The Bill Shankly Memorial Gates, "Liverpool's permanent tribute to the legendary manager, have been removed to ensure their safety as improvements are made to Anfield," according to Michael Gadd of the London DAILY MAIL. The gates "were carefully removed and taken to safe storage on Tuesday while major works on the stadium's Main Stand ramps up." The gates "have been in place since August 26, 1982, when they were officially opened by his widow Nessie." The Hillsborough Memorial "has also been carefully removed and stored with the Shankly Gates" (DAILY MAIL, 2/25). ESPN's Chris Wright reported work "has recently begun on the Liverpudlian equivalent -- a multi-million-pound project to build a Bill Shankly-themed hotel." Located just down the street (Victoria Street to be precise) from the Cavern Club and scheduled to open later this year, The Shankly Hotel "will be a luxury, 83-bedroom venue which will include a sports bar, restaurant and even a swanky museum dedicated to Liverpool's legendary former manager." The hotel "is a joint venture between Signature Living Developments and the surviving members of the Shankly clan, and as such will be furnished with never-before-seen items of personal family memorabilia" (ESPN, 2/24).
