Chelsea FC Move To Wembley Agreed In Principle
According to the Mirror, Chelsea FC have agreed to a deal in principle with the FA to allow them to use Wembley as a temporary home. The Blues recently announced their plans to revamp Stamford Bridge rather than move to a new location. Previous proposals included a move to the site where the Battersea power station is located but that was met with significant resistance.
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As for the possible move to Wembley, it is not expected to happen for another two years, as the club will have to knock down two of the main stands in order to incorporate the changes. If you have not seen the proposed changes to the current ground then you are missing out on a real piece of artistry and beauty. You can see it here.
Unfortunately while this construction is taking place, the Blues will have to find a place to play their home matches. They had bid to use the rugby ground at Twickenham but residents of the neighborhood rejected the proposal. The residents did not want the extra traffic that a football club would bring and the supporters that would come along with it.
So instead Chelsea FC will likely be playing in Wembley Stadium after paying the FA £12m a year for the privilege to do so. They will also have to cap the tickets to 50,000 in a stadium that seats closer to 100,000 to meet local council regulations.
The following excerpt from the Mirror shows what the Blues will need to do in order to make Wembley their temporary home:
"The FA have been sounded out and have agreed in principle to the move, while Chelsea are also happy with the 50,000-capacity limit for games at Wembley imposed by Brent Council.That only leaves the Premier League to give their blessing, and that is a formality once the Blues fulfil the league’s criteria of:* Good transport links* A guarantee that all home league matches will be played at the stadium.* A proximity to the ground the club are leaving.Chelsea will satisfy all three."
The situation is not ideal but it is the cost of doing business in the Premier League. The Blues have one of the smaller grounds of the top clubs in the league and they need to expand the capacity to help them compete financially with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal. If this plan does get accepted then we will have to see what it feels like for a team to play in front of 50,000 fans in a 100,000-seat stadium.
The Blues will also have to play in a stadium with red seats, which is a small bit of irony for all of us to enjoy. In the end it may improve the club’s brand as they will have an even stronger tie to the iconic national stadium and if it is not a great experience then at the very least it will be worth it when the revamped Stamford Bridge is unveiled.
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