Liverpool win go-ahead to expand Anfield stadium

Liverpool's home at Anfield is to become one of the biggest stadiums in the English Premier League after the city's planning committee agreed Tuesday to an expansion plan.

The committee gave the go-head to an 84-million-U.S. dollar plan to add an extra 7,000 seats to take the stadium's capacity to around 61,000.

It will move up the capacity table behind Manchester United (about 74,00) and London club Tottenham Hotspur (about 62,000), overtaking Arsenal, West Ham United and Manchester City's grounds.

Liverpool is currently with a capacity of 53,860, according to a city hall report presented to the committee by planning officers.

Expanding the Anfield Road stand, where most visiting fans are seated, its planned capacity of 15,819 will be larger than the iconic Kop home stand at the opposite end of the playing pitch. That accommodates 13,024 fans.

As part of the application, the club has also been awarded permission to hold up to six concerts and major events at the stadium every year.

Andy Hughes, managing director of Liverpool FC, said: "This is a huge milestone in our journey towards bringing more supporters into Anfield. We underwent a rigorous two-stage public consultation period during the planning process for this project and I would like to thank everyone who has offered a contribution to that.

"We have been clear from the beginning that this expansion would be based on our ability to successfully navigate the complex planning landscape; our ability to gain co-operation of local residents and the community; and our ability to ensure the project is financially viable."

A report by accountant and teacher Kieran Maguire from the University of Liverpool's Management School, says each home match is potentially worth around 3.5 million U.S. dollars to the city's economy.

The stadium is also home to an LFC museum and stadium tour experience which attracts more than 340,000 visitors to Anfield annually.