Stamford Bridge Thread

[Spike 12,049]

Thank you Allah, Mohammed, God, Abraham, Jesus, Moses, Buddha and Ganesha for not allowing the proposed Chelsea stadium to be a heartless soul sucking bowl. I am eternally grateful.

[DYC. 7,542]

Can't stand the fact that everything revolves around money. Call it sentiments but I don't want us to move..

[Shane 2,275]

Chelsea make offer to buy Battersea Power Station

Chelsea have made a bid to buy Battersea Power Station in south-west London and plan to redevelop it into a 60,000 capacity stadium.

The landmark's four chimneys would be kept as part of a design which includes a 15,000 seat single-tier south stand.

Chelsea said in March expanding their current home, Stamford Bridge, made no economic sense, while a new stadium on the site faced planning problems.

The club added they are not the only party interested in acquiring the site.

Stamford Bridge problems

• Access issues prevent development beyond 50,000 seats.
  
• Attempts to sell naming rights stalled with Chelsea asking for £100m for a 10-year deal.
  
• Previous attempts to sell naming rights to existing stadia have rarely been successful.
  

"There is no certainty we will be successful," read a club statement.

"We must also stress that making an offer for the Battersea Power Station site does not mean the club has made a definitive decision to leave Stamford Bridge."

The club say the plans, which would preserve the building's Grade Two listed turbine hall and control room, would provide "a unique architectural backdrop to a world-class stadium".

A development of shops, housing and offices, and a contribution to the extension of the Northern Line underground service into the area, are part of the offer.

Stamford Bridge's capacity of 42,000 compares unfavourably to Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, which holds 60,000, and Manchester United's Old Trafford ground, which has seating for 76,000.

Chelsea have been linked with other sites in south west London as they considered ways of increasing revenue, such as selling naming rights to the stadium, at their present home.

The club had previously shown an interest in taking over a site in Earls Court once the Exhibition Centre had been demolished, and had been rumoured to be considering a bid for Chelsea and Westminster hospital.

Battersea Power Station

• A disused coal-fired power station on the south bank of the River Thames in Battersea
  
• The largest brick building in Europe
  
• 1983: Ceased producing electricity
  
• 1993: Bought by Parkview International for £10m
  
• 2006: Power Station and surrounding land bought by Real Estate Opportunities for £400m
  

The possibility of Chelsea relocating from the stadium they have played at for 107 years has been complicated by a disagreement with Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO), a fan-owned company who acquired Stamford Bridge's freehold in 1997 to protect it from developers.

The club's attempt to buy the freehold back in October was rejected by CPO's shareholders, who accused it of not making enough of an effort to remain at Stamford Bridge.

The club claim a new stadium on the existing site would cost more than £600m and require them play away for at least three seasons, while an expansion would cost more than it would generate in extra income.

Battersea Power Station's owners have been trying for more than a year to find an equity investor to fund a proposed £5.5bn redevelopment.

Energy stopped being generated at the station in 1983, but the site is still used for hosting events - one of the latest being the ATP World Tour Finals Gala.

Apparently they'd build a one tier, 15,000 stand behind the goals. That would be awesome.

Thoughts?

[Term-X 7,891]

You have to commend the club for the choice of location, they are thinking bigger than the constructs of a football ground, and all that entails. The plan is to make this an 'iconic' football stadium, the power station backdrop is certainly testament to that.

[Spike 12,049]

It is in the Stamford Bridge thread already, but this probably big enough to deserve it's own topic.

I like the idea, but I really want to go to Stamford to watch a game before the end. At least it is going to be a proper stadium not a souless bowl.

[ack17 205]

[hunaz10 21]

Hahaha f***ing grt imagination space for Roman's yacht tooooooo

[Ashblues 30]

^ Great Pic. Hope it happens!

[Slam Dunk 1,442]

Thats a pic of the previous council redevelopment plans.

[Spike 12,049]

It would make a mighty fine stadium.

[Kostas 1,468]

^Roman would come to games with his fricking submarine.

Sounds good and sounds huge. Not sure if the "no definitive decision has been taken" PC talk is needed.

[cujo101 75]

At least it won't be an identikit stadium and will be unique and unlike any other (if it happens of course!). Fulham to Battersea isn't too bad and a good sponsorship deal would help the club a great deal.

[Beirut_Blues 306]

sounds good i guess...... just hope they dont name it Samsung Arena or some other corporate name.

[hunaz10 21]

Am I the only one who has started imagining the camera views from the top of the four chimneys?

OMG its gonna be awesome stadium, if we manage to do it, & that's a BIG IF..!

Cm'n Roman, sell one of your yachts an get the deal done

[Henrique 9,133]

???

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Not sure I want us to move away from the bridge but FFP rules are forcing our hand. I just hope that the name isn't some corporate that knows nothing about the club.

[hunaz10 21]

Battersea Arena or Battersea Park

[Lampy 110]

Not too keen on moving to a poorer part of London. Just feel like part of the charm of Chelsea was the connection with Chelsea and West London (even though we're actually in Fulham, close enough) but with this its like a definite let down in terms of snobbery. We can't turn our noses up at liverpool fans anymore ! I can just imagine them shouting "Go back to your housing estates" when we sing about their liverpool slums etc.

On the other hand, kids from the estates will probably make a hell of a lot better atmosphere than the posh knob ends. And the stadium looks fucking cool with the towers and all. PLus battersea is slowly becoming higher class, so hopefully that trend continues.

Ha, this post is only half joking. Seriously though, would have preferred Earls Court but this will do.