EXCLUSIVE: Rugby League Commercial managing director Rhodri Jones chats to Connor O'Neill ahead of the second Ashes Test at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday
History will be made at Hill Dickinson Stadium this weekend as the iconic venue on Liverpool’s waterfront plays host to its first non-football event. Everton's magnificent new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock opened its doors for the first time to 10,000 lucky supporters back in February.
A full house then helped cheer the Blues to victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in August as Everton played their first competitive game at their new home. And now Hill Dickinson Stadium will host the second Test between England and Australia on Saturday afternoon.
The Rugby League Ashes date back to 1908, with the name adopted from cricket for the inaugural series, and the rivalry returned for the first time in 22 years last weekend.
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And Rhodri Jones, managing director of Rugby League Commercial, admits that Hill Dickinson Stadium was always the number one choice when it came to picking a stadium in the North West.
“We felt we needed a big stadium in the North, and the North West is blessed with stadiums, and then the obvious one was Everton,” Jones told the ECHO.
“We got a warm reception from the club at the time, and we were able to agree to the terms. It was a pretty easy process, really, in terms of shortlisting the stadiums because they were number one on the list for us.
“We could see that the national stadium was available, and we wanted to go to Headingley, which gave us some opportunities in the North West.
“With Everton being a new stadium in the North West, we felt we were in a good place, with a strong proposition to approach Everton and ask the question if they would be interested in hosting a rugby league game.
“We were warmly received and that enabled us to agree terms and get us at Everton for the launch of the Test series.
Everton supporters outside Hill Dickinson Stadium before the Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion
Everton supporters outside Hill Dickinson Stadium before the Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion
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“A brand new stadium, nobody had been there before and no history there, and clearly a jewel in the crown for the city of Liverpool as well.
“We were very keen to ask the question in the first instance and once it was a warm response, we were very keen to get it locked in.”
This weekend’s contest will be played in front of a sold-out crowd – and Jones says there is only one word to describe the process.
“The whole Ashes ticketing experience was unprecedented,” he said. “The word is unprecedented. We were delighted with the reaction and it is a big talking point. The two teams are really excited to be there.
“Tickets went on sale 52,000 got sold and the majority of it was done in the reserved window before being on sale for a couple of hours in the day on general sale.
“We are in a very fortunate position where we are turning people away this week. People are now realising the game is at Everton.”
Australia picked up where they left off in their domination of the Rugby League Ashes when they won last weekend’s first test 26-6 at Wembley.
During the last series in 2003, the Kangaroos won 3-0 after edging a trio of tight contests, and the bookmakers believe another whitewash is on the cards again.
But while Shaun Wane and his side work to stop history from repeating itself, off the pitch, Jones is looking forward to England writing their names into the record books.
“You can’t change history, can you? If you are first, no one can scratch you off the annals of history,” he said.
“We are very privileged and very proud to come to Liverpool on Saturday, and we promise we will put on a very good event.
“The (people at the) stadium have been excellent to deal with. I appreciate they have had to work really hard to get the stadium open in the first place and get the football matches going.
“I like to think that people will make a day of it in Liverpool and a day out in Liverpool. Come early and experience the waterfront and then have a walk up to the stadium.
“Then take the stadium in, and we are expecting the crowd to be in the stadium from 1pm onwards, rather than it being close to kick-off because they will want to take it all in.”
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