Football is one of the biggest sporting events you can find in London. And Chelsea is a team that’s world renowned. Whether you’re a fan of Chelsea and are planning a trip there during your stay or you want to learn more about the famous Stamford Bridge stadium, we’ve got the history you need to know.
If you want to glimpse Stamford Bridge yourself, you can stroll there from the Park Grand Kensington hotel in just 25 minutes or use the convenient tube via the District line. With a Stamford Bridge hotel, you’re in the perfect location to soak up some sporting history during your stay in the capital.
Often simply referred to as The Bridge, the Stamford Bridge ground is one of the largest in the UK, holding more than 40,000 visitors and has plans to expand even further over the next few years. But it’s not just the size and team that makes Stamford Bridge a place to visit, it also boasts a long history and has hosted many other sporting events.
Starting out as the London Athletic Club
When Stamford Bridge first opened, it was actually home to the London Athletic Club and was used almost exclusively for this purpose between 1877 and 1904. It was eventually acquired by brothers Gus and Joseph Mears who saw the potential of the venue to host high-profile professional football matches. After the ground was turned down by Fulham Football Club, the owners decided to find their own club, and Chelsea was born.
One the original stadium was built it could hold 100,000 people, making it second only to Crystal Palace. However, there was just a single stand for 5,000 people, the rest of the bowl was left open while there was high terracing for standing spectators too. It was in 1935 that the club set its record in official attendance, as 82,905 people came to watch Chelsea take on Arsenal.
Growing as a club
As football became a popular sport to watch, so too did the Chelsea team and Stamford Bridge. Following the Hillsborough Disaster, Stamford Bridge, along with all other top division club stadiums, was required to have all-seater stadiums for the 1994-95 season, changing the set-up of the venue. While the changes meant that the stadium can seat only around half of the previous attendance figures it’s continued to draw in crowds and has a huge following.
During the redevelopment in the 80s, other features were also added to the stadium. The complex now includes hotels, apartments, bars, restaurants, a megastore, and an interactive visitors centre. In 2005, marking a 100 years of the club, the Centenary Museum was opened, guiding visitors through a history through old programmes, past shirts, and other memorabilia.
Planning for the future
As Chelsea’s fan base and influence continues to grow, so has the ambitions of Stamford Bridge. Expansion plans mean that by the 2022-2023 season, the stadium should hold 60,000 people, with the team playing out of Wembley Stadium while the work is completed, but so far, the plans have been hampered by delays. The design of the stadium is said to have been inspired by Westminster Abbey and was created by the Swiss architects responsible for the iconic Beijing Bird’s Nest Stadium.
