Everton reduce capacity of new stadium weeks before start of Premier League season

Everton are just over six weeks away from their first game in front of a full crowd at the new stadium

The Hill Dickinson Stadium, which is set to open officially this summer, has seen its actual capacity fall short of its original planned figure due to a number of reasons.

Everton had initially announced that their new home would host 52,888 supporters on a matchday, but have now revealed that number has been reduced to 52,769.

The original figure of 52,888 was always seen as a working capacity that was set when initial plans were laid out some five years ago.

The drop, which is a fall of 119 seats and 0.2 per cent of the total capacity, has been caused by a “thorough post-season construction audit”, according to the club.

That audit showed that factors such as segregation lines between home and away fans, and a number of provisions for media facilities and camera positions, has meant the capacity must drop to make things work.

Fortunately for fans, Everton have announced that no season tickets will be impacted by the reduction.

The Merseyside outfit are scheduled to play their first competitive game in their new ground on the second gameweek of the Premier league season.

David Moyes’ side host Brighton on August 23 in what is expected to be a packed out stadium as fans ring in the new era of the club at the Hill Dickinson.

Before kicking off their Prem efforts in the new ground, Everton will host European giants Roma in a pre-season friendly on August 9 – a game which will act as the club’s final test event and the first match in front of a capacity crowd.

Two previous test events, an U18s fixture against Wigan Athletic in front of 10,000 fans and an U21s clash with Bolton in front of 25,000 supporters, have helped Everton begin to get used to their new home.

The Toffees waved an emotional goodbye to Goodison Park last season, beating Southampton 2-0 in their final clash at the historic stadium.

But the club won’t be resigning the ground to rubble, but rather ensuring the 132-year-old ground is kept within the club’s future as well as its history.

That’s because Everton announced last month that Goodison would become the permanent home of the club’s women’s team.

The announcement replaced initial plans to be demolish and replaced Goodison with housing, a care home, retail units and a park that were announced by the previous ownership.