GOODISON PARK will be SAVED even after Everton move out.
The Toffees are preparing for an emotional farewell from the famous old ground this Sunday after 133 years.
AlamyEverton Women will move into Goodison Park from next season[/caption]
GettyMegan Finnigan is relishing the chance to captain her side in their new permanent home[/caption]
They will then move into their brand-new state-of-the-art 53,000-seater stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock ahead of the 2025-26 Premier League season.
But the club have ensured Goodison Park will remain in use.
Because Everton Women are going to move in and make the stadium their new permanent home – and believe it will be “the most iconic venue in the Women’s Super League“.
Everton launched The Goodison Legacy project in 2020 to figure out what would happen with the stadium once the men’s team move across town.
And the club’s new owners – the Friedkin Group – decided to keep football being played on the site that first opened in 1892.
The announcement means Goodison Park will remain a key place within Liverpool – and not knocked down as previously planned.
Everton’s former owners had laid out £82million plans for it to be demolished and replaced with housing, a care home, retain units and a park.
Instead, the 39,572-capacity Goodison Park becomes the biggest dedicated women’s football stadium in the country.
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It holds approximately 18 times more fans than Everton Women’s current home ground, Walton Hall Park.
It is reported the club plan to make upgrades to the changing rooms and will update the exterior to reflect the women’s team.
Everton Women captain Megan Finnigan said: “This move is a testament to where the women’s game is right now and, more importantly, where it is heading.
“Goodison is a magical stadium with a deep heritage and close ties to the local community.
“Leading the team out for that first home match of next season will be nothing short of a career highlight – and the prospect of what Everton Women can become with such an iconic ground to call our home is hugely exciting.”
The news comes just the day after ex-Everton owner Farhad Moshiri told Sky Sports he was given a deadline of 2028 for Goodison to be bulldozed.
Moshiri said: “My advisors told me that their estimate was by 2028, Goodison should be demolished and [move into] a new stadium.
“I went through the history of our attempts to have a new ground. I realised that is the No1 priority of the club – or should be.
“They were all in love with Goodison and then I was in love with Goodison, nobody wanted to move.
“But the reason we had to leave was partly infrastructural, partly financial.”
David Moyes’ men’s team host already-relegated Saints this weekend.
And the Premier League have given fans special permission to break a strict rule.
The grand goodbye plans ahead of the move to the £1billion new ground mean Toffees supporters will be allowed to drink alcohol in view of the pitch, which is usually prohibited.
Fans will be allowed to purchase alcoholic beverages from hospitality, bars and kiosks around the ground after the final whistle has been sounded at around 2pm.
Spectators will be allowed to buy booze until 2.45pm and take it to their seats, where they can watch the ‘End of an Era’ ceremony.
GettyFans will bid an emotional farewell to Goodison Park on Sunday[/caption]
ReutersThe 53,000-seater Bramley-Moore Dock stadium will be the men’s team’s home[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
