Everton kicked off a new era at their brilliant £750million Hill Dickinson Stadium with a 2-0 win over Brighton - and it was a memorable day for fans in attendance
Chris McKenna is the Daily Star's boxing correspondent and an expert voice on the 'sweet science', along with a hugely experienced football reporter, who primarily focuses on Merseyside giants Liverpool and Everton. He has covered world title fights all around the world, Champions League finals, FA Cup finals and Premier League title deciders.
“Which way is it dad?” One young Everton fan had been in awe of the stadium having caught a glimpse on the train heading into the nearby Sandhills station.
But as he disembarked, he’d lost his bearings. “This way son,” said the dad as he pointed at the sign at the exit of the train station.
A new journey was underway for two Toffees fans of different generations as the Blues headed into a new era on Bramley Moore Dock. The sun had broken through the clouds as supporters made their way down Regent Road and towards the dock walls which sit as the perimeter to the stunning sight that is Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The bright rays bounced off the steel top of the £750m structure as fans queued to get into the Budweiser - with blue signage instead of the brand’s usual red - Fan Plaza. Other supporters filled the nearby bars. Some new ones like The Terrace and Bluehouse. Some old like The Bramley Moore.
Landlady Angela Burns has kept the doors open for over two decades when times got so hard barely one punter would be in on some nights. Once an area of hustle and bustle with plenty of establishments during the dockland's heyday, it was until recently only the Bramley Moore which survived.
They will have competition now with more bars to pop up soon, with some even being worked on as fans walked past, and the club’s sponsored plaza offering plenty as well. But there is a feeling within the walls of the old pub that it could now be a goldmine and a fan favourite, the new stadium’s version of the Wilmslow Hotel which stands across from Goodison Park, Everton’s now former home.
This new structure is going to transform this part of the city which had turned into an area of disused buildings that you would be warned against visiting. Now, though, it will be a tourist attraction as well as a football stadium which has, along with the nearby Titanic Hotel, began to turn the place into a hive of activity and opportunity.
“This is great to see,” said Geoff, a Blues fan who was lucky enough to get a ticket for Sunday's opening game against Brighton. “For most of my life coming down here would have been a no go. You drove through quickly, never mind walking.
Everton fans outside Hill Dickinson Stadium
Everton fans outside Hill Dickinson Stadium
“But now the tourists in town will want to come down. All these bars will be busy every day and there’s more to come. Hopefully the team lives up to this stadium. What a sight.”
Fans began to filter through into the plaza around the impressive 52,769-seater stadium which has taken eight years to build. US architect Dan Meis designed it. The red-brick walls are in keeping with the style of the nearby warehouses being renovated but it gives it a US baseball-stadium type feel, too. The aforementioned barrel-shaped roof makes it eye-catching on the walk down and it must stand out to the cruise ships which regularly pass by on their way to dock.
It’s 22 years since the collapse of a waterfront ground on King’s Dock. Evertonians have been dreaming of this day for so long. Some couldn’t wait much longer and they queued up from 10am outside the walls which, like the hydraulic tower within, have been restored to their former glory at great expense by the club.
Fans prepare to watch Everton at their new stadium
Fans prepare to watch Everton at their new stadium
“Did you not come down for the test event,” one fan said to his friend. “No, I just wanted to come for the first game and get this feeling.” That feeling must have been sheer joy. Some supporters talked of almost coming to tears as they made their way towards the stadium.
“I just got a bit emotional,” said John, a 55-year-old who had a season ticket at Goodison Park for two decades but now has one here.
Liverpool lost its UNESCO world heritage site due to the transformation of the dock but it was disused, abandoned and an eye sore. Now it is certainly not.
General view inside the stadium
General view inside the stadium
There is work to be done. It is one of the most deprived areas in the country but there are plans to regenerate nearby between the city and the site of Everton’s new stadium as well.
There were still some teething problems with travel. For those who arrived early it was smooth sailing - quite literally if they took the ferry across from the Wirral - but train delays and cancellations affected some supporters.
While road closures caused anger for a few members of the public. Those snags can be sorted. Here we were, though. It was 133 years to the day the ribbon was cut at Goodison Park in 1892 and Everton entered their new home on August 24, 2025.
Jack Grealish impressed against Brighton
Jack Grealish (left) impressed against Brighton
Boss David Moyes rightly pointed out that the new stadium is great but now they need to build a team worthy of playing in it. This was a good start from the current squad.
It was just before the players came out that the first cries of “Everton, Everton” came down and then The La’s ‘There She goes Again” kicked in. It all felt real.
Fireworks flew into the sky as Everton players emerged to the tune of Z Cars and the monumental significance of this all really set in. The 26th minute applause for Michael Jones, the Everton fan who lost his life while helping to build the stadium, was a touch of class.
David Moyes congratulates his players
David Moyes congratulates his players
Then the players delivered a performance. Jack Grealish, a player fit for grand stages like this, crossed for Iliman Ndiaye to turn home the first ever goal at this stadium. Ndiaye scored the last ever one at Goodison Park back in May.
James Garner got the second and it was a goal as fine as this new stadium before Jordan Pickford denied Danny Welbeck from the penalty spot to get his first significant moment here.
The Toffees are unbeaten on their new patch as they got their first three points of the season. The trip home for that dad and his lad will have been as joyous as the journey in. They will hope it is the first of many great days here.
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