Selhurst Park Through the Ages: Renovations and Upgrades

Selhurst Park has been Crystal Palace’s home since 1924 and has evolved from a asingle-stand ground into one of English football’s most atmospheric stadiums. Each renovation has balanced safety and modernisation with preserving the intimidating, tightly packed feel that defines a Selhurst matchday.​

Early Years and First Major Changes

Designed by renowned stadium architect Archibald Leitch, Selhurst Park originally opened with one main stand and grass banks on the other three sides in August 1924. Little changed structurally until the Arthur Wait Stand was added along the east side in 1969, giving the ground a more enclosed, traditional four-sided look. The stadium recorded its all-time attendance of 51,482 for the promotion-clinching win over Burnley in 1979, shortly before the Main Stand terrace was converted to seating as part of phased modernisation.​

Taylor Report and 1990s Redevelopment

In the wake of the Taylor Report, Selhurst Park underwent significant upgrades to meet new all-seater safety standards. The old Holmesdale Road terrace, long the domain of the most vocal Palace fans, was demolished in 1994 and replaced in 1995 by a new two-tier stand holding around 8,500 supporters, the club’s newest and largest individual stand. Earlier, Palace had sold part of the Whitehorse Lane end and adjacent land to Sainsbury’s in 1981 to ease financial pressures, later rebuilding that end as a seated stand with executive boxes and supermarket backing onto the pitch.​

Modernisation and Capacity Management

Through the 2000s and early 2010s, improvements focused on incremental upgrades: roof repairs on the Main Stand, refurbished concourses and hospitality spaces, and better segregated away-supporter facilities. These works kept Selhurst compliant with Premier League standards while retaining a tight, close-to-the-pitch feel that many newer stadiums lack. Capacity stabilised at just over 26,000, making the ground one of the league’s smaller but most intimidating venues.​

Main Stand Redevelopment Plans

In 2018 Crystal Palace unveiled ambitious £100m plans to transform the aging Main Stand into a new five-storey structure inspired by the original glass-and-iron Crystal Palace, increasing stadium capacity from about 26,000 to more than 34,000. The new stand is designed by architects KSS and will expand Main Stand seating from roughly 5,400 to around 13,500, add premium hospitality for over 2,500 supporters, create a club museum, and provide improved facilities for disabled fans. Planning permission was first granted by Croydon Council in 2018, refreshed and fully approved again in 2022 and 2024 after pandemic-related delays and London Plan updates, clearing the way for construction.​

Current Expansion: Selhurst Park’s Next Era

Club statements in 2024 and 2025 confirmed that enabling works had begun and a final legal agreement with the council was in place, with full construction targeted to start around the end of the 2024–25 season. The project is planned so that the new Main Stand will be built around the existing structure, allowing Selhurst Park to remain operational and preserve its renowned atmosphere throughout the build. Once complete, the redevelopment will not only modernise facilities and sightlines but also secure Selhurst Park as a long-term, enlarged home in SE25 rather than forcing a move away from its historic site.​​

Key Selhurst Park Developments Table

Selhurst Park’s continuous evolution shows how Crystal Palace have modernised their home while fiercely protecting its unique character and connection to the local community.​