Fenway plans for a new/redeveloped Anfield stadium?

Me too. I'm chuffed to bits that it looks like we are staying at Anfield. Moving to a new stadium didn't sit comfortably with me. Anfield is our home.

Couldn't have said it better myself, Anfield is my second home, my heart is there, always xx

Estimated 60,000 seater after redevelopment that sounds to me like the Anfield Road End will be the first stage and maybe the only part of the the ground to be restructured in 2014 so in my eyes it won't be 60,000 more like 52,000 with some debate and a quetion mark still over a full restructure.The Club have been since 2000 have had plans but nothing concrete and it's looking like nothing major will happen in the reconstuction of Anfield so I still have overall doubts with an estimate of a 60,000 seater and the only part of the ground to reconstructed will the Anfield Road End,so like many others who want to remain and keep Anfield our Home is just not enough of a major reconstruction but I'm just one voice with an opinion and not a fanancial backer.I have dreams,we all have dreams that one day we shall have the stadium befitting Liverpool Supporters but I don't think we will ever get what we desire until about 2020 sorry?.I HOPE I'M WRONG.

So...

60,000 plans. (Same as a new "state of the art" build)
Half the price.
Staying at Anfield.

Maybe they will name the stands after sponsors and recover some of the cost.
Glad to finally see movement on this. Happier that it means I'll get to bring my
son to Anfield.

So...

60,000 plans. (Same as a new "state of the art" build)
Half the price.
Staying at Anfield.

Maybe they will name the stands after sponsors and recover some of the cost.
Glad to finally see movement on this. Happier that it means I'll get to bring my
son to Anfield.

My thoughts exactly mate...

I've always felt uneasy with the thought of leaving Anfield, it's more than just bricks and mortar and the fact that I'll get to take my sons to Anfield in the future and share that with them is just a dream.

Hope this comes off..

I hope what ever regeneration goes on around Anfield, they leave further space for expansion following the supposed 60,000 expansion, it would be nice if there was the possibility of a further 10,000 expansion on all 4 stands leaving room for a potential 100,000 capacity in the future.

I hope what ever regeneration goes on around Anfield, they leave further space for expansion following the supposed 60,000 expansion, it would be nice if there was the possibility of a further 10,000 expansion on all 4 stands leaving room for a potential 100,000 capacity in the future.

I think having the facility to go up to 80,000 in the future would be enough.
A serious amount of redevelopment needs to be done in the area before that.
Maybe the council had hoped the club would pay for everything, maybe we will
see a large scale co-operation between both club and council for what is best
for the area. Just glad to finally see some movement on this myself.

Good news and something we can cheer & smile about this season,i hope the transistion goes smoothly and before we know it full capacity at 80,000 one day.

Just to echoe Racer & PD's thoughts about bringing the kids to Anfield.

I am in the minority I know, but I would have preferred a new stadium built and fit for purpose rather than expanding Anfield.  Having said that, I am delighted that at last we have some progress if this come off.... hopefully this is not another "spade in the ground" but in 600 days this time. I am sure a lot of hard work has gone into this and FSG deserve a lot of credit for it.

 

I hope what ever regeneration goes on around Anfield, they leave further space for expansion following the supposed 60,000 expansion, it would be nice if there was the possibility of a further 10,000 expansion on all 4 stands leaving room for a potential 100,000 capacity in the future.

We call it Anfield of Dreams and I hope in my heart that we get our wish not just in my lifetime but for the future of our children and our childrens,children.May our Dreams come true,an Anfield for Me and You and the Generations that follow too.#YNWA #JFT96 #ANFIELDOFDREAMS.

Like most of you this was always my preferred option so I'm delighted some progress at least being made.

It just wouldnt have been the same going to the game and it not being Anfield.

So it looks like if I do ever get across the pond I will be able to watch a game at Anfield. That was my goal all along, glad to see I'll have a little more time to see it through now.

this is fantastic news
60,000 seats is ok for now i think as we progress as a team and get in cl hopefully they will leave room for further expansion like what they did at the toilet they kept adding a few thousand at a time
also note we dont want to build a new 80,000 seater an not fill it i know we got a big waiting list and massive support but so have man united and its very easy to get tickets now for there home games

Managing director Ian Ayre talks to Liverpoolfc.com about the proposed plan to redevelop Anfield.

Ian, today the club has made public its desire to stay at Anfield and redevelop the stadium. Some fans will ask why it's taken 10 years to arrive at this position?

I think the important factor there is that today is actually the two-year anniversary since the purchase of the football club by Fenway Sports Group. That's an important point to make because in reality the team of people have been looking at this solution for two years. I think the process and the progress we have made in those two years is actually phenomenal, really, in the timescales for such a major proposition as an expansion of Anfield or a new stadium. That doesn't detract from the 10 years that people have had to wait, but I think it puts into perspective the hard work that's gone to reach the decision today.

What has changed to allow today's announcement to take place?

I know a proposition of staying at Anfield has been looked at before, but fundamentally the difference is that for the first time ever all of the relevant parties are coming together for a common initiative and that common initiative is not for the needs of the football club but actually the needs of the community. The regeneration of Anfield is something that many residents and many people throughout the city have talked about and we all recognise the football club is an employer, a business, and a resident, to some extent, in this area. We all know and we all appreciate how much investment and regeneration is needed in the area so bringing together all of that plan and the vision of Mayor Anderson and Liverpool City Council and some of the other stakeholders, putting that vision into reality is what's helped us be a part of that. Liverpool's part in that is not just the consideration of staying at Anfield and the expansion, it's a whole bunch of other initiatives that we'll work together with the other stakeholders on, so it's that coming together on the bigger initiative that's allowed us to get to today.

Why is it the club's preference to expand Anfield rather than build a completely new stadium?

Well again over this process and this period over the last two years one of the things that we've had to do and was important to do was analyse the detail of what works, what doesn't work, what the economical situation is for either solution. If you build a new stadium, for example, one of the big challenges is that, depending on the capacity, you build 15,000 or 16,000 new seats - you don't get 60,000 new seats in a new stadium, you only get the difference. That makes it very difficult to make it viable because the cost of building such a big new stadium doesn't work economically, particularly in this market, so one of the things we had to look at was the balance between that solution and a staying at Anfield type solution, and the work we've done on that showed us that as long as we could find the right solution to stay at Anfield and get through the barriers and hurdles that we needed, we would have to find the best long-term solution for the club that had sustainability and worked economically. Added to that is the fact that I'd say it was very much the preference for our fans, the majority of our fans, and certainly for all of us. I think this is the spiritual home of Liverpool Football Club. Football fans, both Liverpool fans and fans of other clubs, will have had some of the most amazing memories of their time supporting the club and coming to Anfield at this stadium. We've had some of the greatest triumphs in our history here, so it makes sense if there's a right solution that this is the place we should continue to play our football.


What facts are LFC waiting on to make redeveloping Anfield a certainty?

Well, there's a whole bunch of things that still have to happen and that's an important message we want to send out - that we need certainty. That's the most important thing. Liverpool fans, myself, everybody connected with Liverpool knows what happens when promises are made and then broken, so it's important we get certainty before we make the next step and a big part of the certainty for what we are trying to achieve is the acquisition of properties and therefore land to build on and then the subsequent planning permission. It would be wrong and foolish and irresponsible for any of us to just assume those things will happen. Hopefully they can happen and that's a big part of why we are working together with Liverpool City Council, with the housing and with the residents.

What will it cost to rebuild Anfield and how much will the capacity increase by?

Again, those answers will really be determined by the next steps so once we know the footprint that we have to work with, once we know the size and the opportunity and the planning restrictions, whatever they may be, that will help us to determine the design and the ultimate capacity, and obviously the subsequent cost of that. We've done a lot of work, I've been here just over five years now, and there's been a lot of work done on demand so we have a very good handle on what our sweet-spot in terms of capacity is, and again the ultimate solution will be driven by the economics of it. It's important to us that we build something that works financially and that contributes to the football club going forward.

What will happen to the Hillsborough memorial if the Anfield Road stand is rebuilt?

First and foremost there will always be a Hillsborough memorial at Liverpool Football Club. In terms of its current location, whether that be affected it's difficult to determine that, but I think as the club has demonstrated consistently we'll always have a very open and healthy dialogue with the families and maintain the maximum amount of respect for them and for the memorial, so no worries on that front. That's something that is a bridge we will cross when we come to it.

Will we still be able to play at Anfield while work is ongoing on the stadium?

Yes. The initial study we've done into expansion is largely centred around that because, again, when you look at the economics of trying to achieve this project, what's important is we don't lose revenue in the process. The solutions that we've looked at, the work that we've done and the analysis that we have done - they all work around the idea of maintaining the current capacity as much as possible but allowing any construction to go ahead at the same time.

How will the club pay for the redevelopment and will it affect our ability to compete in the transfer market?

As we've said, the right solution is the right economic solution. More so from it detracting from our spending in the transfer market, the whole point of doing this is to actually increase our revenues. If we look at our biggest competitors with a bigger capacity, like Manchester United, Arsenal, if you look at their matchday revenues it is significantly ahead of ours. This whole initiative is designed to generate additional revenues so the ultimate solution has to be one that increases the overall output through the process rather than decreasing it, and we'll find the right financing solution, the right return on investment to deliver the right amount of additional revenue to support the long-term future of the football club.



When would you hope we could possibly play our first game inside a newly redeveloped Anfield?

I think we would all hope to do it as soon as possible but again there are determining factors we don't know the answer to yet. As I spoke about earlier, the acquisition of land and property and the planning processes are exactly that - processes -  and they are undeterminable at this stage. We start that in earnest today and there has already been some work gone on in advance and each one is a kind of gate that you get through before you can start the process of the next one. So again, it's too early to say the time or the dates. As we unfold the plan and as the plan develops, obviously we will use all the normal channels to let our fans know and keep them informed. We are all excited about it and hopefully it's a great opportunity for the club.

How will LFC redeveloping Anfield help the local community?

There are two parts to that. One is we are a big employer in the area and what's great is that this opportunity, any expansion, would provide additional jobs in the area. But I think more so what today's announcement is really about is the club's part in the wider regeneration of the area. That initiative led by Mayor Anderson is really about improving people's lives in that area. It's about creating a better place to live, it's about creating better facilities in and around that area and we are just one part of that. I think we've demonstrated over many years we are a key anchor tenant in that community. We already create a lot of jobs, we feed a lot of businesses and contribute to that economy, and so it makes obvious sense that a bigger facility with more people coming, not just on a matchday but on a non-matchday, with better facilities, will all help contribute to the economy and the local economy in particular.

I'm not sure why some want more than 60,000 seats. The atmosphere for "lesser" games at 45,000 is kinda dead. Imagine what it will be like with 60,000.

I do hope they have a special section for teenagers at a real discounted price. Encourage the next generation to come.

I'm not sure why some want more than 60,000 seats. The atmosphere for "lesser" games at 45,000 is kinda dead. Imagine what it will be like with 60,000.

I do hope they have a special section for teenagers at a real discounted price. Encourage the next generation to come.

Would be suprised if they had a teenager section per say - however on games where there is clearly going to be less people in than capacity I cant understand why they dont give tickets to local schools etc. If at a cup game there is a spare 20,000 seats it will look awful..! Either reduce the ticket prices for these games but sell more (thus making more overall money) or donate a sh*t load to local kids & charaties.

I think it's fair to say a great majority of the expansion will be to cater for more corporate facilities and seats. It's an area that brings in a lot of money and an area we fall behind in

If an expansion of corporate facilities means the ability to lower ticket prices in other areas it would seem like a smart move. Hopefully this expansion won't mean ticket price hikes across the board, thereby pricing the real (read non-corporate) and long time supporters out of their chance to see the Reds.

Ticket prices will go up as well - you have to find a way to finance the expansion and ticket prices will be one way.

A statement without any answers, but I suppose a statement nonetheless.

Does anyone have figures for how many corporate seats there at present?  Also how many executive boxes there are?

Anfield revamp welcomed by Liverpool fans and residents

Residents and fans say they need to be involved in plans to expand Liverpool's stadium and redevelop the Anfield area.

The joint move, announced by the club and Liverpool City Council, will see capacity rise to 60,000, a number of streets demolished and homes refurbished.

The redeveloped Anfield will be the centrepiece of the council's £175m regeneration project of the L4 area.

A public consultation will be held, with work scheduled to begin in 2014.

Alan Blundell, chair of the Walton Breck Road Residents' Association, who lives on the Skerries Road side of the ground, welcomed the proposals which could see hundreds of Anfield homes renovated.

"As a resident I am very pleased," he said.

But he added that residents on streets including Lothair Road, Alroy Road and Sybil Road, which are due to be cleared, must be kept informed and consulted every step of the way.

"We have got a new school, medical centre, housing; the main thing is we have got to involve the community at all stages," said Mr Blundell.

He also said that any residents who faced Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO) must be offered a fair price for their homes.

"We've had many false dawns before, I'm just hoping now this is the actual one they'll go with.

"The uncertainty has been the problem, it affects the whole area."

It has been 10 years since initial plans were announced to build a new home for the football club on Stanley Park.

'Football quarter'

Paul Martin of fans' union Spirit of Shankly said supporters always wanted the club to remain at Anfield.

But he added: "There are a lot more details to be ironed out and we will only really believe it when the team is running onto the pitch."

Mr Martin said his group also believe that a "football quarter" should be created around the refurbished ground with bars and places to eat.

The council has secured a £25m grant to regenerate the wider area, alongside social landlord Your Housing.

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said: "What I want is a regenerated Anfield to create employment opportunities and business opportunities for that area."

Liverpool FC managing director Ian Ayre said: "Any final decision depends on home owners being supportive of the proposed stadium extension."

He added: "There's a lot of wounds to heal because the way the residents have been treated over many years has perhaps not been acceptable."

The proposal to expand the current 45,276 capacity stadium is expected to cost the club about £150m with Liverpool committing to building a hotel.

Redevelopment is likely to see extensions to the Main Stand and the Anfield Road end.

A planning application is not expected to be submitted until next summer.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-19948152

Ticket prices will go up as well - you have to find a way to finance the expansion and ticket prices will be one way.

Let them put the corporate tickets up and leave us alone , bang in a couple of bars and food outlets , up the advertising and merchandising . What they need to do aswell is make more parent and child places available .

I hope you locals believe this is the right way forward.  You're the best judge of what needs to be done in the neighborhood.  Sounds like good news from across the ocean -- nice to see the club choosing to stay in its spiritual home. Hopefully it will be done in just a few years.