“Stand by for Operation Goodison Exercise.”It’s a message which often echoes around Goodison Park on matchdays - it takes around 20 minutes to complete ... and is absolutely nothing compared to the operation Everton’s long-serving stadium manager Alan Bowen and his staff must undertake ahead of Thursday’s Europa League visit of Dinamo Kiev.The Operation Goodison call is a stewards’ safety drill which focuses solely on evacuation procedure.
But before the visit of Kiev on Thursday Everton officials must transform the entire stadium.
The Old Lady may look exactly the same at first glance on Thursday night, but on closer scrutiny the changes are significant.
Not least in the adverts on display around the stadium.
“UEFA effectively take over the stadium ahead of the match, with a Venue Director and a Venue Operations and Broadcast manager arriving several days ahead of kick-off to oversee the changes,” explained Alan.
“The first task is to blank out the whole stadium of advertising. Only UEFA’s official sponsors can be visible. Even in the dug-outs we can’t have branded water bottles on display, or in the Family Enclosure we can’t have Coca Cola bottles visible.
“All our regular Premier League advertisers have to be blanked out.”
But that isn’t just a case of covering over the existing boards.
Everton’s regular Premier League advertising boards are 600mm high. UEFA use 900mm high boards.
So a signage contractor from Belgium has to turn up in a juggernaut to remove and replace the signs which, in turn, provides other issues.
Because the UEFA signs are higher, the sight lines from the first three rows of the Gwladys Street End and the Family Enclosure are obscured and therefore cannot be used by supporters.
The photographers at the Park End of the ground also have an obstructed view and have to be moved further back, which in turn obscures the view from the disabled supporters section, so the ramp for that area has to be elevated too, while ITV’s camera position has to be moved to a higher position.
But that’s only the start.
Goalline technology has been a successful innovation in the Premier League this season – but UEFA still refuse to recognise it.
So the seven cameras at each end of the ground that Everton use to offer instant decisions on Premier League matchdays must be covered up.
Then there is the world’s media to look after.
Under UEFA regulations every stadium must have a Mixed Zone - an area where journalists can ask players if they are willing to stop and chat (those not wearing headphones or pretending to talk on silent mobile phones!)
As the tournament progresses, the increasing volume of media personnel causes different problems.
“We have to move the Mixed Zone the further we go in the tournament and the more journalists who need accommodating,” explained Alan.
“For the group stages it was situated outside the dressing rooms where it could handle 12 to 15 journalists.
“For the knockout stages it had to be moved near an exit gate under the Main Stand so it could accommodate around 30 media.
“If we get through this round and reach the quarter-finals it will be moved again to enable even more journalists to be accommodated. We hope it’s something we’ll have to worry about!”
This is Alan’s seventh European campaign. His first was just three years after he was appointed Stadium manager in 1982 – back when there was little difference between domestic matchdays and European visits.
Now there are all manner of logistical changes to embrace.
“UEFA have different levels of supporters,” added Alan. “Class One Supporters represent UEFA’s corporate visitors, and they all require car parking facility and their seats have to be situated within the two penalty areas.
“That means moving some of the season ticket holders who have seats there.”
It is also why the boisterous Young Boys supporters were housed in the Lower Bullens Road section in the home Round of 32 leg and the upper section was largely unpopulated.
It will be the same for the Kiev fixture, with the only tickets to be sold to Kiev fans going to British based Dinamo fans.
The changes offer plenty of headaches, but problems the club is delighted to embrace.
“It’s where we want to be,” said Alan. “Yes. It causes the occasional headache, but it’s what we all strive for and where we want to be every season.”
By the time the last journalist leaves Goodison Park on Thursday it will be well after midnight.
And of course, with a Premier League match against Newcastle United being staged less than three days later, the whole process has to be reversed.
“Maybe that’s why it’s a 4pm kick-off on Sunday! To give us that extra hour,” jokes Alan.
It sounds like he’ll need it.
Tickets for Everton's Europa League home game against Dynamo Kyiv are now on general sale and start from £28 for adults, £17 for 65 & over/under-21s and just £5 for under-16s.
Supporters can secure their seat for the last-16 first-leg clash by calling the Goodison Park Box Office on 0871 663 1878.
Alternatively, tickets for the fixture can be purchased at the ticketing desk upstairs in Everton Two, Liverpool One or from TicketQuarter in Queen Square.
The match takes place on Thursday 12 March with an 8.05pm kick-off. For full ticket pricing details visit evertonfc.com/eticketing.
By David Prentice / Echo
