Chelsea have held preliminary conversations with the Rugby Football Union about playing for a season at Twickenham while Stamford Bridge is redeveloped. If nothing else, it would be convenient for Chelsea players who favour living in Cobham.
Chelsea have long wanted to increase capacity at Stamford Bridge from 41,800 to 60,000 to rival the gate revenues of Arsenal and Manchester United, as well as providing more corporate facilities. This would make it easier for them to comply with financial fair play regulations.
Chelsea have held preliminary conversations with the Rugby Football Union about playing for a season at Twickenham while Stamford Bridge is redeveloped. If nothing else, it would be convenient for Chelsea players who favour living in Cobham.
Chelsea have long wanted to increase capacity at Stamford Bridge from 41,800 to 60,000 to rival the gate revenues of Arsenal and Manchester United, as well as providing more corporate facilities. This would make it easier for them to comply with financial fair play regulations.
The stadium redevelopment plans of Spurs give an extra impetus to the club’s plans as Chelsea would then have the smallest capacity of the three leading London clubs, while West Ham will get a capacity boost from their move to the Olympic Stadium.
In the past Chelsea have considered relocating their stadium to another site, with the Earls Court area preferred, although Battersea was also briefly considered. These plans have come to nothing and the club has now given up on the idea of relocating.
If Chelsea were to play at Twickenham for a season, it could not be before 2016-17 because the stadium hosts the Rugby World Cup next season. The capacity of 82,000 is more than adequate, but public transport links are an issue. The nearest railway station is a walk of 15 minutes while connecting with the tube requires a bus journey.
There may also be crowd segregation issues to resolve, while residents of south-west London may not be happy about having a Premiership football club on their doorstep.