Extreme Football Forum  |  Football Forums  |  FA Barclaycard Premiership  |  Topic: Everton expanding Goodison Park

bbc news



Everton Football Club has been given the go-ahead for a £9m expansion of Goodison Park's facilities.

The four-floor development at the Park End of the stadium will include a 900 sq m shop, museum, cafe, hospitality lounge and offices.

It will also free up space to increase capacity for corporate hospitality inside the stadium itself.

Plans to build a new stadium in Kirkby collapsed last year when they were rejected by the government.

"The new building is an exciting phase in the development of Goodison Park," said chief executive Robert Elstone.

"It will help us grow our business and will also get the entire Everton team under one roof, something that is long overdue and an opportunity to further improve how we work as a team for the benefit of the fans."

Planning approval
 
Work will start before the end of the year and is expected to be completed by autumn 2011.

The project is being funded through club retail partner Kitbag and stadium catering partner Sodexo.

Liverpool City Council's planning department approved the plans at a meeting on Tuesday.

The new development plan was unveiled by chief executive Robert Elstone at a Shareholders Forum in August.

Speaking at the event, chairman Bill Kenwright told the forum that the proposals did not mean an end to the search for a site in the city for a new stadium.

IMO, Everton should be looking beyond Goodison.

They should move and get a proper, new ground sorted.

Don't ask me for the answer - all I know is that they are a big club and there is little that they can do with their current gaff.