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...I do agree that more is needed (and I'm sure there will be by August) however I believe that - certainly concourse-wise at least - the plan is for it to stay reasonably "bare" for the foreseeable, with the reasons given being that they want to ensure that the "wayfinder signage" is clearly visible and prominent while people are still getting their bearings and getting used to the new stadium, and any additional artwork, etc could distract from that.

Now, in reality, that might be an excuse for "we're actually on a budget and that will come later" but it is at least a reasonable valid reason to leave it fairly bare for now - although I would definitely like to see more Everton signage on the exterior and I'm fully expecting that to happen. As we were going up on the escalators yesterday, ToffeeMc and I did comment on how "open" some of the wiring in the ceilings above the concourse looks and wondered if that would be covered up, but then remembered that it was very similar at the Etihad, and it's actually quite similar in the Park End at Goodison - we just don't look up that often! The difference with BMD is that everyone seems to be looking everywhere and picking up on every single thing!

I think if you take a step back from it all and try to look at it as moving into a new house then some things make more sense - you get all your utilities up and running, wher the local shope and schools are, best routes etc., get the bare basics in furniture-wise and then wait for things (including your bank balance!) to settle down before you start re-decorating, getting artwork up, additional niceties and decorative stuff etc. etc. and I think that - stadium-wise at least (leaving aside the transport/travel situation) I think the key messaging will be to get ourselves settled in our new house, before we start turning it into a home.

Remember these are still just test events, and the positive things I heard from the people I spoke to yesterday at the FAB Drop-In was that they can't believe that we've done this and it's ours. It's good to focus on that (the 95%) although it's obviously also important to try to work on the 5% of niggles ahead of the grand opening in August, which I'm sure they will, and we'll see a few more tweaks for the 3rd test event (details still TBC)