Anfield Road redevelopment latest as Liverpool set to start season with reduced capacity at home ground
Liverpool has had to postpone the launch of their £80 million Anfield Road end refurbishment, with the stand now not anticipated to be fully operational until October.
And, for at least the first month of the season, the Reds will play in front of a smaller crowd for home games.
Liverpool had long hoped to have the building completed in time for the opening Premier League home game of the season against Bournemouth on August 19, having requested that the season begin with an away fixture to allow for additional time to complete the work.
The upper deck of the stand, however, is almost certain to remain closed until after the next international break, after which the Reds’ first home game will be against West Ham United on Sunday, September 24.
The upper deck of the Anfield Road stand, which will add over 6,000 seats and increase capacity to 61,000, will thereafter be opened in stages, with further seats being added progressively. Buckingham Group, the project’s main contractor, has notified the club that the work will be completed in October.
While the present lower tier, which has been preserved as part of the building, will remain open throughout the duration, the upper tier of the old Anfield Road stand, which accommodated over 2,500 fans, has been demolished as part of the renovation.
It means that the capacity will be reduced to about 51,000 for at least the home games against Bournemouth and Aston Villa. Season ticket holders will be relocated elsewhere in the stadium.
While Liverpool are sad that the stadium will not be fully operational for the start of the season, they are adamant that the work will be completed as soon as possible.
“This has been a hugely ambitious and complex construction project right from the start,” Liverpool managing director Andy Hughes said. “I would like to thank everyone who has played a part.”
“Unfortunately, the upper tier of the Anfield Road Stand will be unavailable for the Bournemouth match.” Buckingham, the principal contractor, will so collaborate with Liverpool City Council’s licensing staff to undertake a phased opening process.
“There are always so many variables and challenges along the way, as with any complex major construction project of this scale.”
“We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we work with Buckingham over the next few weeks to complete this program, and we can’t wait to have this fantastic new Anfield Road stand fully open for supporters.”
Concerns were raised earlier this month that the stand might not be able to open entirely as planned when Liverpool notified supporters that the decision on which games they would be allowed to purchase tickets for during the first half of the season had been delayed.
The decision was made because the club was unable to obtain confirmation of the entire capacity of the new stand from Liverpool City Council’s licensing team.
During the phased opening, all non-contractual seats will be made available to fans in the members’ ballot to ensure that supporters have a strong chance of getting inside the stadium.
However, there will be no members’ ballot for the Bournemouth game, with tickets available solely to members with 13 or more credits. Members’ sales will then begin on August 8, with more information on other sales for Bournemouth and all home fixtures before Christmas to follow the following week.
The latest major refurbishment at Anfield, the £110 million Main Stand, saw Liverpool request that their first three games be played away in order for work to be completed in time for the first home game against Leicester City on September 10.
