Chelsea to play all WSL games at Stamford Bridge from next season

Chelsea will play all of their WSL home games from next season at Stamford Bridge, the club have announced.

It is a move that follows in the footsteps of Arsenal, who made a similar move to the Emirates last summer. They still play domestic cup and Champions League league phase matches at Meadow Park.

However, this season, the Blues have played all of their home European matches at the West London ground, while still playing the majority of their games at their Kingsmeadow home in Kingston, south west London.

It was the first ground owned by a women’s team and has been Chelsea’s main home for almost a decade. They became the sole occupants in November 2020, when AFC Wimbledon – who they had ben groundsharing with – moved to Plough Lane.

The ground had been touted as a new home for Chelsea after Sonia Bompastor said in January that the club were looking at options away from Kingsmeadow.

That has now been revealed as a permeant move to Stamford Bridge, although it is unclear were domestic cup fixtures will be played. It is likely that Champions League matches will still be played at the west London ground, while Kingsmeadow will continue to be used as a ground for girls academy matches.

The club says the move was made in consolation with Chelsea players, partners, the fan advisory board and groups, and will significantly increase the capacity from just under 5,000 to 40,000.

A statement added: “Stamford Bridge will give CFCW a stage befitting the club’s achievements and ambition, a place to compete and win.

“It is more than a venue – it is a statement of intent. With every Barclays WSL fixture set to be played at Stamford Bridge, this move reflects the club’s unwavering belief in the long-term opportunity in women’s football as well as the responsibility the club has to help push the game forward.

“By establishing a permanent home at Stamford Bridge, CFCW is investing not just in today, but in a legacy. Playing at Stamford Bridge will elevate visibility, provide consistency for fans, unlock potential, and inspire the next generation as the sport continues to grow.”

An open letter from the Chelsea players also accompanied the announcement, reading: “This moment is not just for us. It’s for every player to have worn the Chelsea badge. It’s for every person who has pushed the women’s game forward. It’s for every supporter who has been with us on our incredible journey.

“This is a new chapter, but our ambition remains the same. We want to win. We want to lift more trophies. We want to create further history. That is what Chelsea has always done -and we’re going to continue that legacy with our supporters beside us at the Bridge.”

‘We want to be really ambitious off and on the pitch – it’s the right time for us to do that’

In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports ahead of the announcement, Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor said: “The women’s game is growing and we need to make sure we follow and we also initiate that group. We want to be really ambitious, really top in terms of what we do off and on the pitch. That’s the right time for us to do that.

“Even if we already as a club achieve a lot, we still have room for improvement and being able to offer the best experience for the fans, but also for the players. They want to play in the biggest stadiums. The Bridge is a really historic stadium where we created already a lot of memories.

“Even for the fans, we want to create a really special experience for them. So giving them the opportunity to come to the Bridge, bringing more, even more fans to the game, to our games. We are really excited to be part of that journey and that experience.

“The players played a big, big part because obviously they are the most important people in this project. They are the ones who are on the pitch. They are all really excited about the announcement and the news.

“When you are a player, you want to play in stadiums where you can bring the most fans possible. You want to live that experience with winning games in a great atmosphere. That’s what we want to create for the future. And again, that’s really exciting.”

A big, risky move for Chelsea

Analysis from Sky Sports’ Charlotte Marsh:

“The move to Stamford Bridge is a huge statement of intent from Chelsea in what is proving to be a transformative year.

“The Blues have struggled to maintain their chokehold of the WSL, but have already won a trophy with the League Cup. However, their wait for a Champions League title goes on.

“And it is that competition that has seen Chelsea dip a semi-permanent toe into Stamford Bridge. They have made the ground as accessible as possible for women’s football fans, including their ‘Families at the Bridge’ initiative and Bottomless at the Bridge’ hospitality package.

“The decision is very much a task in trying to keep pace with Arsenal, who have built a unique fan culture, but the simple fact is Chelsea do not attract the same numbers for the games they have played at Stamford Bridge.

“A big part of any football game is atmosphere, and a key argument for WSL teams remaining at smaller grounds is making them sell-outs and generating noisy home support.

“That is something Chelsea have cultivated at Kingsmeadow, which has given them a massive advantage. How that will translate to Stamford Bridge remains to be seen.

“Fans will not want to sacrifice the atmosphere they have cultivated for a ‘keeping up with the Jones’-style move, and Chelsea will not back track if things do not look to be working out.

“It’s a big move, an understandable one too – but risky. A lot of work has to be done to make it a success.”

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com