Anfield’s revamped main stand will increase its capacity to 54,000 fans. This improvement to the stadium, coupled with likely deals for naming rights, will see the matchday revenue significantly increase. All of these financial gains are welcome of course, but to Liverpool supporters, more tickets are the Holy Grail.
Liverpool is, of course, a globally supported team; as one of the giants of the game, international Reds fan clubs are thriving. Pre-season tours that used to consist of friendly games in Anfield, Dublin or Glasgow now take place in Adelaide, Jakarta or Boston. These tours overseas further limit the opportunities for local fans to see their heroes in action.
International fans have always been welcomed. Liverpool as a seafaring city has always had an influx of outsiders who came to trade and also to watch football. The old ferry from Dublin to Liverpool provided a bonding experience for Irish fans of Liverpool as they headed to Anfield. Low-cost airlines have long surpassed the ferries, and they fly thousands of Reds fans into Liverpool on game days. Attending Anfield games now are Reds fans from Merseyside, North Wales, Cheshire, Malaysia, Canada, USA, Norway and other nationalities.
The international influx is, of course, a boom for the local economy. It is estimated that football travel to Liverpool brings in 84 million pounds annually. Financial matters are important to fans; the recent ticket protests have showcased that patience with the increasing commercial side of the game is waning. Fans care more, however, about football. They care about their team being successful, they care about the tribalism and passion that football thrives on.
There is nothing better to the Liverpool fan (be they from Huyton or Helsinki) than to see Manchester United or Everton put to the sword. The difference is the fan from Huyton has to face the Everton fan in work every day—there is local pride at stake and bragging rights. The Helsinki Red doesn’t (necessarily) face that when they fly back home after celebratory beers.
Who will get these extra tickets in the Main Stand? Will it be the local young fan from Merseyside or the international fan from Malaysia? This is an important decision for the club. The noted muting of the famous Anfield atmosphere has been attributed to the lack of local young fans at the games. Few Scousers are now among the ranks of the first team with the notable exception of Jon Flanagan. Identity is important to fans, and the citizens of the city in which Anfield resides must feel connected to its team.
