Chelsea Football Club is reportedly considering a move from their historic home at Stamford Bridge to a new location in Earls Court. The club has been in talks with Transport for London (TfL) and real estate developers Delancey, as they seek to increase their stadium capacity from 42,000.
The need for a larger stadium has become a major priority for Chelsea owners. However, the challenges associated with redeveloping Stamford Bridge have led the club to explore other options in West London. Key figures involved in planning believe that building a new multi-use football stadium could be an attractive proposition due to its potential cost-effectiveness.
Discussions and obstacles
Discussions have taken place with TfL and Delancey, who are partners overseeing the Earls Court site. However, there may be hurdles ahead as the Earl’s Court Development Committee (ECDC) plans to build a mixed-use development without including any football stadium in its master plan.
This plan is set to be presented next week before Hammersmith and Fulham council and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council. If approved by these councils, it would pose significant obstacles for Chelsea's relocation efforts. Despite these challenges, there are potential benefits if Chelsea’s plans get approved. One such benefit includes building affordable housing on-site alongside the new stadium - an appealing prospect given London's ongoing housing crisis.
Chelsea has already identified Lillie Bridge depot as their preferred construction site under this proposal. Jason Gannon, Chelsea’s chief executive officer (CEO), has been leading discussions with TfL and Delancey regarding this matter.
Staying put or moving out?
While moving remains an option under consideration, staying put at Stamford Bridge hasn't been ruled out entirely by Chelsea officials yet despite no progress being made on redevelopment plans. The proximity of the ground to a tube line makes any rebuild extremely challenging. If Chelsea does decide to knock down Stamford Bridge, they may have to play at a temporary home, likely Wembley, for several years. The club has already made space for such a project after purchasing a 1.2-acre site next to Stamford Bridge from Stoll, a housing charity for veterans.
The financial implications of this move are significant. A conservative estimate values the Earls Court site at around £500m. Chelsea's owners are committed to maximising revenues by building one of the biggest and best stadiums in the country. However, internal conflicts among co-owners could pose another obstacle. Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly have reportedly fallen out and are exploring ways to buy each other out.
While there is clear intent from Chelsea's management towards expanding their stadium capacity either through redevelopment or relocation, numerous challenges lie ahead that need careful navigation.
