Hill Dickinson Stadium from the outside
(Credit: Imago)
Evan Lloyd
Sat 9 August 2025 21:51, UK
Everton played in front of a full crowd for the first time at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday as they lost 1-0 to AS Roma.
The Toffees fell behind to Matias Soule’s curling effort in the 70th minute, but the loss was not going to spoil the party atmosphere at Everton’s new home.
Saturday’s game was the Hill Dickinson Stadium’s final test before it is granted the safety licenses to host sporting events next season, and it is fair to say it passed with flying colours.
Everton's new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock
The Hill Dickinson Stadium is Everton’s new home (Credit: Imago)
The Hill Dickinson Stadium gets its first real taste of Everton
Goodison Park has been the home of Everton since 1892, with the first match taking place against Bolton. The stadium had become iconic, intertwined with the Toffees’ ever-presence in England’s top flight.
But the stadium’s age prevented expansion, and the capacity of just under 40,000 was not seen as nearly enough to house further increasing numbers of fans.
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Plans for a new stadium, situated on Bramley-Moore Dock, were first revealed in July 2019, with construction commencing in 2021.
In May of this year, Everton announced that a deal had been agreed that would see commercial law firm Hill Dickinson secure naming rights for the stadium.
And on Saturday, the Hill Dickinson Stadium would welcome a full crowd of fans for the first time ever.
Fans will have to wait to experience a Premier League match, with Everton travelling to Leeds United on the opening weekend, but the visit of Brighton on 24 August will mark a new era.
Alan Myers (9 August) captured the moment the iconic Z-Cars theme was played at the new stadium – a song that has belted around Goodison since the early 1960s.
Everton must give new home the football it deserves
Now Everton have the home, they must supply it with top-level football.
Performances in pre-season have varied, and plenty of transfer business still needs to be done before the window closes at the end of the month.
But confidence will be high ahead of the new season, with Everton fans keen to see The Hill Dickinson Stadium get a winning start to Premier League life.
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