Liverpool FC: Anfield Could Close Its Doors as Reds Look to Stanley Park Future

On the same day that Liverpool displayed Charlie Adam to the Kopites, John W. Henry has come forward to announce that the club could be forced out of their Anfield Road home of 119 years and into a new ground at Stanley Park.

It is also ironic that the announcement has come on the same days as Manchester City have gone public that they have sold the naming rights to their stadium, changing the name to Etihad Stadium for at least the next 10 years.

The Reds' principle owner looks to have tried every angle to refurbish the legendary stadium, as it has been an Iconic backdrop for some of the greatest moments in English footballing history.

Liverpool legends such as Elisha Scott, Jack Cox, Billy Liddell, Roger Hunt, Ian Callaghan, Ray Clemence, Kevin Keegan, John Barnes, Peter Beardsley, Emlyn Hughes, Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush and more modern legends like Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler, Sami Hyypia and the always Red-or-dead Jamie Carragher have helped to make more memories for people than you can imagine.

The Eras of Bill Shankley, who holds reverence every time you pass under his Gate, Kenny Dalglish's first term and Bob Paisley saw the club walk into English footballing lore forever.

How can you put a price tag on that kind of history? You simply cannot.

With Arsenal and Manchester United selling nearly 20,000 more seats per home game than Liverpool, it is no wonder that a redevelopment of Anfield or the move to a new stadium is necessary for the club to continue to grow and compete on the same level.

It also is a key component of the clubs new business model under John Henry and his partners, as the increase in gate receipts from ticket sales and the increased revenue from additional concessions and memorabilia will also give them a more profitable edge to keep growing the club in the coming years.

Henry and the Fenway Sports Group have a history of redeveloping legendary sporting grounds, as they completely refurbished and renovated Boston's fabled Fenway Park, which is the namesake of the company, after purchasing the Boston Red Sox in the early 2000s.

It is hard to imagine the Reds in a different ground. It is about as weird as what Arsenal fans probably felt when the Gunners left Highbury for the Emirates. A recent Twitter comment from Henry, mentioned by the Daily Mail and Goal.com, also looks to show signs that the Reds may be moving whether they truly desire it or not as he replied this to a fan:

"

"Anfield would certainly be our first choice.

"But realities may dictate otherwise. So many obstacles..."

"

The other sad fact is that the proposed ground at Stanley Park will also more than likely have its naming rights sold in a multimillion pound deal that will lose the luster of once-fabled sporting ground names like Anfield, Highbury or White Hart Lane if Tottenham decide to build a new stadium in the future.

Indeed if Liverpool are to build a new stadium, Henry and company will have to act fast as the Liverpool City Council's offer for a 999-year lease on the proposed Stanley Park site expires in September.

The business capabilities of FSG have already shown their promise, and it is no doubt that if this is the best way for the club to move forward, there will certainly be something done.

There is no official proof that the Reds have decided completely against refurbishing Anfield, but the need to add at least 15,000 seats to the ground could prove more costly in the long run than building a new stadium altogether.

In the end, the possible loss of Anfield for Liverpool fans breaks the heart—the thought of no more European nights with the Kop in full voice to, "You'll Never Walk Alone," is almost more than I can think of as I write this morning.

I know there most certainly would be a new Kop end in relevance to the fabled stadium, but it just won't quite be the same. Whatever happens, Anfield will always be the home of the Reds in my heart and soul.

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