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Goodison Park lounges to undergo major summer renovation

Saturday, 4 May, 2019 12comments  |  Jump to most recent

Goodison Park's hospitality lounges will undergo a major renovation project this summer that will see all of the stadium's suites and event spaces refreshed and upgraded.

Work on all nine hospitality lounges will begin after the Blues' final home Premier League fixture against Burnley with a full transformation of the lounge appearances, along with updates to audio-visual equipment to be completed prior to the first home game of the 2019-20 season in August.

Ahead of the Club's proposed move to Bramley-Moore Dock, which will be subject to planning approval, the multi-million pound investment will improve matchday facilities for Members, whilst showcasing and testing new concepts which the Club could look to take forward into a new stadium.

Oliver Wright, Head of Hospitality and Sales at Everton said: “This project will help us bring Goodison Park's hospitality offer up to a level which reflects the aspirations of the Club.

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“The refurbishments to all our lounges will enhance the experience for Members and demonstrate what our approach to hospitality at a new stadium could be like.”

The Club's more informal lounges, The People's Club and The Captains' Table will both benefit from an upgrade creating a ‘sports bar' feel with industrial textures, modern loose furniture, better positioned big screens and colourful Everton graphics. The new brushed concrete flooring will see both lounges pay homage to Goodison Park's concourses and the raised uplifted ceilings will give both refurbished spaces an airier feel. The People's Club will have an island feature bar, whilst The Captains' Table will feature artwork that salutes the Club's illustrious former skippers.

The Joe Mercer Lounge, which is accessible from Goodison Place, will be refurbished in the same vain, with contemporary warehouse décor, new timber flooring and modern loose furniture. A range of new street art graphics on the walls will pay tribute to World War II hero Mercer who won two league titles at Goodison Park between 1932 to 1946.

Two of the Club's ‘food inclusive' lounges, The 85' Lounge and The 1878 Brasserie, have been redesigned to maximise their available space with a palate of Everton Blue, greys, polished metal as well as raised ceilings helping to deliver a sophisticated makeover. New timber flooring, banquet & loose furniture will give the rooms a modern bistro feel whilst celebrating the heroics of the Club's most successful ever season (1985) and founding year (1878).

One of the Club's most popular event spaces and matchday lounges, The Alex Young Suite, will see a new décor of muted and neutral tones offering Members a brighter and more elegant setting to enjoy their three-course meals on matchdays. Enhanced mood lighting will create an ambiance that can be altered to suit different occasions, functions and events. New graphics and memorabilia will celebrate Alex Young, who was adored by fans as ‘The Golden Vision' and recognised as one of the Club's greatest ever players.

The Brian Labone Lounge will receive an elegant and sophisticated modernisation, with new furniture, audio-visual screens and enhanced lighting giving Members of the Club's most sought-after lounge a premium environment, fitting of one of the Club's greatest ever defenders and Evertonians.

The ultimate matchday experience will be offered in The Dixie Dean Suite. The Club's exclusive, fine dining lounge will benefit from a modernised warm and sleek fit-out with the introduction of plush leather, pendant lighting and a newly positioned bar. The opulent room with private tables will pay tribute to the Club's greatest ever goalscorer who still holds the record for the most goals (60) scored in one season.

For organisations who have invested in matchday sponsorship packages, the Club's Sponsor's Lounge will see a more futuristic makeover. New modern furniture and audio-visual equipment will be installed as well as a new entrance to the lounge which will improve access on matchdays.

Hospitality Lounges at Goodison Park have, and continue to be, sold out for a number of seasons and the move to Bramley-Moore Dock will enable the Club to further expand its hospitality offering.

Mr Wright added: “The exciting new concepts we have created are uniquely Everton and will be a test bed for themes as well as an opportunity to expand the appeal of our hospitality experiences in the future.”

The renovation works will not affect the seating allocations or capacities in any of the lounges.

The Club has worked with 2M2 Studio, the architectural firm responsible for delivering the first-class facilities at the Royal Liver Building for the designs of all nine hospitality lounges at Goodison Park.

For more information on the Club's Hospitality offer or to secure your place on the waiting list for any of the lounges please email Hospitality@evertonfc.com

 

Reader Comments (12)

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David Pearl
2 Posted 12/05/2019 at 19:57:26
Must admit they are improving. I can't say the service is always as good as you'd expect but have enjoyed the experience. The new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium looks to address the lack of corporate boxes but, for now, we continue to improve on and off the pitch. Of course, seeing Spurs' new ground today which looks amazing. Then the RS spend millions on a new stand while we put up some blue cladding.
Kevin Molloy
3 Posted 12/05/2019 at 20:06:24
What I read into this is that nobody should be holding their breath for Bramley-Moore Dock. You don't bother repositioning the bar when a move is imminent.
Michael Kenrick
4 Posted 12/05/2019 at 22:40:35
Amazing extrapolation, there, Kevin.

It's a fact that we have to keep investing, keep improving, just to stand still, as far as our place in the wider context of the Premier League is concerned. Surely improving the decor at these premium facilities for the next 3, 4, 5 years is actually a good thing?

And its only reflection on Bramley-Moore Dock is to help ensure customer retention, and enhanced expectations (keep the faith, if you like) for futher improvements in quality and service when we do eventually move.

Don Alexander
5 Posted 12/05/2019 at 23:09:40
We do lick-of-paint jobs, still, whilst just about every other club has built or transformed their home base in the 21st century into viable businesses. Cheers Bill, now just fuck off.
Kevin Molloy
6 Posted 12/05/2019 at 23:30:20
Michael, yes, I agree it is an extrapolation. However, this news feeds into the concern I have about the progress of the stadium. What was it... 18 months ago, we were all on tenterhooks waiting to see the colour of the Council's money, and blow me down but Joe did actually come through with a sweetheart deal at a rock-bottom rate of interest (which will never be bettered by the private sector).

And then everything has just gone quiet. We are thinking maybe the Council deal isn't so good after all, maybe we need to do a bit more consulting, maybe we should delay putting in even a planning permission application til next year sometime. It all feels very fishy to me.

I hope I am wrong, but it's taken for ever, and I still have no clue where the club is at, or how it is going to finance it. We are three years down the line... and we are miles away from even preparing a planning application, and every year we delay – the price goes up.

David Pearl
7 Posted 13/05/2019 at 00:27:48
Nobody can deny the improvement to Goodison Park, ffs — they smack you in the face as you arrive. The Dixie and Holy Trinity Statues. The timeline around the ground, looks great... the over-crowded fan zone... the blue cladding to stop us from seeing the RS new monstrosity. Everton 1 isn't that old either.

So yes this is to keep the current lot satisfied as Michael said. No business or club can expect to get anyplace by standing still. I think we've done enough of that in the past and that took us... on the road to nowhere. Come on inside. Taking that ride to nowhere.

Michael Kenrick
8 Posted 13/05/2019 at 15:17:43
I hear you, Kevin, about Bramley-Moore Dock, and I agree completely. It has become one huge rolling disappointment, from the ever-sliding timeline to the capacity, set at a pathetic 52,000.

And I'm sorry to say this as everyone believes it's fantastic... but I think the choice of site in one of the most scenically dire parts of the City, next to a fucking sewage works, totally sucks. That choice of site is, I believe, limiting the capacity. It is also, thanks to English Heritage, creating the paranoia and flip-flopping that has stalled the process.

And then there's all this 'public consultation' bullshit and 'Goodison Legacy' crap. Honestly, if you're going to build it, just get on with it! Move on!

[There, I'll try to stay quiet from now on...]

Dennis Stevens
9 Posted 13/05/2019 at 15:36:38
I still don't see BMD as inevitable. Our luvable red neighbours eventually retreated from their proposed new stadium & instead worked with what they already had. It's not at all inconceivable that Moshiri could perform a complete about turn & look at the obvious & cheapest option of redeveloping Goodison Park.

I'm sure that alternative uses can be found for BMD, & probably for less cost & a greater, & more swift, return on his investment.

Joe Corgan
10 Posted 13/05/2019 at 15:41:07
Hospitality members received a letter prior to the Burnley game informing us of the changes.

They specifically said they are using these refurbishments (which are much more than a lick of paint) to proof-of-concept different ideas for the lounges at BMD. If you look closely you’ll see that each lounge at GP has a slightly different style. The idea is to work out which ones members prefer so that the idea can be expanded on at BMD.

To suggest that BMD must not be happening because we’re improving GP is bordering on stupidity.

Christopher Timmins
11 Posted 13/05/2019 at 16:17:38
As a member who regularly tries to purchase tickets on the club website I just can't wait for the day when I can purchase 2 tickets with my membership and not have an immediate restricted view message come up on my screen. The sooner BMD happens the better as the development must happen in order for the club to move forward.

I have no doubt that we would fill a 55,000 - 60,000 capacity stadium.

Simon Smith
12 Posted 13/05/2019 at 21:54:09
Cant see Bramley Moore ever happening if I'm honest, weve recently been spending money on Goodison which cant be a good sign !
Bill Watson
13 Posted 14/05/2019 at 00:59:08
So, the club is refurbishing lounges at Goodison and that signifies B-M is dead in the water?

The B-M timeline slipped one year from the original estimate but since then everything appears to be on schedule. The public consultations are a necessity to ease any objections, and subsequent delays, at the planning application stage. It's simply not possible to 'just build it'.

B-M is on schedule and on (the re-set) time.

Having said that I've long maintained Goodison could quite easily be re-developed, ala Twickenham, which was a very similar stadium. This would also take years and would involve the compulsory purchase, and demolition, of some houses and the relocation (possibly into a stand) of the school.

Quite frankly, I couldn't give a toss where the money comes from.

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