Everton announce proposals for Bramley Moore Stadium capacity
The club say the figure is 52'000 with the potential to rise to 62'000
Everton are proposing a capacity of 52,000 for its new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock, with the potential for this to rise to 62,000 in the future.
The club say the proposed capacity and design of the stadium will be subject to further public consultation and engagement with supporters during the design process
They also say the stadium will also be ‘futureproofed’ for any changes in regulations in relation to ‘safe standing’.
The design of two of the stands will make it easy to adopt a rail seating/safe standing should the law change in the future.
It's after the Government said they would set up a review into the idea of introducing rail seating areas in stadiums in the Premier League.
A consultation for the Blues' plans for Bramley Moore started last Month
A second public consultation will be held in the summer when proposed designs of the stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock will be presented as well as plans for Goodison Park once the club move home. .
Everton say they intend to submit a detailed planning application for the stadium in the second half of 2019
Colin Chong, Stadium Development Director said: “There is still much work to do as we develop our plans and seek the views of our supporters and local communities as well as bodies such as Liverpool City Council, the Local Planning Authority and Historic England.
“At this stage, it is important to stress that this is our ‘proposed’ capacity and it is what we are currently working towards. It is important to emphasise that the final capacity and design will be subject to further engagement and consultation."
“We believe that our approach is the right one because it is commercially and financially sustainable and will mean that, in the long term, we will be able to increase the capacity should there be a demand and requirement to do so.
“Extensive work has gone into assessing the optimum capacity at the point of opening to create the best possible atmosphere for fans and, in turn, supporting the players on the pitch.
“At this stage it is not possible to say if and when any capacity expansion to an absolute maximum of 62,000 would take place. That would also be subject to further design work, fan and community consultation and planning approval.”
Stadium architect Dan Meis said: “We know from all of the conversations we’ve had with fans that they want a stadium that is atmospheric, feels like a fortress and supports the players on the pitch. They also want the Club to be ambitious for the future.
“We believe this proposed approach to design and capacity meets with those aspirations."
“Our design and engineering approach will give us the potential to expand in the future. This will be done if and when we are at a stage where it is financially viable and fits with our key principle"