Match day experience

The main issue is that people can only disperse in two directions post-match. At Goodison you could go in all directions so the crowding was minimal.

It’s an extra 2 hours minimum on my match day, not entirely unpopular with missus, as I am out the way for longer.

Bus back to the Strand or into town are insufficient, so too long to wait. They are improving traffic management, so that is getting better.

I much prefer the new stadium, GP was tired and views obscured. I don’t mind spending a bit more on food and drink, but I’d like to see significant investment in the team as a quid pro quo.
 
As a 'tourist' who only gets over for the occasional game:

Mostly midweek night games at Goodison, which were the only ones guaranteed not to be changed after you'd booking flights and accommodation. So the floodlights and the long walk from town were part of the 'experience'. Atmosphere was generally fairly quiet and moan-y. (In the Upper Bullens behind a pillar, which was generally the only kind of seat you could pick up.) Dreadful getting back to town if we'd lost and it was raining. Mega-queues for the bus and getting soaked walking if you gave up. Fish and chips outside the ground and a pint in there if I got in early.

Hill Dickinson on a sunny summer weekend was a breath of fresh air. Nice easy scenic walk from town, plenty of options for a drink if you fancied it. Spectacular seat off resale near the front of Upper SW. Atmosphere was quiet-ish but better than Goodison generally was. Easy to get a drink before the match, with plenty of options. Wonderful view back to town while enjoying it. Upper South concourse completely rammed at half time with little chance of a drink or toilet. (I hate leaving early while the match is still going on.) A decent walk back and plenty of good pubs on the stadium side of the city.
 
Seathestars said:
There’s still loads of places to have a drink and get food. Chippy 10 minutes away and all the food courts.
There’s boozers within minutes.
Much better than Goodison for me.
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I suppose everyone is different, but comparing like for like (ie a Saturday or Sunday game) also prefer our new matchdays. As an out of town fan I used to love the match at Goodison. Used to drink in The Clock. But over the last few seasons of closing pubs the remaining ones got busier and busier. Got to a point you would never get a seat prior to things thinning out around 2:15pm. And if it was your round prior to that queues could be a nightmare.

As you say, there are loads of options now in a small vicinity of the stadium, or at least the equivalent 10 min walk that a lot of the Goodison pubs were. Meraki, Dixies, Wind Factory, Ten Streets, Dock Wall all good size places and within a stones throw of each other. Some of them actually massive compared to the Goodison pubs. Ok, the insistence that some have with the loud music and singers etc is a pain but Meraki at least seem to have knocked the live music on the head a bit.

I said comparing like for like in the opening sentence because I think if you compare a Saturday 3pm at Goodison with a Tuesday 7:30pm at HD then agree, give me the Saturday game at Goodison. But the midweek games at Goodison were equally a pain in the backside. Finish work, slog to get up in the midweek 5pm traffic. Often arrive with time for 1 very quick pint, or not at all, so straight into the ground. Your evenings enjoyment is then totally at the mercy of the result and performance!! I personally think that is what has coloured some peoples enjoyment of this seasons matchday experience, the sheer amount of midweek games. Lets hope for less next season because for me personally, the weekend fixtures are a great experience in and around the stadium
 
Easier for me, I live just outside of Liverpool now so can drive to Headbolt Lane, 15 mins on the train and then a little walk from Sandhills. When a game finishes I can be home within a decent time. My issue is with the pricing of food/drink within the stadium, it’s a rip off so I usually grab a coffee before. Can’t imagine what it’s costing a family of 4-5 people over a season. I don’t remember pricing being an issue at Goodison.
 
DeanDixieJJ said:
Easier for me, I live just outside of Liverpool now so can drive to Headbolt Lane, 15 mins on the train and then a little walk from Sandhills. When a game finishes I can be home within a decent time. My issue is with the pricing of food/drink within the stadium, it’s a rip off so I usually grab a coffee before. Can’t imagine what it’s costing a family of 4-5 people over a season. I don’t remember pricing being an issue at Goodison.
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What genuinely amazes me is the number of people that seemingly can't manage to go 2 hours without eating. 🤷‍♂️
 
My older brother went to the FA Cup game - In his opinion ground fantastic great DM & his team rubbish - as he was going in with his son & nephew who was there Andy Burnham & his daughter - many fans said hello to Andy - & all complained about the source of Transport to the HD ?BMD - He smiled & stated its the mayor of Liverpool to sort that out -

When Starmer was having a meeting with all the mayors in the UK - Andy walking talking to the Liverpool Mayor -

Osborne cancelled the set up for trams in the City -

I bet you if the other lot had been there - the help they would have received for transport would have been put in place more quickly as Anfield never suffers with their ground improvements etc etc roads closed etc -

Its politics if the -Liverpool Mayor was a blue it would have been so different & advantageous for that ground - look at the difference ......below

Substantial investments are flowing into the Anfield area in 2026, primarily through a £4 million highway and high street regeneration scheme outside the Kop and an estimated £110m–£114m recently spent on the new Anfield Road Stand. Future redevelopment will continue to focus on commercial growth and local community infrastructure. [1, 2, 3]
 
duncs pigeon said:
12k?? Not sure tbh
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I don't think it was many more season ticket holders, I seem to recall 3k ish? I know as a % of capacity, there's less season ticket holders at Hill Dickinson there was Goodison.

[edit] This is AI - not convinced it's entirely accurate though, will do a dig later to see.

1780326079368.webp


The premium seasonal members are locked into 3 years so that retention was guaranteed.
 
ex Top Balcony went to Club View, New matchday experience deffo took the buzz away for me. Missed my old walk up Spellow Lane, a pint and a Blue Dragon. Too many fixture changes, night games, made not getting home until the early hours, just became too much, in fact did not enjoy last few games, (did anyone?) Last game was Sunderland, was still 50/50 on renewal at that point. When crunch time came, I couldn't justify it for cost, 3hr journey and the amount of games I could actually get to. Still hope to get to some Sat 3pm games on resale, will enjoy that more I think, as we will stop over and make a better day / night of it. Bramley Moore social is great though, enjoyed going in there pre match. If i had renewed, probs would have moved from Club View.
 
Dario Terracotta said:
It’ll all come together in time for the younger generations but for an old fossil like myself I don’t half miss the Old Lady for all her misgivings and all the routines I had😔
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I miss it to be fair, we had to move but like I said in the OP its everything that comes with going the game, the pint, the train, the walk, the car parks or streets we parked in, the same faces etc.....
 

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