Liverpool’s Anfield Road Stand Expansion Delayed
The expansion of Liverpool’s Anfield Road stand has been delayed, leaving fans disappointed and frustrated. Liverpool’s CEO Billy Hogan has reassured supporters that the delay is due to the complexity of the project and that the phased reopening will go smoothly.
The Expansion Project
The project was launched in September 2021, during the middle of the pandemic. This was an aggressive push forward, but Liverpool decided that it was the right time to start the expansion. The project has been very complex and has taken longer than anticipated.
Delayed Reopening
The delayed reopening means that only about 51,000 people will be in attendance at Liverpool’s first home game against Bournemouth. Billy Hogan said: “The fact that we were able to open the lower tier for the Bournemouth match, I think is a good thing, obviously. And then, you know, we’ll open it incrementally over the course of the next several weeks, working very closely with Buckingham and Liverpool City Council to make sure that we do that in the appropriate way.”
The new completion date is now hoped to be in time for the Merseyside Derby on October 21.
Fans’ Reactions
Fans are understandably disappointed and frustrated by the delay. It is a good thing that there is at least going to be an increase in capacity over the first few home matches, but supporters will be disappointed it wasn’t finished for the start of the season.
Conclusion
The expansion of Liverpool’s Anfield Road stand has been delayed due to its complexity. Liverpool’s CEO Billy Hogan has reassured supporters that the phased reopening will go smoothly and that the new completion date is hoped to be in time for the Merseyside Derby on October 21. Fans are understandably disappointed and frustrated by the delay, but it is a good thing that there is at least going to be an increase in capacity over the first few home matches.