Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan has declared that Anfield will not see any further redevelopment in the near future. Are you content with Anfield’s current setup?
In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, conducted in the luxurious Fairmont Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh, Hogan opens up about a range of topics.
With fans eagerly waiting outside for a glimpse of their idols before heading to training, Hogan delves into Liverpool’s burgeoning popularity in the United States, which is significantly boosting the club’s commercial success.
The discussion also touches on Liverpool’s revamped executive structure following a summer of major changes, the Fenway Sports Group’s (FSG) pursuit of a multi-club model, Taylor Swift’s concerns, stadium expansion, and the ongoing support for financial fair play regulations.
This summer has been particularly lucrative for Liverpool, with Taylor Swift performing three sold-out concerts at Anfield. Fellow American singer Pink performed two concerts next.
In the Words of Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan
“It went unbelievably well. Turning what I’d say is the best football venue in the world into one of the best concert venues in the world involved a lot of hard work at the end of a long season.”
Hogan says enthusiastically,
“Having Taylor Swift followed by Pink, five fantastic events, over 250,000 people came through the doors of Anfield, many of whom wouldn’t ever come for a football match.
A lot were experiencing Anfield and Liverpool for the first time. Many people travelled in from outside the area, which is very valuable.
As a key stakeholder in the city, it’s important to promote what a great city Liverpool is.
The overwhelmingly positive response was extremely gratifying. We look forward to doing more of it in the years to come.”
With Everton’s new stadium on the city’s waterfront close to completion, competition for hosting events is about to crank up. However Hogan remains unfazed,
“Take a look at New York, London, Boston, there are multiple venues where big acts come through on a regular basis.
The thing that we contend with is a relatively short window of time where we can host events. It has to be in the close season.
Leaving sufficient time for the pitch to be re-laid for the upcoming season. I don’t see another venue close by being a big issue.
There are a lot of different acts that will be touring in the years ahead. We’re focused on making Anfield the best venue it can possibly be.”
The final stages of the Anfield Road Stand redevelopment are underway, raising the stadium’s capacity to around 61,000. This project was hindered by delays when construction firm Buckingham Group went into administration before the start of last season.
“To say we had ‘challenges’ would be a polite way of putting it.”
Hogan admits,
“It was very difficult and we appreciated everyone’s patience as we went through that.
We got to a level of pretty much completion by the end of the season so now it’s the final tweaks and changes.
We will be fully operational by the time of the Brentford match (on August 25).”
What about the final costs after all the complications? The bill was initially expected to be £80m.
“I can’t confirm it yet as we’re still in the process of working through that.
Until we have a specific number it would not be fair to throw one out there but we’re in the process of working that out.”
What’s clear is that Anfield’s capacity won’t be increasing further any time soon, with no plans to rebuild the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand or the Kop.
“We don’t see it going beyond where we are now.”
Hogan confirms.
“Going back to 2014, phase one was the Main Stand. Phase two was the Anfield Road Stand.
The goal was always to get us to a place where the capacity was over 60,000. We have done that now. There are no plans for further expansion of the stadium.”
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