Online Reporter
CHELSEA have all the hallmarks of one of the grandest football clubs in the world.
Except for one major stumbling block.
Billionaire owner? Tick.
Multiple Premier League titles? Tick.
Two-time Champions League winners? Tick.
Two £100million-plus transfer signings? Tick.
And a world-class mega stadium to top it all of? Ah, that’s where the problem lies.
Stamford Bridge is certainly an iconic stadium in English football but it first opened way back in 1877.
But even with renovations at the beginning and end of the 20th century, its capacity is still limited to a mere 40,173 – making it only the 11th biggest football stadium in England (12th when Everton’s new ground opens later this year).
Chelsea have been desperate to work out how to expand their home ground for years. Could now be the time to finally make some progress and get on with increasing that underwhelming capacity?
WHY NOW?
Quite simply, Chelsea are falling behind. And not just behind their so-called ‘Big Six’ rivals.
We all know about Arsenal and Tottenham’s 60,000-seater-plus grounds opened in the last 20 years in North London – the latter’s one of the most impressive in world football while the former is already subject to update plans.
Anfield has undergone significant expansion work in recent years.
Old Trafford may be crumbling and in dire need of modernising — or a complete rebuild — but it is massive.
West Ham (62,500), Manchester City (52,900), Newcastle (52,258) and Aston Villa (42,918) all have bigger grounds than Chelsea — as do Championship side Sunderland (48,095).
Everton are about to overtake Chelsea while neighbours Fulham have already updated their ground with a swanky new riverside stand which even features a swimming pool.
Villa, Crystal Palace, Newcastle, Manchester City, Forest and Leicester all have plans in the works to improve and enlarge their grounds, too.
A dated Stamford Bridge lacks many of the facilities new stadiums can offer.
FAILED ATTEMPTS
Chelsea and improved stadium plans are nothing new – with three rather ambitious plans within the last 20 years.
There was the “futuristic” 60,000-seater design images released in 2017 which led to comparisons to a Slinky and an egg slicer with its unique pattern from the architects who did both the Allianz Arena in Munich and Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Stadium.
The club did get planning permission at the time but it expired due to various delays and economic challenges.
Before that, Chelsea failed in a bid to move into Battersea Power Station as it was instead converted into a luxury shopping centre.
HISTORY OF STAMFORD BRIDGE
A sports ground opened on the site of Stamford Bridge way back in 1877 for London Athletic Club, making it the oldest Premier League stadium and eighth oldest football stadium in the world.
In 1904, the land was offered to Fulham and there were thoughts of selling up to Great Western Railway.
But leaseholders Gus and Joseph Mears decided to stay put and in 1905 founded a football team instead – Chelsea Football Club. Ironically, there were plans back then to increase the capacity to 100,000 — albeit in the days before seated stands —Sun.
Mathew Masinge