Chelsea’s dream of playing in a new stadium remains distant, with Todd Boehly revealing that it could take up to 17 years to complete the project.
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Stamford Bridge has a capacity of just over 40kBlues feel the need for a bigger homeBoehly does not see it coming for another 17 yearsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Stamford Bridge, with its 40,173-seat capacity, is currently the ninth-largest stadium in the Premier League – and increasingly viewed as insufficient for a club of Chelsea’s stature. London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham boast state-of-the-art grounds seating over 60,000 fans, which makes it more pressing for the Blues to up their stadium game.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Chelsea’s previous efforts to secure a new stadium have repeatedly stalled, despite exploring various high-profile options. In 2012, the club examined a plan to build a 60,000-seat ground at the historic Battersea Power Station site. That vision ultimately fell through, as did proposals to relocate to Earl’s Court – another west London location with potential. With no solution in place, Chelsea remain anchored to a venue that, while rich in history, is no longer competitive with other elite stadiums in terms of scale and revenue potential.
WHAT BOEHLY SAID
Boehly acknowledged that the scale of the project makes it one of the most significant challenges facing the club. "It is years in the making,” Boehly said in an interview with . “When we originally bought the club, we agreed initially that we had 15 or 20 years to figure this out. It is a big project in a really interesting city like London where there are a lot of constituencies that have an opinion. Obviously the number one constituency for us is our fanbase and what's going to be the best for Chelsea. I think everyone recognises that a club as big as Chelsea should have a stadium that reflects the size of the club and ultimately that's going to be a strategic advantage.”
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?
While the club’s long-term infrastructure plans are still taking shape, Chelsea are focused on finishing the current season on a high note. The Blues are aiming to seal their place in the Conference League final as they host Djurgardens on Thursday, holding a commanding 4-1 lead from the first leg. Following that, they will shift their attention back to domestic duties with a Premier League clash against Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.
