GOODISON PARK — The sun barely peeked over the Main Stand, so it would be stretching things to say this was a new dawn at Everton, but the skies are certainly lighter. Marc Watts, the club’s incoming executive chairman, took his first look at the Friedkin Group’s latest purchase and saw a team prepared to fight to survive. Since every one of their business calculations depends on Everton being in the Premier League when moving to their new stadium on the Mersey waterfront, this should be deeply reassuring.
Everton may lack fantasy on the pitch, but they do not require major, expensive surgery in the January transfer window. One of Watts’ tasks will probably be to relieve Sean Dyche of his duties. Deep down, the Everton manager, whose contract expires in the summer, most likely does not expect to be on the touchline when the first game at Bramley-Moore Dock kicks off. Nonetheless, his work this past month has gone a long way to suggest it will be with a top-flight fixture.
During Dyche’s tenure at Burnley, he earned a reputation for winning the games which counted. This season, Everton’s three victories have come against teams trailing below them. The December goalless draws at Arsenal and now at home against Chelsea have surpassed expectations, especially compared to the desperate performance at the Emirates Stadium just last weekend. Had Jack Harrison’s shot not slammed against Robert Sanchez’s legs, they might have taken home more than just one point. With icy rain whipping across the old stadium, conditions reflected the tension of the match.
“We take a point,” Dyche noted post-match. “I’ve never not been proud of these players. We’ve come through a storm. I respect them.” Watts observed Everton’s players applauded off by fans whose patience has often wavered. This marked shift is perhaps reflective of the changing fortunes within the club.
Fans are also shifting their perspective on the move to the club’s stunning new stadium—a moment of pride long awaited, not just for the football club but for the entire city. This new environment may catalyze revival for one of football's sleeping giants, but more significantly, it stands to inspire the regeneration of Merseyside's northern docklands. Beyond being just another sports stadium, this venue holds the potential for broader urban renewal.
Construction of the landmark has spanned three-and-a-half years, with much of the outer shell complete. While blue lights may have switched on recently, the architectural marvel—dubbed Liverpool’s Fourth Grace—has already altered the iconic skyline. The area surrounding Everton Stadium is also witnessing growth, as initial development of new businesses to support the stadium's operations has taken off.
Over the next six months, the stadium will continue buzzing with activity as the fit-out approaches completion. With contractors Laing O’Rourke actively engaging on site, preparations move forward for what fans hope will become their new home. The venue, with seating capacity for 52,888 match-goers, aims to transition from construction site to functional stadium rapidly. Event tests conducted prior to the summer's expected completion will build excitement leading up to the club's move from historic Goodison Park.
Everton supporters, longtime believers through thick and thin, have every reason to feel cautiously optimistic these days. A club dogged by despair now seems poised for sustained positivity, even as challenges—both on and off the pitch—remain formidable. The recent takeover by the Friedkin Group signals the end of Farhad Moshiri's troubled 30-month era, during which the billionaire orchestrated high spending, only to witness chaotic decline marred by relegation battles and turmoil.
Moshiri aimed for both stability and progression, but his dual focus risked jeopardizing the club's future—a reality he himself deemed "existential" at various low points. His legacy, now hinging on the successful transition to the new stadium, sits under scrutiny. Ironically, it might well prove to be cornerstone for enhancing his reputation with fans.
The supporters who rallied during the club’s darkest hours now clamor for the benefits from this new chapter of ownership and they are hopeful the new stadium will mark the start of stability and success. Once deemed improbable, the reality of the new stadium seems closer, each milestone offering renewed faith. Despite jibes about it being the best stadium for championship football, the stadium is set to boast community pride as much as football aspirations.
Though the stadium was built for football, it's clear its benefits will stretch far beyond the pitch. The club took control of the site back in July 2021, and for Laing O’Rourke, it has been five years of intimate involvement with every detail of the project. Project director Gareth Jacques recently reflected on the monumental accomplishment, declaring: "We’ve spent 178 weeks on-site, and a year-and-a-half before then on pre-construction and planning. To deliver it, as we have, on time, is phenomenal. I firmly believe we have created the best stadium in this country, so I couldn’t be prouder."
Notably, this massive development—being the largest single-site private project within the UK—is forecast to inject approximately £1.3 billion back to the economy. It has already generated thousands of jobs, and locals expect this venue to contribute significantly to the Merseyside economy for generations. Everton supporters not only entitled to reclaim pride on the field hope this transformation will extend beyond just football. Whatever future lies before them, this revival promises to strengthen Liverpool as much as Everton Football Club itself.
