Will Spurs and Chelsea ground share at Wembley?
Tottenham keen on playing at national stadium as they redevelop White Hart Lane, but London rivals want venue for themselves
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurs could end up sharing Wembley stadium as they rebuild their grounds, it has been claimed.
The Blues have submitted a four-year bid to the FA, thought to be worth around £15m a season, to use the national stadium while their home, Stamford Bridge, is being rebuilt.
But while the team had hoped for exclusive use of the grounds, it has emerged that Spurs are prepared to pay the same amount to stage their home games at Wembley during the 2017-18 season while White Hart Lane is redeveloped.
"Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn talked up the chances of two teams sharing Wembley last year but compromises would have to be made, particularly if both sides were to be involved in European football," reports the Daily Mail.
There would also need to be discussions over the size of the crowds. Wembley is only allowed to stage 37 major events each year, adds the Mail. "However, an unlimited number of matches could be held at Wembley if the attendance falls under 50,000 spectators," it adds. "That would involve shutting the top tier and cutting off 40,000 seats but that would still offer Chelsea and Tottenham more than their current capacities at White Hart Lane and Stamford Bridge."
Chelsea are anxious about sharing a ground because "they do not want to make concessions over the 2017-18 domestic and European fixture lists with Tottenham and believe they must sell Wembley as a more long-term prospect to their fans", says the Daily Telegraph.
The redevelopment could see them away from Stamford Bridge for up to four years, while Spurs expect to be on the road for just one season.
If Tottenham are unable to use Wembley, they face the prospect of playing at Milton Keynes, meaning a much reduced capacity and a 100-mile round trip for fans.
