Stamford Bridge is a football stadium on the border of Fulham and Chelsea, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham that is home to Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the famous Moore Park Estate or also known as Walham Green. It is nicknamed "The Bridge" by the club's supporters. The capacity is 42,055, making it the eighth largest ground in the Premier League
When Stamford Bridge was redeveloped in the Ken Bates era many additional features were added to the complex including two hotels, apartments, bars, restaurants, the Chelsea Megastore, and an interactive visitor attraction called Chelsea World of Sport. The intention was that these facilities would provide extra revenue to support the football side of the business, but they were less successful than hoped and before the Abramovich takeover in 2003 the debt taken on to finance them was a major burden on the club. Soon after the takeover a decision was taken to drop the "Chelsea Village" brand and refocus on Chelsea as a football club. However, the stadium is sometimes still referred to as part of Chelsea Village or "The Village".
The club has announced that it wants to extend Stamford Bridge to around 55,000 seats;[3] however, its location in a heavily built-up part of Inner London near a main road and two railway lines makes this very difficult. The dispersal of an additional 13,000 fans into the residential roads, of the Moore Park Estate opposite, would not be desirable and the club is said to be looking at all possible solutions to this situation.
The club have therefore been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge to a variety of locations, including the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, White City, Battersea Power Station, the Imperial Road Gasworks (off the Kings Road on the Fulham and Chelsea border) and the Chelsea Barracks. Furthermore, due to the terms of the Chelsea Pitch Owners, the club could have to relinquish the name 'Chelsea Football Club' should it ever move from Stamford Bridge.
The club has announced that it wants to extend Stamford Bridge to around 55,000 seats; however, its location in a heavily built-up part of Inner London near a main road and two railway lines makes this very difficult. The dispersal of an additional 13,000 fans into the residential roads, of the Moore Park Estate opposite, would not be desirable and the club is said to be looking at all possible solutions to this situation.
The club have therefore been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge to a variety of locations, including the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, White City, Battersea Power Station, the Imperial Road Gasworks (off the Kings Road on the Fulham and Chelsea border) and the Chelsea Barracks. Furthermore, due to the terms of the Chelsea Pitch Owners, the club could have to relinquish the name 'Chelsea Football Club' should it ever move from Stamford Bridge.
