Everton new stadium ‘structurally complete’ as historic milestone reached

Everton’s new stadium is now ‘structurally complete’ after the final concrete terracing panel was installed

Some 18 months before Everton’s first team play their first fixture at their future home, the club’s new stadium is now ‘structurally complete.’

The final concrete terracing panel has been installed to complete the structural work within the bowl of the 52,888-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. The historic milestone was reached this week as the final piece of the huge jigsaw was lowered into place in the east stand, ending 18-months of complex work since the first concrete terrace was positioned in August 2022.

And with all 1,988 double-stepped units now installed, on schedule, all four stands of the stadium are intact. Gareth Jacques, Laing O’Rourke’s project director, confirmed: “Structurally, that is the stadium bowl complete. When you consider that alongside the terracing, the team have also done the structural steel and precast concrete in the four stands, it is a fantastic achievement.

“Because we use modern methods of construction and need to fix our design to go to fabrication early, the team worked really hard in the early stages of the project. The rate of progress we have achieved within the stadium meant that we were nearly 40% ready to go with precast components when we took possession of the site, so it’s been a great piece of work and a great product from our supply chain partner Banagher, in Ireland.”

The terrace units, averaging just under 9.5 tonnes in weight, have each been meticulously lifted into place over the past year-and-a-half, secured with a high-strength grout and then made weatherproof with a special sealant. And the installation of the bespoke, double-stepped units –ranging from 0.73m to 14m in length – is a first for Laing O’Rourke, who pivoted from more traditional single-stepped blocks due to a combination of factors.

Jacques explained: “The double-stepped units are something we haven’t done before. In previous stadiums we have built, it has been a single-step arrangement, but there are a few reasons for developing the new method here.

“One was that we were always aware of the exposed location of the site, and plenty of our engineered solutions have been done to reduce the risk of weather and lifting. The double-stepped terracing significantly reduces the amount of lifts needed and cuts down the time working on site, often at heights.

“The by-product is that when you are building a football stadium, all the internal works and fit-out are generally underneath the terracing, so getting weathertight is on the critical path. The infill joints are really important and here at Everton we have 33km of Mastic sealant within the bowl, so by having double-stepped units we need less of that too.”

Rarely-seen Everton midfielder confirms he’s back from injury after loan termination

Lewis Warrington has taken to social media after making his return to action for Everton Under-21s on Monday (19 February).

The youngster returned to Goodison Park last month after featuring only four times on loan for Plymouth Argyle in the first half of the campaign.

Warrington was named in the starting XI as Everton’s age-grade side lost 2-1 to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League 2 contest.

In a post on his Instagram story on Tuesday (20 February), Warrington said: “Great feeling being back out there”

Plymouth Argyle loan spell cut short

Warrington is highly thought of at Finch Farm, but his time on loan at Plymouth did not pan out the way he would have wanted.

The 21-year-old sustained an injury and returned to Merseyside a little over a month ago to begin his rehabilitation.

It may have been a disappointing development, but all the 21-year-old can do is get his head down and show what he is capable of.

Whatever the injury was, it was clearly not too serious. Warrington will be grateful to have got some minutes under his belt for the Under-23s.

The midfielder is likely to continue featuring in Premier League 2 for the rest of the season before a decision is made on his future in the summer.

Another spell out on loan next season looks the best bet, but for now he will work on returning to peak fitness after that recent setback.