15/10/2012 01:19 PM
Liverpool FC have announced their intention to increase the capacity of their Anfield home to 60,000.
The club have taken the decision to stay at their current stadium rather than building an entire new ground at the nearby Stanley Park. Anfield currently holds 45,276 and while it is a substantial size for the Premier League it is still dwarfed by some of Europe's top clubs with the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and even Sunderland boasting bigger stadia. The decision to redevelop Anfield, as opposed to relocating, will be welcomed by the club's fans, who see the ground as the team's spiritual home.
Ian Ayre, Liverpool's managing director, noted that the work will cost around £150 million with the club committing to building a new hotel within the grounds of the stadium. Liverpool also announced that they have secured £25 million from the council to help redevelop the surrounding area around the stadium. However, a planning application has yet to be submitted to the council and officials stated that it is not expected until next summer.
If plans are approved, the club is looking to start work in 2014 with both the Main Stand and the Anfield Road end being earmarked for significant extensions to allow the club to expand the stadium to 60,000.
Mr Ayre said: "I think this is the spiritual home of Liverpool Football Club. Football fans, both Liverpool fans and fans of other clubs, will have had some of the most amazing memories of their time supporting the club and coming to Anfield at this stadium.
"We've had some of the greatest triumphs in our history here, so it makes sense if there's a right solution that this is the place we should continue to play our football."
Liverpool have had an indifferent start to the 2012/13 Premier League campaign and are waiting for their first win at home under new manager Brendan Rodgers. The club has been put further in the spotlight with Channel 5's documentary 'Being Liverpool' which follows the team around during their start to the new campaign.
Contact us for a security fencing quote.
The club have taken the decision to stay at their current stadium rather than building an entire new ground at the nearby Stanley Park. Anfield currently holds 45,276 and while it is a substantial size for the Premier League it is still dwarfed by some of Europe's top clubs with the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and even Sunderland boasting bigger stadia. The decision to redevelop Anfield, as opposed to relocating, will be welcomed by the club's fans, who see the ground as the team's spiritual home.
Ian Ayre, Liverpool's managing director, noted that the work will cost around £150 million with the club committing to building a new hotel within the grounds of the stadium. Liverpool also announced that they have secured £25 million from the council to help redevelop the surrounding area around the stadium. However, a planning application has yet to be submitted to the council and officials stated that it is not expected until next summer.
If plans are approved, the club is looking to start work in 2014 with both the Main Stand and the Anfield Road end being earmarked for significant extensions to allow the club to expand the stadium to 60,000.
Mr Ayre said: "I think this is the spiritual home of Liverpool Football Club. Football fans, both Liverpool fans and fans of other clubs, will have had some of the most amazing memories of their time supporting the club and coming to Anfield at this stadium.
"We've had some of the greatest triumphs in our history here, so it makes sense if there's a right solution that this is the place we should continue to play our football."
Liverpool have had an indifferent start to the 2012/13 Premier League campaign and are waiting for their first win at home under new manager Brendan Rodgers. The club has been put further in the spotlight with Channel 5's documentary 'Being Liverpool' which follows the team around during their start to the new campaign.
Contact us for a security fencing quote.
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