Who owns Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium?

by   |   14/08/2025  19 Comments  [Jump to last]

This may sound like a stupid heading, especially from someone living in Canada.

It is based on a comment from another supporter on the advertising on the finished Stadium, especially when it is lit up at night. The sponsor's name is on the roof of all four stands, plus being illuminated on all four stands. The only mention of Everton is on the badge crests on the four corners of the ground that are supposed to be lit up but are unnoticed on the night-time videos I have watched so far.

The only mention of Everton that is noticeable is over the new shop.

Now I understand that the new stadium is not the finished article, but is close to it on the exterior at least, and I believe there should have been more emphasis on it being the home of Everton FC, who will play in it for years to come. This is especially the case for visitors who are sailing past it on cruise liners.  

Why oh why did they drop the original concept of having the name Everton in huge blue lettering emblazoned across the facade behind the South Stand?


back Return to Talking Points index  :  Add your Comments »


Reader Comments (19)

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 ()


Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
1 Posted 14/08/2025 at 09:45:07
It's a fair question, Bill. And it's been raised by a good few already.

I tried to find the original concept drawing with the blue lettering across the glass atrium but had no luck, sorry.

Bill Watson
2 Posted 14/08/2025 at 16:54:21
Everton, via The Friedkin Group, own the stadium on a 200-year lease, so another 196 years to go!

The badges on each corner really are underwhelming and can hardly be seen, even from passing trains. Likewise, the banners erected on the East Plaza lamp posts seem very small.

It was stated, at a very early stage in the construction, that the large Everton letters on the South stand glass wouldn't be in the final build.

It's a fantastic stadium but the exterior branding leaves a great deal to be desired!

Don Alexander
3 Posted 14/08/2025 at 17:17:53
Everton crap at marketing? Get away with yer!
Billy Shears
4 Posted 14/08/2025 at 17:24:02
Still no 3rd kit this season?
Matt Traynor
5 Posted 15/08/2025 at 13:04:13
Because HD is paying for the privilege of sponsoring the stadium, it was inevitable their branding presence would be a priority.

I heard from an Arsenal fan it took about 12 months for the stadium to be customised fully to their brand. I expect ours may take similar.

Also there's still work being finished on the site, which is likely a higher priority.

I'm sure it'll come in time. If it doesn't, I am sure the fans won't be slow to raise it with the club.

Danny O'Neill
6 Posted 15/08/2025 at 13:26:52
Totally Matt.

They get the right to have their name on the stadium. The Everton branding has started with the crests, more will follow. As for blue lighting, well that's nothing that a few lights can sort out.

Ashburton Grove (as some Arsenal supporters still call it), quickly became the Emirates due to sponsorship. Likewise the City of Manchester Stadium, now the Etihad.

Amongst other things, we are adjusting to having stadium sponsors. It's the first time we've had it.

Mike Gaynes
7 Posted 15/08/2025 at 16:54:39
We're now owned by people who have made billions via marketing and branding. I figure they'll get to it.
Alan J Thompson
8 Posted 17/08/2025 at 07:56:55
Mike (#7);

And under a Theatre Impresario, we managed "The People's Club" and "plucky little Everton".

John Gall
9 Posted 22/08/2025 at 14:09:50
The club's owners made a Faustian Pact when the decision was made to abandon Goodison and build the new stadium. Notions of integrity and tradition have no place in the modern game, other than the millionaire players kissing the badge now and then, so we must sit back and wince as EFC becomes just another meaningless shiny bauble, a commodity on a balance sheet. "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God". The club's badge is now a minor presence on the players' shirts, symbolically suffocated by the moral emptiness of the corporate world.
Andrew Clare
11 Posted 22/08/2025 at 14:43:11
It’s a far cry from when I went to a match at Stoke’s old Victoria Ground in ‘66. I was in the Boothen End and there was a sign on the wall saying ‘Warning Pickpockets’ it made me think of Charles Dickens. Very quaint.
Now it’s another world, money dominates everything and buys everybody whether it be multimillionaire footballers or corrupt politicians.
Advertisers and sponsors are more important than fans.
Matt Traynor
12 Posted 23/08/2025 at 12:57:58
Before the last game at Goodison, a friend of many years (who posts on here) had a WhatsApp exchange with the CEO of the new sponsors, Hill Dickinson. He was taking his seat in the Park End, where he'd sat for 30 years, and in doing so, turned down a corporate box seat.

He mentioned his delight that Everton had chosen to partner with a large business and local employer that had stayed true to its roots. He elaborated (with permission to share):

"There will be more follow-up stories I am sure in coming months before the new stadium opening in the summer but our law firm in the modern day has a lot of national and international business with clients far beyond the Merseyside region itself through our 11 national and international offices and that national and international growth is something we hopefully bring benefits of into the local economy as we have maintained our HQ in Liverpool and still employ c 450 people here today.

A positive heritage angle both we and the club like of this new partnership compared to other possible corporate sponsors that I am sure they could have chosen with no connection to our City is that our law firm Hill Dickinson contains within it the legacy Liverpool office of Cuff Roberts, a firm that advised the club historically for many years and Will Cuff who formed that firm was a trustee of St Domingo's church when the club was formed in 1878.

This deal, however, is all about future growth and what we and the club will hopefully go on to do together from the long-term opportunity the new stadium partnership gives for the successful regeneration of part of the North Docks in our home city where our law firm was born 215 years ago.

If we can support the creation of a fantastic new events venue such as this for the whole city to enjoy and build around then we see that as something worth investing in and supporting as we in turn hopefully will grow and benefit from the global coverage the sponsorship provides to us."

It's just possible that the club really did find the right sponsor, as alluded to in the Sports Pro article I posted on the other thread.

Ged Simpson
13 Posted 23/08/2025 at 18:10:08
Fans or consumers?

Or always both since we beat Cavemen Utd 2-1.

Michael Kenrick
14 Posted 23/08/2025 at 22:29:01
Thanks for posting that, Matt.

Good to hear positive and meaningful stuff from the horse's mouth, as it were.

Tony Abrahams
15 Posted 27/08/2025 at 12:52:45
Agree, Michael.

Regarding events, Matt, I've already heard rumours that a couple of massive names will be playing concerts inside the ground next summer.

Liam Mogan
16 Posted 27/08/2025 at 13:04:56
Surely the club will be aiming to usurp Mordor as the place for big concerts in the city?
Tony Abrahams
17 Posted 27/08/2025 at 14:36:52
It shouldn't be too hard to do, Liam, although the minute they knew Everton were moving to Bramley-Moore Dock, it didn't take them long to start having concerts to try and get ahead of the queue.

I wish that Liverpool City Council were as ruthlessly professional and organised instead of being the complete opposite. I'm sure that, with Everton already having a train station, then this should help them when it comes to organising other events.


Pete Neilson
18 Posted 27/08/2025 at 15:16:14
I think the RS are only allowed to host 6 concerts a year plus whatever they can in July. Our licence was recently reported as being limited to 4 concerts per year in the stadium. Maybe this number will increase and maybe more will be allowed on the Plaza? The Council sets the limits.
Bill Watson
19 Posted 30/08/2025 at 00:22:39
Pete; I think it's up to 5 in the stadium and, throughout the year, up to 17 on the plaza.
Nicholas Ryan
20 Posted 30/08/2025 at 19:50:17
Matt [12] You've said what I was going to say, only much more eloquently! John at [9] says 'Integrity and Tradition have no place in the modern game.' But Integrity and Tradition are PRECISELY what Hill Dickinson bring to the table. Instead of yet another gambling enterprise, we are sponsored by a worldwide business, 200 years old, which STILL has its base in Liverpool. Without integrity, they would have sunk without trace. They can have their name all over the stadium, because they are paying millions for the privilege! But yes, a big illuminated Everton crest would be welcome.

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


How to get rid of these ads and support TW


© ToffeeWeb