Work starts on new Liverpool FC stadium

Jun 25 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

PREPARATORY works on Liverpool FC’s new stadium on Stanley Park have started, the club’s American owners said last night.

Tom Hicks and George Gillett announced the development on the club’s website – their first joint statement of the year, and a possible sign of the thawing of tensions between the pair.

The club said that contractors Laing O’Rourke had been instructed to start enabling works under a licence granted by Liverpool City Council, and that works had started on Monday.

The stadium will incorporate a club shop, conference and banqueting facilities, parking for almost 1,000 vehicles, and a community partnership centre.

Its design is ultimately capable of accommodating up to 73,000 spectators, subject to further planning permission.

The club said it was anticipated the stadium would open for the beginning of the 2011-12 season.

Last night, the situation regarding the financing of the £350m stadium was unclear.

In January, the club’s owners refinanced the debt they took on when buying the club in 2007 in a £350m deal.

It is understood that included in that deal was £60m to get work started on the stadium.

The Daily Post also understands that sum would be enough to cover costs of the build until around the end of 2008.

Gillett said: “This is a significant milestone for the club and I am delighted that the design received full planning consent and that we are now on site.

“We have been working very hard over the last six months to move the details of the design along, but this is the first tangible evidence for fans that a new LFC Stadium will be built.

“The stadium design is unique and will be recognised across the world as the Liverpool FC Stadium.

“It incorporates a Kop stand that will hold 18,000 fans, and we hope that the stadium will be as noisy and atmospheric on a matchday as Anfield.”

Hicks added: “We recognise the importance of a new LFC Stadium as part of the wider regeneration of the local area.

“We have watched the council transform Stanley Park over the last six months, and the ongoing refurbishment of houses in the Anfield/ Breckfield area.

“I am pleased that, now the club has received full planning permission, it can join the regeneration process with the commencement of enabling works.”

davidbartlett