Doubt if anyone seen this one coming
Liverpool's new stadium will not be built until the global recession is over and credit becomes available to finance the $800 million project.
By Telegraph staff and agencies
Published: 5:43PM BST 03 Sep 2009
The 60,000-seat replacement for Liverpool's historic but crumbling Anfield was due to have opened next year, but the economic downturn forced co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. to halt building work last August.
The American owners had said it would be a "short-term delay," but they are still not able to put a date on building work resuming.
"Construction on the stadium will begin when the current contraction in the banking industry ends and the global financial markets re-establish their equilibrium," Liverpool's new managing director Christian Purslow said.
Purslow hopes the stadium on the adjacent Stanley Park will be ready in time for 2018 to stage World Cup matches should England's bid to stage the showcase event prove successful.
"The centerpiece is to deliver a world-class football ground that everyone can be proud of, a new home for the club with a stadium of at least 60,000 seats, giving the best possible match experience," Purslow said.
Liverpool has been financially hamstrung by the economics of 45,000-capacity Anfield, where there are just 34 luxury suites and few amenities to generate extra funding to enhance the squad.
Manchester United's Old Trafford can welcome 76,000 fans and Arsenal moved from 38,000-seat Highbury into 60,000-seat Emirates Stadium in July 2006.
Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher has said he is embarrassed and irritated by the delays in replacing the stadium.
Millions of pounds were written-off when existing plans to replace Anfield were ditched after Liverpool was bought by the Hicks and Gillett in 2007 so architects from Hicks' native Texas could design a more spectacular stadium.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/6133965/Liverpools-new-Stanley-Park-stadium-on-hold-until-recession-is-over.html
Liverpool's new stadium will not be built until the global recession is over and credit becomes available to finance the $800 million project.
By Telegraph staff and agencies
Published: 5:43PM BST 03 Sep 2009
The 60,000-seat replacement for Liverpool's historic but crumbling Anfield was due to have opened next year, but the economic downturn forced co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. to halt building work last August.
The American owners had said it would be a "short-term delay," but they are still not able to put a date on building work resuming.
"Construction on the stadium will begin when the current contraction in the banking industry ends and the global financial markets re-establish their equilibrium," Liverpool's new managing director Christian Purslow said.
Purslow hopes the stadium on the adjacent Stanley Park will be ready in time for 2018 to stage World Cup matches should England's bid to stage the showcase event prove successful.
"The centerpiece is to deliver a world-class football ground that everyone can be proud of, a new home for the club with a stadium of at least 60,000 seats, giving the best possible match experience," Purslow said.
Liverpool has been financially hamstrung by the economics of 45,000-capacity Anfield, where there are just 34 luxury suites and few amenities to generate extra funding to enhance the squad.
Manchester United's Old Trafford can welcome 76,000 fans and Arsenal moved from 38,000-seat Highbury into 60,000-seat Emirates Stadium in July 2006.
Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher has said he is embarrassed and irritated by the delays in replacing the stadium.
Millions of pounds were written-off when existing plans to replace Anfield were ditched after Liverpool was bought by the Hicks and Gillett in 2007 so architects from Hicks' native Texas could design a more spectacular stadium.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/6133965/Liverpools-new-Stanley-Park-stadium-on-hold-until-recession-is-over.html
