stadium news

[CarraLegend]

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liv...-name_page.html

 

MAJOR breakthrough in Liverpool FC's plans for a new stadium is revealed today.

 

Government officials have privately agreed to pump around £10m into the regeneration of the area around the club's planned £150m ground at Stanley Park, the ECHO has learned.

 

It means the Reds' stadium project is still on track after months of uncertainty.

 

A spokeswoman for the Northwest Development Agency, which holds the purse strings, today said no formal decision had been made.

 

The news of the cash boost comes a day after the ECHO revealed that property giant Peel Holdings has offered to build Everton FC a new stadium at Switch Island

 

Last summer, Liverpool was told by the Northwest Development Agency it could not have £23m of taxpayers' money because £9m would be spent purely on club facilities.

 

Instead, the council was asked to come up with proposals to use government cash for the regeneration of the deprived Anfield and Breckfield areas.

 

The ECHO today learned that the council's bid has been successful, and that a grant of just under £10m is set to be rubber-stamped.

 

A source close to discussions said: "The agency has privately agreed to fund a sum just under £10m.

 

"It will not be used for the stadium itself - it will be for the regeneration of Anfield and Breckfield."

 

The NWDA told Liverpool last June that it cannot use public money to pay for the construction costs of the planned 60,000-seater ground.

 

 

Around £9m of the money was due to be spent on the stadium roof, soundproof wall cladding and an underground car park.

 

But agency officials were not opposed to Liverpool's plans for a new ground, even though they would have preferred the club to share a home with neighbours Everton.

 

They recognised the positive spin-offs for a new stadium for the Anfield area, including a job-creating plaza on the site of the current ground.

 

Minister backs share

 

DESPITE Everton and Liverpool forging ahead with separate plans, supporters of a shared stadium plan believe it remains a possibility.

 

Peel Holdings wants to build a new stadium for Everton at Switch Island and Liverpool has its own plans for a new ground in Stanley Park.

 

But unless finance is in place by March vital European Objective 1 funding earmarked for the Reds' development would be lost.

 

That would leave Liverpool with two options: extend Anfield; or return to the negotiating table with Everton to discuss a shared stadium.

 

Neither club nor Peel would comment on the prospect of a ground share, but the ECHO has learned Peel first approached Liverpool and Everton with proposals for a joint ground more than two years ago - after Everton's preferred move to the Kings Dock collapsed and before Liverpool unveiled its own plans for a new ground in the nearby Stanley Park.

 

Secretary of State for Sport Richard Caborn also favours a ground-share plan and government support could lead to extra funding towards the overall development costs.

 

His spokesman told the ECHO: "Liverpool and Everton are two great clubs and if they shared a great stadium we would welcome that."

 

Although Everton has signalled its support for sharing a ground with their neighbours, Liverpool is pursuing its dream stadium in Stanley Park.

 

Former Liberal Democrat Anfield councillor Joe Kenny heads the Anfield Action Committee which opposes the Stanley Park scheme.

 

He said today: "Even if the council were to sign it off there is a three month legal window and we would be looking to challenge it in the high court."

Edited February 14, 2006 by CarraLegend

[floyd]

TW AT

 

Got the look of the Mellor's about him

[Hobbsie]

Can't believe the joint stadium idea is still being entertained

[Herbie von Smalls]

£10m - that'll not make much of a dent, particularly when our costs have escalated due to the nwda intransigence.

[anny road]

can we not just stay at Anfield

 

ta

[Beardsley]

£10m - that'll not make much of a dent, particularly when our costs have escalated due to the nwda intransigence.

 

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't we lost far more money than the £10mill "boost" because of delays?

[Guest Jude]

Between now and the AGM i expect this subject to be a hot potato,sit back and enjoy.

[Ian Mc]

Is Joe Kenny still around hahahaha. One last throw of the dice at the High Court . I'm sure the Courts will entertain a man with his track record!

[Maldini]

At least this shows we still see it as viable...I think

[matty]

It does in many respects - this money is need to release the Obj 1 funding which then kick starts the regeneration. We can't build a stadium without the regeneration taking place.

 

I see. Is Merseyside still Obj 1? Thuoght it had all gone to Katowice or somewhere.....

[Rushian]

I see. Is Merseyside still Obj 1? Thuoght it had all gone to Katowice or somewhere.....

 

As Mike said, there's some date in March which is the deadline for signing off projects ...

[Mike]

I see. Is Merseyside still Obj 1? Thuoght it had all gone to Katowice or somewhere.....

 

you haven't been to kensington

[matty]

you haven't been to kensington

 

Of course I have. I was at the Albert Hall not three weeks ago. Shostakovich's Third. Marvellous.

[Murphman]

can we not just stay at Anfield

 

ta

 

 

I wish we could. Can somebody explain again why we can't knock down and rebuild the main stand and/or put an extra tier on the Anny Road? Couldn't we re-route Anfield Road into the park and build backwards. It must be a cheaper option surely.

 

Apparently it's not but I can't remember what the reasons were.

[Mike]

Of course I have. I was at the Albert Hall not three weeks ago. Shostakovich's Third. Marvellous.

 

hehe

 

in our kensington we have shostakovich's turd.

[Mike E]

I wish we could. Can somebody explain again why we can't knock down and rebuild the main stand and/or put an extra tier on the Anny Road? Couldn't we re-route Anfield Road into the park and build backwards. It must be a cheaper option surely.

 

Apparently it's not but I can't remember what the reasons were.

 

I dimly recall something along the lines of price per seat being mentioned. The new stadium being cheaper per seat than extending Anfield.

 

Also there is the loss of available seats whilst extension to Anfield takes place.

 

 

Something like that anyway IIRC

[Mike]

re routing anfield road would seem an easier option wouldn't it...ive always thought that.

the main stand does need knocking down though, its f***ed.

[Kopfaithful]

I dimly recall something along the lines of price per seat being mentioned. The new stadium being cheaper per seat than extending Anfield.

 

Also there is the loss of available seats whilst extension to Anfield takes place.

Something like that anyway IIRC

 

i think the initial comparisons were when the ground would cost 80m - so it was 80m to move or 50m+30m in lost revenues to stay. now with building costs increasing - if we assume the new stadium is 160m (150m seems to be the latest media estimation), then you would guess stopping would cost 100m+30m in lost revenues. which seems a saving worth making imo. but i don't think parry has any intention of going back to the drawing board on this on.

[Gravy]

If you knock down the Main Stand, where are you going to put the ST holders and also the dressing rooms? Maybe the players can change in the car park or get them a portacabin?

[Atticus Finch]

The other cost issue with staying is that all of the stands will need to be replaced/renovated at some stage - not just the ones you could look at it terms of increasing capacity. By building a new stadium you re-set that rebuild/renovation clock to 0.