Liverpool's matchday revenue in '16-17 was £74M, up from £62M the previous year.GETTY IMAGES
Liverpool's new Main Stand earned the club an extra £12M in its first season "as the club sought to close a significant gap" to ManU and Arsenal, according to Chris Bascombe of the London TELEGRAPH. Club accounts for '16-17 revealed Liverpool increased matchday revenue to £74M, "largely through enhanced hospitality sales for home fixtures." This compared to £62M the previous year and £43M when Fenway Sports Group purchased the club in '10. But Liverpool still trails the top Premier League earners. ManU earned £107M and Arsenal £100M from matchday revenue in their last published accounts. Liverpool did not compete in UEFA competitions last season so it "can expect to show a further rise for the current season." It is guaranteed a minimum of five European home fixtures for '17-18, which will extend to six if the club can protect a 5-0 lead over Porto in the Champions League round of 16. The new stand -- which extended overall capacity to 54,074 -- was funded with a £110M loan from FSG. Liverpool must now decide whether to extend the Anfield Road stand, "which could eventually take the stadium capacity to around 60,000." Overall, Liverpool's revenue has risen by £62M to £362M, "assisted by the new Premier League broadcasting deal and new sponsorship." However, there has been an increase in debt from £22M to £67M. The combined cost of the Main Stand, a new retail store, new playing surface and training ground is £200M ($275.5M). Work will begin on the new £50M ($68.9M) training facility, an upgrade on the club academy in Kirkby, this summer. Liverpool's wages remained at £208M, although the previous year's accounts included "significant pay-offs for former staff" including ex-Manager Brendan Rodgers (TELEGRAPH, 3/1). ESPN.com's Glenn Price reported Knowsley Council's cabinet agreed to sell land to Liverpool for its new first-team training base. The club will buy land on Simonswood Lane in Kirkby for £160,000 ($220,400) to expand the facility, "making it large enough for the senior side and youth teams to use" (ESPN.com, 3/1).
BIG DECISION: In London, Simon Hughes reported results revealed by Liverpool on Thursday show the club's "economic potential is gradually being realised." Though Liverpool still trails ManU and Arsenal by roughly a quarter, "the gap in theory would narrow again if the option to raise the Anfield Road stand's capacity by 6,000 was taken up." What FSG chooses to do next "has the potential to divide opinion" and it explains why the group is taking its time considering the options, "with more than 50 designs being evaluated." Debate around what should happen with the Anfield Road stand comes at a time when supporters have "raised concerns about the availability of tickets for junior fans, those who in better circumstances would attend together and make an almighty din" but are not "able to, having been priced out due to rising costs." There is a belief that a younger working class support would help Anfield get closer to the "famous atmosphere" that the club is "so willing to push as unique" -- particularly toward sponsors (INDEPENDENT, 3/1).
