Liverpool - Everton "siamese" stadium plan

[Football supporter]

Liverpool and Everton could share a revolutionary 'Siamese stadium' under new plans revealed by a business consortium.
 
The Merseyside rivals would effectively have separate grounds in Stanley Park connected by a central spine housing collective facilities, according to proposals released to the Liverpool Echo.

Mersey Stadia-Connex group, who are behind the idea, claim the design could save the clubs between £180m-£220m, while allowing them their own stadia.

The blueprint proposes a 60,000-seater ground for Liverpool and a 50,000 capacity for Everton, to be completed as soon as 2013. The 10-story spine includes a 300-bed hotel, hospitality facilities, 150 executive boxes and a huge underground car park.

A spokesman for the Mersey Stadia-Connex group said: "We need to reach the prospective new owners of Liverpool FC to inform them about this sensational investment opportunity.

"Most fans will understand the many advantages and financial implications. This scheme differs from all previous concepts during the last decade in that we believe it manages to achieve all the clubs' objectives."

However, an Everton spokesman sounded a sceptical note about the idea, telling the Liverpool Echo it was "unworkable, unaffordable and undeliverable".

Liverpool announced a £55 million annual loss last week and have identified a move to a larger stadium as a key requirement to improve the club's finances.

Their plans for a new ground in Stanley Park are on hold while co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks attempt to sell the club. Various proposals have put the stadium's capacity between 55,000 and 73,000. Anfield's current capacity is 45,362.

A club spokesman said: “We remain committed to building our new stadium in Stanley Park.”

[PantherX]

They're really working hard to avoid sharing a single stadium....if it works in Milan I don't see why it couldn't in Scouseland.

[Bitter]

I feel this is just something to fill the papers.
It doh make any sense.

[Deeks]

  :rotfl:ridiculous they have to be joking.

[Mose]

I

I feel this is just something to fill the papers.
It doh make any sense.

It's more about getting this Mersey Stadia-Connex group NAME in the papers and have people talking about their design abilities, ideas, etc. IOW cheap publicity. And if they actually manage to pull it off in the end ... even better publicity (master stroke even).

[Football supporter]

Definately a publicity stunt. However, I do think this kind of development is the future for cities with multiple clubs. It works in Milan, and look at Hamburgs stadium where the lights change the colour scheme depending on which team is at home. From the clubs point of view, they can both sell the valuable real estate they own and build together while still retaining their identity, and reducing their capital outlay. Typically, stadiums are only utilised to 40% of their potential. Every other week, the stadium is empty and revenue generation is vastly reduced. In this instance, even when Everton play away, parts of the facility is still generating income for them and with a hotel in the complex you have income generating activity 52 weeks per year.

[Deeks]

 Pool and Everton should build a stadium capacity 60 to 70 thousand.  As F supporter say, the stadium will be in use every week. The only issue is maintenance the playing surface. But overall it will be a win/win situation for both clubs.

[Bitter]

Publicity stunt, but them eh talking about 1 stadium used by 2 teams, them talking about 2 stadia join up together.