Liverpool Could Sell Naming Rights to Anfield Main Stand, Reveals Billy Hogan

Liverpool chief commercial officer Billy Hogan has confirmed the club is looking to sell the naming rights to Anfield's soon-to-be-improved Main Stand.

Hogan, who has recently moved from Boston to London in order to oversee Liverpool's new capital-based office, believes this method is a smart way of funding the construction costs needed for the stadium redevelopment.

Anfield's capacity is set to stand at an eventual 58,500 seats when the increase is finished, with some of the costs being offset by placing a corporate name on the Main Stand.

"We wouldn't consider selling naming rights for the stadium as a whole, but in terms of the name of the Main Stand, that's something we will look at," Hogan told James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo. "We'll be looking to bring in a number of new partners. A naming partnership for the stand would make sense."

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According to Andy Hunter of The Guardian, Liverpool's City Council recently granted the club permission to begin redeveloping two sides of iconic stadium. Despite suggestions an increased capacity will negatively impact traffic and parking around the Anfield Road area, it seems likely the work will go ahead.

Hogan suggests a total of 580 million fans support Liverpool across the globe, per Pearce. Anfield's current capacity of 45,522 isn't best utilising the pulling power of a Premier League side whose appeal extends far beyond the realms of England.

Liverpool proved on their recent pre-season tours of Indonesia and USA that they could easily attract the numbers needed to fill a bigger stadium. The potential of each matchday gate currently remains untapped and is an obvious source of greater income for the club. Champions League football also aids finances and should help facilitate redevelopment of the Main Stand, which is expected to cost £75 million, per Hunter.

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Although Hogan indicates plans are still "ongoing," such an expansion is majorly exciting for the club. Manager Brendan Rodgers improved Liverpool's fortunes on the pitch last season and, despite a poor start to the current Premier League campaign, will be hoping to continue pushing the side forward.

Increased support could be vital and may help Liverpool reclaim Anfield as the fortress it beckoned to be before the start of the current season. Anfield often has the "big occasion" feel to it and will become a more intimidating venue for visiting teams when the new seats are installed.

Although many fans would most likely prefer to name the expanded stand after a club legend—perhaps Steven Gerrard when he retires—it makes financial sense to maximise the potential earnings of a stadium that is recognised across the sporting world.

B/R UK, The Telegraph and ITV posted images of how the stadium is set to look once development concludes:

It is currently unclear how, or if, the stadium expansion will alter Rodgers' transfer budget. The Northern Irishman spent lavishly during the summer but could potentially face limitations to his expenditure over the coming years. Even so, the Fenway Sports Group continue to support Rodgers' needs and are likely to ensure he doesn't go without.

Liverpool's future appears bright—both on and off the pitch—so the expansion plans are representative of a team that is developing for a successful future. Slapping the Main Stand with a corporate sponsor may be disappointing upon first view, but in this era of UEFA's Financial Fair Play, every potential revenue source must be maximised to ensure punishments aren't granted.