by Elladora Podmore

Created on: May 16, 2010

I haven’t seen anything more ridiculous than the plans for Everton and Liverpool to share a combined stadium in Stanley Park.

The plans included two stadiums built alongside with both clubs sharing a spinal structure. The cost of the scheme would allow both clubs to save up to £220 million, but what is the point of two stadiums in one shared space, within walking distance of one another?

The Mersey Stadia – Connex who are behind the proposals are clearly living in cloud cuckoo land. The architects concerned obviously have too much time on their hands to come up with such a ludicrous idea!

Everton were also acquiring fewer seats in their stadium, with 50,000 for the Blues and 60000 for the Reds. Everton could without doubt fill a ground of 60,000 for Saturday matches.

The only suggestion that would persuade me to consider the plans was the 1,350 underground car park spaces. If any stadiums are constructed in the future then they must incorporate underground parking facilities. On match days, both Everton and Liverpool are fit to burst with vehicles cluttering every parking space available. It simply isn’t a viable option to have a 21st Century stadium with 20th Century amenities!

There is a need to have a 60,000 capacity stadium within Liverpool. If we cannot deliver on that then we will not be included in the 2018 World Cup Bid. Anfield and Goodison Park do not fit the right criteria, because as it stands FIFA have stated that the requirement is 45,000 capacity and that doesn’t take account of any ‘special’ boxes within the stadium.

Both clubs are not interested in the scheme. Liverpool is still dedicated to building a solo stadium in Stanley Park, although, when that will take place is anyone’s guess. Even the North West Development Agency has distanced themselves from the proposals stating that it is the clubs choice to put forward any new proposals.

Some tribal football fans on Merseyside will be strongly opposed to the mere suggestion of a ground share, but all previous efforts to build a new stadium for both Everton and Liverpool have proved unsuccessful. This idea works well in Italy, Germany and America; it can be achieved here in Liverpool if people put their loyalties aside.

If one large stadium was erected then stronger communities could be built and employment prospects could expand in Liverpool and at the moment, with the present economic climate that can only be a good thing.

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