Latest Manchester United news as Everton's £760m stadium designer sends United a warning about 100,000-seater designs
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Undated handout provided by Foster + Partners of a conceptual image of what the new Manchester United stadium and surrounding area could look like.
Undated handout provided by Foster + Partners of a conceptual image of what the new Manchester United stadium and surrounding area could look like.
(Image: PA)
The architect behind Everton's new 52,888-seater stadium has admitted he hopes other English clubs take note of the thinking behind the Bramley-Moore Dock venue.
Everton will move to their new home from the start of next season after a number of test events taking place this season. It will see the Toffees move away from Goodison Park, which has been their home for 133 years.
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The stadium cost £760million and has been built with the culture of the city in mind. Dan Meis, the American architect, has previous in designing NFL stadiums and indoor arenas, also drew up plans for Manchester United owners the Glazer family prior to the recently released plans to build a new stadium.
Speaking after the latest test event at the Everton Stadium, Meis has issued a warning to United and Chelsea, who are contemplating leaving Stamford Bridge to a new location. "Here's what I hope," Meis told the i Paper.
"I hope that other clubs who are thinking of new buildings will take heart at what we've done here, which is not to try and do some giant, over-the-top thing which could be anywhere in the world but we're going to put it in the middle of Manchester.
"This building was about Liverpool, about Merseyside, about the bricks of the buildings and that was really important to us. I think English football [stadiums], if they all become big, shiny objects, we will lose something that is unique to English football and we tried to respect that very much because of Goodison.
The Everton Stadium
The Everton Stadium will be Everton's home from the 2025/26 season
"So I'm hoping this will open the door to other clubs down the road."
Asked about the new 100,000-seater stadium designs for United, Meis added: "There's obviously a lot of ambition there. I'm a huge fan of Norman Foster, he's been a hero of mine forever and I wish them well but I guess [Bramley-Moore Dock] shows what I think about English football and English football stadiums more than anything.
"It's not going to be right for everyone but I think there's something that's right for everyone."
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