According to reports, West Ham United’s London Stadium is one of two new grounds that Chelsea Football Club has held talks about sharing while Stamford Bridge undergoes redevelopment.

Todd Boehly, an American billionaire and co-controlling owner of the club, aims to create one of the world’s best stadiums by 2030. Chelsea is considering three options regarding their home ground: starting work on a new site, knocking down their current home and building a new stadium from scratch, or redeveloping Stamford Bridge. However, demolishing the current ground and building a new one in its place is reportedly the most likely option. The entire project could cost a massive £2 billion and could see the club playing their home games away from Stamford Bridge for four years.

Reports suggest that Fulham’s Craven Cottage, Wembley Stadium, and Twickenham have already been discussed as potential groundshares for Chelsea. Now, the Daily Mail reports that West Ham’s London Stadium is another potential option being considered. The stadium has a capacity of 62,500 and has previously been used to host other sports, such as baseball and rugby. It would enable Chelsea to continue playing “home” games at a Premier League stadium. However, the update notes that “the prospect of a ground share may not be especially appealing for West Ham and Chelsea supporters given the rivalry between the two clubs.”

In addition to West Ham’s London Stadium, another, much smaller, stadium has been added to the list of potential temporary host venues. Reading’s Select Car Leasing Stadium, also known as the Madejski Stadium, has a capacity of 24,000 and is located 39 miles away from Stamford Bridge. However, it is a considerable distance from the current home ground, and many Chelsea supporters may not be happy at the prospect of the club playing home games outside of London. Rugby union games have been held at the stadium before, but playing games outside of the capital could prove to be a step too far for supporters.

Overall, the decision about which stadium to choose will be based on several factors, including the cost, location, capacity, and duration of the temporary move. While West Ham’s London Stadium offers the advantage of hosting games in a Premier League stadium, it may not be the most appealing option due to the rivalry between the two clubs. Meanwhile, Reading’s Select Car Leasing Stadium may offer a more cost-effective solution, but the distance from London and lower capacity may be an issue for supporters. Chelsea will have to consider all of these factors and more as they decide where to play their home games while Stamford Bridge undergoes redevelopment. Photo by Ank kumar, Wikimedia commons.