The redevelopment of Anfield stadium reached a significant milestone this week as the roof truss of its newest stand was lifted and fitted into place.
If operating one of the two 600 tonne cranes central to the manoeuvre came with a level of expectation, then doing so in temperatures pushing 37 degrees won’t have reduced the pressure. But while the hands piecing together the £80m structure may have been steady, the landscape around the Anfield Road end project has been anything but.
Covid, fear of lockdown, war in Ukraine and unrest among local businesses have all featured in the first 10 months of the near two year build. But despite these challenges, Liverpool FC’s VP of Stadium Operations, Paul Cuttill, has assured that the development remains on course to open in August 2023.
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Reflecting on the uncertain climate the project has faced, he said: “There's been critical discussions at certain points”. So far, the pandemic stands out as one of the biggest hurdles to clear.
A matter of weeks after Jurgen Klopp stuck a spade in the floor to carry out ground-breaking duties, an Omicron surge was to lead to some social distancing measures returning. Mr Cuttill described the pandemic as a “huge challenge for everyone at the club” both on and off the field, while this week’s truss lift had to confront “difficult circumstances” in the searing heat.
But ensuring the 60ft steel haunches were fitted on Tuesday buys more time in what remains a fast paced yet enormous project - one that will see capacity grow by 7,000 to house a total 61,000 fans. Any delays would mean pressure is ramped up in the summer of 2023 to ensure targets are met.
While Covid was already on the radar after forcing a season behind closed doors, the impacts of a war in Ukraine couldn’t be anticipated. The conflict has contributed to destabilised markets which have wildly inflated the cost of materials for projects of this kind and size - which current stands as one of the largest in the City Region.
However Mr Cuttill said efforts were made in the early stages to ensure the new stand was a “fixed price project” - which he said is still on budget to cost in the region of £80m. He added: “A lot of the materials we purchased before the build. The steel was ordered ready to go. Hopefully we managed to mitigate serious issues by being one step ahead.”
The next phases of the project concerns adding flesh to the skeletal structure which juts out of the skyline of Stanley Park. One aspect of this will be the removal of the roof on the current Anfield Road stand - the next key milestone in the project timeline.
The timings will have to be as precise as the construction itself as this is scheduled to be done when the Premier League breaks for the World Cup in Qatar this winter. Mr Cuttill said carrying out the works in this window will hopefully “gain some time back” next summer.
If disruption means the works cannot take place this winter, it’s hoped the project timeline won’t be affected. However, Mr Cuttill added the close season in the summer of 2023 “would become a lot more challenging in terms of the timescales put on the club and the contractor”.
While Everton’s new Bramley Moore Dock stadium moves closer to completion in 2024, the expansion of Anfield serves to plant Liverpool FC’s roots deeper in the L4 area. For Mr Cuttill and the club, remaining in the local community is “really important.”
But the expansion of the stadium initially raised some tensions in the local area. Last October, some pubs in Anfield told the ECHO how they were “nervous” for their future as fans were entering the stadium earlier than in previous years. Worry was exacerbated with the stadium’s potential to host even more match-goers in the years to come.
A combination of teething issues with new digitised NFC tickets and some of the cheapest pints on offer in the area meant some businesses recovering from Covid were quieter on what should be their busiest days. Referencing club advice to arrive at the stadium 90 mins early and with an expanding capacity, one pub owner worried Liverpool FC was out for a “ bigger slice of the pie ” in terms of match day revenue - one that would come at the cost of local businesses that had struggled through months of lockdown.
But the club pushed back on this claim and said the expansion hopes to foster more footfall in the wider area - not funnel it to the stadium. Liverpool FC also points out that, in figures recorded in 2019, match days generate around £500m in GVA to the local economy and supports over 5,000 local jobs.
Mr Cuttill added: “I'm personally very conscious of the surrounding area and the local businesses which we have. I think we have a good relationship with them.
“There's no land grab going on. There's no plan to change or take anything away from the local businesses. I would actively hope by increasing by 7000 people each game the knock on effect to local businesses should be positive.”
While development moves at a pace on Anfield Road, bolstered by community groups who’re also looking to enhance the feel of the area, regenerating the Kop side of the stadium on Walton Breck Road is moving at a slower pace. Here Liverpool City Council are overseeing the development of a number of currently vacant plots.
As plans gradually move ahead, new homes, shops, public square and walkways could be built, but for the time being it stands in contrast to the work unfolding around the stadium to its park facing side. In January residents and nearby business owners told the ECHO how they hoped to see more activity in the area, with Anfield seemingly only brought to life every other weekend.
While Liverpool FC cannot drive change on this side of the stadium, Mr Cuttill said the club will “work with the council” when it is ready to bring forward its vision for the area.
But while change may be some years off for Walton Breck Road, the transformation a few metres away is rapidly taking shape. Anfield stadium has been through a series of evolutions in its 134 year history, and its latest is one that looks to find the delicate balance between terrace culture and its tourist offer.
Mr Cuttill said: "We want to provide the people with the option to stand on a concourse and have a pie and a pint, or if you want to come into a lounge and have a three course meal. The fans are at the forefront of the decisions we make and how we develop a stadium and what we offer. That's not going to change.
“Anfield is unique. And that's not just the building, but also the people coming too.”
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