Liverpool FC has sought to change when it can welcome huge stars like Taylor Swift and Dua Lipa again
Foo Fighters at Anfield Stadium on Thursday, June 25
Foo Fighters at Anfield Stadium on Thursday, June 25(Image: Andi K Taylor)
View 4 Images
Anfield lost out on a “global act” owing to rules around when the stadium can host major concerts, officials have claimed. Liverpool Football Club lodged a planning application with the city council to change when it can host gigs like last month’s Foo Fighters and My Chemical Romance shows.
Current rules mean there must be a 31-day window in July when no events – footballing or otherwise – can take place to allow residents respite. The club asked the local authority to change the arrangement to allow more flexibility to secure more events.
This would allow shows to take place in July but would maintain a dedicated 31-day block when no events would be held. This would likely impact when home matches would be played at the start of the Premier League season.
Mark Worcester, planning agent on behalf of the football club, said feedback had been received from concert promoters that there was “major demand” for venues in July. He added how under the current rules “a global act was unable to play at Anfield, resulting in lost revenue to the city”.
He said: “Anfield is a popular choice for major global artists, some of whom do not perform at any other venue in the north of the country.” Since 2019, the Reds’ historic ground has played host to icons such as Elton John, the Rolling Stones and most notably Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift on stage at Anfield Stadium during her Eras Tour, 2024
Taylor Swift on stage at Anfield Stadium during her Eras Tour, 2024(Image: Iain Watts/Liverpool Echo)
View 4 Images
Yesterday, My Chemical Romance played in L4 as part of their The Black Parade tour after two sold-out shows from American rockers The Foo Fighters. The existing rules mean no further events will take place until August 1 at the earliest.
The club needs a licence to stage major events outside of football matches, which controls the sale of alcohol, how much noise is permitted and timings. As a result, Liverpool Council has granted permission for the stadium to be used no more than six times.
This was granted in 2018 for a period of two years then extended for a further five seasons in 2021. In total, 21 gigs have been held in the last seven years with expectations of further shows in June 2027 and 2028.
Cllr Portia Fahey represents the Everton North ward that borders the stadium. She told the planning committee the proposed changes would reduce the respite residents get.
Anfield Stadium has hosted several huge names including Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, The Eagles and Pink
Anfield Stadium has hosted several huge names including Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, The Eagles and Pink(Image: Liverpool Echo)
View 4 Images
She said: “If you’re shifting it into mid-July that would essentially widen that calendar for events to take place and it’s not just the six events that may take place, it’s the set up around them as well. It’s the construction noise of building the stage and sound system, it’s the full sound checks you get then taking it down and heavy HGVs taking everything away.
“The impact is not just these six days, it’s a shortened respite period, it is much longer.” She asked councillors to consider the community and the “significant impact on their lives”.
She added: “We want Anfield and we want Everton to be a safe community, we want it to be a thriving community but we want it to be a community where people stay, where people feel comfortable and we want the residents to be the key stakeholders, not the football club.”
Darryl Shellard, of Tancred Road, which is a stone’s throw away from the ground, offered his objections to the committee. He said: “Why as residents are we only allowed to have a 31 day period where this is no activity going on?
Dua Lipa performs onstage during her Radical Optimism tour at Anfield on June 25, 2025
Dua Lipa performs onstage during her Radical Optimism tour at Anfield on June 25, 2025(Image: Katja Ogrin/Getty Images)
View 4 Images
“Who deems that that’s all we’re worth? Why can’t we have the 60 days from the end of the football season in May to the beginning of the football season in August like it used to be?
“I know things move and change but who determines that’s all we’re worth? Why are we worth only 31 clear days?”
Mr Shellard suggested concerts could be taken on by Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium as an alternative to them being hosted in Anfield. He added: “When do the residents get something back?
“When do the residents get honoured for what Liverpool Football Club supposedly stands for?” The move was put on hold after committee members sought a site visit regarding proposals to permanently close Anfield Road as part of a wider planning application.