September 3 – Premier League club Chelsea have unveiled plans to redevelop their Stamford Bridge stadium to increase capacity from 41,798 to 61,000. The drawings are on display to fans this week at the stadium.
The project, estimated to cost £500 million, will see all four sides of the stadium replaced with a design inspired by Gothic architecture and cathedrals such as Westminster Abbey.
“These are the themes which have guided the professional team, a proud homage to Westminster Abbey and its connection to the football club, both institutions emblematic of the capital city,” said an exhibition display.
Planning is still in its early stages but the scale of the redevelopment would mean Chelsea would have to relocate to a temporary stadium for as long as three seasons.
Wembley is the favourite choice of venue for the relocation but Twickenham Rugby Stadium is seen as a possible alternative.
The 20,000 increase in capacity for Stamford Bridge is seen as vital if the club is to continue driving revenue to enable to compete under financial fair play rules that require club spending to match their income (infrastructure costs are not counted as part of that spending).
In its first two home game Chelsea operated at 98.65% and 99.84% of their total capacity. Filling an extra 20,000 seats would unlikely be a major challenge and a conservative estimate puts the increased revenue to the club at more than £20 million a year assuming an average revenue per seat of about £50. It could be significantly larger depending on the amount of premium and hospitality areas created.
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