New Everton Stadium - Hill Dickinson Stadium

[Daytripper]

How did people find getting home last night? Be interesting to see how much quicker or slower it was than Goodison. Will have a big impact on attendances in years to come.

My brother said it took longer to leave than it normally was and the bus service to towards Bootle strand was late. I said to him imagine what it would be like when it’s the derby or Man Utd etc or in the winter.

 

[Connor mcloud]

The same fellas were probably first in the queue for fast food and blue doughnuts.

Oxygen more like

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

That South Stand atmosphere is pathetic for the new Gwladys St. Not a flag, banner or peep made all game.

Lets not pretend that Gwladys Street wasn't a sad imitation of itself for the last ten years or so. I miss Goodison and the Gwladys massively but its the memories of how it was in the 90's and early 2000's that I remember foundly. If you're able to remember a boss atmosphere at Goodison from 2010 onwards then it was very likely either a derby or a "big game" in isolation. Because it was mostly crap outside of that. Especially from 2015 owards. Yeah there was still some amazing games and nights in those last ten years but they aren't something that can't be replicated at the new place with a legit singing section and a bit of effort from the club. Getting back to the kind of atmosphere we used to have when football was still affordable for everyone is a lot less likely.

 

[BullensRoad]

Absolute travesty how small the lower tier of the South Stand is. Been said before that so many people who never sat in the Street End will have put themselves in there as well without really wanting to contribute to the atmosphere.

Yes. People in what is basically safe standing not wanting to stand. They have zero self awareness and took the seats from those who would.

The people with the longer tenures got first choice, so a lot of older folk from the bullens road and goodison road stands have gone there. Maybe they will move next season?

 

[Connor mcloud]

How did people find getting home last night? Be interesting to see how much quicker or slower it was than Goodison. Will have a big impact on attendances in years to come.

On a non matchday i would go up Blackstone st to Vauxhall rd then Leeds st or go towards costco then Leeds street.
It was that chocker we went down the Strand and then Upper Parly, got home 11.20 up by Bowring park

 

[Paulie]

Lets not pretend that Gwladys Street wasn't a sad imitation of itself for the last ten years or so. I miss Goodison and the Gwladys massively but its the memories of how it was in the 90's and early 2000's that I remember foundly. If you're able to remember a boss atmosphere at Goodison from 2010 onwards then it was very likely either a derby or a "big game" in isolation. Because it was mostly crap outside of that. Especially from 2015 owards. Yeah there was still some amazing games and nights in those last ten years but they aren't something that can't be replicated at the new place with a legit singing section and a bit of effort from the club. Getting back to the kind of atmosphere we used to have when football was still affordable for everyone is a lot less likely.

I wouldn't argue against that but the Gwladys St, even when bad, is a lot better than that South Stand. It's literally silent all game.

 

[Benicetoourboys]

It was loud at times, but its up to each individual whether they want to join in or not no matter where they stand/sit.
Do supporters want to help the team or not?
Is having a pint more important?

 

[Charro]

It was loud at times, but it’s up to each individual whether they want to join in or not no matter where they stand/sit.
Do supporters want to help the team or not?
Is having a pint more important?

It’s hard when you’re being told to sit down constantly which is what happens in the upper south.

 

[James Patrick]

It’s hard when you’re being told to sit down constantly which is what happens in the upper south.

Did they tape your mouth shut ? If not you can still vocally support a team without needing to stand up. I think they do seemingly tape up the gobs of many of those in the safe standing section.

 

[Tom Hughes]

Goodison was only at its best on the odd special occasion.

Most of the time, it was pretty quiet.

Everyone knows this, even if they'd rather only remember the bear pit.

We've played a handful of games at Hill Dickinson, and none of them have been special.

Acoustically, I think the ground is fantastic. Sound carries in a much more uniform way than it did at Goodison. There was a moment first half last night when Michael Keane got a shout of "man on" from all four stands at once and he almost crapped himself.

The potential is there, the fans just have to collectively seize it.

Yes, Goodison was not like most British grounds and had become more of a "special occasion" stadium for some similar reasons (high roof lines etc)..... and it certainly never had a single large "kop" to help generate an atmosphere. So I'm not sure if its the best comparison for a brand new stadium. However, that said, with standing and seating on all 4 sides, it was always very loud when it had over 50k in it.

I think people are specifically "homing-in" on the South Stand not quite being the more dominent blue wall of noise that they expected, so far. Of course, it's people who make the noise, but the stadium/stand/roof design and how it was marketed to the fans can greatly enhance and even help prompt that. "Ideally", it probably needed to be a true single tier, with another 15-20 rows going right up to the roof in the south stand, giving greater massing and much larger acoustic catchment.

We've probably seen enough to know that the generally the atmosphere will be mostly decent, and great when the occasion/opposition demands it.

 

[Benicetoourboys]

Did they tape your mouth shut ? If not you can still vocally support a team without needing to stand up. I think they do seemingly tape up the gobs of many of those in the safe standing section.

Good point, I sit down most of the game but doesn't stop me singing etc.

 

[Milkman]

By the way - have the 1878 lot been banned from this stadium? Not seen them yet. If they have been that's a massive own goal.

They'd pierce all that corporate nonsen.....

....oh, I see.

Had earmarked the Spurs game for the first display, now postponed because there's not enough money for bigger/more flags. They need to get a Patreon set up or something.

Why the club does not pay for them I do not understand. It gives the feeling that we're just renters of the stadium at the moment and there's something a bit weird about how tentative the branding is around the area.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

I wouldn't argue against that but the Gwladys St, even when bad, is a lot better than that South Stand. It's literally silent all game.

So was the Gwladys at times mate. I remember only last season for example getting some proper dirty looks for yelling "come on ffs!" at everyone after trying to get something going and it going nowhere. That's far from an isolated incident. The most common song at Goodison for the last ten years was probably "shall we sing a song for you" from the away fans. I don't like it but that's the truth.

 

[summerisle]

By the way - have the 1878 lot been banned from this stadium? Not seen them yet. If they have been that's a massive own goal.

They'd pierce all that corporate nonsen.....

....oh, I see.

They're skint, need the club to get off their arses and cough up.

 

[allen]

Yes, Goodison was not like most British grounds and had become more of a "special occasion" stadium for some similar reasons (high roof lines etc)..... and it certainly never had a single large "kop" to help generate an atmosphere. So I'm not sure if its the best comparison for a brand new stadium. However, that said, with standing and seating on all 4 sides, it was always very loud when it had over 50k in it.

I think people are specifically "homing-in" on the South Stand not quite being the more dominent blue wall of noise that they expected, so far. Of course, it's people who make the noise, but the stadium/stand/roof design and how it was marketed to the fans can greatly enhance and even help prompt that. "Ideally", it probably needed to be a true single tier, with another 15-20 rows going right up to the roof in the south stand, giving greater massing and much larger acoustic catchment.

We've probably seen enough to know that the generally the atmosphere will be mostly decent, and great when the occasion/opposition demands it.

There's also that thing season ticket holders talk about, which is knowing who around them starts the songs that actually carry. No one wants to join in a song that won't take.

It'll take some time for those dominant voices to be identified and the recognisable patterns of song generation to bed in.