Blues consider selling naming rights to the Bridge

CHELSEA appear to have shelved any plans to move from Stamford Bridge after revealing the club would consider naming rights for the stadium.

The name Stamford Bridge would be retained in any deal and it is understood Chelsea are looking for a blue-chip partner for a long-term contract between seven and 10 years.

Chelsea are aware the move will be a sensitive issue with fans but want to assure them that there will be no chance of the ground being renamed in a similar fashion to Newcastle United.

The Championship side’s stadium has been renamed sportsdirect.com@St James’ Park until the end of the season.

The Blues cannot increase the capacity of their current home and fans have reservations about any move away from the Bridge.

That puts Chelsea at a disadvantage to their rivals when it comes to financial income from home games.

Arsenal earn around £3 million (€3.3m) per match at the Emirates while Chelsea’s income is, on average, £2.2m (€2.4m).

The sale of naming rights is a way of making up that shortfall.

New Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay told Chelsea TV the club would consider naming rights. The interview was his first since succeeding Peter Kenyon.

“Retaining the heritage of the stadium is paramount to considering such a move but we think that is achievable, and on that basis we would enter into discussions over naming rights with the right partner for Chelsea,” said Gourlay.

“We understand that this is a sensitive issue for our fans and that is why we would keep the name Stamford Bridge in any deal.

“What we are not prepared to happen, and I am sure our fans will appreciate this, is to allow our rival clubs in England and Europe to gain a competitive advantage over us in terms of the revenue they can generate through either expanding the capacity of their existing stadia or moving to a new stadium, and then invest that upside in their team or the club.

“Those possibilities are not open to Chelsea for the foreseeable future because of the restrictions in expanding our stadium and the issues around finding a new site, so that means we have to be creative and look at our sponsorship architecture and see if we can create new value and new opportunities that keeps us competitive.

“We cannot sell any more tickets to Chelsea fans as we sell out virtually every match within our limited capacity.

“But we need to keep evolving and move the business forward to support the football side and the club generally. This is a realistic way of doing that.”

Gourlay also revealed that talks have started with Joe Cole over a new contract. “Joe’s looking to negotiate his new contract for the next four to five years,” Gourlay said.

“That process has started and Joe has made it very, very clear he wants to stay with the football club. I am sure over the coming months we will be able to work something out.”