A new waterfront home for English premier league club Everton FC is the centerpiece of a bid by Liverpool to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, officials in the city announced Friday.
City hall bosses unveiled ambitious plans costing around 900 million U.S. dollars to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, still seeking a venue after original hosts, Durban, pulled out.
Central to Liverpool’s bid to stage the games is the riverside regeneration of the Bramley-Moore Dock – just a few kilometers north of the city center – which would be home to Everton Football Club’s new stadium.
? | Open letter from @mayor_anderson to all Evertonians after the City of Liverpool unveils plan to host 2022 Commonwealth Games… pic.twitter.com/AxW4QZJKFs
— Everton (@Everton) June 16, 2017
The city is also proposing to host swimming at a new 50 meter pool within the city center dock system, that would remain. There will be facilities for triple jump, long jump and pole vault on the dockside by Mann Island in the city center.
Cricket and Track Cycling would take place in Manchester at Old Trafford Cricket Ground and Manchester Velodrome, marking an exciting partnership with the two major cities of north west England.
Liverpool’s existing Arena and Convention Center would host badminton, artistic gymnastics, judo, netball and wrestling.
Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool FC, the city’s other Premier League club, would host the opening ceremony of the games as well as the Rugby Sevens.
Meanwhile the historic St George’s Hall would host the squash finals.
An athletes village would also be built alongside the new Everton stadium in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.