http://www.chelseafc.com/page/DocumentsFull/0,,10268~2629432,00.html THE FUTURE OF STAMFORD BRIDGE Chelsea Football Club has made a presentation to the directors of Chelsea Pitch Owners, highlighting the work the club has carried out since 2004 analysing the potential to increase capacity at Stamford Bridge. Set out below is a summary of that presentation. We are not in any way stating that the club has made a decision on the need to move. This is certainly not the case and the Board and the owner are, as we have continually said, keen to stay at Stamford Bridge. In November 2011, Hammersmith and Fulham Council issued a press release to the effect that they proposed to examine with us whether there were planning options to expand Stamford Bridge, recognising that 'such a project must be economically viable, benefit local businesses and not unreasonably affect residents'. Chelsea Football Club supports the above criteria and, in fact, has been investigating expanding Stamford Bridge with the same criteria in mind for the last eight years. Since November 2011, the club has had four substantive meetings with senior members of Hammersmith and Fulham Council (including the leader and the deputy leader) and senior planning officials reviewing the club's work. The council is now briefed on the club's perspective on options available for Stamford Bridge expansion. ================================================================================================================== Big news expected at 11pm tonight. This has been discussed before but I'd be open to a move it were to Earls Court, not so much Battersea or White City though and we'd be met with fierce opposition. I think this is much better from the club, outlining the issues rather than being forceful with the CPO. Let's hope for a resolution soon
Good read Agree with what you said aswell District, Earls Court yes; Battersea/WC no and this is if we MUST move. I'd love to keep the bridge and it will be deeply missed if this is all shunned
DL--This is very encouraging! The fact that Hammersmith & Fulham are gathered round a Table ( well knowing the economic value of CFC) to discuss the ways SB could be developed to accommodate more fans, is something the really warms me up! Lets pray this makes a 55k SB a possibility!
Bluemoon, did you read the link? It is pretty clear in the summing up that expanding the Bridge to 55k would cost more than the revenue the seats would ever bring in. It is clear to the Board of Chelsea Football Club that a complete new build of a 60,000 seat stadium at Stamford Bridge has little chance of acceptability. We believe that, after our discussions with the council they have come to the same conclusion. A 60,000 new-build would cost over £600 million and require the club to play away for at least three seasons and, even if the economics were acceptable, the planning risks would likely be insurmountable. Expanding Stamford Bridge to 55,000 also has a number of challenges. The cost per seat of expanding the stands is very high. The incremental revenues provide an unsatisfactory level of return, would not even cover the hypothetical financing costs, and the planning risks are significant. We believe the council recognises these challenges. The club's exercise over the years has been to analyse a large spectrum of possible expansion options, even some which would appear to be unworkable. The Board recognises that our work will not satisfy every fan, but the Board also believes its work has been thorough, appropriate and in the best interests of the club and all of our fans. To reiterate what was said at the beginning of this summary, the club are not in any way stating we have made a decision on the need to move.
DL As I understand it Earls Court is now a non starter and all the available land there is now completely taken. I think that's why the club want to move this along before any other options also disappear.
CPoL--I gave it a good read, perhaps not every word! The important point is that H and F are involved in the consultation, and advising/helping! Having been in a 70k+ plus crowd here once, I know only too well the problems of egressing SB after a game if these things aren't considered! Today, its Health and Safety--back then it wasn't! I know we can only egress on to Fulham Rd, so would it be possible to phase to departure in two or more sections? If we were to increase the capacity to 55k could we not create the product in stages, so that we could continue playing with a reduced capacity? Thats how we did it last time!
It's good you keep hoping but what will it take to convince you it just isn't possible.The club in the summing up has pretty much said that even if there was the room to fit the seats in that they wouldn't do it because of the cost.Short of RA giving up and walking away just what more do you need? And whilst your deciding lets all hope that another potential site doesn't get bought by someone else. Oh and the phased departure stuff is a complete non starter.Emergencies means you have to get everyone out quickly.
CPO's response. On Friday 24 February Chelsea FC invited CPO board members Steve Frankham, Rick Glanvill, Dennis Wise and Gray Smith to a meeting where extensive and detailed presentations were made by Ron Gourlay and Bruce Buck from the club, as well as architects and planning advisors working with them, regarding the potential expansion of Stamford Bridge. CPO board member Bob Sewell was away. Areas covered included: present club finances and the challenges to revenue generation of the present stadium capacity; potential benefits to supporters' match day experience; planning, safety, heritage, environmental, political, disruption and access issues surrounding the expansion of Stamford Bridge; the increasing demands of live TV coverage. We were shown designs and figures from many different plans exploring ways to expand all parts of the Bridge, along with explanations of the costs involved set against future income, and benefits to match goers. These schemes ranged from finding 2,500 new seats in corners of the ground to the total demolition and rebuild of a 55-60,000-seater stadium on the same site. The presentations were very open, with regular input, questions and points made by the CPO board. All were responded to with clarity and transparency by the club and the experts they had brought along. From the presentations and discussions, which lasted several hours, it was clear that an immense amount of time and money has been allocated to exploring how to expand Stamford Bridge. Chelsea FC's conclusion is that none of the schemes would achieve the goals of giving greater access and a better experience to supporters, and increasing match day income. Like many of our shareholders, we have hoped and felt that there might still be some way to expand the capacity of Stamford Bridge. Having seen the detailed analysis, we all felt that a persuasive case was put that this might no longer be feasible or viable. Since so many of the planning issues concern the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, we are requesting further information and comments from them regarding Chelsea's presentation. We hope that as far as possible Chelsea make the materials we have seen available for scrutiny by all shareholders and supporters so that the issue can be debated further.
Its a depressing fact, we shall have to come to terms with a move away from SB. I always said that if a move was inevitable then Battersea Power station would be my choice of venue, but even that looks a no hoper now!
I reckon you should do something really controversial, and actually move into Chelsea. Crazy, I know...
I reckon you should do something really controversial, and actually move to Manchester. Crazy, I know...
CFC only has to move about 10 yards to actually be in Chelsea. You'd have to move 200 miles to be in Manchester! Or, maybe it would be better for United to move to London so most of their fans can get there quicker!
Yes they are and I'm from Watford and used to go as a kid. My Uncle was a spud and took the to **** pot lane to watch them against Chelsea in 1967. I fell in love with the Chelsea kit and that was that. Plus, I only have to travel 25 miles to get to the Bridge. hardly insurmountable is it? Mind you, the **** we're playing at the moment is comparable to what Watford are playing I'd imagine!
