Liverpool's tourism chief has said Everton FC's plans for a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock will mean an additional 1.4m visitors to the city each year, with the club's extensive consultation due to close this weekend.
Chris Brown, director of Marketing Liverpool, also praised the Toffees for the boldness of the "iconic" riverside stadium vision, and said he is convinced the proposals will have a significant effect on the on-going regeneration of north Liverpool.
Describing the plans for both the new ground and the club's community-led legacy at Goodison Park as a "brilliant" addition to the city's appeal, he said: “This is a significant project for the city, with a stamp of distinctiveness that will help Everton stand out and to my mind enhance the riverside cityscape as well.
"It’s a design and a concept that I’ve never seen anywhere else with any other stadium development and it will be a big draw beyond football and great credit is due to all those involved – it’s mind blowing.
“Liverpool is already a hugely popular tourist destination and there is no doubt that the new stadium combined with the way the club hopes to re-imagine Goodison Park will boost our reputation further."
Mr Brown's words come after Liverpool business leaders last week praised the club's plans for Bramley-Moore Dock, describing how there were "tears and goosebumps" when first revealed.
Ahead of the month-long second stage consultation into Everton’s plans to regenerate north Liverpool, which ends this weekend, research carried out and released by international property consultancy CBRE revealed that The People’s Project would deliver major economic benefits to the city.
In addition to the £1bn boost to the city’s economy and the potential for up to 15,000 new jobs and £34m of local income to local families, it has been estimated that an additional 1.4 million visitors would be attracted to the city.
He added: "Increasingly now visitors want to come not only to experience the match, but also to experience stadium environments, to experience the locations and the atmosphere, and I’ve no doubt that a waterfront location and its close proximity to the city centre will prove very compelling to visitors and to the great offer we already have
“For the city it’s really important to stay competitive in a global marketplace so this will improve our visitor economy, the investment economy and the economy of the city.
"And yet, it’s more than that - in terms of the next stages of development for the city, it’s huge, especially in growing the city centre while being a catalyst for regeneration in north Liverpool and I think it’s going to be brilliant for the city.”
What Everton fans think of the stadium plans:
The second stage consultation into Everton’s plans ends on Sunday. The People’s Project roadshow has also been touring the city region to show giving visitors details on the plans and gathering the views of football and non-football fans alike.
For those who were unable to attend the roadshow, all the consultation materials can be viewed online, with the club requesting everyone to give their feedback here before Sunday.
As well as the new stadium and the Goodison Park legacy, the consultation reveals full details of other elements of the project including heritage, transport, sustainability and environment and economic and social impacts.
