Liverpool’s historic home Anfield has been the heart of the club since its formation in 1892. Over the years it has seen many makeovers. But the latest 2023/24 expansion adding 7000 seats and bringing a total capacity to 61,000 is a game-changer.
This upgrade of Anfield Road End is all about matching the club’s lofty on-field ambitions with a grander stadium. Yet, history could have taken a wildly different turn if some earlier, outlandish stadium plans had come to life.
Anfield Over The Years
From the “Parry Bowl” to the “Space Ship” and “Wembley’s Little Brother,” Liverpool flirted with various bold designs but none made it past the drawing board. Even the Stanley Park had been frequently suggested as a site for a new stadium. Instead, Anfield remains the ultimate winner, blending rich history with modern flair.
The Parry Bowl at Anfield
The Parry Bowl was named after then-chief executive Rick Parry. This design was introduced in 2022. The plan was to build a new stadium just 270 meters away from Anfield in Stanley Park.
Designed to hold 55,000 fans, the stadium was still to be named Anfield and aimed for completion by 2005. But unfortunately, the design failed to offer compelling reasons to abandon the historic Anfield.
Financial difficulties further hampered the project, leading to its indefinite suspension. Despite being revisited by current owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the plan never advanced and remined shelved.
Hicks and Gillett’s Futuristic Spaceship
When Tom Hicks and George Gillett took over, they proposed an even grander plan, colloquially referred to as the “Spaceship.” Unveiled in 2007, this £300 million project had a visionary of 60,00-capacity stadium, expandable to 75,000 with an 18,000-seat single-tier Kop as its highlight.
But despite promises, including the famous line, “The spade has to be in the ground within 60 days,” the project never materialized. A combination of financial mismanagement and lack of real progress led to the plan’s eventual abandonment after discussions between US architects HKS and Liverpool City Council.
Wembley’s Little Brother
After the failure of the Spaceship plan, Hicks and Gillette went to redesign a more scaled-down, cost-effective approach. This design, reminiscent of the modern Wembley, received council approval but failed to gain the trust of the fans.
Eventually, the fans grew weary of repeated delays and unfulfilled promises. The plan failed through just like the decline of the club under Hicks and Gillette’s ownership, which almost led Liverpool to financial disaster.
The 2024 Reality
It was not until FSG took over Liverpool that the Reds began to see substantial progress. Initial plans of moving to Stanley Park was dismissed in favor of expanding Anfield.
The development has been a considerable success, starting with the main stand and followed by the new Anfield Road End, making Anfield a modern stadium while preserving its history.
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