Chelsea to renovate Stamford Bridge!

Chelsea to renovate Stamford Bridge!

Premier League Champions this season and the only club in London to have won the Champions league are set to upgrade there 110 year old stadium with new increased capacity.

Chelsea will reveal their proposals at a consultation meeting to local residents and supporters at a Stamford Bridge exhibition from June 30 to July 2.

Among the ideas under consideration is for Chelsea to dig below street level to increase the capacity of the stadium from 41,798 to 60,000.

Roman Abramovich, the club's owner, will fully fund the project with early predictions estimating it could cost £500 million ($1 billion) and take up to three years to complete, meaning Chelsea would have to play away from Stamford Bridge. Twickenham has previously been touted as a potential temporary home and Chelsea have held discussions with Ian Ritchie, the Rugby Football Union's chief executive, while Wembley would be another option.

Stamford Bridge could be rebuilt without Chelsea having to move away, but such a project could take four seasons and would mean the team playing in front of a reduced capacity. Chelsea previously considered building a new stadium at Earls Court, White City and Battersea Power Station, but are now focusing on redeveloping Stamford Bridge.

Last year Abramovich commissioned a study of the area from Fulham Broadway to Stamford Bridge and beyond to examine the potential of upgrading the streetscape as well as the stadium.

A Chelsea statement read: "A year ago a study of the area from Fulham Broadway to Stamford Bridge and beyond was commissioned by Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich to examine the potential of upgrading the streetscape.

"The study also began to assess the feasibility of an expansion of the stadium capacity within the existing historical site boundary, based on the principles of improving site access, benefiting the neighbourhood and enhancing the spectator experience.

"Mr Abramovich has appointed a professional team to assess, in more detail, the feasibility of expanding the existing stadium capacity at Stamford Bridge Grounds. The process now enters a further local consultation phase. This will include an explanation of the rationale for expansion, driven by spectator demand for more seats and the need to increase stadium revenue to remain competitive with our major rivals, this revenue being especially important under Financial Fair Play rules.

"Technical solutions for stadium capacity expansion are being investigated initially. This stage of the consultation will focus at present on discussing the rationale and technical solutions for expansion with residents and match-going spectators. Local stakeholders, neighbours, season ticket holders and club members will be invited to comment on the potential expansion. This feedback will inform the next stage of the study."