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The news regarding a brand-new 52,000 capacity stadium is doing the rounds on social media among the Everton faithful.
Everton have been at the Goodison Park situated in Walton since its inception back in 1892, but proposals are in line to shift from the existing 39,571-seater to the swanky new stadium in four years time.
Everton's hunt for a new home has been well documented, and the venue for this stadium is on the Bramley-Moore Dock in Vauxhall, Liverpool.
The Toffees hardcore group, Everton Aren't We, published pictures of the alleged new 52,000-capacity stadium, and that led to the speculation on Twitter. The PDF document leak, housed everything, from the blueprint designs to the initial seat count estimates.
The highlights of the plan include safe standing seats (about 12,000-15,000) in the south stand and added wheelchair positions. This new stadium could dethrone Stadium of Light, Sunderland as the 8th biggest football stadiums in England.
Why is this move taking so long?
According to Chief Architect Dan Meis, Everton being the People's Club, he and his team are in constant consultation on the designs with the public.
The second phase of the public consultation will get rolling this summer. More than 20,000 people took part, and 94% of them were in unison that the proposed waterfront side will be a suitable venue for the club to construct a new stadium.
How can Everton afford a new stadium?
Iranian billionaire Farhad Moshiri, one of the majority shareholder of the club, has revealed that he could expect a loan of £350m from the private market and a further £100m capital from a naming rights partner.
During the General Meeting at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, he made his opinion about the future of the club and is determined to throw as much money required into the project.
Do the fans need to worry about anything?
Considering the current situation at Tottenham Hotspur, where they became the first club not to make a single summer signing since the inception of transfer windows in 2003, Everton fans will hope that they don't have to face similar situations. The rising cost of Tottenham's incomplete new stadium has compelled the club to make budget cuts. Given the current scenario of the club at the league, Marco Silva needs an immediate new signing to compete at the highest level.
Many pundits think that the construction of a new stadium is decisive in the expansion and overall development of the football club. While these initial images which did the rounds were not the final designs, but they do throw light on the potential plans of the club for expanding.
This news may bring back a sense of joy back to the fellow Evertonians, but in reality, Marco Silva and his men are struggling on the pitch with three consecutive losses, most recent to Watford. But they bounced back with a convincing 3-0 away victory at Cardiff and an entertaining 0-0 draw at home with Merseyside rivals Liverpool.
