The new 1 billion euro stadium of Everton

When James Tarkowski went to cross the right and beat Alisson in full recovery, Goodison Park exploded in a delirium of joy and emotion. Not only did the captain's goal sign the equalizer against Liverpool, but it also prevented the Toffees from losing in the last Merseyside Derby played in one of the oldest stadiums in England. In fact, from next season, Everton will no longer descend on the field that has been the home of the blue side of Liverpool since 1891, but in the new arena built on the side of the River Mersey in the Bramley-Moore dock area. The work, started under the ownership of Farhad Moshiri, has now been completed after the acquisition by the Friedkin Group, which has balanced the club's financial accounts.

With a planned capacity of 52,888 seats, the new stadium is designed to attract around 1.4 million visitors per year, generating 15,000 jobs and contributing 1.3 billion pounds to the British economy. Everton has been trying to build a new stadium in the docks area for almost 25 years, first aiming for King's Dock and then settling on the Bramley-Moore area in 2021, when the club purchased the lot on which the stadium now stands. To prepare the foundations of the building, it took over three months to fill the area with 480,000 cubic meters of sand. A dredger made 130 round trips in the Irish Sea to collect the necessary sand to create a solid and resistant base.

Designed by American architect Dan Meis, the stadium features a 14,000-seat stand - the South Stand - at the limits of the slope allowed by regulations, which aims to imitate the famous Yellow Wall of Borussia Dortmund. The architecture of the new facility is a significant addition to Liverpool's waterfront and marks a new beginning for the club, which will finally be able to compete with their neighbors at Anfield in terms of revenue and attendance. The stadium will be the seventh largest in the Premier League and has already been selected to host some of the EURO2028 matches, which will be held between the United Kingdom and Ireland. The project, funded for a sum between 750 and 800 million pounds, included important restoration work on the historic structures of Bramley-Moore, keeping the cultural heritage of the area alive.

The stadium was inaugurated with a match between the U18 teams of Wigan and Everton, with Wigan winning 2-1. Not a big deal for the approximately 10,000 lucky fans who were chosen to attend this historic event, as they were the first to experience the atmosphere of the brand new stadium. However, despite the progress, the club has faced some difficulties, especially regarding access to the stadium, with new parking restrictions introduced by the Liverpool City Council that have raised concerns among residents and local businesses. The main problem seems to be related to the nearest station, Sandhill, which has not been adapted to the expected flow during Everton's home games. The new home of Everton aims to be one of the most innovative stadiums in the Premier League, but will it be able to preserve at least some of the magic of Goodison Park?