Besides Wembley and White Hart Lane, Stamford Bridge is definately one of the biggest names when it comes to football grounds in London. This is not only because it is directly linked with Chelsea FC and its success in the last years, but also because it simply is a great football stadium.
It hasn't always been this way. The ground once was a run down stadium, with a race-track for greyhounds. Redevelopments over the last years however have turned the ground into a state-of-the-art football stadium. The area around the ground is a little bit sterile, however you can actually touch the ground's history, as the wall of the old Shed End is still there.
Inside the ground, the two stands (Shed & Matthew Harding) behind the goals are more or less identical. Both are two-tierd stand, just like the West Stand, that also facilitates a number of boxes and Roman Abramowitsch's very own seat. Behind the other sideline, the East Stand features three tiers, which makes it impressing. All corners of the gound are closed and the stadium is compact which results in a great atmosphere. Chelsea FC however is aware of this asset and you have to pay quite some money to get a ticket for a match at the Bridge.
Although the ground is in a good condition, the capacity might force Chelsea to look for a new home in the next years. As Arsenal already has its 60.000+ stadium and Tottenham is about to get one soon, too, the 42.000 seats at Stamford Bridge might not be enough to keep up with the local rivals. Due to the location of Stamford Bridge, further development at the current location is not possible. There were plans to aquire property near Earl's Court, but that plan seems off the table right now. |