New Everton Stadium - Hill Dickinson Stadium

[PhilEFC]

Do the kiosks stay open during the match?

I think so mate.

 

[voodoobloo]

I thought the amount coming out from the posh seats 20 mins into the second half a bit jarring for our club too. Something you see Wembley but not what you expect every week at our club I wouldn’t say

The prawn sandwich brigade are easy to have a go at. The truth is that there were problems with the kitchens so some people, mainly kids ordering from the kids menu, were served very late and some were promised food at half time which again didn’t materialise. Goodison also had a hardcore of fans who wouldn’t return to their seats after half time - too cosy drinking free ale and watching the match on a telly. One really good thing compared to Old Trafford is that the tvs are small at BMD which encourages people to go back to their seats. The food, when it came was unbelievably good. The staff were fantastic. My only gripe was the closing of the concourse to allow the players in, which is why me and my son had to blag our way on with Moshiri.

 

[Johnniepk]

I was in Village St and the view from my seat is superb.

Pre-match drinks were ok but some bars ran out of lager and did not get them back on in time.

The food was not to my taste but everyone else seemed to be enjoying it!

Half time was packed and no chance of getting a drink of any description. Inexperienced staff probably did not help but hopefully they will get better.

I was surprised at how small the toilet blocks are and my wife said the same of the ladies. I went in 2 different blocks and only 3 urinals plus child’s urinal and 1 cubicle. Queuing out the door to get in and only 1 way in and out.

Quite a few things to sort out internally before next week but the outside was magnificent. I was bowled over by Everton Way and the number of people visiting their stones or remembering a loved one in overheard conversations was truly touching…it’s emotional.View attachment 320592

I was in Village Way too. The f& b was a bonus as i only paid £25. I got a camden stout which 3 members of staff took 15 minutes to pour!
I wasnt overly impressed by the seating in the concourse. Some of us less sprightly need lower chairs.
The Prince Rupert " pub" have me vibes of a train station waiting room

 

[Nobby Nobbs]

It takes £20 automatically and I took 2 pints, which were nice,

Not sure if I read this right but did you pay £20 for 2 pints. Got 2 Stella and a pint of Bud £13.55

 

[Rich1878]

I think so mate.

Nice one mate

My turn in 2 weeks, for the Brighton game.
Will be my first time at the new ground, so
definitely heading over early after reading all this.

Can't wait!

 

[Azza]

My first visit on a match day- outside the ground and into the fan zone- A fantastic buzz and sense of excitement. The fan plaza is great and the scale of the stadium compared to Goodison is breathtaking. Stewards, very helpful. Did not venture around to Everton Way as I knew that would be mobbed so have held off finding my stone for now.

Getting in. Ticket was East Stand Club view Block 322 Level 3. Entered via Gate 16 and it’s steps all the way up. I’m not fully knackered yet but the old knees were feeling it on the last flight of steps... Turns out there is a lift at either end of the East stand via gates 15 and 23, Did not see these lifts when i was in the Club View concourse so would be interested if anyone can say if they used them, will be looking for those in future.

I used sit in the Top Balcony when the seats were made for people a lot slimmer in the 70’s, so I was looking forward to a bit more elbow room, which there is, but not much. I don't think there is much difference in the distance between the rows. Not quite as steep as the Top Balcony, but not far off.

View inside the stadium. Absolutely brilliant. Agree with everyone else about the need for more “EFC” but that will surely come. Was looking at the digital advertising banner opposite over on the West Stand which wraps around along the North Stand and I presume the East Stand too. Now that would look amazing with a static Archibald Leitch Criss-Cross replicating the old Goodison Main Stand. This would instantly raise the Everton identity inside the ground.

lifts are circled in this image
View attachment 320709

Maps / guides per stand are all here : https://www.evertonfc.com/season-25-26/stadium-information

That's if you're allowed to use them it seems.

 

[PhilEFC]

Nice one mate

My turn in 2 weeks, for the Brighton game.
Will be my first time at the new ground, so
definitely heading over early after reading all this.

Can't wait!

You’ll be impressed mate.

I think it will take a while to get used to, but it’s brilliant.

 

[davek]

That's if you're allowed to use them it seems.

Scandalous that. Imagine saying that to a disabled person. 'kin rat.

IMO, the stewards in blue yesterday seemed to be a lovely bunch of people. Very helpful to fans. The rest of them were either gormless, jobsworths or a bunch of snides.

 

[BullensRoad]

The stadium is clearly head and shoulders above Goodison in every imaginable way. Comsidering we've been on the verge of going bust in recent years, it's a miracle to even be moving into a new place—let alone one that is so unique and future fit. Clearly it's a stadium and home to be proud of.

We can also criticise things though when they are obviously not up to standard. It seems there were many issues yesterday from turnstiles not working to fans being unaware of escalators' location or even escalators not working, to food kiosks being overwhelmed and people having difficulty navigating through the concourses as they feel the toilets are located completely wrongly opposite to the kiosks.

We can also be disappointed that the 'wall' behind the goal for some reason never came to fruition, and I personally don't understand the extreme size of the accessibility areas at the front of the stands. We can also be disappointed that there is little branding inside of the stadium, and the the club hasn't yet bothered to paint lots of the grey concrete which stands out like a sore thumb.

These are things to nit-pick at and we shouldn't lose sight that yesterday was a test event, fully intended on having such issues like in my second paragraph stand out so that they can be fixed ahead of the Brighton game.

I personally wish fans would knock this 'best stadium in the country' on the head when it's clear (as it should be given they spent more than double and this was before the price of materials went up during the war) the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is superior in every single way—perhaps only not by location. For Everton, in 2025, with all that's happened with us and us being crap for three straight decades, it's a great stadium and one we should be delighted with.

In terms of the success of yesterday, I'd say it was pretty much perfect, because now the issues are crystal clear and most of them can very easily and quickly be rectified ahead of our opening home game.

Goodison Park 3/10
Hill Dickinson Stadium 9/10

Trust me it's not. They have the infrastructure and space to slap those venues.

The

My first visit on a match day- outside the ground and into the fan zone- A fantastic buzz and sense of excitement. The fan plaza is great and the scale of the stadium compared to Goodison is breathtaking. Stewards, very helpful. Did not venture around to Everton Way as I knew that would be mobbed so have held off finding my stone for now.

Getting in. Ticket was East Stand Club view Block 322 Level 3. Entered via Gate 16 and it’s steps all the way up. I’m not fully knackered yet but the old knees were feeling it on the last flight of steps... Turns out there is a lift at either end of the East stand via gates 15 and 23, Did not see these lifts when i was in the Club View concourse so would be interested if anyone can say if they used them, will be looking for those in future.

I used sit in the Top Balcony when the seats were made for people a lot slimmer in the 70’s, so I was looking forward to a bit more elbow room, which there is, but not much. I don't think there is much difference in the distance between the rows. Not quite as steep as the Top Balcony, but not far off.

View inside the stadium. Absolutely brilliant. Agree with everyone else about the need for more “EFC” but that will surely come. Was looking at the digital advertising banner opposite over on the West Stand which wraps around along the North Stand and I presume the East Stand too. Now that would look amazing with a static Archibald Leitch Criss-Cross replicating the old Goodison Main Stand. This would instantly raise the Everton identity inside the ground.

There should be a recognition of the club's past achievements with banners of our past honours.

As for Leitch criss-crosses: they're not peculiar to Everton. What is peculiar to Everton is...erm...the name 'Everton'. And that's hardly to be seen (spent too much time and effort catering to emblazoning the name Hill Dickinson - some no mark company who've gained massive brand identity at our expense...the parasite calling the shots to the host).

It's not good enough. People need to identify with a new facility. It's not there to be just commercially exploited. It has to feel like a stadium that belongs to us.

The reason for the lack of character is due to letting fans know how to navigate the stadium concourse.

 

[royalblue66]

Didn’t know the lift was there, until I was leaving.

 

[Tipp blue]

My cousin was in that gate 2 queue. Queued from 2.10 and got in his seat at 3.15. An utter scandal. He was told that the signal for the scanners was at fault. He had a paper ticket and it wasn't picking up the bar code off it.

I had a QR code on my phone and it was taking forever to find the position on the scanner to turn it green, and the stewards there were 'kin useless telling me to stand aside and find a 'ticket officer'. Daft gets.

The stadium being stupendous made-up for it like.

Minor issues, if that and beer supplies not meeting demand are the only things people complain about then all in all I'd call it a major success.

 

[BullensRoad]

Overlooked it. My ticket said enter by gate 16 so I did what it said on the tin. Now I know about the lifts at either end of the East stand I’ll be heading for them.

Genuinely starting to think the boomer generation and whatever is near to that is the treason we're struggling as a global leader.

I can't get my head round not being able to read clear instructions, where they held handed to understand basic instructions?

 

[davek]

Trust me it's not. They have the infrastructure and space to slap those venues.

The

The reason for the lack of character is due to letting fans know how to navigate the stadium concourse.

The concourses were appalling.

I mean - I have to say - I'd never get caught in a queue there anyway: imagine not being able to go without a pint for a couple of hours - and the prices for food are a deterrent in any case. But the lack of organisation was appalling and just going for a piss was an ordeal in and of itself.

I go back to the point above about stewards on that: the club seem to have gone out of their way to hire a bunch of (largely) clueless and unresponsive shower of turds it seems to me.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Overlooked it. My ticket said enter by gate 16 so I did what it said on the tin. Now I know about the lifts at either end of the East stand I’ll be heading for them.

Same here mate.

 

[BullensRoad]

My cousin was in that gate 2 queue. Queued from 2.10 and got in his seat at 3.15. An utter scandal. He was told that the signal for the scanners was at fault. He had a paper ticket and it wasn't picking up the bar code off it.

I had a QR code on my phone and it was taking forever to find the position on the scanner to turn it green, and the stewards there were 'kin useless telling me to stand aside and find a 'ticket officer'. Daft gets.

The stadium being stupendous made-up for it like.

Out of all the faults putting fake scenarios to complain about is a serious disorder.

Please get help Dave.