Goodison Park, Friedkin Group, Everton
(Credit: Imago)
Declan Carr
Fri 16 May 2025 11:10, UK
Everton supporters were delighted when plans to keep Goodison Park open were announced.
The Blues had initially planned to knock the Old Lady down when they move to the new Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium at the start of next season.
However, the Friedkin Group have decided that Everton Women will move to Goodison Park permanently, meaning Toffees supporters can still attend the place where the majority of their memories lie.
Goodison is more than just a stadium. (Credit: Imago)
Everton to abandon Goodison plan within the next year
There are concerns about the capacity of Goodison and whether the Women’s team will be able to fill it.
The Blues will revamp the famous old stadium with the upper Bullens Road stand, the Main Stand’s top balcony and the upper tier of the Gwladys Street end covered in team branding. [BBC, 15 May]
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However, finance expert Stefan Borson, speaking via his personal X account (16 May) claims that the Friedkins will abandon the plan within a year as it is not financially viable.
Replying to a concept image of what the crowd could look like, he said: “Except the attendances are about 1,000, not 15-20,000. Not at all economic and, I suspect, abandoned within a year.”
Friedkins need to stick with Goodison plan
There is a lifetime of memories associated with Goodison for the majority of Toffees fans, with ashes even spread on the pitch.
To revert to the original plans to knock the stadium down would be a huge own goal for the new American owners.
Stats Goodison Park Bramley-Moore Dock
Capacity 39,414 52,888
Years open 132 <1
Construction cost £3,000 £750million
Comparison between Everton’s stadiums.
Many supporters will attend the Women’s matches just to be back at the ground and it could well very be a success, furthering the development of the Women’s game.
Former Liverpool star Stan Collymore believes that the decision is “clever” and praised the Friedkin’s for their judgement.
It is the best possible outcome for fans, David Moyes‘ side needed to move on to a stadium that truly reflects the size of the Merseyside club.
It should help them to compete at the highest echelons of the game, given the increased revenue that should eventually come.
The hope will be that the Scotsman can lead the nine-time league champions into a new, successful era and bring home a first trophy since the 1995 FA Cup, while the Women also thrive back in L4.
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