Aston Villa manager Unai Emery spoke about playing at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium following his side’s goalless draw

Unai Emery hailed Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium home and hopes his own side can do something similar in terms of improving their own attendances by the redevelopment of Villa Park.

While the Blues had 16 crowds of over 70,000 at Goodison Park, before making their move to the Mersey waterfront, they had not attracted a home attendance in excess of 50,000 for over 38 years since 53,323 watched a League Cup quarter-final against Liverpool on January 21, 1987.

However, since switching to Hill Dickinson Stadium, David Moyes’ men have now broken that barrier on three occasions with 50,837 watching their friendly against Roma; 51,759 taking in their inaugural competitive fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion and then a new record on site, 52,114 against Aston Villa.

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Villa Park currently holds 42,918 but with Birmingham City Council approving expansion of the North Stand on August 28, the club are hoping to increase their capacity to over 50,000 by the second half of 2027, ahead of the following summer’s European Championships, where it will be a host venue alongside Everton’s home.

With his side holding out for a goalless draw, Emery enjoyed his first trip to Bramley-Moore Dock and while his current employers are not relocating from their base since 1897, he hopes their expansion plans will have a similar impact.

The Spaniard said: “Everton are playing better, they are playing with confidence and they are playing here, excited with the new stadium – a fantastic stadium – with the supporters.

“I enjoyed a lot of the match, competing, suffering, but I enjoyed it and this is the way I want it.

“It is a fantastic stadium and of course they needed it, it is clear. Goodison Park is a very good stadium but old.

“I like to play here. Villa Park is also old but it is a fantastic stadium as well and we are going to build there and the club is going to add more supporters, another 10,000 I think, and it will be a fantastic atmosphere for us.”