The site of Everton's new stadium at Bramley Moor Dock. Credit: Getty Images/Paul Ellis
Everton could stay at Goodison Park for two more seasons after confirming their new dockside arena will not be ready for the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
Originally the upcoming season was expected to be the last full season at their current home, with the £500m Bramley-Moore Dock set to be ready at the end of 2024. However, newly appointed chief executive Colin Chong said the current timeline could be revisited as a midseason rescheduling might not be feasible.
In a lengthy statement – his first since replacing Denise Barrett-Baxendale this month – Chong insisted that construction work is on schedule and the decision of when to move is based on the merit of when to move.
Because the new facility will be completed midway through the 2024-25 campaign, this will ensure that Everton start the next two seasons at Goodison.
“The only question I get asked the most is when the stadium will be ready and finished? wrote Chong, who led the project as stadium development director.
“There are no delays and the project is on schedule. The exact date of commissioning of our new stadium has never been publicly announced by the club. We have repeatedly stated that, in accordance with the construction schedule, the keys to our new home will be handed over to us by Laing O'Rourke during the 2024/25 season.
“When a new stadium is completed in terms of construction, it has to go through all the stages and test the building. We will work to plan these test events with a view to taking place in the last months of 2024. What they will look like and how fans will be able to take part remains to be determined. Parallel to the planning of these test events, the question of when our senior men's first team will play their first competitive match at our new stadium will be decided. difficult climatic conditions, we are confident that the construction of the stadium will be completed in the last months of 2024.
“This means we will not be starting the 2024 season at Everton Stadium but, to reiterate, the club has never publicly confirmed an intention to start the 2024/25 season at our new home. If the project stays on schedule, it raises the question of whether the club is moving midway through the season or, alternatively, should we wait and give the Grand Old Lady a proper send-off before starting competitive league play for the senior men's team at the start of the 2025/26 season.” .
More encouraging is Chong's announcement that construction work is proceeding as per Everton's schedule, especially given the ongoing speculation about how majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri is funding the project.
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Chong said: “Whatever decision is made, it will not be based on sentiment; this will be achieved in consultation with the supporters, as well as the impact this will have on our football club in terms of our football operations, our commercial partners and contracts with third parties, our staff, seasonal workflows and of course impact on supporters.
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