SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 17 hrs 20 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Ryazantsev hopes new stadium helps Everton bridge gap to top six

:Headline: Ryazantsev hopes new stadium helps Everton bridge gap to top six: ID:338368: from db_amp
The Toffees have settled on Bramley-Moore Dock as the site of their new home.

Everton’s chief financial officer Sasha Ryazantsev believes the club’s move from Goodison Park to a new stadium on the banks of the Mersey will help them “close the gap to the top six”.

After years of looking for a new home, the Premier League club settled on a site at Bramley-Moore Dock in early 2017.

Fans greeted the news warmly but progress has been slow, with several questions about the stadium’s design, funding and planning permission still unresolved.

That may be about to change, though, as the club appointed a stadium development director in August, two months after Ryazantsev became Everton’s first chief finance and commercial officer.

Speaking at the Leaders Sport Business Summit in London, Ryazantsev said: “We love (Goodison Park) and would love to stay there but we have to move with the times.

“Most of the top six are upgrading their grounds or have a plan to do so and elsewhere in the league we can other clubs that have future-proofed their grounds. We see it as an opportunity to close the gap to the top six.

“The new stadium will also breathe life into the city, creating 600 jobs and generating £1billion for the local economy. We are citizens of Liverpool and want to do what is right for the city and the club.”

Ryazantsev has been a board member at Everton since 2016, when the Russian investment banker joined after working on Farhad Moshiri’s purchase of a 49.9 per cent stake in the club.

Last year, Moshiri increased that stake to 68.6 per cent, a move that should make it easier for Everton to borrow the £500million that the new stadium is estimated to cost.

A large chunk of that could come from a low-cost loan from Liverpool City Council but Everton will still need to find at least £220million elsewhere if their vision of a state-of-the-art stadium in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site is to be realised.

Ryazantsev said “it will take some time” but it will happen. And he is convinced it will help Everton catch up with Arsenal, Chelsea, the two Manchester clubs, Tottenham and local rivals Liverpool.

“We will have more capacity, so we can sell more tickets, sell more food and beverages, get better partnerships and earn more broadcasting revenue,” he said.

“There is value in having a fantastic stadium, you get better players and they will stay longer, so you can translate that stadium onto the pitch.

“There have been quite a few stadium moves recently and some of them have made mistakes. Hopefully we can learn from those.”

The seventh most successful English club in terms of silverware, Everton have spent a record 114 seasons in the top flight. But they have not won a trophy since 1995 and finished eighth in the league last season.

amp_article__338368 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2018-10-11 07:00:52:
html db last update - 2021-03-11 08:13:23 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Everton

Share this article now:
Read more about Everton Football
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .