Sasha Ryazantsev has been speaking about Bramley-Moore Dock, commercial deals and Europe
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Board member explains why new stadium is 'paramount' to future plans
Sasha Ryazantsev has been speaking about Bramley-Moore Dock, commercial deals and Europe
Everton board member Sasha Ryazantsev says a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock is "paramount" to the future of the club.
But the Blues' plan for long-term success must also include an increase in commercial revenue and regular participation in European competitions.
Everton are due to
release the latest designs for their proposed 52,000 seater stadium in July as part of the club's second stage of consultation with a planning application expected to be submitted before the end of the year.
And speaking to
SportsPro chief financial and commercial officer Ryazantsev has reiterated the importance of the club leaving Goodison Park behind if the Blues are to break the stranglehold of the Premier League's leading sides.
“The stadium is paramount for our long-term success as a football club," he said.
“We love our spiritual home of Goodison Park, but we have been there for more than 125 years now and it is clearly the one factor that we need to do something about if we are to bridge the gap to the top six.
“The new stadium will give us more general admission seats and more hospitality, and it will also attract better partnership deals and enhance commercial revenues.
Everton board member Sasha Ryazantsev has talked up the significance of the club's new deal with Fanatics and how it will extend to a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock
"But most importantly, the new stadium
will give our supporters a better experience and make them feel proud and excited in an iconic setting on the Liverpool waterfront.”
Ryazantsev went onto add: “A new stadium will give us the opportunity to attract the best players, create a great atmosphere for more of our fans and visiting supporters, expand our concourse space for better food and beverage offerings and eliminate restricted view seats.
"It will also provide us with a step change in generating revenue from hospitality and other commercial streams such as sponsorship, catering and events.
“All these things together will help improve performance and bridge the gap to the top six.”
Everton missed out on qualification for the Europa League this season after finishing eighth in the table.
The Blues pocketed around £12.5m from being in the competition in 2017and Ryazantsev says it's a key element of the board's long-term plan.
“We have been very clear in the past that one of our key objectives is regular European football, and that season demonstrated why it is so important for us financially. The other key element is further growth in what we call ‘controllable revenue’, which is everything apart from broadcasting revenues from the Premier League and other competitions.
“That is our focus, as commercial and matchday revenues are clear differentiating factors that could take us to a new level.”
Ryazantsev, who recently spoke at the
SportsPro Live event in London, has explained the importance of Everton's July trip to Kenya, as part of the club's sponsorship agreement with SportPesa.
“Our partnership with SportPesa has given us an opportunity to grow the
Everton following in the East African market," he said.
"We had a successful tour in Tanzania in 2017 and will be going to Kenya for the first time in July.
"Our aim is to leverage this opportunity and grow a new, dynamic and international fanbase and find those Evertonians who don’t know that they are Evertonians yet."
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