First of all I am not a Chelsea fan (I do however support you as my Premier/Champions League team, having won me over the past few years, and I am proud to own every shirt), so forgive me if aspects of my post seem lacking in insider knowledge!

It seems to me that the size of one's stadium tends to be in proportion to the success of that football club. As a football club becomes successful, it follows that more people want to see that team, and consequently demand for seats increases. Popular teams like Barcelona and Manchester United hold 70,000+ fans at a time, both helping keep ticket prices reasonable and maximising revenue, helping boost the clubs finances leading to continued success in the future, in what is a positive upwards spiral.

Chelsea's success in recent years has meant that demand for tickets far surpasses the middle-sized Premiership ground you currently play at. It follows that the hierarchy are looking to improve the capacity of their ground, and the best way of doing so (at least) appears to have been decided as being building a new stadium at a new location. The part that confuses me is the fans’ apparent reluctance to make this move, seen mainly in Stamford Bridge's shareholders refusing to sell their shares back to the club.

Firstly, why is this? The argument I have read is that the fans do not believe Chelsea's hierarchy to have explored every avenue in expanding Chelsea's current stadium, but why would this be? Chelsea's hierarchy have proven their capability over the past few years in running the club well, and given the amount of social and logistical trouble trying to move pitches is proving why would they even consider moving locations unless it was the only viable option available to them? Do fans believe this is some evil covert job to do nothing more than flip them off? Or is it an excuse for simple unwillingness to move from what feels like your spiritual home; surely it’s been realised that this is something every club has to go through when expanding their stadium on its current site is not feasible, or else you are left in your competitors’ dust. Sentiments are part and parcel of being a fan but are also dangerous when the overbearing factor in deciding the club's road forward.

Battersea has already been lost due to the club's inability to prove their financial capabilities due to the inability to sell their own current site, Earl's Court is all that remains and there is no chance of getting that tricky location without the club's hierarchy having full control over their own site.

Are the CPO shareholders just a small minority of Chelsea fans, who actually on the whole want to move, or are sentiments holding the club back? Or is there something I'm completely missing?

You more or less have that correct.

Most of us do not want to move, we would rather stay put and either expand or pull the lot down and start again on the same spot, but most of us would be open to moving if it was for something special like Battersea could of been.

I think there is a little bit more to it than that some members of the CPO are unhappy with what is being offered to them! I agree that we need a 60,000 seated stadium but the CPO have only been offered what they originally paid for their shares, some of these people helped save the club in a time of great desperation and feel that they should be rewarded with a higher value for their shares or the rights to the land under the new stadium which is quite understandable. Knocking down the current stadium and rebuilding is obviously out of the question as we would have nowhere to play so until one party budges then any stadium move is looking very unlikely

From my non-London point of view..

Of course every Chelsea fan would love to stay at the bridge, it's our home and has been for the last 100 years.. but it appears that to grow as a club, the stadium no longer fits the demands in terms of capacity.

the CPO own the pitch, so obviously their attachment is going to be greater than most to SB. It also seems to me that owning this land containing one of the most successful and growing football teams is financially pleasing, so their grasp is going to be even tighter.

It frustrates me in all honesty. Perhaps if they were to put their trust in Roman (who hasn't led us wrong yet), we may have sorted this last year and landed Battersea, which in most's eyes was a dream stadium. Earl's Court just doesn't have the same potential, and I can't help but feel we've missed the boat with the limited viable land in London.

we all know what the CPO did for the club and they should be treated with greater respect. the reports and speaking to some fans have indicated that this is not the case and has resulted in this stand of. it's a shame but everybody knows something has to done and abramovich's employees should really know better.

As a CPO my preference is not to move.

However, the Stamford Bridge that the vast majority of the posters on here knew and loved disappeared a long time ago when rebuilding occurred and especially when The Shed was turned into a two stand area, terracing went out and seating came in.

I really couldn't give a damn where we end up. North of the Thames suits me. Deposit from a height on QPha by taking up White City would make me laugh.

My problems with all that has gone on are:-

Attempts to rig the vote - why?

Screwing over those CPO members who stuck their hands in their pockets to protect the club by giving them just face value. Insulting. Some have suggested a reducing discount for a season ticket e.g. 80% yr 1, 65% yr 2 40% yr3 or whatever, that appealed.

I applaud RA and all he has done for the club. We the fans will be around till the day we die. One of my main concerns is the ageing population of match going Chelsea supporters. If by hanging on to my shares I can somehow wangle big discounts for youngsters up to say age 18/21 then I will, imo, be doing my best for the club in the long run. £10/£20 a game at SB sounds good to me.

If by hanging on to my CPO share I can influence the club in the design of any new stadium then great. One huge 20k+ stand (with a youth area) with four straight sides would be nice. Oh and safe standing terracing as opposed to unsafe standing with plastic seats to fall over as we go mental...

I am not going to just hand over my shares for a pat on the head and let RA do as he wishes if I can help it. Buck/Gourlay in particular having their eyes on the bottom line at all times.

Lots of supporters of other clubs would love to be in our position. You can too, if you want, just buy a share.

UTC!

Edited July 27, 201213 yr by shedhead

Perhaps if they were to put their trust in Roman (who hasn't led us wrong yet), we may have sorted this last year and landed Battersea, which in most's eyes was a dream stadium. Earl's Court just doesn't have the same potential, and I can't help but feel we've missed the boat with the limited viable land in London.

I don't think the boat for a dream stadium has been missed, it looked to me like building on Battersea meant keeping the "iconic" towers, which took away the possibility of a more bowl-type stadium. I can speak from having spent half my life in a traditional separate tiered stadium and half in a more bowl-type stadium and I can say hands down bowl both looks the best and provides the best atmosphere. Admittedly land is not in vast supply within Chelsea's proximity limit but I'm sure if the board's hands were untied they could work a good solution within too long.

Screwing over those CPO members who stuck their hands in their pockets to protect the club by giving them just face value. Insulting. Some have suggested a reducing discount for a season ticket e.g. 80% yr 1, 65% yr 2 40% yr3 or whatever, that appealed.

I understand your point, but is it really about the fact that Abramovich isn't kissing your butts enough? This seems to be you holding the club to ransom in order to line your own pockets. If protecting the club those years ago was true selflessness why do you feel the need to reap some reward now? Surely face value now is greater than it was when you originally bought your shares, so you'll be making a profit regardless.

One of my main concerns is the ageing population of match going Chelsea supporters. If by hanging on to my shares I can somehow wangle big discounts for youngsters up to say age 18/21 then I will, imo, be doing my best for the club in the long run. £10/£20 a game at SB sounds good to me.

I don't think there's an overwhelming problem with Chelsea supporters dying out, you are in growing number throughout the world at this moment. The best way to keep attracting young supporters is through sustained success, and to what extent will you be able to achieve sustained success when FFP kicks in and you are at a financial disadvantage with your small home compared to your competitors'? I expect the lack of young supporters you perceive to see may well be due to them being unable to afford current high ticket prices, an effect of the club needing to maximise revenue from highly sought after seats in a small stadium. Your best hope of especially reduced ticket prices for young people is in a larger stadium, when pressure on ticket prices will be lessened anyway.

If by hanging on to my CPO share I can influence the club in the design of any new stadium then great. One huge 20k+ stand (with a youth area) with four straight sides would be nice. Oh and safe standing terracing as opposed to unsafe standing with plastic seats to fall over as we go mental...

I think the problem is that there can't be a new stadium whilst you are still in control of your CPO share. I understand you want a say but I think your wishes for what you want in a new stadium will be acknowledged anyway, after all the board can't fill a stadium by themselves, they need you guys to come and do that. It's not nice to think about but Abramovich is not going to be here until the end of time, and this fantastic opportunity to move into a majestic new home with funding not an issue dims with each year that goes by.

Hasnt anyone seen the clue in........"BLUE FOX"

We should build one like the San Nicola, that's a cool stadium.

As a CPO i'd prefer to stay & rebuild sb, i'd agree to a move but only if it was Battersea/Earls court/Wandsworth for example, there's no way i'll ever agree to us moving to somewhere like Old Oak Common or White City both areas that have nothing to do with Chelsea Football Club.

Unfortunately the club once again has placed a mistrust amongst us CPO with the way they have handled the whole situation, whats to say we gave up our rights then the club announced we're moving to Stratford or somewhere, fans would be up in arms about it but then it'd be too late.

SB isnt what it was but the fact is Chelsea FC still play on the same pitch, over 100 years of history & one name, one ground makes us that bit more special.

I dont want any money for my share i bought it to help the club not line my pockets, i just want the right to vote for or against any ground move & protect what is right for us fans because when the suits at the top have gone, us fans, our kids, our grandkids ect will still be there supporting Chelsea FC.

Hasnt anyone seen the clue in........"BLUE FOX"

and Leicester....

and Leicester....

Was I supposed to pretend?

As a CPO i'd prefer to stay & rebuild sb, i'd agree to a move but only if it was Battersea/Earls court/Wandsworth for example, there's no way i'll ever agree to us moving to somewhere like Old Oak Common or White City both areas that have nothing to do with Chelsea Football Club.

Unfortunately the club once again has placed a mistrust amongst us CPO with the way they have handled the whole situation, whats to say we gave up our rights then the club announced we're moving to Stratford or somewhere, fans would be up in arms about it but then it'd be too late.

SB isnt what it was but the fact is Chelsea FC still play on the same pitch, over 100 years of history & one name, one ground makes us that bit more special.

I dont want any money for my share i bought it to help the club not line my pockets, i just want the right to vote for or against any ground move & protect what is right for us fans because when the suits at the top have gone, us fans, our kids, our grandkids ect will still be there supporting Chelsea FC.

The problem is you tend to have to move fast when purchasing locations in London, having to wait to wrangle back control of Stamford Bridge from CPO before making a bid for a location is detrimental, as is the likelihood of a failed vote by CPO. Whether or not you believe the club may be moved to somewhere daft like Stratford comes down to whether not not you trust Abramovich. Of all the clubs that have built and moved into new stadiums recently, I don't know any of those where the new location of the move has been controversial. I don't see a particular reason why Chelsea would be the first to scheme this.

Was I supposed to pretend?

Not at all, just pointing out to some of our less knowledgable fans that a Blue Fox is very likely a Leicester fan. You seem a bit touchy, wrong time of the month is it?

What i meant was "Blue Fox" to me sounds like someone snuck in to the site working on behalf of the ..SELL STAMFORD BRIDGE,AND RELOCATE brigade..(or) i could just be imagining it..........(and leicester)

Not at all, just pointing out to some of our less knowledgable fans that a Blue Fox is very likely a Leicester fan. You seem a bit touchy, wrong time of the month is it?

Apologies, I didn't know Mike Carefree meant, and therefore I thought your post was mocking Leicester as opposed to correcting him.

What i meant was "Blue Fox" to me sounds like someone snuck in to the site working on behalf of the ..SELL STAMFORD BRIDGE,AND RELOCATE brigade..(or) i could just be imagining it..........(and leicester)

hehe. If I was doing that then I'd like to think I'd be a bit cleverer than calling myself the "Fox", then kicking down the door and yelling about a stadium.

As a CPO i'd prefer to stay & rebuild sb, i'd agree to a move but only if it was Battersea/Earls court/Wandsworth for example, there's no way i'll ever agree to us moving to somewhere like Old Oak Common or White City both areas that have nothing to do with Chelsea Football Club.

Unfortunately the club once again has placed a mistrust amongst us CPO with the way they have handled the whole situation, whats to say we gave up our rights then the club announced we're moving to Stratford or somewhere, fans would be up in arms about it but then it'd be too late.

SB isnt what it was but the fact is Chelsea FC still play on the same pitch, over 100 years of history & one name, one ground makes us that bit more special.

I dont want any money for my share i bought it to help the club not line my pockets, i just want the right to vote for or against any ground move & protect what is right for us fans because when the suits at the top have gone, us fans, our kids, our grandkids ect will still be there supporting Chelsea FC.

Don't get me wrong I don't want a penny. However, it seems to me somehow just that those who dug their hands in their pockets are recognised in someway and cheap games for a few years seemed ok.

My real concerns are the future support of Chelsea FC. I go to away games in the main and it's mainly blokes aged between 40-55. Much the same at home. Bad news imo. We desparately need more younger supporters. CFC has, apparently, the oldest demographic amongst the premier league. My thoughts about cheap tickets and a youth area are more serious. Imagine a youth area (12-21) full of fanatical Chelsea supporters. New songs, passionate support, yes please!

Edited July 29, 201213 yr by shedhead

Moving to a bigger stadium is the next step for our progression to become a self sufficient club and the revenue we get from ticket sells will increase because of the large seat capacity which will be ideal for Financial Fair Play.

Edited July 29, 201213 yr by Greg_cfc_4life

Don't get me wrong I don't want a penny. However, it seems to me somehow just that those who dug their hands in their pockets are recognised in someway and cheap games for a few years seemed ok.

My real concerns are the future support of Chelsea FC. I go to away games in the main and it's mainly blokes aged between 40-55. Much the same at home. Bad news imo. We desparately need more younger supporters. CFC has, apparently, the oldest demographic amongst the premier league. My thoughts about cheap tickets and a youth area are more serious. Imagine a youth area (12-21) full of fanatical Chelsea supporters. New songs, passionate support, yes please!

Yeah i'm the same as you mate, it'd be nice to be recongised by the club though i'm not sure how they could do it without us CPO looking like we were on the make, CFC pissed me off when they tried to buy our votes by offering us first dibs on a st at any new ground, thats nice of them seeing as i've been priced out of a st at sb so what chance i could afford a st at a new ground, anyone who thinks prices will drop at a new ground are deluded, they have increased at Arsenal at the Emirates for example & we'd be no different.

Yeah totally agree about our up & coming support, my boy of 18 cant afford pl games at the prices the club charges, so apart from the cheap cup games he along with me hardly does any pl games nowdays, give it 10 yrs when the cheap cup games are the same as pl prices now then both me & him will prob only do a game as a birthday/xmas treat which is sad seeing as i've been going since 79.

Unfortunatly i just cant see prices changing for the better at all especially if we do move to a new ground.

I know there are big differences but i was quite envious......Fulham.......Wed like to expand please

Council........Ok

Fulham ......Thanks guys

Don't get me wrong I don't want a penny. However, it seems to me somehow just that those who dug their hands in their pockets are recognised in someway and cheap games for a few years seemed ok.

I understand what you mean, although it does seem a bit of a petty reason to base voting "no" on and contradicts what you say about "not wanting a penny". Wasn't having your names "remembered" on a walkway or something similar offered?

My real concerns are the future support of Chelsea FC. I go to away games in the main and it's mainly blokes aged between 40-55. Much the same at home. Bad news imo. We desparately need more younger supporters. CFC has, apparently, the oldest demographic amongst the premier league. My thoughts about cheap tickets and a youth area are more serious. Imagine a youth area (12-21) full of fanatical Chelsea supporters. New songs, passionate support, yes please!

Don't you think that would be easier to achieve in a larger stadium where the club can better afford to lower certain prices?

Yeah i'm the same as you mate, it'd be nice to be recongised by the club though i'm not sure how they could do it without us CPO looking like we were on the make, CFC pissed me off when they tried to buy our votes by offering us first dibs on a st at any new ground, thats nice of them seeing as i've been priced out of a st at sb so what chance i could afford a st at a new ground, anyone who thinks prices will drop at a new ground are deluded, they have increased at Arsenal at the Emirates for example & we'd be no different.

Arsenal is a completely different scenario. They have borrowed large amounts of money to pay for the stadium, and consequently have had to raise ticket prices in order to pay off these debts. Chelsea's would rely much less on loans, having the backing of Abramovich and the sale of the highly lucrative Stamford Bridge land, so more likely simple economics will come into play and ticket prices will fall as demand is satisfied more.

I don't know all the in's and out's but I really don't understand why any Chelsea fan is opposed to moving. It's not possible to expand the stadium and we need a bigger stadium to compete with Europes biggest clubs. Stamford Bridge will always be our first home and we will always have our own memories. But it really is time to move.

Can somone explain to me why the CPO want significantly more for there shares than they payed for them. Because I thought they brought shares for the good of the club and now they are holding the club back.

I understand what you mean, although it does seem a bit of a petty reason to base voting "no" on and contradicts what you say about "not wanting a penny". Wasn't having your names "remembered" on a walkway or something similar offered?

Don't you think that would be easier to achieve in a larger stadium where the club can better afford to lower certain prices?

Arsenal is a completely different scenario. They have borrowed large amounts of money to pay for the stadium, and consequently have had to raise ticket prices in order to pay off these debts. Chelsea's would rely much less on loans, having the backing of Abramovich and the sale of the highly lucrative Stamford Bridge land, so more likely simple economics will come into play and ticket prices will fall as demand is satisfied more.

Chelsea have been at Stamford Bridge since they started. The only premier league club that can say that. We were asked to give up our shares so that The "firm" Chelsea could thne move whereever it wanted to. Like most others I was hesitant about giving up my shares and in effect taking a huge leap of faith in the current owner and management. Chelsea fans have been here before and the club nearly folded. In exchange for our shares and leap of faith we were offered first shouts on ST's and our name on a brick in the "Hall of Shame".

It is naive to think that the club will reduce prices just because it has a bigger stadium. If you have any evidence to support that view I would be surprised. However, in exchange for our shares we could ask for a lower price area for younger fans. The CPO shares did have some power. Not sure now following the latest debacle.

Anyway, why are you on a Chelsea website? Thinking of becoming a Chelsea fan? More than welcome. Or are you just a sad Leicester City fan with nothing better to do since your team are so crap?

Edited August 1, 201213 yr by shedhead

I don't know all the in's and out's but I really don't understand why any Chelsea fan is opposed to moving. It's not possible to expand the stadium and we need a bigger stadium to compete with Europes biggest clubs. Stamford Bridge will always be our first home and we will always have our own memories. But it really is time to move.

Can somone explain to me why the CPO want significantly more for there shares than they payed for them. Because I thought they brought shares for the good of the club and now they are holding the club back.

As a CPO shareholder, I don't want anything for my shares. I bought them to protect the club and I think we achieved that goal, there are a couple of things to consider though; 1) we want to stay in a Chelsea area, it really does matter where we move to. 2) why did the likes of Bruce Buck and various other friends of the board by as many shares as they could? There is only one possible reason and that's to nullify the influence of the CPO (real Chelsea fans and not businessmen). That's the only thing I've got a real issue with at the moment and as such I have little faith in the board to really look after the interests of the fans. If they tell me where they want to move to and it's not too far away then they'll have my vote with no demands for anything in return (though I liked the idea of a wall with the CPO's names on it).

The people that have held CPO shares for a number of years are all likeminded, they all love the club, they all bought the shares not to make money but to ensure the future of the club. Yes some want something extra for their shares but I don't think there are enough that want to make a profit to prevent the club from getting the vote they want - providing they're honest and reasonable with us.

Thing that worries me slightly about having a larger stadium generally is OUR fans...I saw a mention somewhere else on site and it hit home. As was said, if we cant sell tickets for games like NEWCASTLE and have to put em on general sale, it would indicate to me that we may fill 60000 stadiums against SPUDS, arse, pool man u,maybe city. (but) who will turn up for the other matches.Also having a match like BARCODES a general sale also shows me that we cant really moan at the ..erm...lets call em TOURISTS turning up that a lot seem not to like..YOUR SUPPORT IS F@@@@@G sh*t.....Well, is it?

As a CPO shareholder, I don't want anything for my shares. I bought them to protect the club and I think we achieved that goal, there are a couple of things to consider though; 1) we want to stay in a Chelsea area, it really does matter where we move to. 2) why did the likes of Bruce Buck and various other friends of the board by as many shares as they could? There is only one possible reason and that's to nullify the influence of the CPO (real Chelsea fans and not businessmen). That's the only thing I've got a real issue with at the moment and as such I have little faith in the board to really look after the interests of the fans. If they tell me where they want to move to and it's not too far away then they'll have my vote with no demands for anything in return (though I liked the idea of a wall with the CPO's names on it).

The people that have held CPO shares for a number of years are all likeminded, they all love the club, they all bought the shares not to make money but to ensure the future of the club. Yes some want something extra for their shares but I don't think there are enough that want to make a profit to prevent the club from getting the vote they want - providing they're honest and reasonable with us.

I completely agree with that but other than Earl's Court are there any other options?