I really like the fact that we're staying at Anfield. My granddad owned a fish & chip shop right next to it back in the 50s-60s.
The area around Anfield is currently a disgrace and an embarrassment and I hope the redevelopment goes a long way to fix that.
Much of Liverpool isn't all that nice. It's a blue collar town that has seen better days. It's more like Pittsburgh than it is a cosmopolitan metropolis. I do think they need to revitalize the area, but that costs money, and it also puts people out of the areas they're in with little more than a thanks and a basement price check. I'm all for reworking the stadium, but there's a lot of work to be don.
I was born there -- I know what Liverpool is like. There are many areas of the city (and I don't mean the suburbs) that are in much better shape and have benefited from the Euro money that started pumping in during the 80s and 90s. The area around Anfield has seen very little of that. Much of the recent stagnation has been the uncertainty over the stadium development. Despite the fact that tourists don't make the trek there other than to see a match or a stadium tour, I would be tempted to make the whole area a more inviting destination and drive tourism and visits to the area. improve Stanley Park, expand the club museum and shop, etc. I don't mean make a them park out of the area, but a Liverpool Hall of Fame type of attraction along with the museum would see a lot of visits along with some better shops, hotel (which is in the works), newer housing and other attractions would go a long way to help.
Yeah, i went there this summer. It's a nice area near the docks, and some of the parts have been worked to revitalize it. But Anfield has been left to the wild.
Here's some pics for those not familiar with the area: I see that the houses in between the park & the stadium are now gone since I was there last. This is Sybil Road:
I have always found it very interesting how the old row housing stock immediately around the stadium is still there in this day and age - particularly the housing on Kemlyn and Lothair Roads. I'm intrigued to see what kind of plans the club has for the neighborhood, particularly in terms of open air spaces/plazas for the fans outside of the stadium.
Made me feel quite nostalgic there mate....... Ausie arsehole...! Just to make you feel better, I was in the ground and on the Kop this day in time as well. That's me 2 rows up above his left fist.......................................YNWA lads.
That shot of Lothair road was where we used to go through the turnstyles to the Kop after we'd paid our 2 bob. Maybe 60 cents.
So the question that really matters is will they leave The Albert on the corner at Walton Breck Road? On my last trip about half Lothair Road was already vacant and abandoned. The rest looked close to it. Knocking that down and relocating those left would actually be good for the area. I also presume they will either break Anfield Road in half or re-route it into the Park. I am only an OOT who goes there every few years but I think this is the best way forward for the club and the area. It would help if the UK and the City Corporation could put in some economic redevelopment funds into both this area and over by Goodison. That could help a lot in alleviating some very difficult financial issues for the people of L4.
Yes! Some cop got anoyed at me, dunno why... maybe because I punched his horse and told him to get his f**kin' camel off my foot. That hurt, I lost a toe nail.
I'm certain there's money in a developed Albert or potentially some newer pubs in the area. From much of the talk, they want to do something like they have around Fenway (lots of shops, food, you name it) and make it a destination not just for when the club is playing. Would be good for the area certainly.
MAJOR BUMP! stadium plans released! with video: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/260m-anfield-regeneration-plans-revealed-4705912