Reigning Premiership champions apply to expand London home.
Chelsea Football Club, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, is seeking approval to demolish its stadium at Stamford Bridge in London to build a bigger one.
The new stadium on the same west London site would have 60,000 seats compared with the current 41,600 as well as a club shop, cafe and museum, Chelsea said on its website Tuesday. London authorities are now examining the plans, and “various other consents” will be needed for the project to proceed, the team said.
Chelsea have played at Stamford Bridge for more than a century. The project could cost as much as £500 million.
“The planning process will last beyond the end of the season,” Chelsea said on its website. “If the application is granted planning permission there will still be a lot of work to do before redevelopment can start.”
Those “in the know” will be aware that the unofficial demolition of Chelsea began on 24 October when London rivals – and God’s team – West Ham United handed them a football lesson.
