What makes a good women's football stadium? Everton point the way

"It was a pitch in the middle of a park, basically, Peter McFarlane, secretary of the Everton Women Official Supporters' Club, says in describing Walton Hall Park, the 500-seat stadium that eventually held a further 1500 spectators before the team moved to Goodison Park. Walton Hall Park was the smallest stadium in the Women's Super League, charming and nostalgic with its railed-off standing space, somewhat isolated outside of the city, and otherwise simply lacking food options and a bar."

"For a men's fixture, the routine is familiar: people get there the same way, go to the same pubs with their same friends and then go to the games, with all their rituals, says Charlotte Read, a senior consultant at Steer, a company that advises organisations such as the Football Association on matchday operations. For a women's fixture you have a lot more women and families, or first-time fans. You tend to get earlier arrivals for weekend fixtures. They want to make it an all-day thing."

"Goodison Park, in contrast to Walton Hall Park, is monolithic, industrial, cosied in streets of sprawled-out amenities, well walked by generations of Evertonians. Since Everton Women's first fixture at the repurposed venue, on 14 September, it has been rejuvenated by fanzones offering face-painting, beer and music. There are even bottomless brunches in what used to be named the Dixie Dean suite. At that first WSL game against Tottenham, 6,473 fans attended, almost triple their previous ground's capacity."

Walton Hall Park was a 500-seat stadium that eventually accommodated a further 1,500 standing spectators, making it the smallest ground in the Women's Super League and lacking basic amenities such as food outlets and a bar. Goodison Park provides covered seating, extensive surrounding amenities, and has been repurposed with fanzones offering face-painting, beer, music and bottomless brunches. Women's fixtures draw more women, families and first-time fans who often arrive earlier for weekend matches and treat game days as all-day events. Larger stadium access produced substantial attendance increases, including 6,473 at the first WSL match at Goodison and 4,313 at a subsequent game.

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