Stamford Bridge Thread

[TacticalBlues 2,817]

BREAKING NEWS:

Chelsea Football Club can confirm to our fans that we have today submitted an offer, with our property development partner Almacantar, to acquire the 39-acre Battersea Power Station site.

[Jase 43,479]

Do want us to stay at the Bridge but if the move helps move the club forward, then so be it.

[Manuf 1,448]

Bigger stadium in something like this with biggest stand in the World? Yes, please. It will be sad to leave Stamford but moving on is always the hard step.

[Term-X 7,891]

Well, the power station will certainly provide a 'unique' architectural backdrop..

The stadium proposed is rectangular in shape with four separate stands.

^ Thank fuck for that, at least we won't be getting a concrete bowl.

[bababoom 4,478]

Exciting times, we all love the Bridge, but sooner or later we got to move on.

[Madmax 9,219]

Site looks a bit of a dump.

Any word on who are the other parties interested? QPR? Spurs?

[Bridge Soldier 9]

Site looks a bit of a dump.

Any word on who are the other parties interested? QPR? Spurs?

Probably not other football clubs. There have been loads of other proposals for the site in recent times.

[Bridge Soldier 9]

I absolutely love the Bridge. Brings back so many memories every time I approach it and enter the ground. Going to my first games as a kid with family members who are no longer with us. Consequentially, the idea of moving to a shiny new characterless bowl doesn't really appeal at all, but it was always going to happen when further expansion to Stamford Bridge was deemed impossible. However, the article they posted on the site includes a few things that are really enticing about the proposal:

- Working with architects and planning experts we have developed a plan to preserve all the significant aspects of Battersea Power Station. The four iconic chimneys and wash towers along with the Grade II* listed west turbine hall and control room will be restored and retained in their original locations and provide a unique architectural backdrop to a world-class stadium with a capacity of around 60,000 seats.

Absolutely brilliant. Big fan of the famous chimneys, and was really hoping they'd be stay in tact. It might be a new ground, but Battersea Power Station is a pretty iconic landmark would lend a sense of history to a brand new ground that would initially have none.

Following feedback from fans, our initial plans include a 15,000-all seated one-tier stand behind the south goal, likely to be the biggest one-tier stand in football.

Great idea. Would do wonders for the atmosphere, which has often been weak at Stamford Bridge given the dispersal of the "noisy fans", move of the away fans to the Shed, corporate wankers and masses of tourists. I'm getting excited just thinking about it. Our very own Kop!?

Also as suggested by many fans, the stadium proposed is rectangular in shape with four separate stands. The design includes a bigger family area and more room for disabled supporters.

Lovely. Fuck off bowls.

Early days yet but it's intriguing to say the least and I hope it comes off, providing the above ideas are actually followed through and they don't change their mind.

[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.