Everton's new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock
Everton's new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
A whole new section of Evertonians will get a proper glimpse at the club's next home on Sunday. The second test event for the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock is set to be staged, with the club's Under-21s taking on Bolton Wanderers.
The match will be the second of three test games and it has been confirmed that the contest will finish early so a test evacuation can be staged.
In truth, supporters won't be attending to soak up the action on the pitch. They will want to see the new features and facilities that make up the spectacular, state-of-the-art facility.
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Joe Thomas and Matt Jones both attended the first test event against Wigan Athletic last month. They have each picked out their favourite feature from the new ground.
Joe Thomas
So, my favourite feature of the new stadium isn't actually within the stadium itself. It's something I started to pick up on as the videos from the site began to really start showing the project come to life and is a small thing that I think means a lot.
Blending the old with the new was always going to be a tough assignment and Everton Stadium has plenty of nods to Goodison Park. Among them is the Archibald Leitch pattern on the railings that separate the south and west boundaries of the stadium site from the dock waters and the banks of the Mersey.
When I first noticed the familiar latticework it struck me just how much attention to detail was being paid to the site. So many of the big components of the stadium are sensational. I love how the ground is so vast yet it retains an intimate, claustrophobic feel. I love the long South Stand bar that looks back across to the city centre. I love the careful work to restore the hydraulic tower too.
But I really started to get excited about the project when I saw those railings because it reassured me that if that much care was being taken on even the more modest elements of the site, then the development was in good hands!
Matt Jones
Writing this on Tuesday afternoon, the sun is out in Liverpool city centre. On days like this, the south stand long bar will be a spectacular place to spend an afternoon.
For Everton, one of the key aspects of the new stadium will to be maximise every possible opportunity. Given supporters a reason to spend more time and money at the new stadium will be crucial as a result.
And as much as the priority for everyone heading to the stadium will be to see the team succeed, having an ideal place to socialise is important too. On days when the sun is out, there might not be many better spots in the city to have a drink and something to eat than the south stand.
For those who don't know, the south stand has a huge window that gives supporters amazing views across Liverpool and over the River Mersey. The array of food and drink kiosks mean there should be less time to queue before, during and after matches as well.
That means fans may be more willing to head up to the stadium earlier than they usually would at Goodison Park and maybe even hang around for a bit after the final whistle, when the kiosks will be opened up again in what will be a big change to the current matchday routine.
There are other obvious tangible features that catch the eye too - the steepness of the south stand the overall scale of the arena stand out. But that spot in the upper south feels like a truly unique addition. Little surprise there was such a clamour to get season tickets in that part of the ground!