The first test match at Everton's new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium has taken place, with Everton's under-18 side participating.
After years of work and nearly £1 billion in investment, Everton's new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium finally opened its doors. The first of three test events took place on 18 February, and saw Everton under-18s lose to Wigan under-18s in a 2-1 defeat.
But the match wasn't about the result; it was about testing the stadium. While the majority of fans enjoyed their evening out, it was an event with issues.
What are your first impressions, Blues? 🔵 pic.twitter.com/XtJoaSWVvp
— Everton Stadium (@EvertonStadium) February 17, 2025
Bramley-Moore Dock's first match
“Roads around the vicinity of the dock were shut at 5 pm, meaning you had to stand around at 4:30 pm getting cold.” It was the only major issue that seemed to arise from the event, however, given the smaller scale of the event it will be a concern going forward.
In early February, the Liverpool City Council announced a series of parking restrictions around the stadium that will be trialled during the upcoming test events.
Outside of the stadium, another issue that arose was the situation at the Sandhills train station. With just 10,000 fans using it on the first night, issues were already starting to show.
“They need to put railings on the platform at Sandhills. Gaps where the train doors go. 10,000 test event had it rammed, dangerous. Never mind 53,000. F*** that cycle path off too. A tram, a shuttle bus, anything can fit there. Council have f***** it with the stupid parking permits.” Wrote one fan on X, while another fan also raised concerns when 50,000 fans showed up.
“Transport routes to and from the stadium, street lighting, Sandhills station…Accidents waiting to happen when there are over 50,000 of us.”
Lastly, food prices were highlighted as a concern for fans. Right now, Everton charge around £4 for a pie at Goodison Park, one of the cheapest in the Premier League. However, last night, fans were faced with £6 for a pie and £3.50 for a doughnut. So it looks like Everton have found a way to recoup some of that £800 million stadium fee.
More events to come
Attention will now move to the second of two remaining test events. Next up is an under-21 match, which will see 25,000 fans attend the stadium. The third and final event will feature a near full-capacity crowd; however, due to licence restrictions, such event details will not be confirmed until after the second test event.
When more details are available, we'll cover any news as it happens.
FGG says: A huge step forward
The first match is done, and it's a huge step forward for Everton. We'll learn even more with two more events to go, but this is a massive step for the new stadium. While problems arose, and many more likely will, this is precisely why these events are done. The pie cost can be reduced; train stations can be altered. The stadium's legacy is the key; these test events will be forgotten about in five years' time.