Everton's move to a new stadium edged a little closer when the Premier League club formally signed an agreement to lease land at the proposed Bramley Moore Dock site on Thursday.
The 200-year lease, for a 'peppercorn' rent, is still conditional upon the club gaining consent and securing a funding package but it means the club now effectively owns the land on which the stadium is to be built.
"Gaining control of the site was essential for us to be able to move forward with the next stages of the project - finalising the funding agreement with the council and preparing for the submission of a planning application - both of which we hope to do in the new year," Everton Chief Executive Robert Elstone said in a statement.
The new stadium is expected to be the catalyst for a proposed 5.5 billion pound ($7.3 billion) regeneration of north Liverpool, including leisure and residential facilities, two new river terminals and a cruise liner terminal on the Mersey.
"We know that a world-class stadium, on the banks of the River Mersey, will act as a trigger for even more investment and jobs which will be of huge benefit to the whole city region," Ian Pollitt, assistant Project Director at Liverpool Waters, said. "We're excited to move to the next phase of the project."
Everton have played at their distinctive Goodison Park stadium, complete with St Luke's church wedged into one corner, since 1892 but with a capacity of only 40,000 the club struggles to compete with the match-day income of rivals.
Liverpool's upgraded Anfield ground has a capacity of 54,000.
UARTin
0
I hope this is a good start for Everton
birdnana
0
The good news for Everton
terrifica
0
They aren't even funding the stadium themselves either. They have the City to act as a purchaser - and it's up to Everton to find a liaise with investors who will invest in the City Councils stadium. Then the Council will lease the stadium to Everton for 40 years - with an option to buy at the End.
Julylove
0
Are Everton fans, generally, happy to leave Goodison Park behind? From my point of view, having such a stadium is better than these standard bowls we get in 60000-seat stadia. Is the move solely for financial reasons?
borrow
0
Blue Thursday!You better start expanding
playlove
0
Why can’t they just buy the land like anybody else would do sounds like typical EFC tactic to please the fans for the time being
inoce
0
I hope there’s a way to extend the lease
solidworks
0
The year is 2217. The lease on Bramley Moore is about to expire. Everton have just been knocked out of the League Cup in the 3rd round and the board is still looking for a manager to replace Undsworth.
wikipedia
0
Looking forward to 200 years worth of Treble victories in this stadium
KAUST
0
Phew, i was genuinely getting concerned about the lack of any news regarding the new stadium
boosters
0
We will have the best ground in the Evo-Stick premier North.
winterse
0
I know that it's a 200 year lease so it won't run out in the life of the stadium or in the lives on any of the people reading this... but why not buy the land?
solidworks
0
Genuinely huge. This is a big hurdle cleared. Now, onto the next one.
FCBribery
0
With the speed at which we operate do you think a 200 year lease is long enough to get it all sorted?
Gapjust
0
I admit that I know nothing about the geography of Liverpool but surely Everton and LFC can find a site to share a stadium on. Building two massive stadiums seems like such a waste of resources.
continuebe
0
Bet they hoped on a different season when this proposal came up.
oldjustjuo
0
They aren't even funding the stadium themselves either. They have the City to act as a purchaser - and it's up to Everton to find a liaise with investors who will invest in the City Councils stadium. Then the Council will lease the stadium to Everton for 40 years - with an option to buy at the End.
Odyssey
0
This has the potential to be a truly stunning and unique stadium, I just can't shake the feeling they're going to massively fall short on the capacity. At least its progressing nicely, even if there are a multitude of obstacles to overcome, from heritage status and transport links to the mayors current term. Fingers crossed though, all is going almost too smoothly at this stage.
Halloween
0
New stadium but no new manager
puyueer
0
I'm really excited about this, it has the potential to be a beatiful stadium. It's got a great view of the city centre and the clock tower on the right is listed, as are the walls, so both are going to have to be incorporated into the design and make it a pretty unique waterfront stadium site.
mrbig
0
Competition between us and West Ham to see who can have the best stadium in the Championship.