New Chelsea stadium given green light as dream gets closer to reality

Chelsea are free to proceed with their plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge after London mayor, Sadiq Khan, approved the proposals.

Roman Abramovich’s dream of a modern Chelsea FC took another step in the right direction on Monday morning. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, formally approved the plans for the Stamford Bridge redevelopment, setting the wheels in whole-hearted motion.

Mayor Khan confirmed that he had given the green light on Twitter, expressing his delight at the prospect of another world-class venue in London.

The Evening Standard carried quotes from the Mayor, who seemed genuinely excited by the proposals.

"London is one of the world’s greatest sporting cities and I’m delighted that we will soon add Chelsea’s new stadium to the already fantastic array of sporting arenas in the capital.Having taken a balanced view of the application, I’m satisfied this is a high-quality and spectacular design…I’m confident this new stadium will be a jewel in London’s sporting crown and will attract visitors and football fans from around the world."

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After a rocky season, Chelsea have re-established themselves as a footballing powerhouse this term. Their commanding lead at the top of the Premier League suggests that the title will be returning to West London and attention is now turning to conquering Europe once again.

Since Abramovich arrived, Chelsea have become world-beaters on almost every front. Whether it be on the pitch or in their commercial pursuits, the Blues have truly raised the bar. However, the only thing that has been lacking is a state-of-the-art stadium.

These plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge will deliver just that and create yet more revenue for the club. An increased capacity will be coupled with the potential to host concerts and perhaps even the odd NFL game to create a genuine ‘jewel’.

With Tottenham Hotspur also redeveloping, Manchester City and Liverpool expanding, and Manchester United and Arsenal already in large homes, this was a necessary step. The Blues won’t be able to rely on Abramovich’s pockets forever and thus being able to generate significant revenue from all quarters is vital.

Chelsea will need to move for what is expected to be a three-year project, but the long term gain will certainly outweigh that short term pain.

How excited are you by this news? What other steps do Chelsea need to take to be level with the likes of Real Madrid? Let us know in the comments below!