When do Everton move into their new stadium and what are their plans for Goodison Park? Toffees set for final season in famous ground

08/19/2024 08:04 AM

Everton's final Premier League season at Goodison Park is now underway and it is going to be an emotional campaign.

The Toffees have begun their final year at the iconic ground, with their move to the new 'Everton Stadium' happening very soon. 

The new ground will have a capacity of over 52,000 and will be situated on Bramley-Moore Dock, with construction ongoing since 2021. 

Things are moving towards completion and ahead of the move, talkSPORT.com has taken a look at all the details…

When do Everton move into their new stadium?

Everton are set to move into their new stadium at the start of the 2025/26 season. 

The ground is expected to be finished towards the end of this year but the club have opted to not make a mid-season move away from Goodison Park. 

Speaking in December last year, the Toffees' interim chief executive, Colin Chong revealed: "The first competitive football fixtures for our senior men's side will take place at our new stadium at the start of the 2025-26 season.

"To be absolutely clear, our decision to not move in mid-season is not because of a construction delay. 

"It is a club decision driven by a combination of commercial insight, a comprehensive review of the logistics required, an analysis of the potential impact upon our football operations and, importantly, fan feedback sourced as part of our recent stadium migration survey, which was completed by almost 10,000 Evertonians.

"Everton Stadium remains firmly on track, as scheduled, to be completed in the final weeks of 2024."

Chong continued: "We will need to conduct test events at our new home, which will allow us to stress-test the stadium in a number of different ways in order to obtain our safety certificate.

"It will also give Evertonians a chance to see and sample the new facilities. Some of our test events will involve crowds of varying capacities, while others will need to be operationally focused and only involve our own staff."

Everton have been posting regular updates on their progress on the new stadium and more details can be found here.

CEO Chong also revealed plans for how they will celebrate Goodison Park ahead of their move away. 

“All of this does mean that next season, 2024/25, is scheduled to be our last at Goodison Park,” he said.

"By the time we close the gates for the final time, Goodison will have been our home for nearly 134 years, with many supporters telling us very clearly about their desire to make sure the Grand Old Lady gets a fitting send-off. 

“For a while now, the club has been looking at a series of events, tours and celebrations that will allow us all to pay tribute to one of the world's most iconic and well-known stadiums. 

“Now we know the farewell to Goodison will be a year-long celebration, we can start to firm up those plans and we will begin to reveal more details around what is planned and how fans can get involved later this season."

What are their plans for Goodison Park?

Goodison Park has been Everton's home since it was built in 1892, boasting over 130 years of incredible history. 

However, when the club move out at the end of this campaign, it will be demolished.

Their final home game of the season will be against Newcastle on Saturday, May 18.

Everton are then planning to mark the occasion with a 'Farewell to Goodison Festival' between May 30 and June 1. 

The event will include live music and give fans a chance to meet first-team players from the past and present. 

There is also expected to be a huge send-off planned for the Newcastle fixture, which will be their last-ever game at the stadium.