Two test events are to take place at Everton FC’s new £750m stadium on Liverpool waterfront with matches played in front of tens of thousands of spectators. Tony McDonough reports

Everton FC has announced details of two test events at its new £750m stadium with the under-18s and under-21s playing in front of tens of thousands of spectators.

On Monday, February 17, Everton’s under-18s side will play a friendly fixture in front of 10,000 spectators – kick-off 7pm. In late March or early April 25,000 spectators will be able to watch the under-21s in a friendly.

A third test event will be held later in the current season, details of which will be confirmed in due course.

As construction work on the 52,888-capacity arena at Bramley-Moore Dock in Liverpool Waters nears its conclusion the club will begin a testing process that will allow it to obtain the necessary licence and safety certificates to operate the stadium at full capacity.

If all goes to plan the mens first time will kick off the 2025/26 season at their new home with the final games to be played at Goodison Park in the current season.

Everton formally took control of the stadium from main contractor Laing O’Rourke just before Christmas. The company began construction on the project three-and-a-half years ago.

Tickets for the first two test events will be allocated by way of ballots. The ballots will be open from 10am on Friday, January 3, until 11.59pm on Friday, January 10, and be available to:

• Existing season ticket members.
• Existing Goodison Park hospitality members.
• Supporters who have committed to a 2025/26 premium bars, restaurants and experiences membership.
• Everton shareholders.

Eligible supporters will be able to apply for either or both test events and apply as individuals or in groups of up to six family and friends (all supporters within a group must meet the eligibility criteria outlined above).

Each supporter number can only be entered into each ballot once. Therefore, if a supporter number is included as part of a group application, it cannot then be used for a separate individual application or an application as part of another group.

Successful applicants will not be able to choose their seats for the test events. However, as part of the ballot registration process, supporters will be able to select two preferred areas within the stand/stadium, subject to availability.

Supporters with accessibility requirements should enter the ballot by filling out a separate form that will be made available from 10am on Friday, January 3, so that their application can be managed by the Accessibility Ticketing Team should they be successful.

The ballot for the first test event will be drawn in the week starting Monday, January 13, and successful applicants will be informed via email towards the end of that week.

To ensure fairness, successful applicants for the first test event will then be excluded from the ballot for the second test event, which will be drawn in the week starting Monday, January 20.

Should any applicants be unsuccessful in both ballots, they will be guaranteed a ticket for the third test event, ensuring all eligible supporters will get the opportunity to experience at least one test event prior to the stadium’s official opening.

Subject to availability, supporters on the season ticket waiting list who have been informed they will be eligible to purchase a season ticket for 2025/26, and 2024/25 official members will also have the opportunity to access tickets for the third test event, in addition to the above eligible groups.

READ MORE: North West business confidence edges up into 2025

READ MORE: Builder Vermont sees profits soar 62% to £1.3m

Tickets for the first two test events will be priced at £5 for adults and £2.50 for concessions (under-18 and over-65) and will be issued digitally to allow for the electronic turnstile system at Everton Stadium to be tested as part of the event schedule.

Supporters will be required to submit details of a payment card as part of their ballot application and, if successful, payment will be taken automatically.

The post Everton announces test events for £750m stadium appeared first on Liverpool Business News.