Editing Anfield (section)

===Abandoned new stadium plans===
{{See also|Stanley Park Stadium}}

[[File:Liverpool v Chelsea, 2005.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A stand which is full of people standing to support their team. There are a number of flags, scarfs, and banners in the crowd.|''The Kop''; the atmosphere generated by the crowd in the stand led owner [[John W. Henry]] to reconsider the construction of a new stadium.]]

Plans to replace Anfield were originally started by Liverpool in May 2002.<ref name="BBCSport1">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/1992484.stm |title=Liverpool unveil new stadium |work=BBC Sport |date=17 May 2002 |access-date=17 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313170419/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/1992484.stm |archive-date=13 March 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> The proposed capacity was 55,000, but it was later changed to 61,000, with 1,000&nbsp;seats given for segregation between home and away fans. Several attempts were made between 2003 and 2007 by the [[Liverpool City Council]] to instigate a [[groundshare]] of the proposed stadium with local rivals Everton, but this move was rejected, as neither club favoured it.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/6503097.stm |title=Liverpool get groundshare request |work=BBC Sport |date=28 March 2007 |access-date=11 November 2008}}</ref> On 30 July 2004 Liverpool was granted planning permission to build a new stadium {{convert|300|yd|m}} away from Anfield at Stanley Park.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/reds-stadium-gets-go-ahead-3542660 |title=Reds stadium gets go-ahead |first=Mike |last=Hornby |work=Liverpool Echo |date=31 July 2004 |access-date=11 July 2014}}</ref> On 8 September 2006, Liverpool City Council agreed to grant the club a [[999-year lease]] of the land on the proposed site.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/5327426.stm |title=Liverpool get go-ahead on stadium |work=BBC Sport |date=8 September 2006 |access-date=8 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310175904/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/5327426.stm |archive-date=10 March 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the takeover of Liverpool on 6 February 2007 by [[George N. Gillett, Jr.|George Gillett]] and [[Tom Hicks]], the proposed stadium was redesigned. In November 2007, the redesigned layout was approved by the council, and construction was due to start in early 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N157603071106-1818.htm |title=New stadium gets the green light |publisher=Liverpool F.C. |access-date=17 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216094901/http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N157603071106-1818.htm |archive-date=16 December 2007}}</ref> The new stadium, provisionally called [[Stanley Park Stadium]], was to be built by [[HKS, Inc.|HKS]]. It was scheduled to open in August 2011 with a capacity of 60,000.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7081610.stm |title=Liverpool's stadium move granted |publisher=BBC |date=11 June 2007 |access-date=17 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108211559/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7081610.stm |archive-date=8 November 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> If the new stadium had been built, Anfield would have been demolished. The land would have become home to the centrepiece for the Anfield Plaza development, which would have included a hotel, restaurants and offices.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/public-park-plan-anfield-turf-3550822 |first=Mike |last=Hookham |work=Liverpool Echo |title=Public park plan for Anfield turf |date=23 October 2003 |access-date=11 July 2014}}</ref> However, the construction of Stanley Park was delayed following the [[economic crisis of 2008]] and the subsequent [[recession]], which directly affected the then American owners. The situation was worsened because the club was bought with [[bank loan|borrowed money]], not the owners' [[Financial capital|capital]], and interest rates were higher than expected.<ref name= HicksCreditCrunch>{{cite news |title=Hicks hit by credit crunch |first=Tony |last=Barrett |work=Liverpool Echo |date=15 May 2008 |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2008/05/15/liverpool-fc-co-owner-tom-hicks-hit-by-credit-crunch-blow-100252-20914232/ |access-date=18 May 2008}}</ref> Hicks and Gillett promised to begin work on the stadium within 60&nbsp;days of acquisition of the club, but had trouble financing the estimated £500&nbsp;million needed for the Stanley Park development. The deadline passed and the plan was eventually cancelled by the Fenway Sports Group, as their preference was to re-develop Anfield.<ref name="Redevelop"/>