Dan Friedkin could reignite a £423m project once his expected takeover of Everton is sealed.
The US billionaire is currently engaged in exclusive talks with Farhad Moshiri, who has been attempting to sell the club for over a year.
In the biggest indication yet that a deal will go through, Friedkin has taken over a £158m loan from previous takeover hopefuls MSP Sports Capital.
Everton supporters will hope the media and sports investor can help them turn a corner after several seasons of PSR drama and turbulence behind the scenes.
However, there could be an upper limit in terms of Friedkin’s ambitions due to his ownership of Serie A giants AS Roma, especially given that it is believed the Italian club will take precedence.
While this situation is clearly a long way away for Everton, the two clubs could not compete in the same European competition, with UEFA clamping down on multi-club ownership.
What’s more, Friedkin’s time will be stretched between the two clubs, especially given that Roma are currently exploring what could be one of the biggest developments in their history.
Everton stadium architect enlisted for Roma redevelopment
Roma have long been keen to move to a new stadium, away from the Stadio Olimpico which they share with rivals Lazio.
Dan Meis, who happens to have been the chief architect of Everton’s new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock and is still on board in a consultancy role, was enlisted to oversee the project several years ago.
However, a series of bureaucratic setbacks have delayed the development. And events have slowed even more since Friedkin bough Roma in 2020.
Industry publication Stadium DB has this week reported that construction has halted because of concerns about the historical significance of the stadiums would-be site at Pietralata.
But if Friedkin takes over at Everton, it could open up a channel to communicate with Meis to explore alternative options.
Just as he managed to steer the Bramley Moore Dock project through despite objections from UNESCO about the location’s cultural significance, Meis could do the same at Roma.
How much can Everton earn at Bramley Moore Dock?
When it opens in time for the 2025-26 campaign, Bramley Moore Dock will house almost 53,000 spectators.
As well as providing a matchday income boost, the new stadium will also be enormously lucrative for commercial purposes.
The club intend to rival Liverpool’s Anfield to be the go-to stadium venue for concerts in the city, which can be worth millions every summer.
Everton currently earn around £17m per season through the turnstiles at Goodison Park. With matchday and commercial income, that figure will at least double from 2025-26.
That is just as well, given that the cost of the stadium has spiralled from an estimated £500m to around £750m.
