Construction complete on the Anfield Road Stand – Full Capacity Plans Unveiled

This December Anfield welcomed its largest crowd since 1977 with due to the completed construction of the new Anfield Road tier being used for the first time during a match against Manchester United. A further test went ahead on Monday when 7,500 supporters attended a Q&A session with manager Jurgen Klopp, scrutinising the facilities in both the upper and lower tiers of the stand to obtain a safety certificate ahead of the phased opening of the new upper tier.

If the test event proceeds seamlessly, an additional 7,000 fans will be able to occupy the new Anfield Road Stand upper tier for future football matches and events, bringing the attendance to approximately 57,000.

Liverpool has collaborated intensively with the new contractor, Rayner Rowan Construction, to achieve the safe construction will be completed leading up to Christmas.

Paul Cuttill, Liverpool’s vice president of stadium operations, acknowledged the challenges and expressed pride in the collective effort to prioritise getting fans back into the stadium safely.

Following the initial opening of the new upper tier with 7,000 fans, the club aims for full capacity, nearing 61,000, by the end of January, contingent upon domestic cup draws.

While full capacity will be achieved, certain amenities and facilities will be limited, with the primary focus on accommodating supporters. Additional features, like the new fan park underneath the stand, will be completed later in the season, as it currently serves as a construction staging area.

Ongoing processes, such as cladding on the underside of the roof and work in the Main Stand corner of the lower tier, will continue. For supporters in the lower tier, where not much has changed, plans to enhance the experience in the extended space are being considered for the future.

Regarding the cost of the setback, Cuttill refrained from providing specific figures, emphasising the difficulty in assessing it until the end of the season. Reports suggest potential losses of around £750,000 per match without the upper tier being opened, accumulating to over £8 million in lost revenue for the 11 games played so far this season.

Despite the setbacks, the completion of the Anfield Road Stand project marks a positive turn for Liverpool FC on and off the pitch, fulfilling FSG’s commitment to provide a 60,000-seater capacity stadium for the club.

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Photo courtesy of David Bayliss on Unsplash