March 1 2018

Steve Parish

Crystal Palace chief Steve Parish says the club is considering offering naming rights for Selhurst Park.

The Eagles recently submitted a planning application for a new main stand that will increase the stadium capacity to more than 34,000.

Chairman Parish is exploring various ways to help pay for the giant structure which is set to cost up to £100million to build.

"We are looking at a naming rights opportunity for the stadium, maybe with a headquarters office space within the structure of the stand," Parish said at a Sports Industry Breakfast Club meeting.

"Because there is loads of space in these things that you do not really use. At the moment we are looking at all the non-matchday things.

"The new stand is the biggest project the club have undertaken since 1964. We are very excited about it and it will make a huge difference to the club. Hopefully come mid-April, when the plans are determined, we will get the nod to carry on."

When asked about the risk in investing in a stadium when the club is not guaranteed their Premier League status, Parish admits there could be some obstacles to overcome.

"People say to me 'is it (the stadium redevelopment) going to happen if we get relegated?' Well, there will be different challenges to making it happen," he said.

"Unfortunately in football, you have this unique thing (relegation), this destroyer of value - but you have to somehow learn to manage it. It exists. Three teams are going to get relegated each year.We're in a difficult situation this year - make no mistake.

"People say to me 'What I am doing right now?' I'm planning for the Championship - people say 'Oh don’t worry, you won't go down'... given there's very little I can affect right now.

"I'll go to training tomorrow, I'll chat with the manager - if there's anything - anything - I can do to help - talk to the medical department, I'll do it. Have a difficult conversation with someone, I'll do it.

"Whatever the manager needs doing, I'll do it. But really at the moment - it's down to the players and those guys. They know it and I know it."