New Everton Stadium set for major milestone next month

The science behind Everton’s future pitch at their new stadium has been explained through an illustration showing all seven layers that will form the playing surface with seeding of the turf expected to be completed next month. Everton are now less than a year away from relocating to the Mersey waterfront.

A gravel layer is transforming the pitch area as work continues to build up the playing surface at Everton Stadium.

Four months after underground works and utility ducting began on the pitchside surrounds – and the original piling mat used for vehicular access was excavated – contractors have steadily built up the necessary layers to create a world class hybrid SIS grass surface.

And following the tiering-up of impermeable membranes that provide a barrier for the top-level work, a fusion-welded liner to form a watertight base level, and a layered drainage system that allows for water storage for irrigation, contractors are now moving towards laying the upper levels.

The gravel is spread evenly across the surface, ensuring a layer that is robust enough to avoid damaging the drainage system below.

Atop this, the undersoil heating pipes are laid in rows to cover the entire playing area, before the lower and upper rootzones will be installed.

Finally, once all the various layers are installed, grass seeding can then take place.

Once seeding is complete, expected to be in early October, specialised machinery will then stitch synthetic fibres into the roots of the grass to strengthen them and provide a hard-wearing, hybrid SIS grass surface.

These fibres, covering around 5% of the playing surface, are designed to interlock with the growing grass to provide stability, strength and longevity.

Everton Stadium is now over three years into the scheduled three-and-a-half-year build. Work is due to be completed on the construction of the stadium in late 2024 with the first team moving in for the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

It means the Blues' are playing their historic final season at Goodison Park, the first purpose-built football ground in England.