Chelsea are reportedly in talks over the possibility of starting construction on a new stadium at Earls Court, instead of renovating Stamford Bridge.
The West London club have been looking to redevelop their old home ground and increase the capacity of their stadium for a number of years. Following the club’s takeover in 2022 by co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, plans have been seriously revamped.
A large-scale renovation of the current stadium is expected to be the club’s first choice. In April, Chelsea completed the purchase of 100 war veterans’ homes on a nearby site worth £80m.
The purchase of the land was described at the time by CEO Jason Gannon as ‘an important step towards ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the club’, but it is by no means a guarantee that Chelsea will be able to retain its current location.
According to the guardThe club are considering another option: a move to Earls Court, a mile away.
Chelsea are reportedly in talks with stakeholders to build their new stadium at Earls Court
The West London club have long hoped to expand and improve the capacity of their current home ground Stamford Bridge.
In April, Chelsea completed the purchase of the Stoll Mansions for £80 million
Discussions are said to have taken place between the club and Transport for London (TfL), one of the partners that manages the venue, and property developer Delancey.
One major downside, however, is the wishes of the Earls Court Development Committee, who will submit their masterplan for the redevelopment of the site to Hammersmith and Fulham councils and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea later this week.
It is said that a football stadium will not be included in the plan. If the plan is approved, Chelsea will have to go back to the drawing board.
Chelsea’s hopes of a favourable move to the new site could remain alive, however, if councils reject the proposal. In that case, the club could come up with its own plan for the area, including a multi-purpose football stadium at the Lillie Bridge depot on the site and the possibility of more affordable housing in the area.
If the ECDC fails to present the masterplan, Chelsea expects to pay £500m for Earls Court.
Factors such as the complexity of the work required to increase capacity and modernise Stamford Bridge are causing the Premier League club to explore other options.
One of the biggest stumbling blocks is Stamford Bridge’s proximity to the Underground line and Fulham Broadway station. The club would likely face renovations to their existing stands, potentially leaving them in temporary accommodation for years to come.
Twickenham, Wembley and nearby Craven Cottage, the stadium of Premier League rivals Fulham, have all been mooted as possible temporary sites.
The move between locations is only a mile difference – which could make the option attractive to fans
Any plans for renovations or improvements may still be on hold amid suggestions of internal conflict between co-owners Todd Boehly (left) and Clearlake Capital (director Behdad Eghbali, pictured right).
While talks between the club, TfL and Delancey have been positive, internal issues in west London could pose further stumbling blocks to Chelsea’s bid for a new stadium.
Relations between Boehly and Clearlake figurehead Behdad Eghbali have reportedly become strained in recent months, with the owners clashing over a number of points of contention, including the sacking of head coach Mauricio Pochettino in the play-offs.
Both Boehly and Clearlake are believed to be interested in buying out each other’s partnership, but Mail Sport previously revealed that the latter entity has no intention of selling its stake.
Clearlake is the majority shareholder with 61.5 percent, while Boehly divides the remaining 38.5 percent among two other investors.