Stanley Park Stadium

Stanley Park Stadium is a proposed stadium to be built in Stanley Park by Liverpool FC. The stadium was granted planning permission in February 2003. The stadium was scheduled to open in August 2012, however construction never started, apart from some minor site preparation work. Work will not start until economic conditions improve.

The stadium is to be built on a grade 2 listed Victorian park in a predominantly residential area. The proposal was strongly opposed by the local community with opposition groups being formed.

Opening was initially scheduled for 2006 with an approximate capacity of 55,000 seats. Plans were later revised to increase the capacity to 60,000 with the option to expand to over 70,000 if necessary.

The stadium will be centred on a 18,500-seat standalone Spion Kop goal stand. The parabolic roof of the Spion Kop stand is acoustically designed to focus the supporters' volume towards the pitch. The stadium is arranged in a 4 stand configuration not utilizing the corners to maximum effect. The stadium could be used to host matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, should England host the tournament.

It has been reported that, should funding prove sufficiently difficult to acquire, there is a possibility that the stadium will be co-financed by Everton FC, who are also planning a new stadium in Kirkby. This has been strenuously denied by Liverpool FC's co-owner Tom Hicks.

The stadium was given final planning permission on 19 June 2008 and minor site preparation began on 24 June 2008, before work stopped.

It was reported on 28 August 2008 that construction of the stadium would be "delayed in the short-term", but that any delay would be used to re-plan the stadium to increase capacity to 73,000.

There are grave concerns regarding any increase in stadium capacity. The stadium will be in a predominately residential area. The local infrastructure just copes with the existing low capacity stadium. Any increase over 60,000 capacity will at least entail a high throughput rapid transit rail station as a precursor, entailing re-commissioning the adjacent Canada Dock Branch Line for passenger use, and the essential merging into the Merseyrail metro network. Reports state that constraints over future expansion has led Liverpool FC to re-consider the building of the new stadium at the proposed site, hence the delay in construction.

In London, such a large stadium of 60,000 would not be given planning permission unless provision for a rapid transit rail link was incorporated within the stadium plan, especially when it would not be difficult to link to an adjacent line. Lords Cricket Ground is considering installing a station under their Nursery End below a newly proposed stand to give direct access to fans.

Strangely, there is no policy in Liverpool to use available rapid transit rail. High throughput rapid transit rail reduces the nuisance to residents, road congestion and parking, especially if the fans have direct access to the stadium from at the station.

The official Liverpool FC web site states:

"We will use this period productively and progress the proposals for the stadium to increase its capacity to 73,000 seats."

This would mean a rapid-transit rail link would have to be incorporated in the new design.

The Daily Telegraph reported in 2008, "there are now serious doubts over whether the two Americans will raise the necessary finance for a project that is estimated to cost £350 million. Next year, they must also either extend or refinance the £350 million loan that they took out with the Royal Bank of Scotland and the American bank, Wachovia, in January. The latest setback to the credibility of Hicks and Gillett has prompted renewed calls for them to sell the club, with Dubai International Capital's takeover offer of about £400 million still on the table."

Construction was scheduled for 2006. Liverpool FC's Chief Executive Rick Parry announced in October 2008 that although the stadium would still be built, work would be delayed until economic conditions improve. Small scale preliminary site preparation began in 2008 following the City Council's approval of the plans in May, and the stadium was due to be finished by 2011. There is currently no official date for resumption of construction or completion.

Everton FC
Liverpool FC
Anfield
Liverpool FC's web page on proposed stadium
Images
BBC report approval in September 2006