‘A whole different level’ – New Everton Stadium to be UK’s number one

Everton’s move to the banks of the Mersey will take facilities for disabled fans to a “completely different level” in what will be the most accessible and friendly stadium in the UK.

Members of Everton’s stadium development and fan engagement teams met with representatives of the Everton Disabled Supporters Association (EDSA) to provide information on the improved facilities at Everton Stadium. The future home of the Blues, currently under construction at Bramley-Moore Dock, is committed to becoming the UK’s most accessible and inclusive stadium when the doors open in the summer of 2025.

EDSA got a first-hand account of the huge improvement in numbers and facilities that will be available to disabled supporters at the 52,888-capacity stadium. Their chairman Mark Dyer said: “My fellow committee members and I have been very impressed with the progress that has been made and this meeting provided much more detail in terms of the facilities that will be available.
“We have been involved in this project since the initial planning stages and today we have answered many questions that our members have been asking as much of what was suggested and consulted on in the early days has been incorporated.

“Because of the disabilities of some of our members, they have a problem with anxiety about change, so what we wanted to do was reduce that as much as possible. It’s going to be an ongoing process, but we’ve made some pretty significant progress on that today and we’ve agreed how we can work on it going forward.”

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He added: “The fact that this will be the most accessible stadium in the UK is a message we want to get across to everyone. Everton deserve a lot of credit for what they have done at Goodison but this takes it to a whole different level and the options that are available to people are fantastic.

“We can’t wait to get in now. All these things take time and we can celebrate one last season at Goodison, but it’s getting incredibly close to a new era for everyone and we can’t wait.”

In total, Everton Stadium will boast 279 wheelchair spaces, including 226 for season ticket members and match ticket buyers and a further 53 in ALL (bars, restaurants and experiences). There will be vantage points in all four stands and at various levels, offering both pitch views and elevated views.

Lifts and escalator access will be available to transition between different levels, while all kiosks around the stadium will have low-level counters for easier access. Strategically positioned around the bowl are 366 easy-access amenity spots, with another 310 amenity spots located close to the throws but accessed by more than seven steps.

The stadium has 58 accessible toilets, plus a cubicle for people with walking disabilities in all toilet blocks. There will be three additional family WCs, plus 95 baby changing facilities in all areas, 20 gender neutral toilets and three seat changing facilities, which feature vertical wall-mounted grab rails and drop-down grab rails on both part.

In addition, Everton Stadium will host eight inclusive faith rooms, two quiet rooms and a sensory box overlooking the pitch, which can accommodate 14 supporters or family members, plus two wheelchair positions. More broadly, there are fully accessible bars, restaurants and experiences as part of ALL’s offerings, including Beyond, Everton’s equivalent of the Tunnel Club.

Outside, a fully accessible club shop and low-level ticket windows are accessed by a fan plaza, which itself is fully accessible as an entrance to the stadium footprint.

Alix Waldron, Director of New Stadium Development, said: “We were delighted to give EDSA members a taste of how all their contributions have contributed to a brilliant accessibility design and what’s to come 12-15 months. EDSA was influential in the planning and design process, so hopefully nothing came as a surprise and I can see that we have been able to do a lot at the new stadium, which is a huge improvement over what we can offer now. “

The group will meet with the club later in the year to further discuss transport and parking issues at the new stadium. Click here for more information on EDSA.