Ian Jones 17/08/2025 10comments  |  Jump to last

When I first clicked on this article in The Observer, I was ready for the usual Everton-bashing – all the heritage groups kicking off, the moaning about the filling in of the docks, all the Unesco moaning, and the loss of world heritage status being pinned on us. And that’s how it starts… But then it does a bit of a U-turn!

Instead of a hit job, the article generally praises what’s been built. It highlights the steep stands which hopefully will carry over Goodison’s atmosphere, the exposed steel echoing the city’s shipyard history, the brickwork that mirrors Stanley Dock Tobacco Warehouse — although it does suggest this is not as authentic as it could have been.

So, instead of us being blamed, the criticism ends up working in our favour. The stadium comes across as bold, thoughtful, and very Everton – gritty, proud, and rooted.

If you get a few minutes spare, it's worth a read and as far as I know not stuck behind a paywall so free at the moment. 

» Read the full article at The Observer

Reader Comments (10)

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Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
1 Posted 17/08/2025 at 21:13:46
Thanks for highlighting that piece, Ian.

Strange that it goes back to rake up the Unesco 'controversy' — long gone and long forgotten by most other observers. A meaningless designation, like so much that moribund collection of bureaucratic tinpot officials on government-funded boondoggles in New York City comes up with.

Still a week to go before the real inauguration!

Tony Abrahams
2 Posted 17/08/2025 at 21:29:19
I enjoyed that read, and it has actually made me start to become a little bit excited about our real inauguration, next week now💙.

I don’t know wether to wait but I’m sure I’ll go for a walk around the stadium before then, so I can start to slowly take everything in.

Danny O'Neill
3 Posted 17/08/2025 at 21:39:11
I keep saying, as magnificent as the stadium is inside, when you walk through the gates in the dock walls, you can't help being bowled over by the sight of her from the outside.

She won't replace Goodison, but she can help us make a new history.

Ian Jones
4 Posted 17/08/2025 at 21:41:13
Michael, a friend pointed out the article to me and said that it would be good read. He's a photographer and is lucky enough to travel the world taking pictures of heritage sites all over and a few years back was commissioned to work on the heritage of Liverpool. He supports Liverpool and so we have the usual friendly banter about what we have done for Liverpool and vice versa. I usually put him straight on things he doesn't know or chooses to forget.

However, he is always banging on about what we were doing to the docks so just assumed it was going to be one of those articles. He said I would be pleasantly surprised.

He also thinks that in about 100 years or time, various cityscapes such as Liverpool Waterfront with all their modern buildings will be part of 'contemporary heritage ' or 'living heritage' which will upset a few.

Peter Moore
5 Posted 17/08/2025 at 21:46:27
Walking through the dock walls, the space that is around us with our stunning stadium right there in its magnificence. Awesome is an overused word. It certainly inspires awe in this toffee.
May the team do it justice asap.
I don't know what the entrance is like for the players going round the back by coach. Maybe even more awe inspiring? I hope so. If not, they should walk in the front door!
Dennis Stevens
6 Posted 18/08/2025 at 10:22:03
I've always thought it looked like something out of Thunderbirds had landed on one of those dockside warehouses.
Si Cooper
7 Posted 18/08/2025 at 14:02:26
So are TFG ‘International Rescue', Dennis? We live in hope.

There seems to be universal praise for the stadium.

I clicked on a video that ‘reviewed' all the 2025-26 Premier League stadiums with some trepidation but BMD was ranked second, behind Spurs (which I've heard before is a bit of a marvel, and has a bigger capacity).

Also recently watched a vlog from a guy who attended the Roma game, who was equally enthusiastic.

I've seen much harsher reviews of the stadium on TW…. our motto is ‘Nothing but the best will do'… and 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' probably also applies.

Andrew James
8 Posted 20/08/2025 at 00:37:38
So Si and Dennis, does that make 'The Hood' Sean Dyche?

I suspect our new stadium - down mainly to envy - won't get the respect it deserves when the media masturbate over the Emirates and the London Stadium.

But the main thing is we start winning there and make it a fortress like Goodison could be sometimes.

Matt Traynor
9 Posted 21/08/2025 at 05:12:56
Just an update to this, the Grauniad (sister paper to Observer) has published a somewhat different toned article.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/20/everton-new-ground-hill-dickinson-stadium

Nice to see the club are planning to sell tour tickets on inbound cruise ships.

Also, for those interested in the whole sports marketing arena, this piece offers insights from another perspective on the naming rights deal:

https://www.sportspro.com/insights/analysis/everton-hill-dickinson-stadium-naming-rights-deal/

Mike Gaynes
10 Posted 21/08/2025 at 05:35:41
Great articles both, Matt. Thanks for posting the links.

Terrific quote from the naming rights article, which talks about how appropriate Hill Dickenson is for BMD:

“The advantage was that the foundational tenant of the venue is Everton Football Club. I've never seen anybody do community and care about their community in the sports world as much as Everton. So I think that was the major point of differentiation for the foundational client.”

- Alex Scotcher, senior vice president of global partnerships for Elevate, Inc., the US-based sponsorship sales agency hired by Moshiri in 2022 to find a naming rights partner for the stadium.

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