I went to Everton’s new stadium and it reminded me of European giant’s famous ground – exclusive
Everton’s new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock has been likened to Borussia Dortmund’s iconic home. The Toffees hosted their first test event at the 52,888-capacity arena on Monday night ahead of its grand opening this summer. GettyEverton hosted fans for the first time at a test event on Monday[/caption] Everton under-18s took on Wigan accompanied by 10,000 spectators who watched on from the South Stand. It was the first of three test events to be held at the stadium, the second of which is due to take place in early April with up to 25,000 fans permitted to attend. The final event is set to transpire before the end of the season although a date is yet to be confirmed. It is all in preparation for the 2025/26 campaign which will see the Merseyside club move to their new home after 132 years at Goodison Park. Reporter Steve Hothershall was at Monday night’s test event and admits he was left amazed by the finished product. “It’s a very special stadium, hats off to everyone who’s been involved in creating what is an unbelievable landmark on the banks of the Mersey,” he told talkSPORT. “On the outside, and we’ve seen it being built for several years, it has that captivating look of almost like a spaceship has landed, almost like the Allianz Arena (Bayern Munich’s stadium). “And then inside when you emerge from the concourses for the first time, it really does have an incredible wow factor. “It’s a half a million pounds project and it looks unbelievable. Goodison you know, it’s wonderful but it’s very tired. “It’s got all the history and charm of an old ground like Highbury used to and it’s still one of the most intimidating places to play. The new stadium dazzled under the lights on Monday nightAFP “It’s phenomenal how steep some of these stands are in there,” he said. “You almost feel like you’re falling forward, but that adds to it.” Hothershall enjoyed his evening at the new home of the Toffees so much so that he was quick to compare his initial observations with one of Europe’ most iconic stadiums. “If I’m going to make some comparisons, I’ve been lucky to go around some great stadiums in Europe, it’s a bit like the Westfalenstadion, Dortmund’s home, “he added. “It’s huge, it’s tight, it’s imposing and I think when it’s got 53,000 in and the Evertonians are going mad, it’s going to create some atmosphere.” While the new stadium continues to take shape ahead of next season’s opening, Hothershall believes that regeneration of the surrounding area on the banks of the River Mersey will continue as fans begin to utilise a new district of the city. “I think in the coming years more people will use the area,” he added. Hothershall even likened the new stadium to Borussia Dortmund’s world famous Signal Iduna ParkGetty “There’s an awful lot planned around the side of the stadium itself so when you get to the edge of Bramley Moore Dock, there’s a giant wall which sort of encloses a large plaza and that plaza is really quite a dramatic entrance into the stadium. “A few of the people in the club were telling me the plaza could hold an event for 15,000 people. “So there’s sort of a multi-purpose thing going on there with the element of being able to have non-football events outside the ground but also a giant concert inside.” Hothershall did warn that fans might be left frustrated by travel to and from the stadium, particularly in its infancy, while away fans arriving at Liverpool‘s Lime Street train station should prepare themselves for a 15-20-minute walk to the ground. “One of the biggest elements is that the travel structure is not great around there and that might be one of the things that needs to progress rapidly in the coming years,” he revealed. “It’s not great in all honesty. If you’re going to walk from town I think you’re talking 15-20 minutes. If you’re going to walk from Goodison, then that’s quite a hike. “There’s a train station called Sandhills which is about 15 minutes away. I think a lot of people will try and use that 15-minute walk.”
Everton’s new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock has been likened to Borussia Dortmund’s iconic home.
The Toffees hosted their first test event at the 52,888-capacity arena on Monday night ahead of its grand opening this summer.
Everton under-18s took on Wigan accompanied by 10,000 spectators who watched on from the South Stand.
It was the first of three test events to be held at the stadium, the second of which is due to take place in early April with up to 25,000 fans permitted to attend.
The final event is set to transpire before the end of the season although a date is yet to be confirmed.
It is all in preparation for the 2025/26 campaign which will see the Merseyside club move to their new home after 132 years at Goodison Park.
Reporter Steve Hothershall was at Monday night’s test event and admits he was left amazed by the finished product.
“It’s a very special stadium, hats off to everyone who’s been involved in creating what is an unbelievable landmark on the banks of the Mersey,” he told talkSPORT.
“On the outside, and we’ve seen it being built for several years, it has that captivating look of almost like a spaceship has landed, almost like the Allianz Arena (Bayern Munich’s stadium).
“And then inside when you emerge from the concourses for the first time, it really does have an incredible wow factor.
“It’s a half a million pounds project and it looks unbelievable. Goodison you know, it’s wonderful but it’s very tired.
“It’s got all the history and charm of an old ground like Highbury used to and it’s still one of the most intimidating places to play.
“It’s phenomenal how steep some of these stands are in there,” he said. “You almost feel like you’re falling forward, but that adds to it.”
Hothershall enjoyed his evening at the new home of the Toffees so much so that he was quick to compare his initial observations with one of Europe’ most iconic stadiums.
“If I’m going to make some comparisons, I’ve been lucky to go around some great stadiums in Europe, it’s a bit like the Westfalenstadion, Dortmund’s home, “he added.
“It’s huge, it’s tight, it’s imposing and I think when it’s got 53,000 in and the Evertonians are going mad, it’s going to create some atmosphere.”
While the new stadium continues to take shape ahead of next season’s opening, Hothershall believes that regeneration of the surrounding area on the banks of the River Mersey will continue as fans begin to utilise a new district of the city.
“I think in the coming years more people will use the area,” he added.
“There’s an awful lot planned around the side of the stadium itself so when you get to the edge of Bramley Moore Dock, there’s a giant wall which sort of encloses a large plaza and that plaza is really quite a dramatic entrance into the stadium.
“A few of the people in the club were telling me the plaza could hold an event for 15,000 people.
“So there’s sort of a multi-purpose thing going on there with the element of being able to have non-football events outside the ground but also a giant concert inside.”
Hothershall did warn that fans might be left frustrated by travel to and from the stadium, particularly in its infancy, while away fans arriving at Liverpool‘s Lime Street train station should prepare themselves for a 15-20-minute walk to the ground.
“One of the biggest elements is that the travel structure is not great around there and that might be one of the things that needs to progress rapidly in the coming years,” he revealed.
“It’s not great in all honesty. If you’re going to walk from town I think you’re talking 15-20 minutes. If you’re going to walk from Goodison, then that’s quite a hike.
“There’s a train station called Sandhills which is about 15 minutes away. I think a lot of people will try and use that 15-minute walk.”
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