Fulham FC’s redeveloped Riverside stand to feature rooftop pool

The Club closed its Riverside stand to fans in 2019 for an £80 million redevelopment that was originally due to complete in 2021. The delayed project fell further behind when the original contractor Buckingham Group collapsed into administration last year. The lower tier of the redeveloped stand opened to fans in 2022 but work on the upper tier will only complete in time for the 2024/25 season.

The new designs from architect Populous relate to the matchday experiences on offer within the new stand.

The stand will house restaurants, bars, conference and events spaces, a hotel, and a healthclub with a rooftop pool, which Populous claimed is a “European football stadium first”.

A digital render of the ‘Sky Deck’ at Fulham FC’s Riverside Stadium (Image: Populous)

The top three floors of the Riverside Stand will be occupied by the ‘Sky Deck’, with the rooftop level offering views across the River Thames and London’s skyline.

An average of 100 people are working on the Stand every day while internal construction remains in progress, rising to 200 as the project nears completion.

Philip Johnson, senior principal and lead architect for New Riverside Stand project at Populous, said, “Our vision for the New Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage was to create a unique experience that has not been seen before, whether in the context of football or beyond. It’s a privilege to bring this innovative design to life, with amazing spaces set to house incredible experiences for fans and guests. It combines a new, world-class stand that will drive the atmosphere in the ground and experience for fans on match-days, with premium facilities that can help the club generate revenue year-round, all set in a unique location on the banks of the Thames. This project demonstrates new ways of designing individual stands, and we are proud to be part of the Club’s next chapter.”

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