Anfield to be Redeveloped
Posted on 19. Mar, 2011 by Liam Tomkins in News
Liverpool’s new owners would prefer to redevelop Anfield and scrap plans for a new stadium in Stanley Park that were set in motion by the previous regime, our sources understand.
FSG have been in town this week to discuss their long-term strategy for the club, with the stadium issue being the first priority for the Americans. Having seen the club fall hundreds of millions of pounds behind the likes of Manchester Utd and Arsenal in ticket revenue, John Henry et al have concluded that increasing capacity is an absolute must, although they do not see it as imperative that the club start from scratch with a new build.
Previous plans to redevelop Anfield had been scrapped due to the impracticality of undergoing building work in such a densely populated area. Now, though, the council has given the green light for the project to go ahead after reassurances that the redevelopment will be less intrusive than was first thought. It will also see the surrounding area regenerated, which will appease the concerns of local residents and committees.
It is believed that the target capacity for the new stadium is between 65,000 and 70,000 seats, although that figure could drop to an initial 60,000 with a possible extension in the coming years. The finer details will be announced by the club once Henry has concluded the rest of his business on Merseyside, which includes tying down Kenny Dalglish and Steve Clarke on permanent contracts.
It was only last month that John Henry hinted that we would be staying at Anfield when he declared that the Kop was “unrivalled” and that it would be “hard to replicate that feeling anywhere else”. While some would have bought into his starry-eyed gushings and concurred, we saw it as something of a propaganda move by the shrewd businessman who we don’t believe ever had the intentions or, indeed, the money to build a new stadium from scratch.
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47 Responses to “Anfield to be Redeveloped”
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Ricky RedCardo
19. Mar, 2011
This is really exciting news, I can’t wait
Marty Skrtel
20. Mar, 2011
Does this mean that we will need to possible look at a stadium sharing option while anfield gets the makeover?
Liam Tomkins
20. Mar, 2011
That’s possible but unlikely. Manchester Utd quite recently revamped Old Trafford and their schedule wasn’t interrupted at all.
Hopefully it can all be done in the close season when the ground is not in use.
Mark
20. Mar, 2011
I had heard that redevelopment would be done stage by stage with different sections of the stadium closed at different times, meaning the capacity would never drop bellow 40000, though there might be an impact on atmosphere
wellboy76
20. Mar, 2011
Liam, Presumably it means firstly replacing the main stand, a third tier on the Centenary and possibly replacing the Anfield road end. Cant see how that can be done just in the close season.
wellboy76
20. Mar, 2011
I think maybe that they should look into the possibility of a tram line to Lime street also
Wilson
21. Mar, 2011
THIS IS ANFIELD!!!
WHAT A HAPPY HOME TO BE IN ANFIELD.
ONE LOVE TO ALL KOPITES.
YNWA
Wilson
21. Mar, 2011
THIS IS ANFIELD!!!
WHAT A HAPPY HOME TO BE IN ANFIELD.
ONE LOVE TO ALL KOPITES
4rom Sir Wilson d dEaDmaN.
YNWA
Eric
20. Mar, 2011
This ownership group did wonders in revamping Fenway Park in Boston. I have heard from New York fans that traveled to Boston that it was excellent work and Yankees fans do not compliment anything RedSox lol
Matt
20. Mar, 2011
This is almost exactly what Mr Henry did in Boston with the Red Sox. Fenway Park was one of the most historic baseball stadiums in America, but rapidly falling apart when NESV took over the team. In the years since, Mr Henry has squeezed every extra seat and every dime he could out of the venue, while preserving and enhancing one of the most charming stadiums in American sport. There was talk in Boston, too, of building a new stadium and demolishing Fenway — Red Sox fans were largely behind that plan. But NESV did a brilliant job and I don’t think there is a single Sox fan who isn’t thrilled with the way things turned out. Good for Mr Henry for taking a magnificent success and trying to replicate it at Anfield!
liverpool4eva
20. Mar, 2011
very glad…..theres no other place than anfield which has hosted memorable matches throughout LFC’s history!
Marty Skrtel
20. Mar, 2011
Double tiered kop would b amazing as long as we can keep anfield and attendance never drops below 40k mark during the renovations. Best news coming from lfc since last october
SFurnivall
20. Mar, 2011
I suspect the Kop will remain sacrosanct as a single tier stand. I think most would not want that visual of a single, huge bank of Liverpool fans to be disrupted. It may be extended, corners filled in, etc, but I very much doubt it would be tiered.
The majority of the increased capacity, one would assume, will come from massive redevelopment of the Main Stand and Anfield Road end.
Torontoscouser
20. Mar, 2011
This is fantastic news if true! Nothing beats the Anfield atmosphere! Imagine it with 75000 Reds in full voice! YNWA
kopiteni
20. Mar, 2011
great news,always wanted this to be considered i think liverpool have to much history at anfield,with a new stadium it just wouldnt be the same,i have full confidence in the new owners i feel they have been supurb in all aspects of running the club,altough they did let hodgson stay a little longer than we all would have liked,but to be fair to them im sure they felt they had to give him a chance. good work nesv now just sort out dalglish and clarke contracts and we are headed in the right direction
Goldman
20. Mar, 2011
To the people who want to stay in the old stadium, I hope you realize you’re holding us back as a club you thinking with your heart and not your head, and you want to beat the mancs to number 1?
We got no chance with the nostalgic folk on here, we need a new stadium to maximize profit, and expanded Anfield will not do this to the level we need to get to with corporate boxes etc, this is why we always falling behind as a club we always living in the past.
“While some would have bought into his starry-eyed gushings and concurred, we saw it as something of a propaganda move by the shrewd businessman who we don’t believe ever had the intentions or, indeed, the money to build a new stadium from scratch”
SPOT ON
KC
20. Mar, 2011
Well if the author is right and we don’t have enough money so what’s the point in dreaming up something that isn’t possible. I’d rather celebrate that we are doing something to improve Anfield.
topscout
20. Mar, 2011
Mr Henry, needs to re-develop the stadium and the area around anfield.
and also release about 50m, for new signings, so the starting 11 and the squad can have more quality players in it, to win the EPL and gain a CL place, each season .
Call me Frank
20. Mar, 2011
This is not forward thinking
What happens if we need to expand years from now and we can’t so we look across the park to find Everton have moved in, and then we are left with no option but to move out of Liverpool?
Pete Rudnicky
20. Mar, 2011
Sounds similar to what they did with Fenway Park…a 10-yr plan that brought breathtaking improvements to Fenway. Who would have ever dreamed of seat atop the “Green Monster?”
Aida_A
20. Mar, 2011
I think it is good news: Anfield gives Liverpool that special atmosphere at home games. This is where all the history happened.
Kysr84
20. Mar, 2011
I see the stadium turning into a Croke Park-esqe stadium. Leave the Kop and make the other 3 all the same 2 tier level all the way around with all the corners filled in. We will need to knock down houses – which isn’t a bad thing and I’ve heard the club own them anyway.
The biggest job would be Anfield Road. In my eyes that needs demolished and started my scratch to do the work needed
Manoj Kumar M
20. Mar, 2011
Great news. Completely behind the idea. Anfield is Anfield. Atmosphere,History can never be replicated elsewhere.YNWA.
Manoj,India
Riyo
20. Mar, 2011
just make it bigger then 60 seats i hate to see use having small stadium 42000 is very small , give out bird space to fly
Welshgaz80
20. Mar, 2011
As long as we get a minimum 70,000 seater stadium, it doesn’t matter if they haven’t got the money to build one from scratch, I’d prefer to stay at Anfield as would the majority of real LFC fans. The money saved by re development can be ploughed into the playing squad along with the extra revenue generated through the turnstiles.
Waldorf
20. Mar, 2011
Redeveloping Anfield gets my vote, but just a word of caution for all those suggesting we need a 70,000 seater stadium – we can’t fill the current ground. The only way to insure the Reds aren’t running out in front of large pockets of empty seats – such as on Thursday night against Braga when we needed a packed Anfield in full voice (where were you?!) – is by being successful on the pitch. There’s a lot of hard work ahead both on and off the pitch.
Steven
20. Mar, 2011
Genius – what a Kop out! Excuse the pun.
So the combined wisdom is to play it cheap and extend the cramped old ground hemmed in on all sides rather than build a stadium for the future!
Sad to see how many fans LACK the vision that’s needed.
Tell me guys and NESV where are we going to play while the so called re-development takes place?
Lewis
20. Mar, 2011
It won’t be the same making a new stadium, won’t be the same sort of atmosphere, similar but not the same. So i’m up for redevelopment
BOB
20. Mar, 2011
So it’s nostalgia versus ambition then? Long-term vision and commitment would dictate a new, state-of-the-art, large-capacity stadium that would match the ambition the club rather than patching up and extending an already congested stadium just because it held a lot of fond memories. Let’s stop living off of the past and strive for future glories for a change. Anfield is no Fenway – and will never be!
paul2901
20. Mar, 2011
The above is rubbish, how can the council give the redevelopment the green light on the basis it is less intrusive, so a 60-65k capacity will be less intrusive. This is nonsense.
NO
20. Mar, 2011
I am a hard-core Liverpool fan from Singapore and I must visit Anfield before any re-development takes place. Hopefully I will be able to catch a game against Man U, Everton. YNWA from Singapore!!
imDARYL
20. Mar, 2011
Actually all this can wait. We have to bring in some qualities signing first. What’s a good stadium without good players?
steve
20. Mar, 2011
Great news…a 70.000 seater Anfield is GREAT!!
Reina
Johnson Carragher Agger Baines
A.Young Gerrard Adam Dzsudzsak
Carroll Suarez
YNWA
samik1989
21. Mar, 2011
i presume next season is going to be very exciting for us :
1. Manager – KENNY
2. Team will be heavily reinforced in summer with some quality signings
3. & now stadium is going to be rebuild – so more Kopites can cheer for our team which is going to be additional advantage
so if we dont finish 5th this season ( hope we do ) , all hopes are not lost…in fact , then we can concentrate only upon PL to win our 19th with less fixtures & then we can go for CL the very next season
but summer signings should be our first priority … stadium rebuilding at the expense of signings isn’t coveted
YNWA
Don
21. Mar, 2011
Liverpool fans deserve nothing but the best… Building a new stadium will provide the better views, concessions, restaurants, lounges, executive boxes, and revenues for the club. Redeveloping Anfield won’t be the same Anfield. When you put lipstick on a pig you still have a pig, an outdated, cramped, obsolete stadium.
Tgan
21. Mar, 2011
So NESV haven’t got money, oh yeah and were did you read that?, Henry can do either if he chooses. You have no idea what he intends on doing so don’t pretend you do!, we have 70,000 on the season waiting list, yet Liverpool only allow 27,000 to be sold. We can easily sell-out a bigger stadium with season ticket holders, Anfield will be re-developed when NESV decide it will be and nobody else!!!!
bayern
21. Mar, 2011
if you love liverpool football club.
If youn understand the people of liverpool( the red side).
If you feel the club and all ts wonderful colour and history and what it means.
If you stand their i just think how great liverpool as a team and a city.
If you sing that famous old song that we sing week in week out.
If you understand the club and its community routes that is has in its blood.
THEN YOU WOULD NEVER EVER WANT TO SEE ANFIELD BE LEFT WITHOUT ITS TEAM.
LETS HOPE THEY DO THAT GRAND OLD LADY PROUND AND ADD MORE TO ITS OLD BEAUTY, LETS GIVE THE GROUND A LIFT AND ADD SEATS AND MAKE US PROUD.
LONG LIVE ANFIELD XXX
Wilson
21. Mar, 2011
THIS IS ANFIELD.
What A Happy Home 2 Be In Anfield.
YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE.
Joneseyboy
21. Mar, 2011
The Kop should remain absolutely untouched. A double tier Kop would be a disaster and destroy what the Kop (and indeed Anfield) is. Every Liverpool fan should resist any talk of messing with the current Kop layout. 60,000 is too many. How many times in the past few years have we seen several thousand seats at Anfield. 60,000 would yield 20,000+ empty seats at some games…that would be demoralising and be a real atmosphere killer.
We should be looking to develop main Stand and Annie Road to add a maximum of 10,000 extra seats.
Howard
21. Mar, 2011
You talking absolute rubbish Jones
1) The Kop needs increasing in capacity
2) Remaining a single tear
3) Raising its angle to create a wall of noise across the
pitch
4) Merging the corners of the main stands, in to the start of the KOP.
Oli
22. Mar, 2011
Of course I would love it if we stayed in Anfield, but in order for us to stay at Anfield the new capacity must be 65,000 minimum. At the moment, we are losing so much revenue from matchdays- we could have a stadium with a capacity of 200,000 and still fill it! Man U and Arsenal have high capacity stadia, and Spurs, Chelsea and Man City will all have stadiums with a capacity of 55,000+ soon.
If we can only have a capacity of 55,000 say we should build a new stadiumm, as it makes better business sense.
Gerald
22. Mar, 2011
70000 seater should be the target of redeveloping anfield. So as to increase the home supporters and ticket’s revenue for the club. On like arsenal and man. U. Good work henry keep it up with installing kenny and a large sum of money during the summer for addition of new player’s. Henry good work.
Paddy
24. Mar, 2011
I can’t wait to see Anfield developed into a bigger and better stadium, redevelopment is definately the way forward. Anfield doesn’t just have history, it has character, personality and soul, it is unique and it would be impossible to replicate this with a new build in my opinion.
Just divert Anny Rd into Stanley Park as all the buildings are now gone, expand the stand and get some executive boxes in. Then get rid of Lothair Rd as it’s pretty much derelict anyway, redevelop the Main Stand and get some executive boxes in there as well. Then fill in or tidy up the corners. Make the Kop a little bit bigger and steeper (if poss) and you’ve got loads more seats and executive boxes without sacrificing any of the atmosphere and we don’t have to move. This would surely save loads of dosh in comparison to a new build. Plus the area surrounding the ground and the land we own on Stanley Park can be renovated as a result, e.g. bars, resturants etc like NESV did with Fenway Park bringing in extra revenue. Perfect 5-7 year development plan, Anfield would look superb, sound amazing and we’d be competitive in terms of match day revenue. Plus, residents in Anfield would see redevelopment of the area. Everyone’s happy.
YNWA
Don
25. Mar, 2011
There is a Victorian covenant on Stanley Park, there will be no commercial development on it. A public space stadium, yes, shops and lounges no…
Any commercial development in that neighborhood will have to be built where Anfield is today. Too many fans see just a stadium redevelopment or a new stadium, they don’t see the Anfield Plaza development whatsoever…
Stevie J
27. Mar, 2011
I’m ot sure why some people are putting an attendance ceiling of 60,000 spectators on Anfield, with imaginative design and local authority planning permissions it can be much greater, so much greater it could eclypse the capacity of that place up the East Lancs Road.
It’s not correct to say that council have limited a redevelopment to 55,000 – 60,000. That figure came from a report done in 2002 comparing a 55,000 redevelopment with a new 60,000 stadium and the club went on to make an application for the latter. They have NEVER applied to redevelop Anfield at any size and so council would not be in a position to have a view on it, ie., if you don’t formally ask the question, you don’t know the formal answer.
Look at the foot print to Anfield (inclusive of the now owned area to the rear of Anfield Road and the houses in Lothiar Road) and it is bigger than St James’ Park, Newcastle.
The idea and imagination is to match the depth of the KOP and not the be concerned about it’s current height as that can be addressed. The KOP is the deepest of all the stands and therefore importance should be prioritised in raising it’s angle of incline. That may need to be rounded to the rear like lots of modern stadium but a steeper incline and filling in of the quadrants proportionately increase the attendance massively.
Although as mentioned earlier, no plans to redevelop Anfield have ever been submitted, certainly not since before 2001, plans have been drawn up and also, more importantly, land has been obtained.
There is also the possibillity of lowering the pitch and that negates the need to be concerned about “right for light” for residents. To do anything however, means Anfield Road is key to any redevelopment, that is the main constraint but seeing as we own the land to the rear and have now demolished the old houses (some Grade listed I may add, so planning didn’t cause an issue there), expanding Anfield to 76,700 seats is a real possibillity as long as we dangle the carrot to the council and compensate them respectively whilst keep residents happy with infrastructure changes.
If the KOP is raised in height by incline then all other stands can be, and they will all be, proportionate in height, quadrants micro space managed and additional tiers to the current main stand and new tier to the Anfield Road stand.
It’s possible, just think outside the box, who would have thought H & G would have sought permission in a short period of time for that monstosity in Stanley Park?
Keep Anfield, keep the faith, if Arsenal survive on 60,000 then I’m sure we can more than survive on a figure much more than that as we are solvent as a club.
Don’t forget, NESV no longer exists, we are part of FSG now and that means finances can be dispersed between all franchises in the group, the club is owned by 17 financiers, one is the New York Times and believe you me, this means we are a very rich club.
We came second to the Mancs on Commercial Revenue last year, only by a short distance of just under £3million and they have double our capacity but £700million more debt.
Joneseyboy
29. Mar, 2011
There is no better or more intense atmosphere than that at Anfield. I’ve been to Emirates, Old Trafford and other “bigger” grounds. None of them can compete with Anfield. If the stadium becomes too big we will lose some of that atmosphere that intimidates the opposition.
Joneseyboy
29. Mar, 2011
PS. I agree with Paddy (above)!