Liverpool embarked on a £60m stadium reconstruction in other to expand its stadium fan capacity to 61,000 before the Coronavirus pandemic and the construction is expected to take 18 months from the start date. It was scheduled to begin at the end the year 2020. However, the pandemic has caused a lot of delays to the project and it has been pushed back.
The club now expects its £60 million ($75m) stadium expansion project to be delayed for at least 12 months in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The team planned to begin working on the reconstruction at the end of the year 2020 and the permission for the planning was supposed to be summited this month.
A 12 months delay will mean that the project would not be completed until summer 2023 if they begin the project a year from now.
The club’s chief operating officer, Andy Hughes issued this statement today: “We have experienced a number of delays to the planned project as a direct result of the Covid-19 lockdown.
“Given the challenges that many sectors are facing right now, including the construction, procurement, and public sectors, we are taking a responsible approach to pause the project for at least 12 months.
“The complex build program for Anfield Road is an 18-month process and needs two clear summer close-season windows in order for it to be successful. This is why we are pausing on the project for at least 12 months so the earliest we could complete the program is summer 2023 rather than summer 2022 as originally planned.
“Given the planning application is no longer time-critical, it is our intention to submit our planning application at some stage during the next 12 months. We will use this period to review and consider options. When the football calendar and the wider delays to the construction and supply chain industries begin to plateau, we will provide further updates.”
The reconstruction has been postponed indefinitely with the hope that they would be able to start the process in 12 months. Hughes continued and said “ “We understand this is disappointing for many as it is for us but would like to thank all our key stakeholders, including local neighbors in Anfield, our supporters, the City Council, and others for their great co-operation in the pre-planning stages.
“Our priority remains the health and wellbeing of our people, the local community, and supporters at this challenging time. Our thoughts are with all those affected by Covid-19.”
Liverpool can use the stadium extension to maximize their earnings. They have a good team this year and their fan base is growing daily. As of now, the expansion plan has been postponed until the coronavirus pandemic is out of the way.
