Moving is NOT an Option..... Yet!!

SIXTEEN Points
By 40 Years A Blue
January 20 2006

Chelsea today have issued a statement in the light of media reporting regarding Chelsea Football Club leaving Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea said, "We have made our position clear several times on the issue of ground redevelopment at Stamford Bridge. Despite that, there has been speculation linking us with a whole variety of sites in London including Wembley, the Olympic Stadium at Stratford, White City, Battersea Power Station, Earls' Court, Chelsea barracks and the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

"Whether these sites are available, or not available, is irrelevant. Our position is that we would like to increase the capacity at Stamford Bridge, and ideally we would like to take it to a figure of just over 50,000 but there are constraints on our current site, which are well documented. Only after all possible scenarios for the redevelopment of Stamford Bridge are exhausted can a debate start about other options."

Now this is my understanding of the whole situation regarding Chelsea and Stamford Bridge. When Ken Bates was Chairman of the club, Bates was involved in lengthy, protracted and costly battles with companies that wanted to buy Stamford Bridge and re-develop the area as it is 'Prime Real Estate.

Bates prevailed and beat off all the challenges laid before him. To protect Stamford Bridge and to keep football being played at Stamford Bridge by Chelsea Football Club, Bates set-up Chelsea Pitch Owners. Basically for a one-off sum of money, fans were encouraged to buy a share of the pitch to help and fight for the protection of football being played at Stamford Bridge. The scheme has been running now for over twenty years.

One of the provisos of the Pitch Owner scheme is that should Chelsea vacate Stamford Bridge and move out of the Fulham Borough, then the club cannot be called Chelsea FC. If Chelsea move to any site out of the Borough, the name of Chelsea Football Club dies.

The current capacity at Stamford Bridge is 42,500. There are many campaigns for Chelsea owners to knock down the hotels and get rid of the 'Village' image that was created in the first instance by Ken Bates and re-build mainly at the Shed End and increase the capacity to 60,000. These extra 20,000 seats or so, could be sold at a cost of £20 per seat and £10 for concessions, cos as we all know Chelsea need to 're-win' back the REAL Chelsea fan to re-establish the famous old days Shed type atmosphere.

As I have said that is my understanding of the current situation at Stamford Bridge. If I am wrong then please feel free to post your responses on the message board.

40 YEARS A BLUE!