Everton's new stadium has experienced major flooding for the second time this year, despite developers promising that the new venue would be able to 'withstand the elements for the next 100 years.'
The new stadium located on the Bramley Moore Dock is set to open next season, with Everton playing its final year at Goodison Park. However, while the stadium is nearly completed, there is seemingly an issue with the roofing as it struggles to combat heavy rainfall.
A video was posted onto social media from inside the stadium on Thursday, with workers walking through a flooded concourse and showing water pouring down stairwells. The video appears to show water falling from the top corner of the stadium, with one of the workers joking: "It's like Old Trafford."
It's a worrying sign for Everton, as the project’s development director Colin Chong claimed that even if the rest of Liverpool flooded, the stadium would be okay. The stadium also faced flooding issues in October, but hasn't been able to resolve the issue.
In addition to heavy rainfall, there were concerns shared by locals about the future of the stadium due to rising sea levels at Bramley Moore Dock. Those fears were put to rest by Chong, who appeared on the official Everton podcast to discuss how they'd prepared the stadium for every scenario.
"In 60 years' time, the climate could be a completely different climate to what we have today," Chong said. "We have a number of consultants who forecast what the potential climate could be in 60 or 100 years, and take into account global warming and other stuff. It's a bit of a dark art, having said that you have to plan ahead.
The water was flooding the concourses after filtering down from the roof.
The water was flooding the concourses after filtering down from the roof. (Image: @_______reece / X)
The water appeared to come from a major leak in the corner of the stadium.
The water appeared to come from a major leak in the corner of the stadium. (Image: @_______reece / X)
"We are actually probably building one of the most complex projects in one of the most difficult locations. It's in a world heritage site, it's in a floodplain, it's in a docklands environment which is used to control the Leeds-Liverpool canal there.
"We literally have to raise the footprint of the stadium by over a metre to create a new level if you want to call it that, where hopefully the experts will have got it right. The rest of Liverpool could flood but the football stadium should be ok!"
Developers still have several months to resolve the issue, and ensure it is safe to welcome 52,888 fans from next season. Until then, Everton fans will savor playing at Goodison Park, which has been home to the soccer club since 1892.
Everton will host its final Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Goodison on Saturday, with fans desperate to get one final win over the Reds and also impact their strong start to the Premier League season. Everton enters the game full of confidence after beating Wolves 4-0 on Wednesday, while Liverpool were held to a 3-3 draw away at Newcastle United.