Rumours the Everton stadium fit out has been delayed and could impact the beginning of next season have appeared online amid concerns Everton could be forced to play multiple away games.
Rumours have appeared on some Everton forums suggesting the fit out is delayed and it could lead to Everton requesting Premier League away games until mid-September after the international break. It could mean three or more away games to open the Premier League season.
However, these rumours should be taken with a pinch of salt. Club sources have already denied this is the case and other rumours around roof leaks, issues with rust on the roof structure, flooding and other reported stadium issues have all been inaccurate in recent months.
The club released a video showing the stadium and while it did not showcase any of the interior it rather pointedly stated the stadium would be ready in summer 2025.
Everton were only handed the keys to the stadium four months ago so it would be strange that an internal fit out is already two months behind schedule after such a short period of time. With fan concourses, changing rooms and other aspects already in place, it seems a lot of key infrastructure is already live at the stadium.
The interior fit out of a stadium can often drag on. When Spurs moved from a temporary home at Wembley to the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is was pushed back, with games against Liverpool and Cardiff as late as October switched back to Wembley.
The Spurs issue was due to ‘critical safety systems’, while Everton’s fit out work seems to be around the internal fit out of the hospitality and commercial areas of the stadium, as well as some food and beverage outlets.
Everton will have a team of project managers delivering the new stadium and there has been nothing publically available to suggest anything is delayed.
What is completed at Bramley Moore Stadium?
In January the club said: “With the roof coverings close to completion, many of the 1,200-strong workforce are now focusing their efforts on creating the myriad of rooms, concourses and walkways.
Internal glass windows and doors are already framing the various spaces on several levels of the west stand, while the pre-and-post-match player interview booths and players’ tunnel take shape.”
We are now four months along from that statement – and we have to remember there were persistant rumours of the stadium build being delayed that turned out to be false.
Visitors to the South Stand at Bramley Moore during the two test events will know the stand is virtually complete, with just a few small fixtures and fittings to come. That is the same for areas of other stands including the North Stand and areas of the East Stand.
The ‘walk in’ stores at each corner were not open for the test events but there have been no rumours of delay there.
Elsewhere, images have shown a full fit out of the team dressing rooms including shower and plunge pool facilities are complete. Recent tours of the stadium reveal David Moyes’ office and other admin areas are also close to completion.
Pictures taken last week show most of the tunnel area fitted out, with one side covered by boarding. That will likely be related to the restaurant and corporate space alongside the tunnel.
What is not ready at Bramley Moore Stadium?
The key areas that are still being worked on include the Everton club store, which will replace Everton One near Goodison Park. The large retail place is due to open in time for the new season and the old Everton One store is currently being listed for lease, with a timeline of August set for its closure.
The main concern would be the 12 restaurant and bar spaces, plus corporate areas in the stadium. These would need to be ready in order to fully open the West Stand or the club risks missing out on significant revenue.
Everton applied for trademarks for the bars last month and they remain the areas of the stadium that have not been revealed to fans. A recent tour by Downtown in Business, which resulted in a booking for a corporate event, showed visitors stood in what will be the Blue Line 1 Bar, which showed posters on the wall but what looked like an unfinished floor and fittings.
It is safe to assume work is ongoing on all of the bar spaces.
Adam Bateman, Culinary Director at the club, recently posted: “The intesity has only risen, with many client events, media activities, and development for both our remaining retail, and 12 restaurants well underway.. with so much more in the pipeline…”
The rumours have been exacerbated by the fact there are very few leaked images from inside the stadium, with the West Stand particularly avoiding leaks of the interior commercial spaces.
But Evertonians should relax after the club put the latest rumours to bed.