Chelsea are apparently ‘in negotiations’ about leaving Stamford Bridge for a new stadium at Earl’s Court.
According to the Guardian, the club has discussed the prospect of a new stadium with Transport for London (TfL), which manages the Earls Court site. However, the Earl’s Court Development Committee’s (ECDC) presentation for a mixed-use development, which will be published next week, does not include plans for a football stadium.
The London club has played at Stamford Bridge for more than a century. However, with a capacity of slightly more than 40,000, it ranks ninth in the Premier League, falling short of elite teams. Efforts to enlarge the current site have thus far proven fruitless.
The Blues’ CEO, Jason Gannon, who previously managed SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles before joining the club in 2023, has held ‘productive’ talks with TfL, one of the partners overseeing the site, and Delancey.
Unnamed sources indicate the site could be worth up to £500 million. However, any move from the current location would also require an agreement with Chelsea Pitch Owners, who hold the freehold on Stamford Bridge, and addressing the preferences of supporters.
As Chelsea pursues the project, reports of internal conflicts between co-owners Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly could complicate negotiations and planning.
