AS with most things involving Chelsea, even the plan to develop their Stamford Bridge stadium has been a soap opera.
Former chairman Ken Bates first mooted the idea back in the 1980s, when he famously dubbed his club ‘The Manchester United of the South’ to much derision.
Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly faces a dilemma over whether to splash out on a huge revamp of Stamford BridgeReuters
The Bridge capacity has plunged from its original 100,000 to 40kRex
Back then Stamford Bridge was infamous for its vast open terracing, concrete bench seats and the Shed End – a much-loved but dilapidated slab of sloping concrete almost in a different postcode to the pitch as it was so far away.
There has been a slow and steady makeover of the club’s ancestral home in West London in tune with their rise in status.
But politics and in-fighting have got the better of a succession of owners wanting to turn it into a truly global stadium.
Deposed Russian Roman Abramovich even got as far as releasing drawings of his vision to transform Chelsea’s home ground before his reign was hit by the wrecking ball of the Ukraine war last year.
In its original form Stamford Bridge had a capacity of 100,000. Today’s ground is barely 40,000. It is smaller than Tottenham, Arsenal and West Ham’s grounds in the capital alone.
And that is why securing the rights to a sliver of land behind the West Stand is a key moment in a saga that has been running almost as long as EastEnders.
Even so, Chelsea’s new ownership led by American chairman Todd Boehly and his pals from Clearlake Capital cannot make up their minds what to do.
The 1.2 acres of land due to come into their possession early next year was advertised for sale so the board of directors decided to snap it up because somebody else would.
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But that doesn’t mean the bulldozers will be moving in next week to demolish the outdated Stoll Building and pave the way for Chelsea to eventually live in a state-of-the-art 65,000-plus seater arena worthy of world class football.
An option to move away completely to nearby Earls Court remains on the table as much as expanding ‘The Bridge’. Both plans are being studied with equal consideration.
Any plan to build on site requires permission from the Chelsea Pitch Owners. A group of 13,000 fans plus a few connected celebrities who own the freehold to the ground.
Chelsea are engaged in consultation with them and are mindful of the constraints of building on their existing home.
Even with full renovation, experts estimate that Stamford Bridge could only accommodate 60,000 when full to the brim.
There is much more room just 1.5 miles up the road at Earl’s Court where a much bigger stadium could be built while Chelsea see out their time at Stamford Bridge – their home since 1905.
The current ownership is mindful that their rivals’ grounds are getting bigger and bigger.
It’s no coincidence that Spurs’ stunning new 61,000 ground has been picked for games at Euro 2028.
Arsenal’s Emirates hosts concerts, even West Ham’s vacuous London Stadium puts on baseball in the summer.
Liverpool are expanding capacity to 61,000, Aston Villa’s atmospheric Villa Park is to undergo expansion. The Etihad – home to Treble winners Manchester City – is being redone.
Chelsea’s imminent acquisition of the piece of land between them and Fulham Broadway Tube station is just the first stage of what will still be a lengthy process.
Boehly has tried to build a new team at his club in just over a year but building a stadium is a much slower process.
GettyBoehly’s Bridge revolution has struggled on the pitch but arguably faces even bigger problems off it[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
