Chelsea Football Club have announced today that it has put its new stadium project on hold citing unfavourable investment climate as the reason for the recent development.
“No further pre-construction design and planning work will occur,” a statement on the club website read.
The club also noted that there is no specific time for such talks to resume. “The club does not have a time frame set for reconsideration of its decision.
“The decision was made due to the current unfavourable investment climate.”
Chelsea’s stadium is Stamford Bridge and its located in Fulham, South-West London. The stadium is within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge.
The capacity is 41,631, making it the eighth largest ground in the 2017–18 Premier League season. The club has plans to expand the capacity to 63,000 by the 2023–2024 season.
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When expansion starts, Chelsea intend to play at Wembley Stadium until they return in 2024.
Opened in 1877, the stadium was used by the London Athletic Club until 1905, when new owner Gus Mears founded Chelsea Football Club to occupy the ground; Chelsea have played their home games there ever since.
It has undergone major changes over the years, most recently in the 1990s when it was renovated into a modern, all-seater stadium.
Stamford Bridge has been a venue for England international matches, FA Cup Finals, FA Cup semi-finals and Charity Shield games.
It has also hosted numerous other sports, such as cricket, rugby union, speedway, greyhound racing, baseball and American football.
The stadium’s highest official attendance is 82,905, for a league match between Chelsea and Arsenal on 12 October 1935.
