Ground Share on Merseyside

Before I even write a word I’m sure that the majority of both Everton fans and Liverpool fans will be united in being abruptly against a ground share on Merseyside.

But why, I frequently ask this question to which the most common and probably my favourite response “It just wouldn’t work….” Well it is possible, it has been done before by equally reputable clubs, and so what is stopping it from working in Liverpool.

I’m left only to assume that is us, the fans, that won’t let it work.
Will we all stop going to our home games? I can’t see that happening.
Will we sabotage the ground? Well no set of fans would be so naive to hinder their own clubs finances.

Will violence break out in the stands? Well so it may. Although if it does, a new stadium will be better equipped to deal with such an outbreak of violence during a derby match than our current ageing homes. In fact our clubs have been on the contrary frequently commended for being so hospitable in having blue shirts in the red end and vice versa.

It really does just make good business sense

Let us pretend for now that the fans do not oppose a ground share, how could it benefit both Everton and Liverpool? First and foremost, we get a brand spanking new stadium for half price. That’s right, Liverpool pay half, Everton pay half.

We already have the perfect location well prepared for the building of a new stadium, of which Gillett and Hicks pumped what’s said to be approximately £30 million of Liverpool money into.

It’s almost a football fairy tale in itself. The park which once divided us becomes the home to which we are united.

Selling a stadium’s naming rights is one of the biggest financial incomes a Premier league football club can obtain… Arsenal received approximately 100 million for 15 years of naming rights, this included an 8 year shirt sponsorship. Some clubs have struggled to find naming sponsorship, such as Chelsea, Spurs and Newcastle. However it seems much easier to gain naming rights for a new stadium.

If Liverpool and Everton were to share a ground, it makes reasonable sense to assume that we could barter for one of the best naming rights deals on the continent. There would be a home game almost every weekend, not to mention both teams are in Europe, and never mind the number of friendlies and testimonials. Possibly even a friendly tournament alike the Emirates Cup. The Premier League is also the most watched football league on the planet. Any fruitful offer which matches or exceeds that of the deals that have already been splashed out would result in a vast amount of the stadium development being paid for.

If this is not something any set of fans find appealing they should consider how much worse it will feel to have our current homes renamed.

Modern stadiums are built to take on a multitude of functions today, from weddings, bar mitzvahs, funerals, and various corporate events. If we were to build a new stadium we would be accumulating much more money through such events than we currently do. A New stadium would be purpose built to facilitate various functions, unlike our current makeshift approaches. You only have to compare a stadium tour of the Emirates to that of one at Anfield to recognise the colossal short comings of an older stadium. You could suggest that the two clubs would then have to share the spoils. Yet in a new stadium we would be able to carry out more functions simultaneously. Staff fees are also halved and that applies equally to the general general upkeep of the stadium and its facilities. Match stewards, kiosk workers, ticket box people, porters and catering staff would all have work every weekend.

A new stadium going ahead would bring much more work in general to a city with one of the lowest rates of unemployment. Besides the building of the new stadium, the current stadiums location would surely take on new role as possibly flats, housing etc. Possibly even a multi story car park. Car parks bring in substantial money, both on match days and throughout the week. Even selling the land in which both clubs currently inhibit would help bring greater funds into the stadium kitty and bring in more jobs to the city.

Possibly one downfall to the whole argument is that it may no longer feel like home. This feeling however would be the same whether we bought a stadium to share or had it alone. This issue may just spark some exciting innovation which makes Stanley Park Stadium all that bit more iconic. Bayern and 1860 Munich have the stadium vary in colour depending on whose match day it is. I would love to see what we could come up with.

The only problem that should remain is the negotiations between the boards of each club. How much should Everton provide for the already purchased Stanley Park?

As one Everton fan said in regards to the stadium share argument “It makes sense; but then when has sense ever triumphed over ignorance and bigotry”.

The owners of both clubs have expressed somewhat of an interest. If both sets of fans stand behind the idea than we can sooner see our clubs flourish, bringing football’s spotlight on the red and blue of Merseyside not Manchester.