Bold ambitions or bitter disappointment: Liverpool’s £400m stadium project faces uncertain future

When Liverpool supporters make their long-awaited return to Anfield next month, they will be treated to a breathtaking sight – the new £80m Anfield Road End. The stadium redevelopment has been progressing rapidly, and recently, footage of the pitch view from the stand surfaced, heightening anticipation for the completion of the project. The stadium’s capacity will soon surpass 60,000, promising an even more exhilarating atmosphere for the fans. The exciting new addition is set to be ready in time for Liverpool’s first home game of the 2023-24 campaign against Bournemouth on August 19.

This redevelopment follows the successful £110m construction of the current Main Stand, a project overseen by Reds owners Fenway Sports Group, which has significantly enhanced the overall experience around the stadium. However, it’s hard not to reflect on what could have been if former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett had fulfilled their ambitious promises.

Sixteen years ago, the Reds unveiled grandiose plans to relocate from Anfield to a new 60,000 all-seater stadium at nearby Stanley Park, a project that would have required a staggering £300m investment. The designs, crafted by Dallas-based architects HKS, were intended to be uniquely distinct from the traditional ‘bowl’ approach of other modern stadiums. The centerpiece would have been a vast single-tier Kop, accommodating nearly 20,000 passionate fans.

Then-chief executive Rick Parry spoke with enthusiasm, praising the exciting designs and their seamless integration into Stanley Park. Former owner Hicks shared the sentiment, describing the stadium as futuristic, imaginative, and truly befitting of Liverpool’s identity. The initial plans, proposed by Manchester architects AFL in 2003, were for a more conventional 60,000-seat structure on the same Stanley Park site. However, Hicks and Gillett sought to make a bolder statement and dreamed of a stadium capable of holding over 75,000 fans.

Despite the initial optimism and aspirations to have the stadium ready by 2010, fate had other plans. The global credit crunch, which struck in 2007, significantly impacted the project’s financial viability, leading to an escalating cost that eventually reached a daunting £400m. Although final planning permission was granted in June 2008, economic difficulties forced a pause in the construction within months. By December of the same year, it was clear that the HKS-designed stadium would not come to fruition, and completion was pushed back to 2011 at the earliest.

As financial troubles plagued Hicks and Gillett, and internal conflicts threatened the club’s stability, the stadium project was shelved. When Fenway Sports Group assumed ownership in 2012, they decided to abandon the ambitious HKS redesign and return to the original, more conventional design for a new stadium. This decision came with a considerable price, as Liverpool had already spent nearly £50m on the failed endeavor.

Finally, after a long and tumultuous journey, Liverpool will soon welcome 60,000 fans to Anfield, a vision once imagined by Hicks and Gillett 15 years ago. Despite the delays and setbacks, the anticipation for the new Anfield Road End remains high, and the enduring spirit of Anfield lives on.