The Friedkin Group could expand capacity at Bramley-Moore Dock after Everton takeover

The Friedkin Group could expand capacity at Bramley-Moore Dock after Everton takeover.

The Friedkin Group may look to expand the capacity of the new Everton stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, The Athletic reports.

 

According to Matt Slater via the outlet’s website on 25 October there have been “whispers” of the incoming new owners increasing the size of the ground, which the Toffees are due to move into for next season

Any such development is deemed both tricky and expensive, and there is nothing concrete yet towards such plans, with the current capacity due to be 52,888.

 

But there is reportedly some scope to expand the east side of the £750million stadium if there is “genuine demand” for it.

 

Everton to leave Goodison Park at end of current season

It doesn’t sound like any expansion to the new stadium is likely to come in the short term, and is surely something that would need to be judged once Everton are in at the current level.

The project isn’t even fully completed yet although is due for the Toffees to take residence from the start of next season, and Friedkin has committed to covering the final construction costs even before his takeover it completed [Liverpool Echo, 1 October].

An increase of more than 13,000 on the 39,572 capacity at Goodison Park will be a strong boost in itself, and a naming rights deal is predicted for a “big reveal” during the summer [Kieran Maguire, 22 October].

There certainly looks to be ambition to the Americans which will be welcome among a fanbase that has seen their club forced to live through straitened times for multiple seasons.

The proof will be in practice though, especially when Farhad Moshiri could also claim to have been an ambitious owner in his early years and financially the situation became more and more serious.

 

Plans to buy more land around the stadium looks more likely to happen in the near future once the Friedkins have completed their deal, which should have a positive effect on the club’s ability to spend moving forward.

Exactly when the Roma owners take charge of Everton still remains to be seen, with early December the latest prediction [Alan Myers, 25 October], but the process appears to be progressing as planned.

 

In other Everton news, Sean Dyche could be in line for a long-term stay as Toffees boss according to a new Friedkin takeover update.