September 3 – Crystal Palace have unveiled a development plan to give 100-year-old Selhurst park a facelift in an effort to keep up with their London neighbours.
The project will see a total restructuring of the stadium’s main stand as the club looks to expand its seating from 26,000 to 34,000.
The new main stand will hold 13,500 supporters, up from the 5,200 currently housed in the stand that was built in 1924, but will also develop the stadium as a whole by adding new corporate facilities, improved disabled access and a club museum. It is also a huge visual upgrade.
The club aims to keep the stadium fully operational during the build, erecting the new stand around the current build in order to minimise its effect on the ‘famous Selhurst Park atmosphere’.
Construction company Lendlease won the race to build the new main stand, having signed up for a PCSA on the job which had an initial price tag of £100 million but inflation is thought to have pushed the figure closer to £150 million.
Selhurst Park opened the 2024/25 Premier League season with an attendance of 25,099 (98.48% of its capacity) – an above league average figure – suggesting it is more than ready the expansion.
Speaking at the plan’s official proposal in 2022, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish said: “I would like to thank Croydon Council for their continued support for the stadium redevelopment, which will bring substantial investment into the borough, as well as breathing new life into Selhurst Park.
“We would have liked to have started the project sooner, but our plans were delayed by financial constraints caused by the Covid pandemic. In the last couple of years our focus has been on bringing our exciting Academy development to fruition, but our attention will now turn to the stadium project.
“It has long been our ambition to extend and modernise Selhurst Park, making it a home fit for the 21st century.
“We are looking forward to getting started on the project. There is a lot of preparatory work to be done in the coming months and we will update on a likely timetable in due course.”
Club minority investor John Textor, who’s Eagle Holdings business owns 45% of the club, could shake the tree as he continues to look to sell his stake in the club to enable him to buy Everton where he would have full control of the club.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1735057438labto1735057438ofdlr1735057438owedi1735057438sni@g1735057438niwe.1735057438yrrah1735057438