Why Chelsea Owners Face Pressure Over Earls Court Stadium Decision

BlueCo Under Pressure to Decide Chelsea’s Stadium Future After Earl’s Court Approval

Chelsea’s ownership group BlueCo are facing growing pressure to make a swift decision on the club’s long-term stadium plans following major developments around the Earl’s Court site.

Kensington and Chelsea Council have now approved plans for a £10bn housing and retail development at Earl’s Court, following similar approval from Hammersmith and Fulham Council last month. The decision could have serious implications for Chelsea, as the site has long been viewed as a potential location should the club ever move away from Stamford Bridge.

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The approval means Chelsea may be running out of time if they wish to pursue Earl’s Court as a future home. While the developers behind the project, Earls Court Development Company, have not yet secured full financial backing, reports suggest government support and private investment could soon allow construction to begin.

Chelsea have declined to comment publicly, but the club is understood to be actively considering its options. Chief executive Jason Gannon has reportedly held discussions with key stakeholders, including Transport for London and real estate developer Delancey. There is, however, frustration in some quarters that Chelsea did not submit a formal bid for the site before planning permission was granted.

Behind the scenes, ownership tensions are also said to be complicating matters. According to reports, differences between Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, the club’s majority owners, have become a significant obstacle in reaching a unified decision on the stadium strategy.

Tensions between Chelsea owners 'major obstacle' as amid pressure to make stadium decision

Todd Boehly is believed to favour a move to Earl’s Court or another new site that would allow Chelsea to build a modern, multi-purpose stadium capable of generating revenue beyond matchdays. Speaking earlier this year, Boehly suggested the stadium project could ultimately determine the future direction of the BlueCo ownership group.

“We have to think about long-term, what we are trying to accomplish,” Boehly said. “We have a big stadium development opportunity that we have to flesh out, and I think that is going to be where we are either aligned or we ultimately decide to go different ways.”

Clearlake, co-founded by Behdad Eghbali, currently hold a 61.5 per cent stake in Chelsea, with Boehly and his partners Hansjörg Wyss and Mark Walter owning the remaining 38.5 per cent. For Chelsea supporters, the outcome of this situation could shape the club’s future for decades to come, both on and off the pitch.

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