Plans have been approved to upgrade the forthcoming railway station to serve Everton's new stadium. The club has also announced that they are looking for volunteers for specific positions at the stadium and that they are looking at potential bids with a new name for the arena.

Sandhills station upgrade

The Toffees, are preparing to move from Goodison Park to Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium. With a capacity of 52,888 spectators, the new arena will be ready for the 2025-26 football season. The decision to relocate the stadium comes with the hope of significantly increasing the club's revenue and improving the experience for fans.

The preparations also include adapting the transport infrastructure around the arena to meet the needs of thousands of fans. New parking zones are planned within a half-hour walking radius, but also a new system for directing fans returning by rail. The closest station for the new stadium is Sandhills, located on the Merseyrail line. It is anticipated that this point will be a key hub for fans travelling to and from the new stadium. To minimise the problems associated with the influx of passengers, Liverpool Council has approved a proposal to create a dedicated fan management area at Sandhills station.

Although the platforms and trains serving Sandhills station are capable of accommodating the anticipated number of additional passengers in a reasonable time, access to the platforms presents logistical challenges, particularly during periods of increased traffic. To prevent unsafe situations and ensure a smooth flow of people, plans have been drawn up to create a dedicated pedestrian waiting area, which will allow for controlled crowd management during major events.

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The new fan management area will be divided into four separate areas, with each section corresponding to a different Merseyrail line, making it easier to manage the flow of travellers. Fans will be directed to the appropriate zones depending on their direction of travel - lines such as Ormskirk and Southport will have their own dedicated areas, allowing for a faster service and less congestion.

The management zone will be used after football matches and other major events until all passengers can safely board the platform and get to their trains. Outside of periods of heavy traffic, the area will return to its original purpose of storing rail equipment and operating replacement services.

Innovative approach to transport for people with disabilities

Special facilities have been provided for passengers with reduced mobility. They will be directed by staff to a separate route that will allow them priority access to the platform, using existing ramps. This arrangement will ensure that people with disabilities have comfortable and safe access to the rail infrastructure.

As part of these preparations, Merseytravel is also planning the creation of a modular social building, which will be used for crowd control staff. In order to manage such a large-scale project, cooperation is needed between different organisations, such as Everton FC, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, British Transport Police and Merseyrail.

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New stadium name coming soon

The new site is expected to bring a significant increase in revenue, with one of the main sources being the sale of the stadium's naming rights. The club said it has already received several offers and details are currently being negotiated.

Richard Kenyon, director of commercial and communications, stressed that the Everton board is placing particular emphasis on ensuring that the chosen brand is right for the club in the long term, and the naming rights deal will run for at least 10 years. In addition, the new arena will offer significantly more premium venues - bars and restaurants.

New jobs and revitalisation of north Liverpool

Everton's new stadium will not only contribute to the club's revenue, but will also create new jobs and boost the local economy. With the construction of the stadium, it is expected to bring tens of thousands of new jobs and boost the economy by more than £1 billion.

The recruitment process has already started, and there will be hundreds of jobs available - from match day stewards to events assistants and customer service advisors. Anyone interested in working at the new stadium can register their interest on the Everton Stadium website. Job Centre Plus is now responsible for attracting candidates.

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