The "idea of a club wanting a 40,000-seat ground even though attendances only push past 20,000 when they are in the Premier League does not add up," according to Andy Hodgson of the London EVENING STANDARD.
But Crystal Palace Co-Chair Steve Parish believes that the club "can make it work, which is why they are pressing ahead with plans to transform Selhurst Park." Palace’s three previous appearances in the Premier League "have only been one-year stays but the rewards for staying up are now bigger than ever." The EPL’s bottom club will receive £63M ($84M) in TV money with that "increasing in relation to finishing position." Although there was once talk of a move to Crystal Palace Park, "the focus is now on substantially increasing Selhurst Park’s 26,309 capacity." Palace’s owners will "invite four or five architects to pitch for the business this autumn." One option "is to knock every stand down and start again and have a purpose-built stadium all the way round." Another option "could see two new stands replace the main and Arthur Waite stands before knocking down the Holmesdale to join on to them" (EVENING STANDARD, 9/12).
