A capacity crowd is expected for the final test event at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium in early August – and those fans lucky enough to have a ticket are being asked to plan their journey ahead of the big game.
A sell-out crowd of 52,769 fans are expected to descend on the Toffees’ new home as they take on Italian side Roma on Saturday 9 August for a 3pm kick-off – which will be followed by a game between Legends teams of the two clubs (kick-off 5:15pm).
Under the co-ordination of a Transport Working Group chaired by Everton Football Club, the Combined Authority is continuing to work closely with local partners including Liverpool City Council, Merseyrail, bus operators and Merseyside Police to help plan transport and ensure journeys to and from the new stadium are as easy, smooth and safe as possible.
Supporters have a variety of travel options for getting to and from the game and are encouraged to plan ahead and think about the best mode of travel for them as they get used to a new matchday routine.
To ensure they have the most up to date information they should check directly with transport operators, who will be sharing the latest service updates and full timetables on their websites and social media channels.
Alongside scheduled regular bus routes which drop-off a short walk to the stadium, an increased number of shuttle buses will operate ahead of and following the event from Liverpool city centre, Bootle and Kirkby bus stations – with park and ride options available at all locations.
Merseyrail will be running a 15-minute service on the Southport, Ormskirk, Hunts Cross, and Headbolt Lane lines before and after the event. Sandhills, Bank Hall and Moorfields are all within walking distance of the stadium.
For those traveling across the River Mersey, there are special direct sailings between the Gerry Marsden Ferry Terminal at Liverpool’s Pier Head and Seacombe – a service which could become a regular matchday feature if passenger numbers are high enough.
Hill Dickinson Stadium is also easily accessible on foot or bicycle from Liverpool city centre, an ideal option for those looking to get their steps in or use cycle lanes while avoiding traffic.
Cllr Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee said:
“As a proud Evertonian myself, I can’t wait to see Hill Dickinson Stadium full for the first time as the club enters a new chapter.
“The new stadium is a massive moment – not just for the club, but for the regeneration of North Liverpool – an area which is only going to go from strength to strength in the coming years.
“We want to make sure fans can get to and from matches easily, safely, and sustainably, while keeping disruption to local residents to a minimum. Since the last test event, we’ve continued working closely with Everton, transport operators, the council, and, most importantly, supporters themselves to sure we get the best matchday experience possible.”
Colin Chong, Chief Real Estate and Regeneration Officer at Everton Football Club, said:
“The first two test events at Hill Dickinson Stadium were incredibly valuable in helping us fine-tune matchday operations — and that success is down in no small part to the passion, patience and feedback of our supporters.
“This third and final event is a major step forward as we welcome a full capacity crowd for the very first time. We’ve listened to fans, learned lessons, and worked with our partners to strengthen the transport offer, with new shuttle services, increased capacity on the rail network and post-match ferry options now in place.
“Evertonians will continue to play a vital role in shaping the future matchday experience at our new home, beyond the test events, and we thank them in advance for planning their journeys and supporting the Club every step of the way.”
More information specific to the third test event, including details on travel, parking restrictions and the matchday experience, will be communicated to ticketholders directly by Everton in the week leading up to the historic fixture.
