Hicks says stadium will be built once the global recession eases

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks insists Liverpool's planned new stadium will be built once the global financial market settle down. The Reds new stadium has stalled since the American owners declared "The shovel needs to be in the ground in the next 60 days," in Feb 2007, but Hicks still claims the stadium is still in his plans:

"When we get to the point where the global market settles down and we bring pieces together to finance the stadium (then we can again start building)," said Hicks on Sky Sports.

"It's certainly not anything we have changed our mind on. I don't know about the dates because of the global financial markets, but I know the markets will settle down and get better.

"I'm an optimist. I've been through lots of cycles, although none as severe as this in my lifetime. It's a dynamic world."

He continued: "We have spent a lot of money and we have a fully designed stadium. We have every permit in place, all the city councils' approvals, the judicial reviews on a national basis - everything is done.

"That's a great asset to have just to wait for the markets to open up and be able to do anything. Certainly it will happen."

"We think that the stadium is one of the biggest opportunities for Liverpool to be truly one of the top clubs in the world," he said.

"Liverpool was a famous club around many parts of the world before Manchester United became strong in the last 20 years, and that's a heritage we want to build on and try to get to be as strong as possible. The club's in the best shape in many, many years.

"Rafa (Benitez) has put together an outstanding group of players over the last two or three years. We can always have more, but I think we're doing very well and I think we will have great success on the pitch this year.

"Transactions like this week's new sponsorship agreement can only help to give us the resources to compete right there with the other big guys in the world."

New stadium on hold until recession is over

Liverpool football clubs new stadium will not be built until the global recession is over and credit becomes available to finance the $800 million project reports the Telegraph.

The 60,000-seat Stanley Park replacement for Liverpool's historic Anfield was initially planned to open next year, but the economic downturn forced co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. to halt building work last August citing "global market conditions."

A statement last year promised: "work on the project will be delayed in the short term," adding "we will use this period productively and revisit the plans for the stadium to increase its capacity to 73,000 seats."

However, a date stating when building work would resume was never set and Liverpool's new managing director Christian Purslow confirmed today that the stadium has taken a further set back:

"Construction on the stadium will begin when the current contraction in the banking industry ends and the global financial markets re-establish their equilibrium."

"The centerpiece is to deliver a world-class football ground that everyone can be proud of, a new home for the club with a stadium of at least 60,000 seats, giving the best possible match experience."

The article adds: "Purslow hopes the stadium on the adjacent Stanley Park will be ready in time for 2018 to stage World Cup matches should England's bid to stage the showcase event prove successful."

New Stadium World Cup deadline

Today’s Independent is claiming that Liverpool proposed new stadium plans have a December deadline in order to be submitted for England’s 2018 World Cup bid. The article states that: “Liverpool's council leader Warren Bradley, whose organisation will decide which stadiums to put forward as part of Liverpool's host city bid, yesterday warned Liverpool they have until December to resolve their stadium issues or risk missing out on hosting the World Cup. Though Anfield could be put forward, Everton could conceivably be awarded 2018 status at Liverpool's expense if their proposed new 55,000-seat stadium in Kirkby gets the go-ahead. A planning inspector is currently considering the outcome of a public inquiry into Everton's plans and communities secretary Hazel Blears is expected to rule by the autumn on whether that stadium will get the go-ahead.”

Bradley has been behind a Liverpool - Everton ground-share

Reds need new stadium to compete says Rafa

Rafa Benitez has asserted the need for a new stadium in order to compete at the highest level with the top teams. Construction work on the new 60,000-seat stadium was halted last year as Tom Hicks and George Gillett stated financing the project had been made more difficult due to the global financial crisis and downturn.

In an interview in the Telegraph Rafa explained "On an economic level we cannot fight with the other big teams, at least for now, in particular because of the stadium," Benitez said. "Old Trafford has 76,000 seats, the Emirates has 60,000, Chelsea can count on Abramovich.”

"Until we have a new stadium, we will not be able to compete economically. In the meantime we'll have to do things very well to be competitive."

Shirt sponsor Carlsberg, as reported on LFC Alert on Friday, have declared an interest in buying the naming rights to the new stadium in Stanley Park, which is adjacent to Anfield.

"We have to first consolidate the level we have reached. We have a better squad now, a structure that works better with very capable people that have a huge amount of desire," Benitez said. "That will bear fruit in the future.

"I have a five-year contract with the power to take decisions, to do things the way I think they should be done, which guarantees, despite the difficulty of the English league, the possibility to be in the race for titles," Benitez said.

Carlsberg want to put their name on new Anfield

LFC shirt sponsors Carlsberg want to put their name on Liverpool proposed new stadium, but the brewing company need to assess the financial stability of the club before committing themselves reports today’s Guardian. Carlsberg have been tied to the club since 1991 and the current contract, worth £7 million a year expires at the end of the 2009-10 season. The article goes on to say:

Carlsberg's head of sponsorship, Gareth Roberts, indicated his company would be monitoring the club's ability to refinance a loan of around £250m and, more crucially, progress on a new stadium.

The new 60,000-seat venue on the adjacent Stanley Park was due to have been ready by 2011, but the global economic downturn forced the co-owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, to halt building work last year. Carlsberg, though, are still keen on the new stadium bearing their name.
"That will be part of the discussion I'm sure, but there's been no decisions yet," Roberts said.

Roberts found the off-field tensions between Hicks and Gillett distracting, but last month's show of unity, with the Americans sitting together during the 4-4 draw with Arsenal, was an encouraging sign as negotiations between the parties intensify.

"We need to understand where they are going with the stadium, what is the next step?" Roberts told the Associated Press. "[The ownership situation] is a distraction. The best thing is they seem to have resolved the internal issues and they are going to take the next step. If it's done in the right way and they take the next step then absolutely.

"The ownership issue is also about the stadium and the financial setup. The stadium is a big step of their progression in the future and we want to be part of that."

Naming rights have been on the owners' agenda since they bought the club in 2007, with Gillett saying the windfall could subsidise buying a high-profile player every year.

This is obviously a delicate subject that is sure to keep die hard fans debating. But one thing is clear, naming rights could unlock some serious money for the club. Arsenal's 13-year stadium deal with airline Emirates is valued at £100m, which includes an eight-year shirt deal.