Premier League club Everton has appointed OCS to provide integrated facilities management services at its new stadium, which will open ahead of the 2025-26 season.
OCS has agreed a five-year deal to provide facilities management solutions for Everton Stadium, including waste management, cleaning and security. OCS currently has around 8,000 clients across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.
OCS will manage and maintain the stadium to ensure it is safe, secure and operates efficiently. When fully operational, OCS will deploy a team of up to 200 locally recruited people at Everton Stadium for matchday and core operations.
The company will work with Everton to design and deliver a tailored facilities management solution using advanced technologies to increase safety and streamline efficiencies. This will include a new search and screen process.
The stadium will also benefit from technology such as cleaning robots, while OCS will deliver a full carbon impact assessment to the club and incorporate sustainable practices into the operation of the venue.
Additionally, OCS will work with Everton’s Environmental, Social and Governance strategies and the Everton in the Community programme. OCS will create ‘ESG champion’ roles to help deliver the company’s commitments around social value.
Last month, Everton formally assumed control of its new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, three-and-a-half years after construction work commenced. The stadium will have a capacity of 52,888 and Everton has commenced a six-month fit-put phase covering interior design specialists, tradesmen and women and audio-visual engineers completing the stadium’s bars, restaurants and experiences, and retail spaces.
Earlier this month, Everton announced that the first test event at the stadium will take place on February 17 when the club’s Under 18s play a friendly in front of 10,000 spectators. Everton’s Under 21s will then play a friendly for the second test event in late March or early April, when the capacity will be increased to 25,000. A third test event will be held later in the season.
Richard Kenyon, chief commercial and communications officer at Everton, said: “OCS, which becomes an official supplier of Everton Stadium, has a large global client base and a strong track record in facilities management which makes them an excellent partner for us. From our very early meetings, it was clear that they are not only committed to the highest of standards but were also very keen to make a significant impact in our community and this is reflected by the commitments they have made to Everton in the Community over the course of the agreement.
“We’re excited to work alongside OCS to bring these community initiatives to life over the coming years and to see them play their part in delivering exceptional fan and visitor experiences in our new home.”
Bruce McDonnell, private sector managing director at OCS, added: “We have seamless operations in some of the most iconic football stadiums in the UK and we have a proven track record in ensuring the safety and satisfaction of fans, players, and staff alike. We know that Everton’s new stadium won’t just be a football stadium, it will be a destination – for music, conferences and other events alike.”
Everton received control of the stadium just a day after The Friedkin Group (TFG) completed its takeover of the club. TFG has financially supported the stadium development and the club through an initial loan investment in the summer and with funding during the change of control process.
