Chris Beesley and his daughter Jemima in the Everton home dugout on a sneak preview of the new Hill Dickinson Stadium Tour
Chris Beesley and his daughter Jemima in the Everton home dugout on a sneak preview of the new Hill Dickinson Stadium Tour
Things are getting bigger – and hopefully better – for Everton and nothing epitomised that more than a couple of comparison photographs shared this week of an iconic Blues supporters’ banner, but the same could be said for stadium tours.
Last Monday, the club stuck a post on social media entitled ‘Old seat vs new seat,’ inviting match-going spectators to share pictures of their previous views at Goodison Park and how they have changed at . Some 48 hours later, the 1878s, a group of fans dedicated to steering towards an enjoyable atmosphere, through providing flags and banners in the stands, published their own ‘Old Home vs New Home’ post that reinforced the significant difference in scale between ‘The Grand Old Lady’ and new 52,769 capacity fortress on the Mersey waterfront.
The iconic green and white ‘Everton are magic’ banner which used to cover a significant chunk of the Lower Gwladys Street when draped from the upper tier, now found itself dwarfed among the steep ‘Blue wall’ of Hill Dickinson Stadium’s immense South Stand.
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After being based at Goodison Park, an historic venue that had been the pre-eminent club ground for most of its existence but had fallen behind so many rivals in recent years, Everton’s new home is one of the great wonders of the football world and fans are eager to take a look behind the scenes.
Hill Dickinson Stadium Tours start next Monday – and while guests invited to a sneak preview on Thursday evening were told they are already sold out throughout September and October, Everton are looking forward to welcoming thousands of fans through their doors to sample the unique experience in the months and years ahead.
Along with other visitors, my youngest daughter Jemima, who is 12, and myself were part of the first group to be given a taste of what lies ahead on what has already proven to be one of the hottest tickets in the game.
Kicking off at Beyond – which Everton bill as being a tunnel club experience like no other, we find ourselves in one of Hill Dickinson’s most sought after premium spaces – with refreshments available – and received a welcome speech from experienced club master of ceremonies Darren Griffiths and Elle Barnes-Reen, tours and commercial events manager, whose team of guides will show guests around.
From there, it was on to the start of what former Everton captain Mark Higgins, one of the former players on hand, alongside Joe Parkinson, Ian Snodin and Graham Stuart, would describe as “the wow factor,” as we followed in the footsteps of Blues heroes by undertaking the tunnel walk and then spectacular pitchside views from the touchline.
Gazing up from pitch level, I was able to point up to show Jemima where my own usual ‘spec’ is, in the Press Box, up at the top of the West Stand, on the back row. From this vantage point, we were able to spot ourselves on the giant 32m x 9m screens behind each of the goals and also pose for photographs in the home dugout.
Elle, who is expertly continuing the legacy of her late grandmother Lily Barnes, who passed away in 2023 having worked for the club since 1979, revealed to us how manager had forced his own small but significant change in design to this area of the stadium but having been asked by staff on the night to not give away secrets as they wish to keep their powder dry in terms of maintaining the magic of the experience, I can only advise you to book your place on the tour if you want to find out more details!
We were then given access to the men’s first team circular dressing room, complete with giant club crest on the ceiling, where David Moyes prepares his squad on matchdays and again there was an opportunity to stop for photographs by the players’ shirts that were hung up.
From there, it was a swift journey upwards in one of the stadium’s lifts, to the South Stand’s upper concourse to take in the stunning panoramic views of Liverpool’s skyline where I am able to point out the West Tower, the city’s tallest building to my daughter, and how the ECHO office is situated just behind it.
Although time restrictions ensured we were only provided with a snapshot of the full experience, going forwards the tours themselves will be approximately 90 minutes long, fully accessible and include visits to the media theatre, offering opportunities to sit in the manager’s seat in the press room where post-match reactions are delivered.
Hill Dickinson Stadium Tours will be built around a two-phase launch which will help keep the experience fresh throughout the evolution of Everton’s first season at their new home.
The first phase between now and the end of 2024 will build on the hype around the new stadium before a more personalised and immersive tour experience, utilising more technology, so if you want to go a couple of times this season, you could visit either side of the turn of the calendar year and enjoy two different style days out.
From next week to the end of October, opening hours will be 11:30am to 5pm but from November onwards, this will be extended to 9:30am to 5:30pm, with later opening hours also on their way for summer and stadium tours will run every day – apart from matchdays – although matchday tours will be a later addition with plans for a combined Goodison Park, two in one day, tour also in the pipeline.
Prices are £26 for adults; £23 for students/concessions; £16 for juniors; while visitors under 4 years old are free of charge. There are discounts for all season ticket members, premium members, Forever Blue + and Forever Blue members plus large groups and you can book your place by going to
Chris Beesley and his daughter Jemima in front of the South Stand on a sneak preview of the new Hill Dickinson Stadium Tour
Chris Beesley and his daughter Jemima in front of the South Stand on a sneak preview of the new Hill Dickinson Stadium Tour
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Chris Beesley takes a photograph of himself appearing on the big screens while on a sneak preview of the new Hill Dickinson Stadium Tours 2 of 6
3. Chris Beesley and his daughter Jemima in the home dressing room on a sneak preview of the new Hill Dickinson Stadium Tour
Chris Beesley and his daughter Jemima in the home dressing room on a sneak preview of the new Hill Dickinson Stadium Tour