Latest news with #Earl'sCourt
Scottish Sun
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Reunited Oasis were the best I've seen since 1997 – it's a big call, but I'm making it and here's why
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Kentish Town 1994. Earl's Court 1995. Maine Road and Knebworth 1996. Now add Cardiff Principality Stadium 2025 to that glimmering list. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 6 The Oasis reunion gig in Cardiff will go down in legend Credit: Getty 6 Fans from around the world gathered for the momentous occasion Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 Dominic with Liam during Oasis' 90s heyday Credit: Supplied Friday night's unveiling of the unforeseen Live '25 tour is right up there in the pantheon of classic Oasis shows I've been privileged to witness over the past 31 years. They were deafening, bombastic, supreme, commanding and unleashed, with that trademark brooding arrogance, delivering the tunes we wanted but feared we would never hear again, dispatched with no nonsense or histrionics. This was the best I've seen Oasis since 1997. I know it's a big call but I'm making it. Let's analyse why. There is no new material to promote so this was a brazen playlist of the Oasis anthems - the most recently penned track they performed was Noel's Little By Little from 2002. It was if 21st century Oasis had been erased from memory and we were treated to a raucous 90s set, largely served from the peerless 1994 album Definitely Maybe and 1995's (What's The Story) Morning Glory? The Gallaghers granted us our deepest wishes and, with those ticket prices, so they should. The latter Oasis albums had some gems but their live shows declined as the years rolled by because they were laden with new tracks that didn't measure up to their meteoric early canon. Not on a balmy summer's evening in Cardiff, where anticipation and exhilaration hung in the warm air. One of the biggest worries ahead of these shows was Liam's voice. Oasis kick off historic reunion tour as Noel & Liam reunite for first show in Cardiff Fear not. As he sang as if his life depended on it, his vocals sounded more honed than they have for many years and eclipsed recent solo shows. Let's hope it holds. The outfits are the same and the swagger still there but his engagement with the audience more courteous and respectful, a contrast to the barrage of drunken abuse and gobbledegook audiences would often face. We were treated with a classy, gleaming, professional and more mature set by brothers on their best behaviour. I met fans from Japan, South Korea, Italy, Peru and Canada who had flown in to join us on this holy pilgrimage to hear Noel's stirring council estate hymns, which defined our wild youth, and served as reminder of simpler and more colourful times when we were blissfully unaware of pandemics, iPhones and TikTok. Outside, it felt like the build up to a World Cup knockout game, Cardiff's pubs packed from lunchtime and communal singing echoing around the buzzing streets. There's something about Cardiff when a massive event like this is staged, the gargantuan stadium rising from the riverside and overshadowing a city centre stuffed with thronging bars and restaurants. A logical choice for such an anticipated reunion, 16 years in the making. 6 Oasis' set list for their return gig in Cardiff ended with Champagne Supernova Lager-swilling once-lads, clad in Stone Island, CP Company, football shirts and Adidas, dominated proceedings but there were also starry-eyed groups of young men and women present, being seduced by a Gallagher onslaught for the first time. We mingled with football managers Sean Dyche and Steve Cooper, Noel's ex-Meg Mathews and daughter Anais, Johnny Vaughan, Danny Dyer, Kasabian and Alan McGee. It was like the glorious 90s were back. Inside, Cast, who I first saw supporting Oasis in 1994, and The Verve's Richard Ashcroft set the tone with engaging performances, again shunning new material and the latter delivering all the classics from his band's creative highpoint Urban Hymns, closing with a peerless Bittersweet Symphony which felt like a headline act's encore. There was no messing about from any of the acts that night. Instrumental F*****' In The Bushes, from Standing On The Shoulder Off Giants, then exploded from the speakers, a video montage of newspaper and online headlines flashing on the gigantic screens, the first of many goosebump moments triggered by Noel's masterful songwriting. Witnessing the feuding brothers then stepping onto the sweeping stage, Liam's left arm on his older sibling's shoulder and his other aloft clutching maracas, is something that will live long in the memory, the Cardiff roar heralding the burying of the hatchet, the biblical brothers back together in front of their families and a worshipping congregation. What a moment - and one I felt I had to witness after documenting the highs and lows of Oasis for The Sun, thirty years of mad encounters, unforgettable interviews, reviews, run-ins and joy, seeing them perform in Tokyo, California, Manchester, Oslo, Milan, Majorca and even Exeter. This was up there with the best. We debated whether they would open with Hello, it seeming apt with a singalong chorus of It's Good To Be Back, but concerned about its controversial association with Gary Glitter, who has a songwriting credit on it. But it was impossible to resist, followed by that stirring anthem of brotherly love, Acquiesce, a song Noel tossed away as a b side, when his songwriting seemed unstoppable. 6 Liam's left arm on his older sibling's shoulder and his other aloft clutching maracas, is something that will live long in the memory, These spiritual paeans capture a moment in time and unleashed something within 74,500 souls, transfixed and on our stomping feet throughout a polished two hour set under the roof in this cavernous arena. Yet it somehow felt intimate - there was hugging of strangers, arms held aloft with lifelong friends and the spilling of expensive drinks as we joined the thundering choruses of Slide Away, Don't Look Back In Anger and Champagne Supernova. It felt like this was a climax to sixteen years of soul-searching by the brothers, a coming to the senses about their relationship, their inimitable band and what the British public want, even giving a respectful on-screen nod to their former drummer Tony McCarroll and the Water Rats venue where they debuted in London, on Rock 'n' Roll Star. A realisation that life's too precious and short for tantrums and feuding, this encapsulated touchingly on Live Forever, accompanied by a tribute to Liverpool ace Diogo Jota, killed in a car crash aged 28. Noel's fabled guitar solo pierced the mesmerised stadium and we were all 24 again. At times, the crowd - particularly on the pitch - seemed a little passive and static particularly during Supersonic which was surprising, something I don't anticipate being repeated in Manchester or at Wembley. I'd rather have heard Shakermaker, Stop Crying Your Heart Out or Columbia, a fans' favourite and setlist no-brainer over the years, than Fade Away but I'm maybe, no definitely, nitpicking here. Andy Bell, Gem Archer and Joey Waronker were workmanlike and took care of business but our tired eyes were only on two people. 6 Liam blasting out Oasis hits for the crowd There was less prowling from Liam, with bouncer Bonehead a barrier separating the siblings, between whom there was little interaction during the set itself. Noel dispatched Talk Tonight and Half The World Away with aplomb but the climax of Don't Look Back In Anger, Wonderwall and Champagne Superova is one of the great closing trilogies in the history of modern music. We were left spellbound after witnessing the biggest British rock reunion of all time, never likely to be eclipsed. I'm confident that the Gallaghers' professionalism, newly-found maturity and several hundred million other reasons, will see them sail through this tour, which will surely stretch into 2026. That would mark the 30th anniversary of their pinnacle, celebrating an era where music, fashion and art was better, life was less complicated and the world was a more contented place. That's the story.
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Chelsea 'hold talks with Mayor of London' over new stadium plans amid ownership power struggle
Chelsea have reportedly held talks with London Mayor Sadiq Khan over building a new stadium in Earl's Court. The issue of a new stadium for the west London club has been a discussion point for some time now, with the English giants' home of Stamford Bridge arguably falling behind their rivals'. Stamford Bridge is currently the ninth-largest Premier League venue in terms of capacity at around 41,000 which puts Chelsea over 33,000 seats behind league leaders Manchester United at Old Trafford, and 7,000 behind newly-promoted Sunderland. There have long been discussions about a new stadium for the Blues, and whether that would take in the form of a complete re-build, a revamp, or a relocation, with owners seemingly divided. According to the Telegraph, Chelsea recently held discussions with officials at City Hall following London mayor Sadiq Khan's public invitation for the club to clarify whether it intends to redevelop Stamford Bridge or consider a move to Earl's Court. Khan's comments, made in April, came in response to Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly hinting at internal disagreements with fellow co-owners Behdad Eghbali and Jose E Feliciano regarding the club's long-term stadium plans. Todd Boehly recent suggested that there is a power struggle within the Chelsea board Minority shareholder Hansjorg Wyss added to the speculation after Chelsea's 3-1 victory over Liverpool on May 5, describing Earl's Court as 'the best option we can even think of.' He told Chelsea Fan TV: 'If it's going to happen, I don't know. There's a lot of obstacles. But, right now, we don't have one person who drives that project. That's what we need.' Meanwhile, co-owner Boehly had earlier suggested that a move to a new stadium may have to wait until 2042. He told Bloomberg: 'We have to think about the long term about what we're trying to accomplish. We have a big stadium development opportunity that we have to flush out, and I think that's going to be where we're either aligned or we ultimately decide to go a different way. 'We have 16-20 years to figure it out. Obviously, inside of London, it's really complex, but it's not as if we're building something in the middle of a rural environment. 'We have a lot of constituencies to make sure that we care about. Certainly, the Chelsea fanbase is one. But long term, I think we're going to be building something new, and we'll figure it out.' Chelsea declined to provide an update on their stadium plans or confirm whether any meetings had taken place with the mayor's office. A spokesperson for Sadiq Khan, who would be required to approve any redevelopment or relocation plans, told Telegraph Sport: 'The mayor works closely with all Premier League football clubs in London across a variety of matters. 'The mayor is unaware of any recent formal proposals from the club for the Earl's Court site. The mayor and TfL can only form a view once they have seen the details of any potential proposals.'
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chelsea hold talks over possible stadium move
Chelsea have reportedly held talks with the Mayor of London as they consider building a new stadium at Earl's Court. According to the Telegraph, the talks with Sadiq Khan are part of early steps to decide whether the club will stay at Stamford Bridge or relocate. Advertisement Khan had earlier called on Chelsea to engage with his office regarding their future stadium plans. The recent discussions suggest progress is being made. While no final decision has been reached, the Blues are now exploring the idea of leaving Stamford Bridge, their home since the club was founded in 1905. Club history and pressure to modernise will influence the decision Stamford Bridge was originally built in 1876 and later redeveloped into a football ground in 1904 by the Mears brothers. The club was formed in March 1905 to occupy the new football venue, and the team played their first match there on September 4, 1905. Advertisement The friendly against Liverpool ended in a 4–0 loss. Just five days later, Chelsea played their first competitive league game at Stamford Bridge, beating Hull City 5–1. Despite its deep history, the stadium now holds only 40,341 supporters – one of the smallest capacities among the Premier League's top clubs. Khan says the club has outgrown the ground, especially given their success in recent decades. The club are under pressure to match their London rivals in infrastructure. Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United have all moved into new stadiums within the last twenty years. With the Club World Cup ongoing, the Blues will aim to finalise their long-term stadium plan soon after the tournament ends. A move to Earl's Court would represent a significant shift, but one that could help secure the club's future growth on and off the pitch.
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Tennis fans told NOT to travel to Wimbledon with queue 'at capacity' and crowds facing 'several hours to get in' in 34C on hottest opening day ever
Tennis fans were given a shock on Monday morning after being told to stay away from Wimbledon as it is already 'at capacity'. Earl's Court tube station, a popular changeover point en route to Wimbledon, was packed with tennis fans who had flown in from all over the world. But an announcement over the PA system quickly put a dampener on the excitement after it was revealed the grounds were already 'at capacity' before 9am. The Queue is incredibly popular in the opening week and fans had been in it since the early hours of the day in order to make it into the grounds for Day One. Those who had opted for a slightly later lie-in faced disappointment then when they were told that non-ticket holders risk not getting in, or at best 'several hours' waiting in the queue with temperatures soaring for the rest of the day. An update from Wimbledon's official website on Monday read: 'Please be aware that the Queue for Day 1 - Monday 30th June - is very busy and to avoid disappointment we strongly advise you not to travel to the Grounds today. 'Please note there is hot weather forecast for Monday and Tuesday. In both The Queue and the Grounds there may be periods where shade is not available. 'Please plan appropriately, including bringing water, suncream and a hat. Water refill points are available in the Queue and around the Grounds.'
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chelsea step up planning for potential new stadium
Chelsea have held talks with the Mayor of London's office to discuss the prospect of building a new stadium. The West Londoners are deliberating plans to move to a new stadium or enhance their current home at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea's current venue has a capacity of 41,728, which will make it only the 11th-largest stadium in the Premier League next season. Advertisement Plans are in motion over a project to modernise the club's facilities and The Telegraph have revealed that talks have been held with the Mayor of London's office. Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, would need to approve any potential proposals. Should Chelsea decide to leave Stamford Bridge, a site at Earl's Court has been named as a potential new home. However, the management of the Earl's Court Development Company (ECDC), who own the plot, have said previously that the current project plans are for residential housing. The statement said: 'There is no plan within our plans for Chelsea FC to relocate to the Earl's Court site. We have a fully detailed design, shortly to be registered with both local authorities, which prioritises the delivery of thousands of homes and jobs, culture and open space through a well-designed and considered masterplan, which has evolved over four years of engagement. Advertisement 'This will see development commence in 2026 with the first residents and occupiers moving in from 2030. This is, and will remain, our primary focus.' Chelsea's talks with the Mayor of London's office could be the start of formulating a proposal for a new stadium. The Blues have the option to bid for the site at Earl's Court before development on current plans begin. The deadline to purchase the plot is unclear. Read – Liverpool have 'no plans' to meet Marc Guehi price tag See more – Iconic Performances: A teenage Pelé conquers the world Follow The Football Faithful on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok
