Season › 2024-25 › News Everton handed the keys to Bramley-Moore Dock Lyndon Lloyd 20/12/2024 55comments | Jump to last The official handover of Everton Stadium to the Club has now taken place, ending the build phase of the iconic new structure on the Liverpool waterfront. Everton's new Executive Chairman, Marc Watts, and Interim CEO, Colin Chong, were joined by Laing O’Rourke Project Director, Gareth Jacques, and other dignitaries at a ceremonial handover from the contractor who have delivered the construction of the project on schedule. Having now taken possession of the site, three-and-a-half-years after the commencement of construction, the Club will oversee a six-month fit-out phase that is scheduled to commence in the New Year. That will include interior design specialists, tradesmen and women and audio-visual engineers completing the stadium’s many bars, restaurants and experiences, as well as retail spaces, delivering a modern and unique new home for Everton. Laing O’Rourke will retain a presence at Everton Stadium in the early months of 2025, as they ensure the new building meets required quality standards and specifications. The Friedkin Group, whose new ownership of Everton was confirmed earlier this week, 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. Everton’s Executive Chairman Marc Watts said: “I feel privileged to be here today to be part of the handover of this magnificent stadium in this stunning, unrivalled location. It is an illustrious moment in the history of Everton and marks a new era for the Club on many levels. The stadium will play a key role in supporting our commercial vision for the Club – hosting events and activities all-year round - but first and foremost, I have no doubt that it will be a venue that every Evertonian will be proud to call home.” A series of three test events will take place in 2025 before the Club stages its first competitive fixture at the stadium at the start of the 2025/26 season. More information on how Evertonians can qualify for and access the test events will be released in the New Year. Everton Interim CEO Colin Chong added: “Our thanks go to Laing O’Rourke, their workforce and extensive supply chain, along with the many people who have helped bring our vision to fruition. “Everton’s passionate supporters deserve immense praise for investing fully in this journey, right from the initial consultation phases and throughout the three-and-a-half-year build process. “Construction has not been without its challenges, but we have remained on schedule despite a worldwide pandemic and a war in Ukraine, which threatened to affect the delivery of materials and destabilised financial markets. “That is a testament to everyone involved and I am sure I speak for all our staff and supporters by saying we are absolutely delighted to take control of a site which will soon become one the best football stadiums in world football. “I often describe our new home as Liverpool’s Fourth Grace, and I truly believe this magnificent stadium is one that the whole city can be proud of.” “This is a momentous day for my team, for Laing O’Rourke, for our supply chain, all the design consultants and everyone involved with the project," Jacques said. “We’ve spent 178 weeks on-site, and a year-and-half before that in pre-construction and planning. All those people, everyone from Everton and all the fans who have been ardently watching the progress have all been a big part of this, so to deliver it, as we have, on time, is phenomenal. “The team has taken an old disused dock and created what is, I believe, the best stadium in this country, so I couldn’t be prouder.” Quotes sourced from Everton FC press release Reader Comments (55) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Colin Glassar 1 Posted 20/12/2024 at 20:36:45 A thing of beauty Billy Bradshaw 2 Posted 20/12/2024 at 20:49:12 Bravo Dan Meis. John Keating 3 Posted 20/12/2024 at 20:53:46 Regardless of whatever anyone thinks, the stadium is breathtaking… Absolutely beautiful in a phenomenal location.Farhad Moshiri, Dan Meis, Laing O'Routke and the whole workforce should be immensely proud. Well done to all.Remember when they showed us the plans for Kings Dock? Fantastic. Then we looked at the Destination Kirkby shit pit. Now we have this majestic piece of art.First game there, Meis, Moshiri and the workforce should do a lap of honour. Jay Evans 4 Posted 20/12/2024 at 20:57:14 It will never happen lad.Pigs might fly lad.Not in your lifetime lad.Tumbleweed ….Looks like a Tesco lad.It stinks down there anyway lad.Wait til it rains lad.Whatever, best ground in the championship lad.Welcome our loveable neighbours to the fourth grace and the best ground in the country.Altogether now … Hello darkness my old friend. Ray Mia 5 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:06:37 It is an astounding achievement. On the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey.Proper part of town also... The Docks.Look what happens when you have a plan and hire the right people to stick to the plan.You've got the fans.You've got the stadiumNow can we have a team that deserves to play in such a stadium in front of those fans? Liam Mogan 6 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:10:05 It is the mutts nuts isn't it? David Vaughan 7 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:14:45 This has been a horrid year, a horrible long period of many false dawns and seemingly imminent death.Now 2024 is ending as a new dawn finally breaks over the club, the city and now the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.Fitting then that tomorrow is the shortest day of the year. The nights will shrink as the light creeps back in.For now, time and patience, fellow Blues. The phoenix is rising. Rob Halligan 8 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:17:32 Where’s that RS bellend with his blue cone? 😂😂😂 Mark Murphy 9 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:20:39 Jay, hopefully the fcukers will spare us their dirty fcuking presence and watch the derby on the telly where they’ll feel right at home.Too good for them cnuts - throw them in the Mersey and invite the Juve fans instead.Gobshites, every fcuking one of them!UTFT Paul Ferry 10 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:22:04 Jonathan (Tasker) and Tony Marsh, it did get built. It's there. Job done and dusted and it's a stunning architectural achievement in a stunning unique setting. A statement.And it's all ours!What's that ugly high concretey thing over there to the east? Where? There, you can see it over the rows of houses. It always has scaffolding somewhere on it. It's not very iconic is it? No, not really. It's sorta plain looking. The 'people' who go there must be well jealous of this thing of beauty. Rob Halligan 11 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:25:06 Paul, thanks for reminding me. For about three or four years Jonathan Tasker was like a stuck record……..There’s no new stadiumThere’s no new stadium There’s no new stadiumThere’s no new stadiumThere’s no new stadium😂😂😂😂💙💙💙💙 Les Moorcroft 12 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:27:02 3d cathedral of our great city. UTFT. Liam Mogan 13 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:28:54 Fuck those gobshites and their lean-to bivouac. Sit back and watch the Northern Docks transform into an alternate heart of the region with our new gaff as its shining beaconThe city is ours Billy Bradshaw 14 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:32:56 Jonathan Tasker, been wrecking my head trying to think of his name, thanks for remembering for me Paul. Paul Hewitt 15 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:33:37 Not been a better two days to be an Evertonian for years. Just need a win on Sunday and what a weekend it's been Paul Ferry 16 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:34:34 That's that then. We were thinking of moving back eventually to Norwich possibly (a city I love) or perhaps even one of those lovely little Cornish or Devon villages near the coast (though that might be dangerously close to MK), or perhaps York.But it will be an apartment somewhere in north Liverpool by the river. Neil Copeland 17 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:35:03 Rob and Paul, no spades in the ground though….just loads of fucking big diggers! Paul Ferry 18 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:35:31 Happy to oblige Rob and Billy! Enjoy this great day! Neil Copeland 19 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:38:56 Paul, we will all be there for the housewarming Paul Ferry 20 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:39:34 Imagine, Neil, being red shite, living in North Liverpool and having to get the train to Moorfields or Central to go to work, and having to look at that thing twice every day! Paul Ferry 21 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:41:23 A ToffeeWeb inspired housewarming. I like that. Neil Copeland 22 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:41:33 Ha ha love it. All the ones in New Brighton and Seaforth too waking up to that magnificent sight. I bet they keep the curtains closed but can’t help taking a peek. Liam Mogan 23 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:41:50 Imagine there's no Red Shite, it's easy if you tryNo hell below us, above us Bramley Moores blue sky Rob Halligan 24 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:42:45 Paul, they’ve had to do it every working day for the past three and a half years. Watching a thing of beauty rising majestically on the horizon, on the Banks of The Royal Blue Mersey!Liverpools fourth grace….completed 2024! Neil Copeland 25 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:44:24 Liam, you are right, just air brush them out (a bit like they do with Heysel) Derek Knox 26 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:45:41 Truly a Magnum Opus !Let the Football and results follow suit. Rob Halligan 27 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:48:23 Is the loft extension finished yet? 😄😄😄 Liam Mogan 28 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:49:49 They couldn't find enough corrugated iron and asbestos to finish it off Rob Neil Copeland 29 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:50:55 Rob, no idea but it looks dreadful and well suited to the shite Neil Copeland 30 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:52:45 Liam, ha ha it does look like corrugated iron. Should be called the prefab arena Liam Mogan 31 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:54:19 Prefab Scouse Neil Copeland 32 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:55:48 😁 Rob Halligan 33 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:56:40 Liam, I think you mean Prefab Oslo! (Though I do get what you mean…Prefab Sprout). Liam Mogan 34 Posted 20/12/2024 at 21:59:09 It was just a riff on Prefab Sprout Rob - although scouse has Scandinavian origins. Lobscouse, vikings and all that Neil Copeland 35 Posted 20/12/2024 at 22:00:42 We now own the oldest and newest purpose built football stadiums in the world I think? And the city also hosts the ugliest. Liam Mogan 36 Posted 20/12/2024 at 22:02:38 That's right Neil. The oldest and the newest. Brilliant 👏 Dean Johnson 37 Posted 20/12/2024 at 22:08:26 Beautiful, I'll be moving a lot closer soon and hope to go to many a match there. Would love to get there by boat - north Wales express, others could also get there by canal from Leeds or even further east (although that'll take a few months!) Paul Ferry 38 Posted 20/12/2024 at 22:11:22 Not even the horizon Rob. It's right there fuckers, right in front of your eyes, look out the window dickheads. It will be fecking hilarious watching them in their 1988-1992 post-Wimbledon (😂😂😂😂😂) Candy shirts looking away or closing their horrible little eyes when the driver honks the horn as the train goes past this modern day great pyramid of Giza. Jay Evans 39 Posted 20/12/2024 at 22:12:40 Mark Murphy, yes yes mate 💪🏼👌🏻💙 Mike Gaynes 40 Posted 20/12/2024 at 22:24:19 On the dedication plaque with Laing O’Rourke and Dan Meis and Moshiri... Colin Chong.On time and nearly on budget. And abso-fu**ing-lutely magnificent. The Liver Bird is strutting and crowing his lungs out. So am I.Can't wait to sit there. Steve Barnes 41 Posted 20/12/2024 at 22:34:22 Funny that I can’t find one mention on Sky(RS)ports about this amazing event. It’s not like every PL team gets a new stadium every week…Suspect that if we’d of had a red shirt (RS, Arse of Manure) they’d be covering it wall to wall.Patronising bunch of gits do nothing other than show the red lot scoring against Everton in their little trailers.If I didn’t have to watch their channel…. Nigel Munford 42 Posted 20/12/2024 at 22:36:56 At last, and breath!!! Welcome to our new dawn fellow Blues 👍 Brent Stephens 43 Posted 20/12/2024 at 22:41:42 Magnificent stadium. Wonderful location. Great point about the oldest and newest stadiums.All on time. Mr Chong take a bow. I truly hope our new owners recognise what a gem they have in you and retain you. I bet you could serve a great pre-match pie and bevvy! Seriously, well done. All that needs to be done now is finish that pedalo.And there’s no need to remind people about the Tasker forecasts. Oops!PS Prof Ferry. I expect an invite. Neil Copeland 44 Posted 20/12/2024 at 22:52:46 Brent, I had forgotten about your pedalo. There is even a marina type thing to park (sorry, moor) it. Brent Stephens 45 Posted 20/12/2024 at 22:56:49 I've added the dreaded plank. Just need suggestions for who should walk it. Paul Ferry 46 Posted 20/12/2024 at 22:59:24 You absolutely will Brent. You're 12th on the invite list a few places behind Sean Kearns and Barry Rathbone but four places ahead of big Rob. Neil Copeland is nicely tucked in in 5th. Michael Coville 47 Posted 20/12/2024 at 23:10:26 I was born in Mill Road hospital in 1940, my birth certificate states that I was born in the sub-district of Everton, my dad took me to my first game at Goodison when I was six. I watched the team parade the League trophy around the ground and went to many firsts including the first night game under lights. I went to many games with my good school mate Neville Smith who went on to co-write and act in the "Golden Vision". Goodison Park is part of my life so I will be sad to see it go. Having said that the new stadium is spectacular and at 84 and living in Florida I can only hope that I will be well enough to visit this masterpiece and our new home. Congratulations to all those who worked on the new stadium. Brian Cleveland 48 Posted 20/12/2024 at 23:22:37 Still think a good test event (soft opening) would be a testimonial for Seamus. Neil Copeland 49 Posted 20/12/2024 at 23:28:58 Paul, if I say I think you are boss will it be enough to move me into the Champions League places? Martin Berry 50 Posted 20/12/2024 at 23:35:44 This stadium is that good that I bet somewhere there's a loft for Duncs pigeons ! Neil Copeland 51 Posted 20/12/2024 at 23:38:32 Martin, I just hope it’s not above my seat Paul Ferry 52 Posted 20/12/2024 at 23:44:59 You just leap-frogged Brian Williams Neil!That's a great post Michael (47). Something tells me that you will have your day at the dock. Try and pick a weekend when one of those FA hurricanes is predicted! Neil Copeland 53 Posted 20/12/2024 at 23:47:27 Yay, Champions League I am having a laugh! You are a top man Paul! Bill Watson 54 Posted 20/12/2024 at 23:52:12 What a fantastic stadium and location but let's not forget that, despite his almost total mismanagement of the club, Moshiri was responsible for getting it off the ground and finished. Neil Copeland 55 Posted 20/12/2024 at 23:54:21 Michael, nice post.We all have our own memories and stories to tell, like Paul, I hope you get to see BM very soon.Strangely, my first 2 games a Goodison were Ipswich (1-1) and Southampton (8-0) and the last 2 games as things stand will be against the same 2 opponents.Games against Chelsea always bring back memories of my dad’s last game and daughters first in the 2-0 Lukaku FA Cup Quarter Final. I hope dad is looking down on Sunday.Doesn’t it feel great all of a sudden to be a blue? What a future beckons for the greatest football club in the world,UTFT! 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