Everton have now settled into their new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Everton left Goodison Park in May for their new state-of-the-art 52,000-seater stadium on Bramley-Moore Dock.
The new stadium is set to generate an extra £40m-a-year in revenue, so it will be transformative for the Toffees’ finances.
Martin Tyler recently visited the Hill Dickinson for some commentary duties, and he’s shared what he really thinks of it.
Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar Via Getty Images
Martin Tyler gives verdict on Everton’s new stadium
Speaking on the Joy of Football podcast, former Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler gave his in-depth verdict on Everton’s new ground.
“I completed the set recently with a debut at Everton’s brand new home, The Hill Dickinson Stadium, constructed on the site of the old Bramley Moor dock, where the River Mersey flows out to the Irish Sea,” Tyler explained.
“As I commented on the final game at the Toffees’ historic former ground, Goodison Park, their iconic home for 133 years, I was hoping for such an assignment and Premier League Productions kindly gave me the opportunity for the game against Crystal Palace. It didn’t disappoint.
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“The first impressions are pure 21st century, maybe beyond. The structure from a distance is mightily impressive, space-age style, and a huge contrast to the neighbouring streets and buildings, which reek of dockland history. I found that contrast working both ways, combining, admiring the eye-catching structure of the stadium with a wish to know more about the city of Liverpool, when it was one of the biggest and busiest ports in the world.
“Holding back the Mersey must have taken some remarkable feats of engineering. The day of the match against Palace coincided with the tail-end of Storm Amy. The water was angry. It added a spectacular sense of drama without threatening, I’m glad to say, the rock-solid safety of the new build.”
Martin Tyler explains how different the gantry is compared to Goodison Park
Tyler then explained how different the gantry at the Hill Dickinson compared to Goodison Park.
“Getting to the gantry is a far cry from the notorious, tricky route at Goodison Park. That climb up the outside of the Bullens Road stand, a clamber across the roof, a drop down through a trap door onto the platform.
“Scary for the faint-hearted, particularly when there was slippery frost about. At the Hill Dickinson, you glide up the levels on escalators. The sight lines and the Gantry’s position are very similar to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“There is a splendid south stand with 14,000 seats behind the right hand goal as you look from the television pictures. It is the upmarket version of Goodison’s Gwladys Street End and the acoustics are exceptional.”
So, it’s fair to say Tyler was beyond impressed with the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and he of course got the full experience as Jack Grealish netted a last-minute winner against Crystal Palace.