Liverpool City Council has agreed to fund the construction of a new mini-stadium at Finch Farm, the training ground of English Premier League football club Everton.
The Liverpool Echo newspaper last week reported that the council had been asked to fund the plans in return for higher rents. Everton currently rents the training ground from the council, which bought the complex three years ago for £13m.
The new stadium will stage the home matches of Everton’s academy and U21 sides, which currently play their games at Southport’s Merseyrail Community Stadium.
According to the Echo, the proposals also include plans for a new recuperation block for Everton’s first team, an education hub, a new groundsman building, extra car parking space, and the conversion of the existing groundsman building into classroom and media space.
“I was asked if we would allow them to buy it back and the answer is no because this is a very good arrangement for the city council,” Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said.
The training ground redevelopment comes at an exciting time for Everton, with new plans to revamp the club’s 40,000-seat Goodison Park stadium having been submitted last month.
Delegates at The Stadium Business Design & Development Summit, which will take place in Liverpool and Manchester from October 31 to November 2, will be able to see first-hand the context of the plans during a tour of Goodison Park. Click here for more information.
