Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge (/ˈstæmfərd/) is a football stadium in Fulham, adjacent to the borough of Chelsea in South West London, commonly referred to as The Bridge.[5][6] It is the home of Premier League club Chelsea. With a capacity of 40,834, it is the ninth largest venue of the 2021–22 Premier League season.
"The Bridge" | |
 Stamford Bridge in 2013 | |
| |
| Full name | Stamford Bridge |
|---|---|
| Location | Fulham London, SW6 England |
| Coordinates | 51°28′54″N 0°11′28″W |
| Public transit |  Fulham Broadway |
| Owner | Chelsea Pitch Owners |
| Operator | Chelsea Football Club |
| Executive suites | 51 |
| Capacity | 41,837[1] |
| Record attendance | 82,905 (Chelsea–Arsenal, 12 October 1935)[2] |
| Field size | 113 by 74 yards (103.3 m × 67.7 m)[1] |
| Surface | GrassMaster by Tarkett Sports[3] |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1876 |
| Opened | 28 April 1877[4] |
| Renovated | 1904–1905, 1998 |
| Architect | Archibald Leitch (1887) |
| Tenants | |
| London Athletic Club (1877–1904) Chelsea (1905–present) London Monarchs (NFL Europe) (1997) | |
Opened in 1877, the stadium was used by the London Athletic Club until 1905, when new owner Gus Mears founded Chelsea Football Club to occupy the ground; Chelsea have played their home games there ever since. It has undergone major changes over the years, most recently in the 1990s when it was renovated into a modern, all-seater stadium.
Stamford Bridge has been a venue for England international matches, FA Cup Finals, FA Cup semi-finals and Charity Shield games. It has also hosted numerous other sports, such as cricket, rugby union, speedway, greyhound racing, baseball and American football. The stadium's highest official attendance is 82,905, for a league match between Chelsea and Arsenal on 12 October 1935.