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Everton are hoping to move a significant step closer to their dream of building a new stadium on the banks of the Mersey.

An announcement over the next stage of their plans for a site at Bramley Moore Dock is expected next month.

At January’s General Meeting, chief executive Robert Elstone spoke with confidence about “bottoming out” their partnership with Liverpool City Council to establish a funding model for the project.

And when it is confirmed that Everton’s finances are in place to press ahead with the construction of a £350m new ground, Elstone said it would ‘trigger the next steps’.

One of which would be choosing how big a ground to build.

The ECHO understands that a 55,000 seat stadium has been discussed, increasing Everton’s Goodison capacity from 39,572, though no decision has been made and talks are ongoing.

The failed Destination Kirkby project would have seen a new 50,000 seat ground built, while 2003’s aborted move to King’s Dock had proposed a 55,000 capacity new home on the waterfront.

But what about a new ground at the Bramley Moore?

Everton remain conscious of creating a ground that does not impact negatively on atmosphere and want to retain as much of the Goodison feel as possible.

Athletic Bilbao, for example, spoke last year of their decision to cap the capacity of their new San Mames home to 53,000 to ensure their famous atmosphere remained as intact, even though they could have filled a bigger ground.

Every home game this season at Goodison has been a sell out and Everton’s commitment to fair pricing structures, price freezes and payment plans are boosting season ticket sales.

The Blues are having to consider a cap on season tickets because of demand and fans are, for the first time in the Premier League era at Goodison, having to register their interest in getting hold of one.

The Premier League dictate that at least 3,000 tickets have to be made available to away supporters for every game and that 5% of all match tickets are to be put on general sale.

A new stadium would also remove the obstructed view seats that exist at Goodison and, it is expected as a result, generate yet more interest in season tickets.

Everton are believed to have been encouraged by the surge in season ticket sales generated by West Ham after they moved into the Olympic Stadium at this start of this season.

The Hammers, who previously had a capacity of 35,000 at Upton Park, have moved into the 60,000 seat stadium in Stretford, and announced in May that they had sold over 50,000 season tickets.

Spurs, meanwhile, are building a new 61,000 seat stadium which would represent a near 70% increase in capacity on their current 36,284 White Hart Lane home.

Chelsea, who received the green light to construct a new stadium on their existing Stamford Bridge site, want to take their capacity up from 41,631 to 60,000 - around a 46% increase.

Should Everton go from 39, 572 to 55,000, they would be making around a 39% increase.

Another factor in deciding on a capacity, and one which could see increase the scale of their ambition, is that Everton are conscious that a new stadium must serve the city, as well as the club, given it will form part of a wider redevelopment of the North Liverpool Docks area.

Therefore, Everton’s new home would have to be multi-purpose with the idea of being able to host concerts and other sporting events, as well being a conference facility.

Modern stadia are built with changes in mind and it would be expected that the design would allow for future increases in capacity, as Manchester City have performed recently.

Premier League modern stadia capacities (built since 2000)

Spurs - New White Hart Lane (due to be built in 2018): 61,000

Arsenal - Emirates Stadium: 60, 432

Chelsea - New Stamford Bridge (due to be built in 2021): 60,000

Man City - Etihad Stadium: 55,097

Leicester City - King Power Stadium: 32,312

Southampton - St Mary’s: 32,505

Hull City - KCOM Stadium: 25, 586

Swansea City - Liberty Stadium: 20, 520