Chelsea, under the stewardship of former owner Roman Abramovich, frequently explored the possibility of enhancing Stamford Bridge. As a means of leading the way with technology and the aesthetic-based world of architecture, the Russian had an idea in mind.
Keeping a club’s stadium up to date with the latest enhancements in technology is becoming a growing obsession. As a prime example, Real Madrid’s state-of-the-art Santiago Bernabeu, which recently oversaw all manner of changes, is considered to be one of the greatest stadiums in world football.
Swiss architects, Herzog & de Meuron, had unveiled plans for a gargantuan new home for Chelsea in a proposal worth £500million in 2015. Inspired by the design of the very distinctive, gothic-inspired look of Westminster Abbey, Abramovich plucked together the finest team to improve their situation.
I actually really like the look of the stadium, it will look amazing in real life imo. My only concern is that there's no 'front' like the front of the west stand. You can't tell it's Chelsea's home stadium. pic.twitter.com/9FTeLMBuOO
— 🍁 (@OlIyCFC) March 16, 2018
“We have tried to make it a place where people will really feel at home,” architect Jacques Herzog exclaimed. “I’ve never had that feeling so strongly, as when I saw my first games in Liverpool and Manchester, how much you have this sense of a club’s identity in the stadium in England – more than anywhere else in Europe.”
In 2017, Chelsea secured the relevant planning permission to kick-start a new era in West London with plenty of fans excited about the prospect of giving their stadium – which has housed the club since 1904 – a much-needed revamp after decades of little work being done, but it ultimately fell through. But why?
