Images: Everton FC
Everton Stadium hosted the second of three planned test events yesterday (Sunday), as the club’s Under-21s team defeated Bolton Wanderers B 1-0 in front of more than 25,000 fans.
Yesterday’s match was designed to assess various operational aspects of the stadium, with a test of the venue’s evacuation procedures carried out during the second half. The evacuation exercise was necessary for the club to obtain a safety licence for the stadium.
It marked the second test event at Everton Stadium, after 10,000 fans attended an Under-18s friendly match against Wigan Athletic last month. Yesterday was also the first time that fan engagement activity was held in the expansive Plaza at the new stadium.
The Plaza hosted live music and entertainment, along with an expanded range of English, Greek, Indian and Italian street food. In partnership with food services provider Aramark, Everton offered fans the chance to sample a test menu, which included salt and pepper chicken, loaded sausage rolls, hotdogs and a club-branded toffee doughnut.
The stadium has a capacity of 52,888 and is located on Bramley Moore Dock. All four sides of the venue were open during yesterday’s fixture.
Colin Chong, Everton’s interim chief executive, said: “This was a hugely important step in our transition to Everton Stadium, and we are delighted with how the stadium and our protocols handled the increase in capacity.
“Following the first test event we received a lot of positive feedback on the matchday experience elements and the food offer, while we also took on board some learnings from an operational perspective. We will continue to engage with local authorities, city stakeholders and fan groups about the long-term travel plan, through the Transport Working Group.”
A third and final test event is set to be held before the end of the 2024-25 season, before Everton officially moves in for the 2025-26 campaign.
Everton formally took control of the stadium prior to Christmas last year. The handover came three and a half years after the commencement of the project back in August 2021.
Everton is now overseeing the six-month fit-out phase for the stadium, which will be a host venue during UEFA Euro 2028. The fit-out phase will cover interior design specialists, tradesmen and women and audio-visual engineers completing the stadium’s bars, restaurants and experiences, and retail spaces.
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