Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium has barely been open a full season, but already it is creating strong impressions, and onlookers like Gary Lineker certainly notice.
The former Everton striker was in attendance on Saturday as the Blues thrashed Nottingham Forest 3-0, helping David Moyes’ side climb into the Premier League’s top six with four wins in five games.
But it was not just the on-pitch action that caught attention, with Lineker eager to share how the club’s long-anticipated stadium has landed with supporters and visitors alike.
Lineker reveals Hill Dickinson Stadium admiration during podcast
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast about his first visit to Hill Dickinson, Lineker did not hold back.
“I was at Everton, I had a good time actually, it was really good,” he explained, reflecting on a day out that combined football, friends and the new surroundings.
“Peter Reid said I had to come up and see the Hill Dickinson,” he added, referencing Everton legend Reid’s endorsement of the new ground.
Lineker went on to praise the design and atmosphere, describing the venue as “brilliant” and “amazing”, singling out the acoustics as a standout feature.
“They’ve obviously done some work for the sound and it was jumping in there,” he said, a testament to the stadium’s success in capturing noise and intensity, something supporters feared might be lost after leaving Goodison Park.
He also spoke fondly of the hospitality, recounting how well he was looked after on matchday and how pleasant it was to reconnect with people he had not seen for years.
“All in all we had a really good time, good food,” Lineker added.
Lineker is not alone in his positive take. Other prominent figures, including Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler and former Everton midfielder Gareth Barry, have also expressed admiration for the new stadium’s look and feel, noting that while the venue is modern, it still retains an intimidating home advantage.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium, the club’s first permanent home since leaving Goodison Park after the 2024-25 season, boasts a capacity of around 52,888 and was designed with enhanced sightlines and sound in mind, using roof contours and seating arrangements to amplify crowd noise.
FGG Says
Lineker’s verdict reflects what supporters have sensed all season, that the Hill Dickinson Stadium is beginning to feel like home.
The acoustics, atmosphere and modern design may be new, but the soul is unmistakably Everton. For fans who feared losing the Goodison Park spirit, these early impressions suggest not a replacement but a rebirth.