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Everton's potential dockland home 'key part' in Commonwealth Games bid

Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine Livepic

Liverpool City Council's bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games intends to use Everton's prospective Bramley Moore Dock home as a "key part" of its campaign.

On Thursday, the Toffees reached an agreement in principle for the brownfield site on the waterfront, and it's now intended to be used by city mayor Joe Anderson to try and bring elite athletes from the likes of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand to a multi-sport showpiece in Vauxhall.

Related: Everton announces agreement to purchase land for 'iconic waterfront' stadium

Liverpool had initially intended to host the 2026 edition, but 2022 became available after it was announced Durban, South Africa would no longer stage the competition due to not meeting the criteria detailed when it won the bid.

(Photo courtesy: BBC)

Everton's possible new ground is expected to seat 50,000, and its status of hosting the games would likely see it feature a running track around the field's perimeter. A council spokesperson told BBC News no further details on the project are available as "at the moment, we are just discussing the deal."

The last time the Commonwealth Games were staged in England was in Manchester in 2002. After its use for track and field events, the surface was dug down to allow another tier of seats to be assembled before Manchester City moved into the venue in 2003. West Ham United similarly moved into the London Stadium after its usage at the 2012 Olympic Games, but the running track still surrounds the pitch.

Everton's search for a new abode away from Goodison Park has lasted around 15 years. A site on King's Dock fell through in 2003, and on this occasion the Bramley Moore spot was preferred to a corner of Croxteth which was identified by police as an area with anti-social behaviour issues.

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