Everton launched a new era at the magnificent £750 million Hildickinson Stadium with a 2-0 win over Brighton.
Chris McKenna is a boxing correspondent for the Daily Star, a professional voice on “sweet science” and a very experienced football reporter with a focus primarily on Merseyside giants Liverpool and Everton. He covered world title fights, Champions League finals, FA Cup finals and Premier League title winners all over the world.
Everton: Inside Hildickinson Stadium ahead of the first Premier League match
“Which path is Dad?” One young Everton fan was in awe of the stadium, where he had a glimpse of the train heading to the nearby Sand Hills station.
However, when he disembarked, he lost his bearings. “Son like this,” the father said, pointing to the sign at the station exit.
As Bruce headed into a new era of Bramley Moore’s dock, a new journey was underway for two Toffee fans of different generations. Supporters were broken through the clouds, heading down Regent Road to the wall of the dock, sitting as boundaries in the stunning view of Dickinson Stadium on the hill.
As fans lined up to enter Budweiser, bright rays bouncing off the top of the steel with a 750 million pound structure – a blue sign instead of the brand’s regular red fan plaza. Other supporters filled the nearby bar. Some new stuff like The Terrace and Bluehouse. There are some older people like Bramley Moore.
Angela Burns of Landradi have kept the door open for over 20 years, making one punter quite difficult in one night. During the heyday of Dockland, many facilities were in the realm of hustle and until recently, Bramley Moore was the only one who survived.
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They are now competing with more bars for more bars to pop up soon. As fans pass by, there are also plenty of club sponsored plazas. But there’s a sense that within the walls of the old pubs now there’s a possibility that Goldmine and fan favorites. This is the version of the new stadium at the Wilmslow Hotel, across the street from Goodison Park, Everton’s current home.
This new structure is about to change this part of the city, transformed into an area of abandoned buildings that are warned of visits. But now it is a tourist attraction, and along with the nearby Titanic Hotel, it becomes a soccer stadium that has begun to turn the place into a nest of activity and opportunity.
“It’s great,” said Jeff, a Blues fan who was lucky enough to get tickets to the opening game against Brighton on Sunday. “It would have been something that would have been to come here for most of my life. You run quickly and don’t mind walking.
“But now, tourists in town are hoping to come down, and all these bars get busy every day.
Fans began filtering through the square around the impressive 52,769-seater stadium that took eight years to build. Designed by American architect Dan Mace. The red brick walls have been renovated to suit the style of nearby warehouses, but also give the feel of the US baseball stadium type. The aforementioned barrel-shaped roof should be visible to cruise ships that regularly pass by on the way to the dock, by walking and catching eye.
It’s been 22 years since the ground on the waterfront at King’s Dock collapsed. The Evertonians have dreamed of this day for a long time. Some people couldn’t wait long, but there were lines outside the wall at 10am. Like a hydraulic tower in a wall, it was restored to its original glory at a great cost by the club.
“Don’t you come down for the test event,” a fan told his friend. “No, I just wanted to come to the first game and get this feeling.” That feeling must have been pure joy. Some supporters said they burst into tears as they walked down the road towards the stadium.
“I’ve gotten a bit emotional,” said John, who has had season tickets at Goodison Park for 20 years and is now here.
Liverpool lost its UNESCO World Heritage Site due to a change in the dock, but it was abolished, abandoned, and it hurts my eyes. It certainly isn’t like that now.
There’s something to do. It is one of the most underprivileged regions in the country, but there are plans to regenerate nearby cities and cities in Everton’s new stadium.
There were still some teething issues on the trip. For those who arrived early, it was a smooth sailing – literally if you board a ferry across from Wirral – but the delays and cancellations of the trains affected some supporters.
The closure of the road caused anger among a small number of public people. Those obstacles can be sorted. But I was here. It was in 133 that the ribbon was cut at Goodison Park in 1892 and Everton entered his new home on August 24, 2025.
Boss David Moet correctly pointed out that the new stadium is great, but now they need to build a team worthy of playing. This was a good start from our current team.
The first scream of “Everton, Everton” came down and LA’s “She’s Going Again” began just before the players came out.
The Everton players appeared in the Z-Car tunes and the monumental importance of this really began, so the fireworks flew into the sky. The 26th minute applause from Everton fan Michael Jones, who lost his life while helping to build the stadium, was a touch of class.
The players then provided performances. A worthy of such an epic stage, Jack Grelish crossed Iliman Ndiai to bring his first goal home at the stadium. Ndiaye won his last one in Goodison Park in May.
James Garner was second and was as impressive as this new stadium before Jordan Pickford denied Danny Welbeck from the penalty spot to get his first important moment here.
Toffee is undefeated in the new patch as he scored the first three points of the season. The return trip for that dad and his youth would have been as full of joy as a journey. They hope it is the first of many great days here.
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