Chelsea appoint new task force to lead £2billion Stamford Bridge redevelopment

Chelsea executives Chris Jurasek and Jason Gannon have been put in charge of the club’s redevelopment plans for Stamford Bridge.

Jonathan Goldstein had been running the project with help from Janet Marie Smith, who was brought in by Todd Boehly following her work on the renovation of LA Dodgers’ Dodger Stadium.

But Jurasek and Gannon have taken over, with Chelsea still considering their options: a complete Stamford Bridge rebuild, a stand-by-stand redevelopment or a move to a new site.

Smith has since paused her involvement after helping with short-term improvements to the stadium through her company, Canopy Team. These included adding food trucks, outdoor signage and video screens.

Gannon, Chelsea’s chief operating officer, brings his working knowledge from a previous role as managing director of the world-class SoFi stadium in Los Angeles. He is now the project’s key leader alongside Jurasek, Chelsea’s chief executive.

Goldstein, the CEO of property developer Cain International, remains involved but is not running the project on a daily basis.

Chelsea have held discussions with Populous, the firm which completed work on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2019, but are yet to appoint a replacement architect for Smith. Populous declined to comment.

It leaves Chelsea with a new task force working on the project for owners Boehly and Clearlake Capital.

Chelsea believe they have the expertise to make the best decision on a development that is projected to cost at least £2billion, £407m of which has been secured from US hedge fund Ares Management.

The club had hoped to deliver a new 55,000-seat stadium by 2030, but it is now likely to take longer.