Chelsea moving to Twickenham

Sky sports

Chelsea have had talks with England's rugby chiefs about moving to the Twickenham stadium for a season while Stamford Bridge is redeveloped.

The Rugby Football Union have confirmed they have already held initial talks with Chelsea but stressed they are at a very early stage.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, the RFU said: "We are regularly contacted by a variety of organisations, within and outside sport, on a wide range of opportunities concerning the use of what we believe is a world-class stadium.

"We have had an inquiry from Chelsea FC but have not had any discussions of any substance.

"We have had an inquiry from Chelsea FC but have not had any discussions of any substance."

"While we don't comment on any specific confidential conversations, each request is taken on its merit, assessing a variety of factors, such as the effect on the pitch, availability, transport and local considerations and other important implications."

Chelsea seem to have abandoned their long-held dream of building a new stadium on a new site in London in favour of redeveloping their Stamford Bridge complex.

Earlier this year Roman Abramovich's club announced plans to redevelop the Bridge and a study commissioned by the Russian billionaire is looking at ways to bump its capacity up from 41,623 to 60,000.

That capacity would help them meet UEFA's financial fairplay regulations. The club is looking at different options, including acquiring land neighbouring the existing Stamford Bridge stadium.

A Chelsea spokesman told the Sunday Times: "We're investigating different scenarios as part of the consultation process we started earlier this year, but have had no discussions of substance so far."

The 82,000-seat Twickenham stadium, home to England's rugby union team, has never hosted football matches but rugby league has been played there, as have rock concerts.

If Chelsea were to play there for a season, it could not be before 2016-17 because Twickenham, in south-west London, will be hosting the Rugby World Cup in September and October next year.

The Football Association at one point had hoped to include Twickenham in its bid to host the 2018 Football World Cup but the RFU opted not to get involved.

Sky sports

Chelsea have had talks with England's rugby chiefs about moving to the Twickenham stadium for a season while Stamford Bridge is redeveloped.

The Rugby Football Union have confirmed they have already held initial talks with Chelsea but stressed they are at a very early stage.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, the RFU said: "We are regularly contacted by a variety of organisations, within and outside sport, on a wide range of opportunities concerning the use of what we believe is a world-class stadium.

"We have had an inquiry from Chelsea FC but have not had any discussions of any substance.

"We have had an inquiry from Chelsea FC but have not had any discussions of any substance."

"While we don't comment on any specific confidential conversations, each request is taken on its merit, assessing a variety of factors, such as the effect on the pitch, availability, transport and local considerations and other important implications."

Chelsea seem to have abandoned their long-held dream of building a new stadium on a new site in London in favour of redeveloping their Stamford Bridge complex.

Earlier this year Roman Abramovich's club announced plans to redevelop the Bridge and a study commissioned by the Russian billionaire is looking at ways to bump its capacity up from 41,623 to 60,000.

That capacity would help them meet UEFA's financial fairplay regulations. The club is looking at different options, including acquiring land neighbouring the existing Stamford Bridge stadium.

A Chelsea spokesman told the Sunday Times: "We're investigating different scenarios as part of the consultation process we started earlier this year, but have had no discussions of substance so far."

The 82,000-seat Twickenham stadium, home to England's rugby union team, has never hosted football matches but rugby league has been played there, as have rock concerts.

If Chelsea were to play there for a season, it could not be before 2016-17 because Twickenham, in south-west London, will be hosting the Rugby World Cup in September and October next year.

The Football Association at one point had hoped to include Twickenham in its bid to host the 2018 Football World Cup but the RFU opted not to get involved.

Be an awesome stadium for someone too big for Chelsea tho

Wez, Way way to big for Chelsea.

Spurs possibly at Wembley too

West Ham won't let Spurs use the Olympic Stadium.

Makes sense because they're training ground is in Cobham.

Wez, Way way to big for Chelsea.

I thought that to Annis, whats the capacity of Twickenam

Wez, Way way to big for Chelsea.

I thought that to Annis, whats the capacity of Twickenam

82,000 lol, double the capacity of Stamford Bridge!

It's all standing there tbf though, unless you have short legs, as the leg room is terrible!

Sky sports

Chelsea have had talks with England's rugby chiefs about moving to the Twickenham stadium for a season while Stamford Bridge is redeveloped.

The Rugby Football Union have confirmed they have already held initial talks with Chelsea but stressed they are at a very early stage.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, the RFU said: "We are regularly contacted by a variety of organisations, within and outside sport, on a wide range of opportunities concerning the use of what we believe is a world-class stadium.

"We have had an inquiry from Chelsea FC but have not had any discussions of any substance.

"We have had an inquiry from Chelsea FC but have not had any discussions of any substance."

"While we don't comment on any specific confidential conversations, each request is taken on its merit, assessing a variety of factors, such as the effect on the pitch, availability, transport and local considerations and other important implications."

Chelsea seem to have abandoned their long-held dream of building a new stadium on a new site in London in favour of redeveloping their Stamford Bridge complex.

Earlier this year Roman Abramovich's club announced plans to redevelop the Bridge and a study commissioned by the Russian billionaire is looking at ways to bump its capacity up from 41,623 to 60,000.

That capacity would help them meet UEFA's financial fairplay regulations. The club is looking at different options, including acquiring land neighbouring the existing Stamford Bridge stadium.

A Chelsea spokesman told the Sunday Times: "We're investigating different scenarios as part of the consultation process we started earlier this year, but have had no discussions of substance so far."

The 82,000-seat Twickenham stadium, home to England's rugby union team, has never hosted football matches but rugby league has been played there, as have rock concerts.

If Chelsea were to play there for a season, it could not be before 2016-17 because Twickenham, in south-west London, will be hosting the Rugby World Cup in September and October next year.

The Football Association at one point had hoped to include Twickenham in its bid to host the 2018 Football World Cup but the RFU opted not to get involved.

Carl

One of the issues Chelsea will face in their initial discussions (which is the only stage they have reached so far) with the RFU to use Twickenham is the long standing restriction imposed by Richmond Borough Council on the number of events that can be held at the stadium each year in order to minimise disruption for local residents. Chelsea/RFU will have to pursuade the Council to give them a licence for at least 19 more games on top of the rugby games already to be played there - that may be too much of an increase for the Council to agree to.

Will not happen.
As an ex resident of that area we had a right to veto any additional events over and above a number specified by Richmond Council.Not sure how rigid the policy is now but it is highly unlikely to have altered much especially as the RFU had to make large compromises to gain permission to extend the stadium.
Additionally, Harlequins play less than 400 metres from Twickenham and attract 12-14 thousand every other week so are likely to object as well especially as they have been refused permission to stage additional events due to objections by residents associations.