Homepage Article Goodison Park to become the permanent home of Everton Women

[RinkyDinker]

Let’s face it. The new owners newly in the door didn’t have time to put a legacy project together so have fudged it by “giving it to the women’s team”. This is completely inappropriate. The crowds no where near enough to fill the stadium at the recent derby half of two stands were only half full.
Why should the men’s team enjoy fantastic state of the art facilities and then women have to put up with ancient substandard ones?
Let’s face it over 3-6 years a decision will be made to demolish. They are just kicking can down the road. Are the really going to plough money into altering/changing the facilities no of course they are not.
Makes selling the seats having the big fan fare Sunday and the high demand for goodison tours all feel a bit like we’ve been Dupted. This to come out 4 days before the last game is poor.

The ladies team will generate more in them 3-6 yrs at Goodison than they would had they stayed the next 15 yrs at Wally Hall park. From a bithness perspective, it makes sense, and aside from City who have their own ladies ground, it’s another small income spinner, along with some Under 21 Derby games etc. Personally, I would have liked to have seen a clean break from Goodison, but while they are still deliberating around what happens with Goodison and surrounding area, it makes sense to utilise it while they do so.

 

[Blue toffee]

I don`t know, if they can survive they can grow the womens team commercially there`s potential for some semi decent gates.

I’d love it not to be the case, but I fear a lot of businesses around GP will be gone this time next year.

 

[sd_1992]

I mean this is obviously a PSR dodge and will presumably be gone within a few years.

If not then it is an incredibly stupid decision. We don’t fill half the existing stadium for gods sake.

 

[Charro]

Goodison IS the hub for the local community and has been for over 100yrs. It shall now continue to be so.

Not at less than half the capacity and less games being played.

Just a shame an opportunity for genuine regeneration for that part of the city has been shelved.

 

[The binman chronicles]

Let’s face it. The new owners newly in the door didn’t have time to put a legacy project together so have fudged it by “giving it to the women’s team”. This is completely inappropriate. The crowds no where near enough to fill the stadium at the recent derby half of two stands were only half full.
Why should the men’s team enjoy fantastic state of the art facilities and then women have to put up with ancient substandard ones?
Let’s face it over 3-6 years a decision will be made to demolish. They are just kicking can down the road. Are the really going to plough money into altering/changing the facilities no of course they are not.
Makes selling the seats having the big fan fare Sunday and the high demand for goodison tours all feel a bit like we’ve been Dupted. This to come out 4 days before the last game is poor.

I kind of agree but then there are lots I disagree with this post. It could be long term thinking if they start executing a plan to upgrade the facilities and so on in a fairly short time frame. We'll have to wait and see. There are quick wins to be had of course as I'm sure they can play about with the internals to increase dressing room sizes.

Personally I don't see anything drastic happening soon as what this does give them is a bit of breathing space to put in the best plan. They don't have to immediately pay to upgrade WHP, they don't have to pay to demolish GP and start on the legacy project. They can gauge demand for the women's side and then see if the income that can be generated warrants the cost to convert Goodison to be fit for purpose.

 

[BluePeadar]

This can only be good news for the short term anyway. Women will get a boost and it is still alive and kicking. It obvs wont be the same and will be nice to still see it in use.
Like handing your old camper van down to a young cousin

 

[Blue peter]

Amazing how cynical some supporters are. Regardless of TGF’s motivation, just enjoy it, this is amazing for the women’s team and Goodison remains in some form. Time will tell whether it will be a success but I think it’s a good idea.

 

[COYB75]

I think this is a really good thing.

I wonder if like Chelsea the Women’s team along with the stadium will be sold to another part of the Group which would help PSR no end.

100%, totally different rules for women’s game as they are looking to build it. Stadium sale etc will be a way of building a war chest.

 

[kenada_blue]

More moaning

 

[trueblue84]

I'm hearing that all of the seats will have scatter cushions.

 

[Tom Hughes]

In all seriousness, I would imagine that the previous plans would have been more beneficial to local businesses than this will.

The previous plans were primarily generated to boost the planning application. As far as I know, they never got off the m drawing board beyond the concept design, nor attracted the required investment. We've heard nothing about it for several years. There is no reason why the Everton in community element cannot still be included.

 

[JohnyH]

Totally miserable viewing of this. They may well scale down, but it's still Goodison

At what point does scaling, altering, renovating Goodison make it no longer Goodison? If they knock down and rebuild each stand is it still Goodison? Any minor decision to alter/change the ground will be fraught with opposing views on all sides. gonna cause unnecessary distraction as we try to pave a future in our new home. In reality, the only thing down will be to replace the seats. Long term it is not going to be economical to keep it running. May help PSR in the short term.

 

[Jokerdan]

Think it will be remodelled. I can imagine there will be some sort of restructure affecting primarily the Main Stand and maybe the Park End but the 'traditional' sides will remain in situ.

 

[kenada_blue]

I kind of agree but then there are lots I disagree with this post. It could be long term thinking if they start executing a plan to upgrade the facilities and so on in a fairly short time frame. We'll have to wait and see. There are quick wins to be had of course as I'm sure they can play about with the internals to increase dressing room sizes.

Personally I don't see anything drastic happening soon as what this does give them is a bit of breathing space to put in the best plan. They don't have to immediately pay to upgrade WHP, they don't have to pay to demolish GP and start on the legacy project. They can gauge demand for the women's side and then see if the income that can be generated warrants the cost to convert Goodison to be fit for purpose.

£70+mill asset, use it, pump revenue and sponsorship through it for 3 odd years. See what it does.

If not, it gets sold for millions.

Its a win win.

The only objection I see is from people who feel that no one should ever walk into Goodison ever again after Sunday and would rather it be a block of flats...or an Asda

 

[Lloydaldo11]

Made up will they be downsizing the stadium in the future?

I’m sure I read somewhere about knocking all stands down apart from the park end and building new stands in its place…. But might have dreamt that.