NovaLoca Blog

With England’s bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup well and truly under way, cities across the Country are to put forward proposals as to why they should be given the honour of being a Host City.  These proposals can boast such things as facilities, amenities, culture, history and of course stadia. The stadium in a proposal need not necessarily be current – it can be a pipedream of building plans and designs, hopes and prayers. Assuming the clearance of these plans, a “new” stadium will be considered in the proposal.

Approximately 10 cities will be chosen as host venues, and each will reap the rewards as visitors from across the globe head for their temporarily adopted home city, for a couple of weeks at least.

So what happens when the plans for a new stadium are quashed? Look no further than Everton Football Club, which had proposed a move from its current home, Goodison Park, but recently saw its plans rejected by the government. This is big news of course for sport in general, especially football, and in particular for Everton FC and the people of Kirby (where the proposed new stadium was due to be built) – but also for the commercial sector, as recently reported on the Property Week website.

The impact of the 2012 Olympics on east London is perhaps best left for another blog, but the situation is the same: a newly built arena and surrounding amenities will have a direct impact on the local community and a massive impact on the commercial sector in the area. The creation of leisure, office and retail space will bring an influx of money, jobs and people to the locality.

Of course the disappointment of the Everton rejection is not only felt by the football club and its supporters, but also by the residents of Kirby, who would no doubt have benefited from the impact of a new stadium and surrounding amenities. Plans had included a Tesco Extra, increased housing and a brand new retail venture. The retail plan, which included proposals for an additional 40 shops, would not only have added to the current available retail opportunities in Liverpool but would also have created many new jobs, as would the proposed new leisure facilities. Alongside this were plans to create new office space opportunities. Altogether the proposals would have created a brand new community and would have been a major boost to Kirby and the economy of Liverpool.

Liverpool as a city will no doubt be disappointed, but the blow will fall hardest on the deprived area of Kirby. The debate about alternatives has now begun, and promises have been made by Borough Councillors that the people of Kirby will not be forgotten.

It remains to be seen whether Liverpool will subsequently fail to convince the judging panel of its worth as a 2018 Host City following this disappointment. Portsmouth recently had to retract its own bid after the City Council there refused to provide the necessary financial guarantees for development. Hull, on the other hand, according to Hull City FC chairman Adam Pearson, would see a winning vote as being the final part of the regeneration of the city.

The race is on and the competing cities and their supporters will have to wait for the results on December 16th, as will the commercial property sector. From that date all roads will lead to 2018 and the planning will begin in earnest.

An ironic note to consider is that Goodison Park was not only the first major stadium to be built in England, but it also hosted one of the semi-finals of the 1966 World Cup. One suspects this will never happen again.

As a Carlisle United supporter, you can imagine my joy at our appearance in the FA Cup third round, for the first time since 2001. The luck of the draw has pitched Carlisle against Premiership club Everton FC and brings a financially beneficial trip to Goodison Park. I wonder if this could perhaps be the last chance I ever get to visit Goodison? Time will tell, but I suspect there are many people who would like to think it is.

Chris Tembey