Chelsea are considering leaving Stamford Bridge, and they are in discussions to build a new stadium in west London with a larger capacity.
Transport for London and Delancey have spoken with The Blues about a potential move to Earl’s Court, according to The Guardian.
The club is committed to expanding their home capacity from 42,000, but they haven’t been able to make progress on the development of their Stamford Bridge home.
Chelsea has started searching for a new site and creating plans for a new stadium. The estimated cost of the Earl’s Court location is around £500 million ($653m).
Chelsea face difficulties redeveloping Stamford Bridge due to the stadium’s location next to a tube line. A move away from the famous ground is therefore an alternative option but also fraught with complications.
The freehold of Stamford Bridge is held by Chelsea Pitch Owners and the company could potentially block any move away. Chelsea also face a potential obstacle in the shape of the Earl’s Court Development Committee (ECDC) which wants to build a development and has no plans to include a stadium. However, it’s thought those plans may be too expensive which could then pave the way for Chelsea to firm up the proposal.
Chelsea’s plans for a new ground may also be complicated by a current power struggle between owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. The two parties are eager to buy each other out, with Boehly searching for a quick resolution to the current civil war.
Chelsea have not ruled out staying at Stamford Bridge but are clearly exploring other options in a bid to boost capacity for home games. The Blues travel to Bournemouth and West Ham in their next two Premier League games before returning to Stamford Bridge to face Barrow in the third round of the EFL Cup.
Goal.com
