Dont hang me for this, but I did hear it from a friend of a friend who works at SB (I have been tipped off reliably before from him about other things) Apparantly, now that we have started looking for alternative sites for a new stadium, Fulham FC actually called Chelsea to enquire about obtaining Stamford Bridge if/when we do eventually move. As it has nearly 20,000 more capacity than the Craven Cottage and is a ready made stadium it would be an ideal move for them, and its just across the road (nearly) from their current location. Would do you guys make of this? Would you be open to a move? I personally wouldnt like another team playing at SB if we did move. This is all rumour at the moment but would be weird if it happened.
We rejected Stamford Bridge in 1896 mate. Can't see anything since to change our mind. If you want confirmation have a look at the post here about developing Craven Cottage. This article might also be of interest - http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-and-hammersmith-news/local-fulham-and-hammersmith-news/2012/06/08/council-ready-to-talk-to-chelsea-fc-about-expanding-stamford-bridge-82029-31142105/
Firstly the actual pitch at SB is still owned by the Supporters group, who would have to sell it to us along with the Stadium, so I think it's a non starter. Secondly, I would suspect you'd have a better chance of QPR buying from you. Thirdly, you are rumoured to be looking at Earls Court site or somewhere in Kensington, but you'd be better off moving out of London.
They could fill a 30 k stadium. They are getting 25 k every week at the mo. Fayed has done an incredible job with that club. They were getting 3k in the 90s
QPR might be interested but would have no chance of filling it. They can't even fill out an 18k stadium! I'd much prefer CC was expanded but news on that front seems to have gone quiet. I think if we want to advance further as a club then at some point a move from CC must be considered. Look at the top 6, all of their stadiums have over 35k
Never one to hide his light under a bushel Chairman Mo's often quoted saying how low attendances were before he took over. He's rewriting history ever so slightly - towards the end of our promotion season from the bottom division home gates were already hitting 10k. I'm not saying he hasn't done a great job, just sometimes it's forgotten that progress had started before he arrived - which is probably one of the reasons he saw the potential in the club.
Here here! Al Fayed has been great for us, but he does tend to gloss over the achievements immediately prior to his arrival. And on the subject of moving to progress, I disagree. More than any other club I know of, Fulham are inextricably linked to their ground. Fulham is Craven Cottage. I'd rather we stay where we are, even if that means eventually falling down the divisions again. I'd rather be back in the lower divisions at the Cottage than challenging for titles at Stamford Bridge. I don't expect everyone to agree with me, but that's my view.
A strange view there Cap. I bet Arsenal and City fans thought it wouldn't be the same when they moved from Maine Road and Highbury but I don't hear many of them complaining now. To say you would prefer to see the club suffer at CC rather than become even more successful elsewhere is baffling.
Where did I mention titles? I said to progress as a club, that could well mean challenging for titles, but also could mean making more money for the club and improving our fanbase, both of which a new stadium would do. We sell out 95% of our home games, if we can't expand CC I don't expect Fayed to resist an opportunity to make the club more money.
You didn't, the Captain did. It was more of an overall view rather than a specific response to any particular post.
Bandit, I'm assuming you weren't around in the frought 80s and I don't know if you were in 2002/3 when we didn't exactly fill Loftus Road (I went there but not to every game and certainly not as a season ticket holder). I'm assuming also that you don't fully understand the meaning behind the last two posts by Captain and myself and that is, the affinity, the association, fans have with the Cottage. You could well be correct about more revenue with a move to Stamford Bridge but it wouldn't be in the short term and it wouldn't be with an "improved" fanbase - okay I know you mean "increased" so I won't labour the point. What I will say is that if you had been there when fans invaded the pitch in protest at the proposals of Bulstrode et al, you would understand that I wouldn't be walking away alone - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIfXh8eOjWk Does MKDons ring any bells ? On a pedantic point - the occupancy at the Cottage for the last two seasons was over 98%.
I don't want to see us suffer - I'd prefer us to carry on growing and being successful where we are. But when I go to Fulham, it's not because I want to watch Premier League football, it's because I want to watch Fulham. Sometimes people talk about lower division football as if it's unthinkably ghastly. I've been there and I'd happily go again if that was where we found ourselves. As Cottager suggests, a football team is about more than continued upwards progress, it's about a community and it's about identity. Craven Cottage is inextricably part of Fulham's identity. Would I still support Fulham if we moved? Of course I would. Would it ever be quite the same? I don't think so - not for me, anyway.
I don't understand people who have this romantic notation that Fulham is more of a community club than any other club. As far as I'm concerned Fulham no longer have a social club where we used to enjoy quiz nights, darts matches, supporters club meetings and socials, we are no longer allowed in the bars unless we are paid members, and as far as I know the bars don't open up unless it's a match day or special occasion. If you want to have a blue-print to work to, look at German clubs who are of similar size to us (ie 30-35,000 capacity), they have built new stadiums, but incorporated Social clubs etc into their plans where the community is more involved. Gone are the days when we can say Fulham is a supporters orientated club. That's progress, which means we are like most Premier clubs, don't fool yourself that Fulham are any different. Community clubs are more likely to be the likes of Barnet, Orient or Brentford.
As I was born in 1990 the likelihood of me being at CC in the 1980's are quite slim. I didn't go to Loftus Road to watch FFC, mainly because I went to all the FFC games with my Dad and he refused to go there. I don't quite remember the exact year of my first FFC game but Peter Beardsley was playing so I would consider myself eligible to offer an opinion on this debate. Of course I would rather we stayed at CC and challenged for top six and that is not entirely out of the question. But if the Quatar investment that has been suggested for a while now is actually realised I expect the new shareholders to make some changes, including stadia. Just look at Cardiff City.
