An exciting new era is about to begin at Everton, as they prepare to move into the Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Toffees will host their first match since leaving Goodison Park in the capable hands of their women’s team today (Saturday), with Italian giants Roma heading to the Bramley-Moore Dock site.
The nearly 53,000-seater venue has been under construction for three and a half years and was quite literally built on top of sand. American architect Dan Meis created it in that way to give the impression that the ground emerged out of the dock on which it is situated.
It took three months to fill the dock with the initial 450,000 cubic metres of sea-dredged sand, forming a solid bed on which the stadium was built.
Then, more than 17,000 cubic metres of sand were dug up to reclaim the channel, which has now been filled with water to connect the docks. This has created a stunning new body of water surrounding the stadium.
It will connect the neighbouring Sandon Half Tide Dock to the north with Nelson Dock to the south and create a water body adjacent to the stadium’s western wharf.
A dredger made 130 round trips, over 20 miles out in the Irish Sea, around the clock to get the project completed in time.
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But for those hoping to enjoy a pint of beer in the neighbouring fan zone, they may find their plans dashed.
According to the Liverpool Echo, the Holy Trinity venue is under investigation for being built without planning permission and could lose its alcohol license.
Health and safety concerns were raised about the construction of a marquee across from the stadium, on Regent Road.
A stop order was issued after Liverpool Council’s building control team visited the site once work had begun. They had already been granted a premises licence for the location, named after Alan Ball, Howard Kendall, and Colin Harvey, in February.
It is not linked to Everton FC but the city council intends to look again at Mersey View's plans, which were approved six months ago.
The marquee site is expected to be able to accommodate 1,500 Everton fans and did have permission to sell alcohol from 9am to midnight daily, before a fresh investigation into planning matters was launched.
Inside the incredible new stadium, however, fans will be able to purchase booze from several bars and stands throughout the venue, starting from the final test event against Roma on August 9.