Everton secure landmark commercial deal with Aramark

Last time, quite some years ago, I went for a halftime drink during a game at Goodison, they couldn't even organize a proper queue.

I've seen this kind of crap around West Ham's London Stadium — pseudo-American and utterly phoney. There will be a security ring around the stadium for which you queue for half an hour, then after you're frisked and deemed safe to enter the 'Zone Of Consumption', a range of tacky, over-priced food and drink options await your attention.

Bring back mountains of horse shit, hostile coppers, and kids scaling the wall to watch the match sitting on the clock in the corner of the Street End. And then a mad, brilliant, manic atmosphere in the ground.

You'll see none of this at the new stadium.

Your description implies that US stadiums are run that way. I have never been to West Ham's stadium but I have visited US stadiums many times and never seen anything close to what you describe.

There will undoubtedly be a range of emotions come the day.

Go and follow a lower-league club alongside Everton if that's what you want?

If the club had been this forward-thinking back in the early 90s, then we could have been as successful for the last 30+ years as the clubs that were.

World-class food, drink and experiences. Can guarantee it will not be World-class food or drink. Mass produced stuff is not World Class.

"Diverse, exciting food and drink concepts" — what?????

"Self-service beer systems, immersive food and beverage offers." What is immersive food? A swimming pool filled with Scouse? A Vat of Whiskey you can swim in?

"Flexible and on-trend, seasonally adapting" — so iced drinks in the summer and soup in the winter.

The Good Lord preserve us from Marketeers.

Taking the wrecking ball to Goodison Park is cultural vandalism of the first order. I refuse to accept there was no other option. There always is.

How come the RS keep their old ground and develop it and we have a rootless plastic bowl down by the river? Everton FC has been terribly run for decades and the ground move is the worst management crime of all.

Why stay at Goodison? If it costs more and will take longer and is more complicated to develop then what are the positives?

How many fans are actually from the L3-L5 area?

I experience a stadium where people can't wait to get to it as late as possible and away from it as soon as possible.

We will literally have one of the greatest stadiums in Europe. Where is the negative?

The things people associate with the good times at Goodison. Horse shit, flat lager in an overcrowded crap pub, bad chippy meals etc etc are only so fondly looked upon because of what the club, the players and the fellow supporters had just made you feel.

The people make the club and the people are just moving home.

Stop moaning, for fuck's sake!

About a decade ago, a survey was done of how close Premier League fans live to the ground. I think it was within 10-15 miles of the stadium. Everton came second, after Sunderland.

Now I'm sure there are less now than than there were then, but Everton very much remains a community club, far more than most. I have no problem with redevelopment and improvement, and much of Goodison is crying out for serious investment, but if the will was there, the genuine commitment to Walton and the club's history, then it could have been done.

Anyhow, this is all academic — it's happening, and the new ground looks okay. Just don't expect me to jump up and down about 'the fan experience'. We used to go to watch football, not increase our BMI and chance of getting diabetes.

And when Goodison is flattened... well, goodbye Walton, and watch the poverty rates soar.

I wonder how the fans felt when we moved to Goodison Park, the first stadium of its kind in the country at the time. Imagine there were quite a few of the fans upset and negative towards the move, probably ancestors of the fans who currently moan about the club.

Our ground, John. They are extending our ground. Four stadiums in the city and Everton have built all of them. Don't forget that.

Just cos they stick a loft extension on doesn't mean they've built it. UTFT!

But renovation? That ship sailed long ago. We'd have had to swallow up the school and the houses, driving people out of their homes and still demolished Goodison as is and turned it 180 degrees. Pretty much what Tottenham did.

Tottenham had Wembley. God forgive if we'd gone down that path. We might have had to play “home matches” at Anfield or Old Trafford.

Goodison has its charm but is outdated. Posts, and in parts of the ground wooden floors. She will be fondly remembered, but her duty is done.

The new stadium is something we should have done 30 years ago. And it is only just over 2 miles from Goodison.

There was a regular season Major League Baseball game held at a historic stadium a few weeks back and it looked great.

King's Dock would obviously have been incredible and should've happened but this is the next best thing with the added bonus of 20 years of innovation to underpin it.

This isn't a Reebok or Riverside soulless project whatsoever. It is one of the most impressive footballing projects I think has ever happened in this country maybe only with the exception of the Tottenham stadium.

To regenerate and extend the city centre to our home is a massive thing that will change the course of history for this city and the people that live in it.

Goodison is at the centre of one of the most economically deprived areas of Western Europe and as much as it would have served this area to re-develop and improve the local economy, the scale of that challenge is too ambitious and too expensive.

Commercialism and franchised concessions aren't for everyone and I'm sure there will be plenty of traditionalists that will complete their match day experience every week without any of this and those people are the ones that will make this new stadium our home - as well as the people that will enjoy the facilities and experiences that an old stadium like Goodison couldn't provide.

What's an "immersive food & drink offering"?? If I can literally 'immerse' myself in a pint… I'm in!!!

"Frictionless operations" just say you can order on your phone !!

I hope the club get the balance right, otherwise we might be watching the game at a hipster food market, with cheesy chips being called loaded potato fries for £9.

Very corporate yes, but it's income generation for the club.

I sometimes view a season ticket as a club membership almost. Picture being a member of a golf club for example and getting treated the way you do at Goodison.

Where I am, in the Upper Gwladys, the concourse is probably not as wide as my living room. I think there are three male toilets, which are not all that big, and cramped when you get in there, that's if you are prepared to queue for few minutes. Then you are stepping in piss, cos the floor is covered in it, following an overflow from the urinals, or whatever it's called that we pee into.

Refreshments… forget it unless you are prepared to miss the final 10 minutes of the first half.

God forbid if it ever happens, and highly unlikely, but if there ever was to be an evacuation because of a fire, or a bomb warning, I can just imagine the stampede to get out, bearing in mind the narrowness of the concourse, and the steepness of the steps down. You simply wouldn't be able to move because of the volume of people in such a confined space. And I know the Upper Bullens is exactly the same as all that above, because I've been in there as well.

Now I know the club haven't decided to build a new stadium because of what I've said, it's all about an increase in attendance, hospitality facilities, executive boxes etc, all of which mean more money coming into the club. At the moment, we have about seven hospitality suites, which between them probably hold no more than 1500 people… anyone remember the 300 and 500 clubs? That's how many people each suite held.

We have about 12 executive boxes perched above the Family Enclosure. There is simply not enough money coming into the club for the facilities we have. Already all hospitality seats at the new stadium have been sold, about 6,000 seats secured with a deposit and for a minimum of 3 years — 12 months before we move in.

It's simply a no-brainier that a new stadium was required, and thankfully we shall all be in there in 12 months.

And besides, Goodison is now 132 years old. Who else owns property that old and still lives there?

Reality, nice one!

Bugger, have I typed all that for nothing!

The new stadium is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the club to make a step change in the way it operates, vastly increase revenue streams and reduce the financial gap between us and our competitors.

For every fan who feels this is offensive I guess there will be many more who will be keen to spend more of their time and money enjoying a different type of match day experience. The days of dubious pork pies and Higson's Double Top have long gone.

Personally I have little liking for some of the modern food offerings and even less for the fizzy, tasteless keg beers and lagers but in that respect I know I am in an old codger minority.

Modern technology benefits most people and I am sure a lot of stuff today will become as obsolete as many things that the older generation grew up with.

The way VAR is handled is about the only new innovation that I cannot get my head around.

I can't get a season ticket now and have to fork out a fortune to watch us 8-10 times a season.

Made up to be moving so I can watch us (despite us being a bad watch).

Let's enjoy the Grand Old Lady while we can. And then look forward to the new lady.

https://stadiumtechreport.com/feature/stadiums-embracing-self-serve-beverage-technology/

If it means getting a beer more quickly and not standing in the most random queue with four people required just to manage the queue properly - then I am for it.

I believe King Charlie has quite a few.

Tommy #13 "Why stay at Goodison? If it costs more and will take longer and is more complicated to develop then what are the positives?"

But it wouldn't have cost more, take longer and be more complicated. Oh, and it wouldn't have failed it's safety certificate either!

Danny #18 "We'd have had to swallow up the school and the houses, driving people out of their homes and still demolished Goodison as is and turned it 180 degrees."

That was just one of the options Danny, it could have been done without that.

But what all this techno-babble corporate speak peppered with woke buzzwords (anyone who's ever played Bullshit Bingo at work will know what I mean) really means Danny, is that you stand a chance of getting a pint at half time, but you'll pay an arm and a leg for it.

So much negativity without witnessing
the outcome.

We are looking at bringing in something that has a semblance of decent hospitality and people are upset?

Next we will have people complaining there aren't enough restricted view seats in the new stadium.

I couldn't see a way how we wouldn't had to do similar. Either way, Goodison as is would have been demolished and we'd have needed a temporary stadium to play in. I just personally don't think redeveloping Goodison was a realistic option although it was an option. But it went decades ago.

We are about to move into a magnificent new stadium that looks stunning. It is iconic and for those who enjoy a brisk walk, is only 2 miles from Goodison, walking distance from Sandhills station and James Street station in town.

I'm going to be emotional about leaving Goodison. It's been a massive part of my life. But she's had her day and it's time to move on and I'm excited about the new stadium.

And being able to get served at half time on a concourse that isn't cramped.

I can't imagine enjoying my £15 croque monsieur with the waft of cack around the place from the shit farm next door.

I wonder if Aramark will provide kiosks with gas masks for hire? It could creat a stink if they don't.

Orange blossom trees in the concourse, could work. The smell could be our twelfth man, Salah is through, he must score,, oh he's collapsed and thrown up… still nil-nil.

What it means is not missing the first 5 minutes of the second half cos you're waiting in a massive queue for a cuppa tea and a shite pie.

All this recycling/Organic stuff. :-)

Enjoy ?

I can see were your coming from but its 2 games a month for 9 months hardly pays the rates on the rundown properties I would think.

Goodison could have been redeveloped in stages, renovating bit by bit in the close season.

Yes it would have taken a few years but how long has BMD been on-going?

There was a genuine case for redevelopment, Chairman Bill was famously all for it when Johnson suggested moving from GP, but then when he took the reins himself it was all, "GP will fail the safety certificate, we have to move" and "the money's ringfenced" and "the virtually free stadium in Kirkby".

We've finally done the right thing after previous failed projects and ill thought out ideas.

I hope we follow Tottenham's example. As well as having Europe's longest bar, they have actual restaurants as well as the traditional stuff. Their intent was always to change the match day experience.

I like that Paul K.

Mike and Derek, if they don't sell alcohol, the pitch forks will be out!!

I have no idea what the plans are, but it would be nice to include a Brick 2 and obviously for me, the Goodison Supper Bar either in the stadium or on the plaza.

Immediate family, all Everton.

My Sisters (both Everton) have divided families. One has a red husband and 2 red sons, but the 3rd is an Everton season ticket holder.

My other sister has one of each. Her husband is red too. She is Everton.

I have one set of cousins who are all red. Another that are half and half. And then one cousin (blue) who has a red husband and children.

Another family of cousins who are totally red. I don't mind them as they have spent years following them. I never stop hearing about Istanbul. Her husband and son both went.

Proper mixed family.

But it makes family gatherings intersting.

David Humphrey's via the BBC reports:

A fan zone is being proposed at a train station next to Everton's new stadium to cope with "increased footfall".

Transport operator, Merseytravel has submitted plans to Liverpool City Council to create a fan management zone at Sandhills Station, the nearest to the club's new ground at Bramley-Moore Dock.

The new zone will be a "key transport hub" for visiting fans getting to and from the stadium and Liverpool city centre.

Measures include developing a new pedestrian waiting area to safely manage passengers at periods of peak demand.

I still have concerns for the dispersal of supporters from the new stadium, one of the best things about Goodison is most of us know how to avoid the visiting supporters and have lots of different options to get away from the stadium.

Having the visitors in the North-East corner of the new place, could mean more skirmishes between home and away fans. I also don't like the possible idea of being penned in a holding area, similar to what happens when leaving Wembley to get the tube.

I posted on another thread a couple of weeks ago that I got iinvited to see behind the scenes at White Hart Lane. the attention toi detail is incredible for example they won't even have red extinguishers on the site. They are all silver with what they are on a band across the front. They mentioned that Aramark were taking over so for once I was ITK.

The fan facilities are vast so you get served quickly and they have the glasses that fill from the bottom in seconds. The bar is about 100 yards long, Danny might get his pint at half time!
No numbers were mentioned but for big games they have exceeded 100,000 transactions

The boxes and VIP areas are top draw and for a lot of them you have sign up for years. Proper thinking and committed income. they do keep experience areas for us peasants who want a treat.

I just hope someone from the club went down to WHL for how it needs to be done as it will really boost the bottom line The service the fans get in the ground is poor at present

A decent range of food and drink and somewhere to plant yourself should do the trick. It won't be cheap mind but, with many Liverpool pubs charging £6 a pint, it should be competitive.

It might be worth giving them a chance before writing them off.

I thought it worked well at Wembley Park on our last visit. They already do this at Kirkdale anyway. I guess the answer is to spend an hour at the stadium post-match or walk into town.

Sandhills used to have 4 platforms, I think one each side outwith the island platform. Would have been handy now but 60 years ago who was to know Everton would build a new stadium!

With the right management, you'd think someone could run this well in-house. Baltic market springs to mind. I know that is an alien concept for Everton, but it is likely supporters will be paying through the nose — with benefits going to the service company and not the club.

The main focus will be on flogging you more crap you don't need - a full-on 'leisure experience', like a trip to Alton Towers, with the added novelty of some fellers running around in blue shirts for 90 minutes squeezed in between sunbathing at the dock or a Nil Satis Burger Special with truffle fries and a sourdough brioche bun, all for just £24.99.

I love Goodison Park. I love my current seat in the Park End…
But I can't wait!!!

Goodison redevelopment

A few of the redevelopment proposals, three of which are in the existing footprint.

The first one was commissioned in 1998, just think of all that lost revenue in the past 26 years.

Our House is 150 years old and, after living in it for over 50 years, I am moving.

It is sold (subject to contract) and I am starting a new chapter in my life — just like Everton FC.

Let's enjoy her while we can and then look forward to a bright new future in an as iconic stadium as Goodison was in her day.