Bramley Moore Dock, the new stadium of Everton FC, is set to host its inaugural match in just a few months time, after years of anticipation. The new stadium is in the northern docks area of Liverpool, which has been derelict for decades but is undergoing comprehensive redevelopment.
This emerging area of Liverpool comprises office space, residential apartments, shops, leisure and entertainment facilities, and open green spaces. The new football stadium currently dominates the space, but there are long-term plans to revive the whole area.
The Financial Times reports that the American owners of the new stadium, the Friedkin Group, want the development plans to be accelerated, and have called on investors and city leaders to step up. Currently, the area needs more pubs, restaurants and other facilities to cater for the influx of new visitors.
Marc Watts, Everton executive chair and Friedkin Group president,said that it would be “such a shame” and a “missed opportunity” not to use the stadium as a “catalyst to lift up that whole area of the northern docks and the development of the whole Liverpool area”.
He added: “We’re not looking for any large amounts of public money to make this happen. If the business plan is strong enough, and we think it would be, then you should have partners who want to be part of it.”
The stadium owners, as well as the legions of local Everton fans, are also hoping that the stadium will be an opportunity for the club to turn over a new leaf. The men’s team have not won a league title since 1987, and their last major trophy win was way back in 1995 when they lifted the FA Cup.