Hill Dickinson Stadium – Everton FC Sensory Spaces Case Study

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Background

Hill Dickinson Stadium, the new home of Everton Football Club, has been designed with a clear vision: to create a modern, world-class venue that is welcoming and accessible to all supporters. As part of this vision, Everton FC placed a strong emphasis on inclusivity, recognising that traditional matchday environments can be overwhelming for individuals with sensory sensitivities, neurodivergent supporters, and families who may otherwise find it difficult to attend games together.

The Vision for Inclusive Matchdays

Everton Football Club wanted to ensure that supporters of all ages and abilities could enjoy matchdays together. The club recognised the need for calm, supportive spaces within the stadium that would allow individuals with sensory needs to regulate, take breaks from the action, and still feel connected to the live matchday experience.

The Brief

Everton FC set out to incorporate dedicated sensory spaces within Hill Dickinson Stadium that would go beyond standard accessibility provision. The aim was to create bespoke, thoughtfully designed environments that felt safe, controlled and inclusive, while also reflecting the club’s identity and sense of pride.

To deliver this, Everton FC approached Creative Activity to design and install specialist multi-sensory environments that could seamlessly integrate into the stadium setting.

Our Solution

Working closely with the club, Creative Activity designed and installed two bespoke Multi-Sensory Environments on Level 2 of the West Stand: a Sensory Box and a Sensory Room.

Each space was fully bespoke, incorporating Everton Football Club branding while carefully balancing visual identity with calming sensory design. The result is a series of environments that feel connected to the wider stadium experience, without compromising on comfort, safety or sensory regulation.

Sensory Box

The Sensory Box is a pitch-facing quiet space designed to allow supporters with sensory needs to actively enjoy the live matchday experience in a calm and supportive environment. Equipped with specialist sensory equipment, the space carefully balances sensory regulation with clear sightlines to the pitch.

Reserved seating located immediately outside the Sensory Box windows gives supporters and families the flexibility to move between watching the match from within the quiet space or stepping outside to experience the atmosphere of the stadium when they feel comfortable to do so. This adaptable approach allows families to enjoy matchdays together, offering choice, control and reassurance throughout the game, while ensuring supporters remain fully connected to the action on the pitch.

Sensory Room

The Sensory Room acts as a dedicated breakout space from the Sensory Box, designed to provide a quieter, more controlled environment for supporters who may need additional sensory regulation during matchdays. Equipped with a range of specialist sensory equipment, the room offers more focused sensory input to help individuals regulate, decompress, and feel supported away from the intensity of the stadium atmosphere.

The space is available to anyone using the Sensory Box and is particularly beneficial for supporters who may feel overwhelmed by crowd noise, movement, or visual stimulation at certain points during a game. By offering a calm retreat while remaining close to the main sensory provision, the Sensory Room allows supporters and families to take the time they need before comfortably returning to the matchday experience. By offering a calm retreat while remaining close to the main sensory provision, the Sensory Room allows supporters and families to take the time they need before comfortably returning to the matchday experience.

Branding

A key consideration throughout the design process was ensuring that Everton Football Club’s branding and identity were carried consistently through each space. This was important in helping supporters feel a genuine sense of belonging and connection to both the club and its new stadium, rather than feeling removed from the matchday experience.

Bespoke design elements, colours and finishes inspired by Everton FC were carefully integrated into the sensory environments, striking a balance between club identity and calm, supportive sensory design. This approach ensured the spaces felt unmistakably part of Hill Dickinson Stadium, reinforcing that inclusivity is embedded within the heart of the club.

The result is a series of sensory environments that support comfort, safety and sensory regulation, while allowing supporters and families to feel fully included as part of Everton Football Club on matchday.

Feedback & Impact 

Since opening, feedback from supporters and families has been overwhelmingly positive. These sensory environments have enabled individuals who may previously have found matchdays inaccessible to attend games, enjoy football together as a family, and feel truly included in the Everton FC matchday experience.

Start Your Sensory Journey

If your school is exploring ways to support regulation, wellbeing, and inclusive learning through sensory spaces, we’re here to help. Whether it’s a corridor transformation or a complete sensory room, our team will work with you from concept to completion.

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