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Fulham Football Club has unveiled one of the most ambitious and luxurious single-stand redevelopments in English football with the completion of the new Riverside Stand at historic Craven Cottage. Costing over £130 million, the project, designed by renowned architects Populous, officially opened in May 2025 after years of delays and rising expenses. The stand seamlessly blends modern high-end facilities with deep respect for the club’s traditional riverside setting along the River Thames.
The Riverside Stand rises approximately 30 metres in height and features a striking sweeping cantilevered roof, inspired by the curves of Thames barges and historic boathouses. Its bronze-hued soffits and extensive use of glazing create an elegant yet sympathetic landmark that is clearly visible from across the river. Inside, the seating bowl offers steeply raked tiers at a 33-degree angle, with the front row positioned just 3.5 metres from the pitch, delivering highly immersive views and a vibrant matchday atmosphere.
The development has significantly increased the stadium’s capacity, adding thousands of seats and bringing Craven Cottage’s total to around 28,800–29,600. One of the biggest changes is the dramatic rise in premium seating, which has grown from roughly 1.5% to 10% of the ground, reflecting Fulham’s push to boost commercial revenue while preserving the ground’s unique character.
Beyond matchdays, the Riverside Stand is designed as a “vertical village” and a 365-day destination. A key highlight is the new public Thames riverside walkway, which has reopened after being closed for over a century, providing enhanced public access beneath and around the stand.
Hospitality offerings are extensive and luxurious. Multiple bars and lounges include the Thames Bar Room, Marker’s Bar, and The Dugout, which offers direct pitch views. The Brasserie provides alfresco riverside dining, while high-end options feature Michelin-star-inspired menus, casual bites, and experiential food pop-ups. Interiors evoke boutique-hotel luxury with red velvet banquettes, marble and chrome finishes, chandeliers, murals, and abundant indoor planting.
The standout feature is the Sky Deck, which spans the top three floors and includes formal and informal spaces, open-air terraces with panoramic views over the Thames and the London skyline, and a 15-metre heated infinity rooftop swimming pool complete with lounge areas and landscaping. Notably, the pool is oriented outward for relaxation rather than overlooking the pitch. Additional plans incorporated elements such as a boutique hotel, cinema, and wellness facilities.
Premium matchday packages come at a significant cost, with some season tickets in the top areas reportedly reaching up to £15,000 and hospitality options climbing even higher. These experiences are modelled more on luxury hotels and the Orient Express than traditional football hospitality, offering pitchside bars and dedicated lounges. More accessible premium seating is also available on the lower tiers.
The project faced several challenges during its development. Construction began around 2019, with partial lower tiers opening as early as 2022. However, full completion—including the upper tiers, hospitality areas, Sky Deck, and rooftop pool—was delayed by the pandemic, contractor issues, and complex fit-out works. The complete stand and its full range of facilities launched in May 2025, with the 2025-26 season marking its first fully operational year.
The new Riverside Stand has been widely praised for its innovative approach to stadium design. It demonstrates how a single-stand upgrade can deliver substantial commercial uplift in a constrained urban location while carefully preserving the heritage and soul of Craven Cottage. Although some fans have noted the high prices associated with the premium offerings, the stand is viewed as a successful model for blending professional football with broader leisure and hospitality experiences.
For Fulham supporters and stadium enthusiasts alike, the Riverside Stand represents a thoughtful evolution of one of London’s most characterful football grounds into a modern, revenue-generating destination.
