Ground Developments To Football Stadiums in The English Football League System - Premier League - Chelsea

Chelsea

• Current stadium status: Reconstructed.

Following Roman Abramovich's takeover, Chelsea have examined expanding their current home at Stamford Bridge to a capacity of over 50,000. Numerous problems over health and safety issues have stalled this, because due to the stadium's location fans can only exit onto the Fulham Road. The club have thus been linked with moves to a number of potential sites in west London, including a site at Earl's Court, although the club have indicated no such plans exist. A further stumbling block is that the club's naming rights are owned by the Chelsea Pitch Owners, which also owns the Stamford Bridge freehold. As a condition for using the Chelsea FC name, the club has to play its first team matches at Stamford Bridge. A move to a new stadium could mean the club having to change their name. Stamford Bridge was extensively rebuilt between 1993 and 1998, with three stands being replaced, and the only pre-1993 stand at the stadium being the 1974 East Stand structure.