Facility Notes: Canberra Puts New Stadium On Hold Due To Asbestos Clean-Up Costs

Plans for a new rectangular stadium with a roof in Canberra's Civic "have been put on hold for at least a decade" as the ACT government prepares to foot the A$300M ($270M) bill for the Mr Fluffy asbestos clean-up. But Canberra Stadium will be left "as is" and require "rolling renovations" to keep it up to a minimum industry standard to be a suitable home for the ACT Brumbies and Canberra Raiders until at least '25. Initial plans for the stadium "were put in place to have it built by 2020" (CANBERRA TIMES, 9/14). ... Everton hopes to announce "a breakthrough over a new 50,000-capacity stadium this week." The club believes Goodison Park, its home since 1892, "can no longer generate sufficient revenue from a maximum capacity of 39,600." Everton wants "to move to nearby Walton Hall Park" and has been talking to the council. In April, Liverpool City Council "reaffirmed its commitment to working with Everton on the prospect of a new stadium" (London DAILY MAIL, 9/13).