Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has admitted that Cardiff’s multi-purpose event venue so impressed his players when they first visited it in 2001 that it has become the inspiration for their own £80million new stadium.
Liverpool have played five times in the Welsh capital since it became the home of the Football Association and Football League’s prestigious finals and Parry admits that players and officials have been ‘wowed’ by the venue on their visits there. That is what inspired the club to utilise some of the venue’s design in their plans. Now Millennium Stadium bosses have returned the compliment by saying to Liverpool fans ‘we wouldn’t be where we are today if it hadn’t been for you’.
Millennium Stadium manager Paul Sergeant said: ‘It’s a fantastic accolade for the Millennium Stadium. Imitation has long been regarded as the greatest form of flattery and Liverpool are one of the biggest and most famous clubs in the world.
‘Anfield is perhaps the most famous of football grounds, so for them to be looking to the Millennium Stadium as a model for their new stadium, which will improve on what they have already, is a compliment indeed.
‘We have a retractable roof and removable pitch, unrivalled sight lines for fans and the atmosphere we are able to generate on event days is something to behold, so we are proud of what we have.
‘But the people of Liverpool have played a big part in building our stadium to its current iconic status in world football.
‘They have been here five times in the different FA and Football League competitions. We have been overwhelmed by the feedback we have received from their supporters and they have always been a pleasure to accommodate.
‘And the sounds of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ ringing around the bowl of the Stadium is something that many staff who work here will remember for a long time.’
Liverpool’s five visits to the Welsh capital have seen them win the league cup twice, the FA Cup and the Community Shield – their only defeat there was the Community Shield reverse against Arsenal in August ’02.
‘When we first played at the Millennium Stadium in 2001 many of the players and staff were completely impressed by it and I actually heard many of them saying ‘wow’ as we approached it,’ added Parry.
‘We’ve taken on certain aspects of that particular stadium which we think work really well.’
Liverpool will incorporate an underground tunnel, like in Cardiff, to get teams dropped off by coach. And the sweeping design of the Millennium Stadium roof is very similar to the plans for the new Anfield.’
Liverpool hope to gain permission to start building their new stadium on Stanley Park next May.
