Everton for King's Dock Group
The Blue kipper boys attended a steering
committee meeting on 7th March 2001. We decided to continue the campaign
with a press release, which is displayed below. Please feel free to
use part or all of the press release to email the councilors. M.P.'s,
English Partnership members, Liverpool Vision members, & other interested
parties. Keep the pressure on.
Call Y'self an Evertonian? Prove it!
Press Release 13 March 2001
OUR CITY - OUR FUTURE - OUR CLUB.
With this first press release the independent
Everton For Kings Dock Group reinforce their support for the Kings Dock
development bid led by Everton Football Club under the collective title
of Houston Securities.
As Evertonians we are delighted the bid is a happy matrix between the
best interests of our city and our football club. But there is much,
much more. The MULTI-PURPOSE ARENA proposed by Houston Securities is
the only submittal which meets the forward-looking aspirations of the
whole region of Merseyside and far beyond. It not only provides much
needed support for regeneration, it provides ADDITIONAL DIVERSITY AND
WIDER FREEDOM OF CHOICE for people throughout the north west of England.
The arena is intended for maximum variety of entertainment not just
football. Hitherto, many of these attractions have been limited to a
few venues miles form Merseyside. The proposed arena provides an additional
stage in a truly stunning riverside location. It is unrivalled. The
site is in a world famous location which is enhanced by an outstanding
and dazzling architectural concept. It is precisely the kind of inspired
vision needed to breathe new life into one of the world’s oldest and
most famous port cities. As a major catalyst its affects cannot be over-estimated.
Potential cultural and social-economic gains are enormous.
Such is the flexibility of the arena it will promote international performers
as culturally diverse as Placido Domingo and Madonna, Jose Carreras
and Robbie Williams, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and
U2, Anne-Sophie Mutter and Celine Dion, and many others who demand and
perform only on a world stage. It will accommodate large scale productions
such as Riverdance and ice dance spectaculars. And of course it will
offer opportunities to new young hopefuls who seek their first big opportunity.
All of this in a city with a global reputation in producing popular
and classical artists and entertainment, a city which houses the Liverpool
Institute of Performing Arts founded by Paul McCartney.
The self-financing development will also embrace commercial promotion
of business and lifestyle exhibitions, conferences and festivals.
The stadium will change shape and size to encourage alternative widely
popular sports like indoor athletics, ice hockey, tennis, boxing, wrestling
and basketball.
All of this RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE CITY and under the auspices and
vision of Everton Football Club, our city's first football club. All
of it breathing life and energy back into an area of unsurpassed aspect
and opportunity.
The project could create as many as 8,000 new jobs, more than any of
the other competing bids. The association between Everton Football Club
and SFX Entertainments could re-introduce some of the world’s great
performing artistes to Merseyside and benefit all citizens of the north
west. This project ADDS VALUE. It poses no economic danger to existing
city centre activities. Indeed, it will attract much-needed additional
economic activity to the city centre and the immediate surrounding area.
This project would also be an influential supporting factor in the City's
bid to be European City of Culture in 2008, further enhancing Merseyside's
status World-wide.
At present, the city centre contains about 27,500 car parking spaces,
a relatively high proportion of which remain unused even at peak times;
all of these spaces are within a fifteen minute walk of the Kings Dock.
Merseyside Police have offered the opinion that the site presents no
major problems for them. There are readily available road and transport
links, with imminent proposals for additional systems.
There is overwhelming local support for the project. This was reflected
in a telephone poll conducted by a local newspaper which confirmed 80%
support for the Houston Securities bid. A referendum conducted by Everton
Football Club drew 85% popular support for relocation.
Indeed, the project matches virtually all of the requirements described
in the "Strategic Regeneration Framework" dated 12th July
2000 as prepared by Skidmore Owings & Merrill Inc. for Liverpool
Vision. This is further reinforced by the accompanying "Summary."
Evertonians are proud their club has produced this wonderful concept
at such an important moment in the history of their city. The design
is outstanding, bringing a stunning addition to the waterfront. The
stadium/arena meets a clear need in terms of urban regeneration and
added economic value, and the international design and engineering team
behind the project provide expertise at the very highest level.
It is to be hoped that Liverpool Vision will live up to the words of
Daniel Burnham quoted in their own documents:
"MAKE NO LITTLE PLANS. They have no magic to stir men’s blood &
probably themselves will not be realized.......Make big plans.........Aim
high in hope and work remembering that a noble, logical diagram once
recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living
thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency.........Remember
that our sons and grandsons are going to do things which will stagger
us.....Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty."
These are indeed magical and worthy words. They are matched only by
the Everton bid. We hope Liverpool Vision can match them with similar
judgement.
OUR CITY - OUR FUTURE - OUR CLUB.
Kings Dock-Fans
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