Newly promoted EPL side Crystal Palace "will have to spend several million pounds" to refurbish its stadium and upgrade the media facilities to meet Premier League requirements for the start of the '13-14 season, according to Gary Jacob of the LONDON TIMES. The club, promoted after beating Watford in the Championship playoff final at Wembley on Monday, "want to redevelop Selhurst Park in stages to raise the capacity" from 26,000 to 40,000, but will have to "improve facilities far sooner after a return to the top flight for the first time in eight years" (LONDON TIMES, 5/29). In London, Simon Johnson reported Crystal Palace co-Chair Steve Parish, CEO Phil Alexander and coach Ian Holloway met Wednesday to "discuss how much" of their £120M ($181M) windfall will be put toward the ground. Crystal Palace was last in the Premier League in '05, and "will have one of the smallest capacities in the division" of just 26,309. The club, though, is "looking at expanding Selhurst Park, having given up hope of redeveloping the site at Crystal Palace Park." Parish said, "We want to create a lasting legacy for the club. We want to rebuild Selhurst -- that is the most expedient thing" (EVENING STANDARD, 5/29).
