Liverpool Council: Could a stadium idea bring Liverpool FC to town?

English football club Liverpool “is open” to the idea of a franchise in Sydney, Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun says.

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LIVERPOOL is forging links with its namesake in the English Premier League and is now pushing for a world-class stadium befitting the football giants.

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun said the council has met with Liverpool FC which is “open to the idea” of debuting a franchise of the team in southwest Sydney.

Mr Mannoun will meet with Premier Mike Baird next month to push for a master plan for a $600 million world-class stadium in outer Western Sydney to be given the green light — and said Liverpool is “the perfect place”.

He said a new stadium in Liverpool would play host to multiple football codes and potentially attract a new football club backed by Liverpool FC.

“We’ve met with them and (they’re) open to the idea,” Mr Mannoun said.

“Liverpool FC was completely blown away by the support they have down here.”

Greater Sydney’s stadium network has 11 tier one and two stadiums but none is within 15km of Liverpool.

Mr Mr Mannoun said Liverpool’s population growth outstripped the rates of Greater Sydney and NSW.

The region is expected to swell from 200,000 to 300,000 in less than 15 years and, by 2031, Liverpool will service a broader regional population of 1.3 million.

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Liverpool fans cheer during the UEFA Europa league quarter-final second leg football match between Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund last week. Picture: AFP

Council is proposing a value capture model of developer levies, taking advantage of the population growth, to fund the stadium.

“We’re the only people who are coming up with a funding strategy that doesn’t involve just tax payers money,” Mr Mannoun said.

“If the government wants developers to pay for this, they have to make the decision now not in 10 years.”

Sport Minister Stuart Ayres said the government’s stadia strategy was heavily focused on Western Sydney.

“That still includes a long term plan for a future outer western Sydney rectangular stadium,” Mr Ayres said.

He confirmed the population shift in the southwest corridor would be considered in selecting the new site.

“For the first time, future population growth is accounted for in our planning of future sporting venues,” he said.

Liverpool Council has drawn up plans for a stadium which would become one of the country’s most technologically innovative entertainment facilities.

The design includes a retractable pitch to transform the rectangular stadium into a multipurpose venue fit for music concerts, conventions and large-format specatcles like monster truck rallies.

“There’ll be no other stadium like this in Australia,” Mr Mannoun said.

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