it was me, I would call it the "Dean Arena" as it has a nice ring to it but the "Blue Mersey" stadium is a killer too, especially to the other lot.

"DIXIELAND"
"The Merseyside (sponsors name) Stadium"

*awaits burning

The naming rights are far too lucrative to ignore and will be "auctioned" to the highest bidder. Just hope it's not something shite like the Ryanair Stadium... :-)

Everton stadium news: Mayor says announcement on ground is 'not far off'

Can we now start believing?

Three bedrooms in Tottenham – Link

Three bedrooms close to docks – Link

Just so long as St Helen's Rugby League Club's PR department don't get involved in any way. Totally Wicked Stadium? I ask you!

It's a fair question and to give a simple answer everything costs more down south, be it land value, bricks and mortar and professional fees. Still, 𧹺m more does seems a lot.

The original estimate was circa 𧹈m albeit probably 10 years ago now. Costs have spiralled and estimated Brexit will have added around 𧵎m being final estimate to 𧿘m I think due to more expensive costs of shipping goods to our shores.

I must be honest I just don't see how they can make those figures work but I guess demand, season ticket prices will go up, share some cost with NHL franchise.

I hope our stadium plans are well thought out and they don't just just get a stadium itself right but build an Everton village with shops, bars, restaurants, meeting spaces with community and work space.

We should have a development which creates 24-7 use and not just on match days which in my opinion would be a huge waste. COYB

"However, what I would say is that our bid IS (not) reliant on a new stadium for Everton – AND (nor) how it is designed."

The pre dug hole easily lends it's self to lowering the pitch and thus removing (after a lot of digging down to the new pitch level etc) the running track, leaving you with a nice sloped area to put in 10,000 more seats.

If the 'other parties' wave enough funding at EFC it will happen, that's the Carrot. The Stick might be the implied withholding of various political 'considerations, permissions and goodwill' etc... All might depend on how much Anderson, Kenwright and maybe others want a 'Legacy'.

Wether it should is a different matter, I personally don't think it is the job of EFC to fulfil somebody's wishful thinking. But even in this era of Billionaires, sometimes (in relative terms) beggars – sorry, billionaires – can't easily be choosers, how ever much they might like to.

They will have to push the 'GO' button soon to get it ready for 2022-23 though... and they haven't even applied or been awarded the games yet – if ever.

People always go on about price but I don't think the Cardiff stadium was that expensive, and I've said a few times on TW, how many new stadiums the Germans built for a similar amount of money than the new Wembley cost.

It's all about getting value for money, which is definitely something you don't get in good old London Town!

The only increase in capital costs has been in land, but not hundreds of million ££ for a few acres in London.

Are they seriously saying wages have trebled (or are projected to treble) before Brexit has even been started?? Can't wait for 2019.

This is reminiscent of the Wembley project. £960 million and the construction company made a huge loss!
The bill in full

£1.6m Expenditure by DCMS and Sport England on project review in 2001-2

£20m Multiplex contingency provision for overruns

£21m Infrastructure costs, including local transport links

£79m Finance costs (interest only; capital repayments have not yet begun)

£86m Development and management fees

£106m Site purchase (of which £3m in stamp duty)

£445m Fixed-price construction contract awarded to Multiplex

£183m Cost overruns in construction borne by Multiplex

£20.8m Cost overruns personally borne by Multiplex's founder and former executive chairman John Roberts

Total £962.4m

Have there ever been a trio of bigger bullshitters?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Stadium,_Warsaw

The article below was written as an open letter to the Arsenal fans when Wenger was funding the Emirates by selling players and the fans were paying for it through increased ticket prices. Moshiri and his Russian friend were furious, as they would have met the cost, not put up prices, and invested in players, not become a selling club. Whilst the major shareholder (an American business man) borrowed the money against the club at zero risk and sat back and watched his shareholding increase several thousand percent without it costing him a penny.

Red & White Securities Limited's open letter to the Arsenal board of directors

The next article is Liverpool FC Chief Executive explaining why they won't develop Anfield further unless the fans will fund it through hiking ticket prices. In other words, zero cost to the shareholders and the loan paid back by fans or player sales. And you can bet the fans won't be given back a cut of the increased value of the club they have paid for!

Ian Ayre says Liverpool's Anfield Road redevelopment 'not a smart investment'

I think we are in the safer hands!! "On the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey!!"

Interesting podcast anyway but the Echo will be running a podcast and regular updates throughout the day, until the afternoon, when the statement is expected.

Well, being an Evertonian, I ain't getting too excited (that's a bloody lie! I AM excited!!!) as we've been knocked back before.

This time, however, it looks like we could finally get that songsheet out about "The Banks of the Royal Blue Mersey!"

I might have a COUPLE OF BEERS NOW!

Alan (#12), is the AC Delco still there (on the industrial estate)? My auntie worked there for donkeys...

The smell of those buses I'll never forget. Happy days.

Great reminiscences about the bus numbers. I'd completely forgotten about the 544 – wasn't that the Limited Stop version of the 44D? And how many remember the 592?

Pity the Dockers Umbrella ain't with us anymore mind you, maybe our A1 Mayor can get us one.

I remember seeing an official bus timetable book from the late forties, and the bus route numbers were largely the same as in the late sixties when I was a kid. Gave a sense of continuity when you had municipal bus companies. All gone when Thatcher deregulated buses, of course.

If you had half a day to kill, a full trip on the 68 or 61 took some beating.

Bet this is really enthralling for our US Blues

Of course, like most, I will only believe it when it becomes official, but God, she was so convincing!!

"That money will be used to bring back someone who has scored almost as many Everton goals as Lukaku: Leon Osman. True blue Barkley will be replaced with bluer legend Tony Hibbert. Jose Baxter has already signed so watch this space for more exciting news. YNWA. Oops I mean, COYB. Signed Bill Kenwright."

Going from Norris Green to play someone like SFX was a hell of a trek and then getting home, having your dinner and getting along to Goodison. With a soundtrack of Jethro Tull and the Nice to accompany me. Happy days indeed.

When we moved 'up market' to Garston then it was the 87 to Penny Lane and the old trusty 46... as a Collegiate OB I spent my formative years on that 46... Proper buses them, went down hill with those fancy big square Leyland's with the automatic doors, you couldn't leg them and jump on if you missed it.

IIRC, they had half-a-dozen or so painted silver, probably for the Coronation, mainly on the 5 route to posh Woolton where they'd appreciate it more.

http://www.captiongenerator.com/420632/Hitler-Evertons-New-Stadium

How the hell did the services cope when Everton and Liverpool were both drawn at home in the FA Cup? No staggering kick-offs then and 50,000 plus crowds in both stadiums.

We moved out to Orrell Park but usually walked along Rice Lane, past Walton Church and County Road. We stopped at the Black Horse both ways when (almost) old enough.

Everton seek 𧷤m to build stadium on Mersey site at Bramley-Moore Dock