Liverpool continues to "reduce expectations about further Anfield expansion," with CEO Ian Ayre suggesting it is "currently not financially viable to swell the attendance to 60,000," according to Chris Bascombe of the London TELEGRAPH. Last month, Fenway Sports Group Principle Owner John Henry admitted there may not be "a next step" developing the stadium. He cited "the club’s difficulties in using ticket price increases" to subsidize such a scheme. Liverpool has outlined planning permission to make Anfield a 60,000-seat venue, "but it is now clear there is little appetite for FSG to finance this in the same way as the club’s new Main Stand." Now Ayre "has echoed Henry’s comments in a meeting with the club’s supporters committee." Ayre: "A stand behind a goal doesn’t have the benefit of hospitality that would go a long way to meet the redevelopment costs" (TELEGRAPH, 10/12).
PROCEEDING WITH CAUTION: In London, Samuel Lovett reported Ayre "cautioned against plans to expand Anfield Road -- the second part of the club's development project." Ayre: "If you consider the redevelopment of Anfield Road from a purely general admission perspective, building, say, 6,000 extra seats to take the capacity up to 60,000 would cost somewhere between £60 million ($73M) and £70 million ($85M). At £12,000 ($14,700) to £13,000 ($15,900) per seat, it would take approximately 15 years to pay back, which is not a smart investment for the business. Therefore the club needs to find a rounded solution that’s in the best interests of the football club." It was suggested at the meeting that Liverpool supporters "could themselves invest" in the anticipated £60M-£70M costs of a new Anfield Road stand. Liverpool Supporters' Committee representative Graham Smith said, "There are people who would think a 15-year return would make sense, and that’s the supporters. The supporters would fund such a development up front if the club made an appeal for financial support" (INDEPENDENT, 10/12).
FAN INVESTMENT POSSIBLE: In London, Andy Kelly reported Ayre said that the club is "open to fan investment to help fund further redevelopment of Anfield." Ayre said that the club needed to find "a rounded solution" but left open the possibility of "supporters investing in a proposal to extend the ground." The Anfield Road has "become an issue for supporters following the successful launch of the extended Main Stand earlier this season" which has taken Anfield’s capacity to 54,074. In the minutes of the meeting which was held after the opening of the Main Stand, Ayre added that "the club’s objective was always to build and open the main stand. From the outset, the club did not want to set deadlines or promises it failed to keep" (DAILY MIRROR, 10/12). The INT'L BUSINESS TIMES' Nick Howson reported Liverpool has "put a freeze on the cost of the majority of tickets" until the end of the '17-18 season. Though broadcast revenue "is now the biggest stream of income for Premier League sides" thanks to the new £5.1B ($6.23B) TV deal, matchday takings "remain a vital part of any club's balance sheet." Based on the most recent data available from the '14-15 season, Arsenal's 60,000-seat Emirates Stadium and ManU's Old Trafford, the capacity of which is 76,000, recouped £100M and £91M, respectively, thanks to "having the two biggest club grounds in England." Liverpool, meanwhile, earned just £59M during the same period (IB TIMES, 10/12).
