Liverpool Football Club

[Toadboy]

Michael Howard was an instigator of decline.

[Paul D]

Liverpool FC to allow FOX Sports cameras into Anfield inner sanctum for behind-the-scenes documentary series

LIVERPOOL FC have signed up to take part in a groundbreaking behind-the-scenes documentary with American broadcaster Fox Soccer.

Cameras will be given unprecedented access to the dressing rooms at Anfield and Melwood to film the six-part series entitled Our Liverpool: Never Walk Alone.

Filming is expected to begin in the next week and continue through the club’s pre-season tour of Canada and the USA in July and into the start of next season.

It is the result of discussions between Fox and Liverpool’s American owner Fenway Sports Group, which is keen to raise the Reds’ profile and maximise commercial benefits across the globe.

Reds chairman Tom Werner said: “I am delighted the team at Fox are producing this unique series.

“I expect it will be compelling programming as Liverpool will provide unprecedented access.

“This will be an amazing opportunity for our fans to see a new side of the club and for us to reach out to many more potential supporters around the world who will come to understand what makes Liverpool FC so special.”

The show is expected to reach more than 100m viewers when aired in the autumn.

The Fox crew will be led by award-winning producer Scott Boggins, who was responsible for HBO’s hugely successful 24/7 series. His work has included around-the-clock access to boxers such as Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton.

Fox Soccer general manager David Nathanson said: “Our goal is to capture the essence of what it means to be a part of Liverpool FC in an authentic manner, and no producer has more experience with this style of story-telling than Scott.

Read More http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/...#ixzz1tFTajsz3

[Medi73#!]

That sounds cheap and a bit shit imo

[Paul D]

The show is expected to reach more than 100m viewers when aired in the autumn.

But it'll give them some exposure and no doubt gain them many new fans,it's not a bad thing by a long shot.

[Paul D]

Liverpool poised to ditch new stadium in favour of Anfield expansion

David Conn guardian.co.uk

John W Henry, Liverpool's owner, has always made it clear he favours remaining at Anfield rather than building a long-planned stadium on Stanley Park. Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

Liverpool, having decided on Brendan Rodgers as their manager, are expected to announce within weeks they intend to stay at Anfield, not build their long-planned new stadium on Stanley Park. Under plans drawn up by Liverpool city council and revealed to local residents, houses would be demolished to enable the club to expand Anfield's main stand.

At a meeting on 15 May attended by Ian Ayre, the Liverpool managing director, residents living in neighbouring streets to Anfield were presented with three worked-up options involving knocking down rows of houses. The council's assistant director for regeneration, Mark Kitts, told the Guardian that Liverpool have confirmed, in discussions with the council, that the demolitions would meet the club's requirements.

"We have been working with the club very closely," Kitts said, "and they have said this will accommodate their needs if they stay at Anfield and refurbish the current stadium."

Kitts said homes would be given "an open market valuation" – which he suggested could be upgraded to reflect an area in better condition – plus a 10% "home loss payment" and removal costs. Liverpool will not have to negotiate directly with residents or buy their houses. Kitts said the council has the option of applying for compulsory purchase powers, to force residents to sell, if necessary. Some home-owning residents are fearful that they will not receive enough to pay for a similar home elsewhere.

Liverpool's principal physical obstacle is not enlarging Anfield's footprint – their plan is understood to involve adding an extra tier, plus corporate facilities, to the Anfield Road and main stands. Doing so, however, would block the "right to light" of those neighbouring houses. Kitts said he believed the demolitions would "solve the right to light issues".

The plans, presented to a neighbourhood "stakeholders meeting", including the Rockfield Residents Association, all propose knocking down the row of terraces closest to the main stand, on Lothair Road. The second two options, more favoured, involve demolishing two additional rows of houses – both rows on Lothair Road, and the first on the next street, Alroy. The remaining houses are planned to be refurbished: one option suggests replacing the demolished houses with a commercial development, possibly a hotel.

Liverpool are still maintaining they are keeping open both their options – to expand Anfield or proceed with the new stadium on Stanley Park. However, the demolition plan, on which Kitts said the council hopes to begin work as soon as this summer, has convinced many local people that this is to facilitate Liverpool staying at Anfield. The council still favours the new stadium but Liverpool's owners, John W Henry's Fenway Sports Group, has made it clear since it bought the club that it would prefer to enlarge Anfield, mainly because it is cheaper.

Liverpool declined to comment on the revelation of the housing demolition blueprint, saying: "The private discussions and plans that Liverpool Football Club has or may have with residents or other stakeholders are, in our opinion, exactly that: 'private'."

Last week Ayre said Liverpool would "need to convince" residents if the club were to stay at Anfield, and said: "We're having some great dialogue with them."

However, Ros Groves, chair of the neighbouring Salisbury Residents Association, said she "hit the roof" when she read that. Her group has also been presented with demolition plans, for a corner opposite the main stand and Kop, which the club could develop commercially. But she said Liverpool have held no meaningful discussions with residents.

"I cannot see how it can be called 'great dialogue' when Ian Ayre has been to one meeting with one residents group," Groves said. "Everybody can see which way this is going now. We just want Liverpool football club to be open with us." Many houses around Anfield have been blighted for years – a significant number bought by the football club and left empty, a source of great resentment among residents left coping with the area's decline.

Some who own their homes, Groves said, fear were worried that that the money they would be paid by the council who will demolish them, will would not be enough to buy a similar home elsewhere.

"Everybody wants a solution to this area's problems," Groves said. "But people who have paid off their mortgages, and long-term tenants, are very concerned about the impact on them."

Liverpool was sold in 2007, to the Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett, specifically so that finance would be found to build the new stadium on Stanley Park. After they failed to progress the new stadium, Martin Broughton, the chairman conducting the Liverpool sale, said any buyer would "have to accept" building a new stadium. But after FSG bought Liverpool, Henry always made it clear he favoured remaining at Anfield.

Liverpool FC given council ultimatum over Anfield stadium future

LIVERPOOL FC has been given until the end of the month to make its mind up over whether to move to a new stadium or stay at Anfield.

The ECHO can reveal Liverpool council has given the club the deadline in the hope of ending months of uncertainty over owner John W Henry’s plans for the club’s stadium requirements.

But the club may be moving towards finally confirming Mr Henry’s preferred option of remaining at Anfield.

The council’s assistant director of regeneration Mark Kitts has revealed the local authority’s own plans to regenerate the local area would enable the redevelopment of Anfield stadium to go ahead.

The city council has already announced plans to demolish homes near to Anfield in Lothair Road, which it insists are in no way connected to any decision that the club may or may not take.

Mr Kitts said: "We have been working with the club very closely and they have said this will accommodate their needs if they stay at Anfield and refurbish the current stadium."

The main issue standing in the way of the Reds expanding Anfield has been the "right to light" of nearby residents.

Mr Kitts has said that the demolitions would solve those issues.

Today Liverpool council was keen to stress that its plans to regenerate Anfield are not linked to those of the club.

A spokesman said: "No decision has yet been made by Liverpool Football Club about their stadium plans. The city council continues to work closely with the club, but the club will determine which option is best for them.

"The city council plans to demolish and refurbish properties in the surrounding streets to Anfield stadium are about driving forward much needed housing renewal in the area.

"They are not indicative of any decision Liverpool Football Club may or may not make in relation to their stadium."

The council controls the lease of Stanley Park – where the club still has the option to build a new ground – and would also be needed to drive forward any Compulsory Purchase Orders the club would require if they prefer redevelopment.

Although keen to leave the club to manage its own affairs, the council believes it has already shown patience and is eager to see progress. Last week club managing director Ian Ayre said the Reds were getting close to making a decision but were continuing to explore both options.

The fact there has been no solution some 20 months after Fenway Sports Group’s takeover is a source of frustration for supporters.

Publication of the club’s accounts last month highlighted that the failure to relocate to a new stadium during the previous regime of Tom Hicks and George Gillett had left Liverpool with a bill for £49.6m.

Hicks and Gillett had vowed to have ‘a spade in the ground within 60 days’ following their arrival in February 2007 but it never happened. Their expensive plans have since been written off Planning permission still exists to build the stadium designed by Manchester architects AFL but obtaining a lucrative naming rights deal is crucial to subsidising the £300m project.

Mr Ayre said talks with interested major companies are ongoing, while Liverpool are also continuing to assess whether refurbishing Anfield to a 60,000 capacity is financially viable.

Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...#ixzz1wX2YzoOI

[buggedboy]

This is linked the the Anfield Village agenda, because LCC have basically said tehy will knock down the houses adjacent to the stadium, but renovate those further out. I guess those losing their homes will be offered on of the renovated ones a couple of streets over.

[MR KITE]

Garuda forms partnership with Liverpool FC

Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has signed a sponsorship deal with English Premier League (EPL) club Liverpool FC and Athletic Grounds Ltd., the owner of Liverpool FC, for next season.

Garuda is given the right to be the “Official Partner of Liverpool Football Club” and the “Official Global Airline Partner of Liverpool Football Club.

A number of six-minute advertisement videos about Garuda Indonesia will be broadcast during matches at the Reds’ home ground, Anfield, for the 2012-2013 season starting on Aug. 19 with the first EPL match.

Garuda marketing director, Elisa Lumbantoruan, said the airline took the opportunity as Anfield Stadium hosted a number of high profile matches.

The agreement is expected to assist Garuda expand its international market as well as trim the airline’s advertisement expenses.

“It is cheap when compared to placing advertisements on television to be seen by the entire population of the Earth.” she said.

Elisa said the flag carried had looked into cooperation with other clubs but refused to reveal which clubs.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2...erpool-fc.html

[buggedboy]

Interesting. At least we know what the big screen being installed will be used for. Ian Ayre may well have cocked up some aspects ofbeing a Managing Director, but he is a good Commercial Director.

[Chris B]

Broadcast are reporting that Channel 5 have won the rights to air the Fox Sports Liverpool FC documentary series.

[MR KITE]

Liverpool FC seeks planning permission for corporate hospitality marquee behind Anfield



LIVERPOOL FC has applied for planning permission to put up a marquee behind Anfield to provide corporate hospitality for 500 people.
Buy Vintage Liverpool Shirts on Ebay

The marquee will be put on club-owned derelict land, once occupied by homes, in Anfield Road for two years.

It will address the club’s need to expand its corporate hospitality, while it continues to mull over whether to move to a new stadium or stay at Anfield.

The club insists it is getting close to making a decision. Planning permission still exists to build the stadium designed by Manchester architects AFL but obtaining a lucrative naming rights deal is crucial to subsidising the £300m project.

AFL are also behind the club’s planning application for the marquee.

A statement with the planning application states: “Through the increasing spectator demand for quality hospitality accommodation at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool Football Club have identified that the existing facilities are under pressure and have been investigating the options to increase the capacity of the hospitality offer.

“To meet this additional demand and assist the club in remaining competitive with other Premier League clubs, the Club have procured the recent refurbishment of existing facilities and now also propose the introduction of additional accommodation in the form of a temporary marquee structure on land owned by the club at 61-71 Anfield Road and further described in the following Design and Access Statement."

The club has long held the view that it needs to expand its corporate hospitality to boost revenues, which is one motivating factor behind plans to redevelop Anfield or move to a new ground in Stanley Park.

In 2008 Everton FC pulled out of a surprise scheme to allow Liverpool to use part of Everton’s Goodison Park stadium for corporate hospitality on match days.

The plan – which could have provoked reactions from both fan bases – was to use the corporate hospitality area known as The Marquee, at the Park End of Goodison, which would have been decked out in Liverpool branding when the Anfield club were using their rival’s ground.

At the time Liverpool said that, due to extraordinary demand for corporate hospitality at Anfield, it had been forced to look elsewhere for additional high-quality entertainment space.

After dining at Goodison, fans would have been transported across Stanley park to watch Liverpool play at Anfield.

The club’s application states that a portion of the site has been previously used as part of LFC’s food village which operates on match days.

The Reds plan to use the remainder of the site to operate a family area and a hospitality marquee for use on match-days and non match-days.

Alongside match-day hospitality, the marquee will also be available for awards dinners, birthdays, weddings, and Bar Mitzvahs, the application states.

The club wants the marquee to be available for use from 8.30 am to 7pm all year, and between 7pm and midnight on a maximum of 28 dates a year.

On match-days the Reds want to operate the marquee three hours before and after matches, up to 11.30pm for evening games.

The marquee is expected to create 80 new job opportunities.

Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...#ixzz20th3oZ2M

[Artie Fufkin]

Next we'll have a marquee replacing The Royal Hospital and Alder Hey, they seem to be the done thing instead of the real thing i.e Cruise Terminal and New Anfield Stadium.

[PeterStoba]

Originally Posted by Artie Fufkin

Next we'll have a marquee replacing The Royal Hospital and Alder Hey, they seem to be the done thing instead of the real thing i.e Cruise Terminal and New Anfield Stadium.

The new Notre Dame school looks like a marquee too!

[MR KITE]

Reds sign Chevrolet deal

Liverpool FC today announced they are entering into a four-year partnership agreement with Chevrolet to become its Official Automotive Partner.

The partnership runs to the end of the 2015-16 Barclays Premier League and European campaigns, and includes visibility for the brand at Anfield, Liverpool's home ground; editorial opportunities within the club's print and digital publications and fan sites; and player appearances for commercial opportunities.

Chevrolet is also an official sponsor for the club's pre-season tour, one of the most popular in the world, which has already seen Liverpool play Toronto FC last Saturday. Liverpool will play Italian giants, AS Roma tomorrow at Fenway Park in Boston and on 28 July they will play English Premier League rivals, Tottenham Hotspur in Baltimore.

Chris Perry, global Chevrolet marketing vice president, said: "Liverpool supporters from around the world are known for their undying love of their side. Our relationship with Liverpool FC extends beyond the traditional boundaries of sponsorship and is about engaging with supporters. Everything we do will be aimed at keeping them at the centre of the game."

Ian Ayre, managing director of Liverpool Football Club, said: "Much like our club, Chevrolet has a long, rich history with a growing, global brand and this landmark partnership once again demonstrates the value of Liverpool's international appeal.

"Partnerships with blue chip brands like Chevy will help ensure the long-term growth and success of our club, both on-and-off the pitch. We look forward to working closely with Chevy to help reach and engage our supporters, who are among the most passionate and educated fans in the world."

http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/late...chevrolet-deal

[Paul D]

Liverpool to end stadium saga with £150m plan to rebuild Anfield into 60,000 home

Liverpool's American owners will end the club's 10-year stadium saga by committing to develop Anfield as a refurbished 60,000-capacity venue, including 7,000 'corporate' seats.

The club publicly maintain that no final decision has yet been made between refurbishment and a new stadium but detailed plans are in place for a phased expansion of the Main Stand and then the Anfield Road stand.

The work is expected to cost about £150 million, a huge saving on the estimated £400m that a new stadium in Stanley Park would cost, although an estimated £50m has been spent by the club on designs and planning for a new stadium.

Naming rights might have helped to subsidise a new venue but no suitable deal has been found.

Liverpool City Council have been working closely with the club on stadium options for years and for a long time were in favour of a new stadium, to be shared with Everton.

The council now believe that official confirmation on the refurbishment is imminent from John W Henry's Fenway Sports Group.

A council spokesman said: 'It does seem to be the case that the club have decided to stay at Anfield and that Liverpool officials are preparing to confirm the decision'.

The importance of resolving the stadium situation is highlighted by today's sell-out game against Manchester United at Anfield, which will generate about £1.5m in revenues for Liverpool.

The corresponding match at Old Trafford will generate more than £3m not just because United have more seats but better corporate facilities for which the club can charge more.

Anfield's 45,000-seat capacity and structure limits the extent to which Liverpool can mount a realistic challenge to rivals including United (who have 76,000 seats) and Arsenal (60,000) – on and off the pitch.

Henry himself has long been supportive of the idea that Liverpool's long-time home should remain their home.

He feels the club can develop without moving in the way that his baseball club, the Boston Red Sox, have done at their home, Fenway Park.

Henry dropped another heavy hint in June that a refurbished Anfield was his preference when tweeting a link to a blog by a Liverpool architect, Peter McGurk, that suggested Liverpool should stay put.

McGurk has no connection to the club or redevelopment.
Here to stay: Liverpool fans in the stands at Anfield

Council regeneration plans for the area around Liverpool have provided a solution to the long-running problem of freeing up land for Anfield's expansion.

The council intend to acquire property for demolition and refurbishment - and crucially now have the option of applying for compulsory purchase orders if required.

The council will be hoping to avoid any drastic action by offering residents the full market values of their homes plus compensation and relocation costs

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz27K1kFXoX
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[BeeGee]

Looks like a bargain basement solution that will still leave LFC miles behind their major competitors in both this country and in Europe. Looking like FSG are just another cheapskate version of Hicks & Gillete. A new stadium is what is needed but that requires investment and that appears an anathema to our new USA owners.

[yoshef]

Originally Posted by BeeGee

Looks like a bargain basement solution that will still leave LFC miles behind their major competitors in both this country and in Europe. Looking like FSG are just another cheapskate version of Hicks & Gillete. A new stadium is what is needed but that requires investment and that appears an anathema to our new USA owners.

I thought you were a bluenose? We are already miles behind, in terms of stadium revenue. If the council regeneration plans accommodate a stadium redevelopment up to 60,000, then it's a no-brainer for me.

[buggedboy]

Originally Posted by yoshef

I thought you were a bluenose? We are already miles behind, in terms of stadium revenue. If the council regeneration plans accommodate a stadium redevelopment up to 60,000, then it's a no-brainer for me.

To be honest, I agree. I'd love to see the stadium expanded even more, but if 60k is where we aim for for now, then that is good progress. Spending £400m on a 70k stadium now would cripple the club for years. The money just isn't there.

Also, redeveloping the stadium means the pitch won't be pushed further from the seats, which would be the case with a new build.

Losing the Anfield Plaza plan is a bit of a blow, but the LCC plans for having commerical space/hotel next to the stadium look promising in that regard.

[Charlie Pontoon]

I think in the present economic climate, a 60k seater stadium is as good as we could hope for. It will keep LFC in line with Arsenal as well as Tottenham/Chelsea if their redevelopment plans come off.

[yoshef]

Originally Posted by buggedboy

To be honest, I agree. I'd love to see the stadium expanded even more, but if 60k is where we aim for for now, then that is good progress. Spending £400m on a 70k stadium now would cripple the club for years. The money just isn't there.

Also, redeveloping the stadium means the pitch won't be pushed further from the seats, which would be the case with a new build.

Losing the Anfield Plaza plan is a bit of a blow, but the LCC plans for having commerical space/hotel next to the stadium look promising in that regard.

FSG had already scrapped the 70k idea and opted for the 60k AFL design for the stadium option, so that wouldn't offer any capacity benefit over a redevelopment to 60k anyway, perhaps other than to facilitate future expansion.

[JD47]

I was just wondering weather we could expand if we do make it a 60k seater.