How will Everton FC’s ground be funded?

Is Everton’s stadium move right for the club and city?

MNL opinion

As work on Everton’s new state-of-the-art stadium rumbles on, JOE WADDELL wonders whether the move is really as beneficial as it first seems

The news that Everton have rejected a £30m offer from Liverpool City Council in order to help fund their stadium has been well-received by Evertonians.

The city’s metro mayor Steve Rotheram confirmed on Monday that the club turned down the offer because they had arranged alternative funding and the club no longer felt the need to loan money from the city.

However, while many are rejoicing at the fact that the stadium being built is merely a formality now, is it worth considering that it might not be the best move, not only for the club but for the city?

Historically, clubs have faltered in the wake of a fresh stadium move. West Ham famously struggled to make the same impact at the London Stadium that they did at Upton Park; Arsenal haven’t won a league title at the Emirates after experiencing a serious period of dominance at their beloved Highbury.

Though a new, shiny stadium will undoubtedly benefit Everton from a financial point of view- the money received by gate receipts will almost double and the club will receive income from renting to businesses - there is no guarantee that the club will go in the same direction on the pitch.

For a club that is so engrained in the identity of the city, Goodison Park serves as a reminder of what the football club is meant to represent. Standing tall above Walton’s County Road where it has stood for 129 years and overseen 24 trophy wins, it seems almost cruel to consign that identity and legacy to the history books.

Considering Everton’s current standing in the game, to force the team and fans to leave their hallowed ground with such a whimper would be a crying shame.

It isn’t just sentiment and anecdotal evidence from other clubs that gives reason for worry, though. The Bramley Moore Stadium project promises to breathe life into Bramley Moore and the derelict L5 area that surrounds it.

Many jobs will be created, and a commercial centre will be created filled with shops and restaurants that will rejuvenate an otherwise forgotten part of the city.

These promises are something that any supporter of the city can get behind, but there are worrying implications for other parts of the area. Goodison Park has stood proudly at the top of County Road in Walton for over a century and has helped the surrounding businesses thrive for that long too.

The Winslow, The Chepstow and many other businesses have been able to continue to open their doors thanks to the money they have made from match days. An already neglected part of the city, Walton and County Road are a brief look into the past. What was once a bustling road filled with thriving businesses is already a ghost of what it once was.

Many shops and cafes have already been closed for business for many years - and it’s highly unlikely that any budding entrepreneur is likely to set up shop along the road any time soon.

For an already struggling community, it is undeniable that the closure and demolition of Goodison Park will only further exacerbate the problems.

Is it morally right to knowingly worsen the condition of one community just to improve the conditions of another?

The closure and demolition of Goodison Park poses a threat to businesses on County Road in Walton that rely on Everton match days to keep their doors open. Everton are due to move to Bramley-Moore Dock by 2024.

Everton’s current home, Goodison Park, Walton.