Chelsea Dismiss Report That Club Is Considering New Stadium

Chelsea Committed To Staying At,  Redeveloping Stamford Bridge

English Premier League club Chelsea "have dismissed reports that they are ready to quit Stamford Bridge" for a new venue three miles south, according to Peter Boyle of the LONDON TIMES. A club spokesperson Saturday said of the proposed move, "This story is total nonsense." Boyle noted Chelsea in the current financial climate "are unlikely to consider selling their current stadium because of falling property prices" (LONDON TIMES, 11/9). In a statement, the club said, "The architects HOK have not been commissioned by Chelsea to build a stadium and do not work for the club. Their approach was unsolicited. ... We will not be considering moving away from our present stadium until all possibilities of redeveloping Stamford Bridge are exhausted" (TELEGRAPH.co.uk, 11/9).

ORIGINAL REPORT: In London, Jamie Jackson had reported Chelsea "are considering advanced plans for a new stadium next to Battersea Power Station, three miles from their current home at Stamford Bridge." The new ground "would hold between 65,000 and 75,000 fans and have a retractable roof" and "has been designed" by HOK Sport, which built Wembley Stadium. Plans for the stadium "have been presented to club executives" by London-based HOK architects and a "representative from HOK's New York office." A source said that the proposed development is "expected to cost up to" US$782M, and added that the development would be "funded in part by the development of Stamford Bridge into luxury apartments." Also, in spite of the credit crisis, which is "affecting the price of property, Chelsea would expect high interest in what is an exclusive area of prime real estate, allowing them to profit from the move" (London OBSERVER, 11/9).