Exploring Everton's Move to a New Stadium | OneFootball

Everton have moved into the brand new Hill Dickinson Stadium and are about to embark on the club's first season in the arena. After calling Goodison Park home for 133 years having played at the ground since 1892, the Toffees are entering a bold era which they hope will spark success.

Everton are one of the biggest clubs in England, having won nine league titles, five FA Cups and the Cup Winners' Cup and the switch should see them better compete both on and off the pitch. Fans are excited for what's to come and will head to Bramley Moore for the first home game of the Premier League campaign when Everton host Brighton & Hove Albion on August 24. This article will explore what the move means and what supporters can expect on matchdays.

More Blues at the Game

One of the main benefits of moving into a new stadium is a greater capacity for games. At Goodison Park, Everton had sold out on an annual basis with more than 39,000 supporters packing into the iconic ground every other Saturday in recent years.

However now, 52,769 loyal and passionate followers will be able to watch the Toffees in action at home thanks to the new build. The South Stand alone is one of the steepest in world football with a total of 14,800 seats. There are 5,000 specs in the lower section of the stand and 9,800 in the upper tier. It's set to be a cauldron of noise as fans of the Blues get behind the team and cheer the players to victory.

New Online Access

Any Evertonian will tell you that it was virtually impossible to get a signal at Goodison Park and that any connection wouldn't be possible until you started walking towards County Road after the game. However, at the new stadium, the club have rolled out an enhanced mobile network infrastructure. This means supporters will be able to access free Wi-Fi which will be fully operational across the stadium bowl and concourses.

No matter where they are situated at Hill Dickinson Stadium, supporters will be get online to see the latest team news on the official Everton app and even play online games on their smartphone during the half-time break. The ability to connect with Wi-Fi at the game will enhance the interactive element of gameday and boost connections between supporters who will now be able to converse electronically, which will enhance meet-ups and the discourse around the action being played out on the pitch.

Boosted Revenue Streams

The old Main Stand at Goodison Park dated back to the 1970s and so on Goodison Road, there was little scope for Everton to enhance its hospitality offerings as there simply wasn't the space to expand and build. That was a major reason why the club elected to move into a new state-of-the-art arena as the events and marketing department at Hill Dickinson Stadium can offer a range of unique packages, giving Evertonians a vast range of different options to watch the game, from enjoying top food and drinks to watching the game from some of the best seats in the house.

Exciting Partnerships

Everton's ability to now boost revenue streams also includes new partnerships and sponsorships with companies around the world keen to join forces with the club to enhance exposure and offer services through exclusive links. Just this week, the Toffees announced that Budweiser would become a founding partner of Hill Dickinson Stadium.

A statement released by club said: "This agreement brings two globally recognised names together in a partnership that will see Budweiser also recognised as Hill Dickinson Stadium’s ‘Official Beer Partner’ and have a key role in helping Evertonians celebrate this exciting new chapter in blue."

"As the Official Beer Partner, Budweiser will use their experience of iconic stadium partnerships, like Wembley Stadium and The O2, to create an unforgettable matchday experience. Evertonians will have the opportunity to enjoy many of the world-renowned beers, ciders and non-alcohol options from within the Budweiser Brewing Group family."

Inclusive and Supportive Experiences

Everton have catapulted themselves into the modern day and the state-of-the-art stadium even includes a sensory box and sensory room to aid supporters with sensory needs and their families on matchday.

The box is a quiet space facing the pitch and features a range of specialist sensory equipment. There are reserved seats in front of the windows of the box which gives the group the flexibility to watch the game inside or outside the box. The sensory room, meanwhile, is a breakout space boasting additional sensory equipment and is available for anyone using the box who may require time away from the action on the pitch and more focused support.

Overall, the move to a new stadium should revolutionise the ways in which Everton operate. From advanced and enhanced revenue streams to new possibilities for fans in the ways in which they engage with the game, there is now huge scope for the Toffees.