The steady development of Everton’s Bramley-Moore Dock stadium has been a real source of intrigue and excitement for this fanbase.
After all, it has promised to be the light at the end of the tunnel for years now.
And although it will be an emotional day to depart Goodison Park, it’s seen as the most necessary evil to progress the Toffees and turn them into a genuine long-term threat to the established elite within the Premier League.
The progress made at the Bramley-Moore Dock has been breathtaking, and we are not long away from its official completion just in time for the 2025/26 season, when it will then become Everton’s new home.
However, not all are happy with what they’ve seen on the new stadium.
Dan Meis argues over Bramley-Moore Dock capacity
Unsurprisingly, Paul Quinn is chief among the vocal minority of detractors.
Better known as The Esk on X, he has once again taken to that platform to spread his views on the new arena, arguing a case he made six years ago now: that 52,888 seats are too small.
Suggesting that it came from incompetence within the club, to make such a huge oversight, the architect of the construction, Dan Meis, was on hand to justify the decision, replying: ‘It’s a complex decision with several factors to consider. It’s just nonsense to imply it was incompetence on the club’s part.’
The Esk then replied: ‘With respect Dan, given the degree of incompetence they’ve shown particularly under Moshiri, based on facts (i) the stadium is years late (ii) costs are way above budget (iii) financing of the stadium is a complete mess, & (iv) it seems the Friedkins believe it to be too small.’
Meis wasn’t best pleased with his fake platitudes, and hit back one final time: ‘I am not saying there isn’t valid criticism of the Club on organization and struggles on the pitch but to fail to recognize the immense commitment and risk taken to realize Bramley Moore just feels disingenuous.’
Everton nearly bankrupted themselves building the stadium
Realistically, there are valid reasons why Meis and the Everton hierarchy will have settled on a 52,888-seater stadium.
Chief among them are the financial concerns, given just how dire their position has become over recent years.
It prohibited them from spending in the transfer market until they had sold a star man, and at times they were even forced to relinquish these players in order to just balance the books, foregoing a replacement.
So, to think that there was spare money on top of the £800m it is set to cost to build Bramley-Moore Dock to add another 10,000 seats is ridiculous.
Everton nearly entered administration back in May, according to The Esk, and yet that same figure would have seen the club plough a further few hundred million into additional developments.
The scope is there for future extension at the Bramley-Moore Dock, but for now, the capacity is an increase on Goodison Park, and helps pull Everton into the modern era.
Some people will just never be happy…
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