Liverpool Football Club has claimed that Anfield lost out on a “global act” because of current rules limiting when the stadium can host major concerts. The club has lodged a planning application with Liverpool City Council to change the regulations, which require a 31-day window in July during which no events—football or otherwise—can take place, to allow residents a period of respite.
Proposed Changes to Event Schedule
The club is seeking to alter the arrangement to provide more flexibility in securing events. Under the proposed changes, shows could take place in July, but a dedicated 31-day block with no events would still be maintained. This would likely affect the scheduling of home matches at the start of the Premier League season.
Mark Worcester, planning agent for the football club, told the planning committee that feedback from concert promoters indicated “major demand” for venues in July. He added that under the current rules, “a global act was unable to play at Anfield, resulting in lost revenue to the city.” Worcester emphasised that “Anfield is a popular choice for major global artists, some of whom do not perform at any other venue in the north of the country.”
History of Major Concerts at Anfield
Since 2019, Anfield has hosted iconic artists such as Elton John, the Rolling Stones, and Taylor Swift. Last month, the Foo Fighters and My Chemical Romance performed at the stadium. The current rules mean no further events will take place until at least August 1. The club requires a licence to stage major events outside football matches, controlling alcohol sales, noise levels, and timings. Liverpool Council has granted permission for up to six non-football events per year, initially approved in 2018 for two years and extended for five seasons in 2021. In total, 21 gigs have been held in the last seven years, with further shows expected in June 2027 and 2028.
Residents’ Concerns
Councillor Portia Fahey, representing the Everton North ward bordering the stadium, expressed concerns that the proposed changes would reduce the respite period for residents. She stated: “If you’re shifting it into mid-July that would essentially widen that calendar for events to take place and it’s not just the six events that may take place, it’s the set up around them as well. It’s the construction noise of building the stage and sound system, it’s the full sound checks you get then taking it down and heavy HGVs taking everything away. The impact is not just these six days, it’s a shortened respite period, it is much longer.” She urged councillors to consider the community and the “significant impact on their lives,” adding: “We want Anfield and we want Everton to be a safe community, we want it to be a thriving community but we want it to be a community where people stay, where people feel comfortable and we want the residents to be the key stakeholders, not the football club.”
Darryl Shellard, a resident of Tancred Road near the stadium, also objected. He asked: “Why as residents are we only allowed to have a 31 day period where there is no activity going on? Who deems that that’s all we’re worth? Why can’t we have the 60 days from the end of the football season in May to the beginning of the football season in August like it used to be? I know things move and change but who determines that’s all we’re worth? Why are we worth only 31 clear days?” Shellard suggested that concerts could be hosted at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium instead, and questioned when residents would receive recognition from Liverpool Football Club.
Decision Postponed
The planning committee put the decision on hold after members requested a site visit to assess the proposal to permanently close Anfield Road as part of a wider planning application.
