Fulham FC’s chairman Shahid Khan has confirmed work on the redevelopment of the Riverside Stand at its Craven Cottage stadium will begin this summer.
According to the Evening Standard newspaper, the renovation is expected to cost at least £100m ($126m/€113m).
The Premier League football club appointed Buckingham Group Contracting as the lead contractor for the project late last year. It will work with architecture firm Populous on the new stand, which will feature a new river wall and a public riverside walk.
The new two-tiered stand, which is expected to be finished in time for the 2021-22 season, will increase the venue’s capacity from 25,700 to 29,600, with shops, cafes and luxury apartments also in the plans.
Throughout the two-year build, there will be ongoing consultation with key stakeholders, and regular updates on the progress of the development will be made available.
Khan said: “I understand today’s (Wednesday’s) announcement was many years in the making, but the right thing for all parties was to be deliberate, collaborative and thorough. I thank our supporters for their patience, and am especially grateful to all those who have worked tremendously hard behind the scenes to bring us to this point. The wait will be worth it.”
Khan also made a point to thank Councillor Stephen Cowan, leader of the London borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, who he said helped to push the project along. Fulham received approval for the plans back in March.
The London club will spend two seasons with just three sides of Craven Cottage open while work on the redevelopment is carried out, dropping the overall capacity to around 19,000.
Khan added: “Make no mistake, the Riverside development will be a location like no other, a real game-changer for Fulham Football Club, our neighbourhood, and all of London.
“Our aim is to create a world-class destination for fans and guests to experience and enjoy, whilst retaining the charm that Craven Cottage exudes within our very own section of the River Thames. In doing so, we will also safeguard the club’s future at Craven Cottage, forever the rightful home for Fulham.”
The club added in a later release that, during the renovation, season ticket holders from the Riverside Stand would be relocated to pre-allocated seats, which are currently available in the Putney End and the Hammersmith End.
Image: Populous
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