“Chelsea” is in talks to withdraw from “Stamford Bridge” and build a new stadium, The Guardian reported. The club’s management wants to build a new facility at London’s “Earls Court”, which will have more seats (the capacity of “Stamford Bridge” ” is 40,173 spectators). Renovating the current stadium would be too difficult, forcing Chelsea to look for a new venue. If Stamford Bridge is demolished, the team will have to play at Wembley until a new arena is built .
The club has discussed the possibility of construction with the regional administration and entrepreneurs. The Earl Court Development Committee wants to build a mixed-use development on the site and its masterplan does not include a football stadium. However, the committee needs to get approval from London authorities, who may find the plan too expensive. A multi-purpose football arena would be more profitable, and houses for sale can be built next to it.
Chelsea chief executive Jason Gannon led the negotiations on behalf of the club. It is stressed that if the project is approved, the “pensioners” will need to get permission from the Chelsea Pitch Owners, who own Stamford Bridge outright and can block any move.
The club has not ruled out staying at the old stadium, but sees no progress in plans to redevelop it, as the proximity to the metro line makes any changes a difficult task.
According to the source, the project could cost Chelsea 500 million pounds. The club’s owners intend to maximize revenue by building one of the biggest and best stadiums in the country.
A potential obstacle to the idea is the power struggle in the club between Chelsea’s shareholders Clearlake Capital and Todd Boley, writes BTA.