A new stadium for Liverpool at Stanley Park looks less likely after John W. Henry knocked on the head the idea that it would transform the club’s finances. A new stadium would increase match day revenues from £40m to £60m-£70m but that was before you factored in the costs of servicing the debt.
A new stadium for Liverpool at Stanley Park looks less likely after John W. Henry knocked on the head the idea that it would transform the club’s finances. A new stadium would increase match day revenues from £40m to £60m-£70m but that was before you factored in the costs of servicing the debt.
Moreover, ticket prices would probably have to go up. Even if Liverpool had 60,000 seats, there would have to be an increase from £900 to £1,550 in revenue per seat to catch Arsenal. It is not thought that Liverpool as a community can afford Arsenal or Chelsea prices.
Hence, Henry criticised comparisons with clubs like Arsenal as inappropriate. Arsenal were located in a wealthy metropolitan city. New stadiums were more often built with public rather than private money. Of course, that happens quite often in the States despite it being the bastion of free market capitalism. Cities compete with each other to attract franchises and the supposed economic boost and prestige that go with them.
The Liverpool supremo indicated that securing a naming rights deal could still transform the prospects for a new stadium. He also revived the idea of extending the main stand at Anfield, although he recognised that this was a long running saga and that there were homes behind the stand. Backing from the City Council would be needed to make such a plan a reality.