Crystal Palace have revealed plans for a £100m redevelopment of their Selhurst Park Main Stand as they look to increase the stadiums capacity to 34,000. That's 10,000 new seats, new hospitality boxes and a tunnel club, all while promising to retain the ground’s passionate Premier League atmosphere.
If you've ever been to Selhurst Park, you'll know that the home of Crystal Palace is one of the most beautifully old-school stadiums in the Premier League. A cauldron of noise with a throwback feel thanks to all four stands featuring their own charming identity, and you'll be pleased to know the club will keep that theme with the redevelopment of the new Main Stand.
When a ground is described as old-school, uncomfortable imperfections tend to follow, and that is the case at Selhurst Park. As traditionally majestic as it is, it is still in need of a bit of TLC – and the Eagles plan to transform their home since 1924 into a state-of-the-art arena within the next three years with the proposal set to be submitted to Croydon Council in January.
The club have enlisted stadium architects KSS to carry out the work. The same firm that have completed successful transformations of Anfield, Twickenham and Wimbledon. The centrepiece of the redevelopment will be the new Main Stand, which will see an increased capacity from 5,400 to more than 13,500 to bring the overall capacity of the ground from its present 26,000 to more than 34,000.
The Main Stand will feature an all-glass exterior inspired by the design of the 1851 Crystal Palace Exhibition Hall, with a central vaulted arch featuring the club's eagle crest in gold. The new five-storey stand will also host hospitality for more than 2,500 spectators, and a club museum. The pitch will also be expanded to meet UEFA regulations and to be able to stage tournament football. The work on the Main Stand will also result in improved sightlines in the Arthur Wait Stand, as the TV gantry will be removed and homed in the new stand opposite.
Nick Marshall, director of architects KSS, summed it up nicely by saying: “Our brief was to create an impressive sense of arrival and an experience the fans can be proud of, retaining the special atmosphere at one of the best grounds in the country. It’s already one of the best places to watch football and we certainly don’t want to ruin that, it has to be driven by the fan experience. There’s going to be a great relationship between the new stand and the Arthur Wait stand, which is going to work fantastically. It’s a very exciting project and we are privileged to be working on it with Crystal Palace.”
Take a 360 VR Experience tour of the redevelopment here.
