I suppose if one moves house from one that’s been in the family for 133 years, no matter how good the planning, the reality will always come as a shock.

No-one in the 10,000 or so attendees at last night’s first test event has seen perhaps more than seven possibly, eight decades of football at Goodison. Yet there will have been a fair number there last night approaching such tenure. Mixed in with that of course, was the delightful wide-eyed excitement of young boys and girls in their first decades of life. Despite the cold, and the various logistical issues (more below) most appeared to be having the time of their lives.

For the record, the quality of stewarding outside the stadium, on the plaza, at the turnstiles and inside was exceptional – big congratulations to all involved. Equally the food and beverage outlet staff, very pleasant and numerous – another excellent job as with any other Everton employees at hand.

For someone like me, now in my sixth decade of watching Everton, watching an Everton side walk out at Bramley-Moore, especially in the context of all that’s happened in recent years and the particular struggles financially it was a somehow, surreal moment.

As is usually the case with Everton, there’s a large dose of Ying and Yang – we were witnessing a game in a stadium only made possible by Moshiri, but with the pre-completion, pre-construction existential crises created by Moshiri – it is Moshiri’s Schrödinger stadium – for him simultaneously dead and alive. It was a quantum mechanics moment. 

Continuing the Schrödinger analogy, we must turn to the infrastructure and surrounding developments around Bramley-Moore.

The transportation plan, just like the famous cat, is both simultaneously alive and dead. Alive because we’ve been told there’s a plan, a plan must exist for planning approval and one assumes the safety certificates and police approvals needed to host games and events with crowds approaching 53,000. Alive because of the parking restrictions, the fan zone at Sandhills, the road closures etc but on the evidence of last night simultaneously dead – because of the parking restrictions, the fan zone at Sandhills and the road closures etc.

I’m not a planning expert, arguably not an expert in anything. But based on first hand experience (and I know it was a test event) and dozens of messages since, the plan such as it is, is not going to work.

At best, it is going to make travelling to Bramley-Moore an extremely difficult task for anyone infirm, elderly, with children, time-pressed or unfamiliar with the city of Liverpool – imagine 3,000 away supporters or a much larger contingent for Cup games. Not to say the tens of thousands attending the Euros in 2028. I have already heard several friends say that based on last night many elderly or infirm supporters will simply not bother trying to get to evening games. A disenfranchisement of some of our most loyal fans because of a lack of transport infrastructure and planning.

God forbid, but the emergency response planners must have huge concerns.

So what can be done?

Greater communication: In the immediate short term, much greater planning regarding the resources available to us; much greater, much clearer communication of the options available to fans attending the stadium, local businesses providing food, beverage, accommodation and entertainment – I spoke to several business owners yesterday who had no communications from local authorities nor the club. They were operating on a trial by error basis – planning was impossible due to the lack of information. This is something that can be fixed, but who takes responsibility for it, who coordinates it and who is ultimately accountable?

Provision of more transport options – what was available last night, how well was it communicated? Aside from the “fan zone” at Sandhills – a totally inadequate solution at a totally inadequate railway facility given the needs it has to serve. Think of the cattle pens at agricultural shows, frankly ludicrous. Does anyone seriously believe Sandhills can meet the needs, has the capacity for ten to twelve thousand fans per hour?

This is not only a convenience issue – it must be viewed as a significant health and safety issue.

What of the other transportation options? Buses? Taxis? Shuttle buses into town? No information. Local taxi drivers with intimate knowledge of the area struggled to drop off passengers anywhere near the ground and faced traffic deadlock. I didn’t see a single available taxi on the walk back to the city centre. Additionally, I did not see ranks of taxis waiting for pick up. Those private hire drivers relying on Maps or similar applications fared even worse – and this for a test event for less than 20% capacity with a wholly compliant fan base. 

Buses – I’m not aware of additional services, but again given traffic conditions, it is difficult to see immediately as a significant solution.

Apart from private parking or permit holders provision, no-one can park within a 30 minutes walk. City centre parking? Falls into expense, capacity and again ability to walk concerns.

Walking

Walking from the City Centre – I walked from Lime Street on a cold but not too unpleasant early evening. It took 30 minutes of walking, but then I didn’t have the company of elderly companions, those with disabilities, or young children. I knew my way, but there was a complete absence of signposting from Lime Street. For visitors, or long time returnees to the city – a more difficult task?

The walk back was far less pleasant. Bitterly cold (no-one’s fault obviously), very dark – the quality of street lighting on the main routes back to the City centre is very poor – again a potential accident/security risk? For people with vulnerabilities, I’d imagine an unpleasant walk – I for example would not suggest my daughter did it alone?

Yet despite the above walking is the only real viable option until the transport infrastructure is upgraded and or completely revamped. Until such time, much greater use of information for what is available, the options available and spare capacity for each option must be provided.

Who is going to be responsible for delivering the immediate short term fixes and longer term solutions?

I’m not an expert on devolution of local planning powers etc, but one can see that the City Council and the Combined Authority have a huge role to play. There’s a recognition of course, of the massive demands placed on limited resources, cash, capital and indeed qualified people. Yet, given what is achieved in other cities with similar problems (and possibly less potential upside) it can’t be beyond our city to do similar, if not more than others?

In terms of the immediate issues identified from last night, they are best placed along with private sector service providers to create fixes in time for August 2025.

Central Government too – without being political, the Labour Government’s central policy is economic growth. That requires investment. That investment is urgently required. A fire requires heat, fuel and oxygen – to create a “fire” in Liverpool requires much greater support in providing any of the missing elements – in this case capital.

Everton Football Club & the Friedkins

I am sure the club will claim, even provide evidence of having asked for all the above and more. Perhaps it’s a result of Moshiri’s tenure that the club hasn’t gained the traction required nor been able (yet) to force the solutions.

However, we have to be blunt here – the success of the stadium requires solutions to these problems, long before any regeneration wave hits North Liverpool. We can’t wait for economic recovery. We can drive that recovery but we can’t do it alone. We need the commitment and delivery of other partners – public and private alike.

The Friedkins are credible business people who have not only built successful businesses but have built significant developments in far less accessible places than North Liverpool.. If they want to accelerate Everton’s development, they must use their economic muscle to force change. Change that not only benefits Everton, but the city and ultimately helps national government to achieve its targets.

Summary:

The proof of the pudding is always in the eating. We had a taster last night and discovered many of the ingredients required are still missing.

The experience inside Bramley-Moore is incredible. Dan Meis and all the people involved in creating and constructing the stadium have excelled beyond my wildest expectations. 

Our football club has shown the art of the possible despite the enormous headwinds and owner inflicted damage along the way. We must demand everyone around us, those that provide services for the fans and those who will benefit from the economic activity created by 53,000 fans every other week.

For those fans to turn up, for those fans not to have to experience huge logistical challenges in attending a match at the magnificent stadium, others have to immediately react, plan, finance and execute the support and infrastructure requirements, including critically, transportation.

There can be no vague promises, there has to be demonstrable action from readily identifiable individuals with the resources and authority to get these critical things done