Around 250 supporters, including Ascott’s mascot Cubby, gathered at the atrium of Funan to catch the live screening of the football match between Chelsea and Aston Villa on Sunday, 1 December, celebrating alongside Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola (front row, second from left). On Zola’s right was Andrew Lim, Group Chief Operating Officer, CapitaLand Investment and on his left were Lee Chee Koon, Group CEO, CapitaLand Investment and Tan Bee Leng, Chief Commercial Officer, Ascott.

Gianfranco Zola said: "What a privilege it has been to be a part of The Famous CFC in Singapore! I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at The Robertson House by The Crest Collection, as well as my visits to lyf Funan Singapore and Ascott Orchard Singapore. It was a pleasure to meet so many of Chelsea's passionate fans here. The enthusiasm and energy from them all has been amazing, and it is truly special to connect with so many supporters face-to-face. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to share unforgettable moments with them."

He added "The weekend was capped off with a dominant performance from Chelsea against Aston Villa. I recently spent time with Cole Palmer and saw first-hand what an unbelievable talent he is. His goal and performance against Aston Villa was top quality and there is no doubt in my mind he has the tools to be one of the best players in the world in the near future. What a signing he has proven to be for Chelsea!"

Casper Stylsvig, Chelsea's Chief Revenue Officer, said: "The Singapore edition of The Famous CFC was a tremendous success, and we are delighted to have had the opportunity to reconnect with our passionate fanbase in Southeast Asia, thanks to our friends at Ascott. It was truly inspiring to see the unwavering dedication of our supporters. We are very proud of our partnership with Ascott, and the experience we have delivered for both our fans and Ascott Star Rewards members."

Tan Bee Leng, Chief Commercial Officer, Ascott, said: "As Chelsea's Official Global Hotels Partner, Ascott is proud to continue providing the club's supporters and Ascott Star Rewards members with exclusive and immersive experiences that go beyond just the stay. From football clinics conducted by Chelsea coaches and an intimate fireside chat with club legend Gianfranco Zola, to curated pre-match F&B hospitality and watching the Blues in action alongside Zola himself; every detail throughout The Famous CFC in Singapore reflects Ascott's dedication to seamlessly blend hospitality, entertainment and sports to deliver an unforgettable event, reinforcing our commitment to ensure guests 'Stay Rewarded' with exceptional experiences. Building on this momentum, Ascott is excited to already be working on bringing The Famous CFC to other cities in 2025, further strengthening our connection with Chelsea's global fanbase. We look forward to creating more extraordinary experiences for fans and Ascott Star Rewards members worldwide, to live their unlimited passion for the club they love."

"Ascott is also looking forward to the rebranding of the two stadium hotels, currently operating as Stamford Bridge Hotel London^[6], to lyf^[7] by the second half of 2025. The lyf brand, with its experience-led, social living concept, aligns perfectly with the spirit of Chelsea and the dynamic energy of Stamford Bridge. Offering more than just a place to stay, lyf will deliver an immersive experience that reflects Chelsea's strong sense of community, passion and excellence. Whether guests are visiting for a match or immersing themselves in the club's legendary legacy, we are confident this new lyf property will provide a truly remarkable experience," she added.

Highlights from The Famous CFC – Singapore Edition The Singapore edition of The Famous CFC kicked off on Saturday, 30 November, with a series of football coaching clinics at The Ark futsal court in Funan, led by coaches from Chelsea FC. Reflecting The Famous CFC's commitment to supporting local communities, the clinics hosted participants from SportCares, the philanthropic arm of Sport Singapore, and the Singapore Disability Sports Council. Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola made a special appearance, engaging with the beneficiaries and sharing inspiring words with the young players.

Chelsea Football Club legend Gianfranco Zola enjoying a friendly game with young beneficiaries from the Singapore Disability Sports Council on Saturday, 30 November, at the rooftop futsal court in Funan. The football coaching clinic was part of The Famous CFC, Chelsea’s flagship international fan engagement event presented by The Ascott Limited (Ascott), underscoring both organisations' commitment to supporting local communities and promoting disability inclusion.

The activities continued on Sunday, 1 December, with more football coaching clinics. This was followed by a fireside chat at lyf Funan Singapore, where Zola shared personal stories, reflected on memorable moments from his football career and answered questions from attendees. In the evening, Zola joined Ascott Star Rewards members for a lively dinner party at lyf Funan Singapore. The event featured an immersive experiential zone for photo opportunities and a merchandise booth inspired by the iconic dressing room at Stamford Bridge. Three 'one-of-a-kind' shirts, two autographed by Zola and one by Chelsea award-winning player Cole Palmer respectively, were put up for a live charity auction during the dinner party. In line with Ascott's and Chelsea's efforts to promote disability inclusion, auction proceeds were donated to the Goh Chok Tong Enable Fund (GCTEF), which supports persons with disabilities through providing financial aid, supporting aspirations and conferring awards to recognise the achievements and potential of persons with disabilities. GCTEF is administered by SG Enable and supported by Mediacorp, with Singapore's Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong as its Patron.

Chelsea Football Club legend Gianfranco Zola shared personal reflections of his illustrious football career and answered questions posed by fans at the by-invite only Fireside Chat organised by Ascott on Sunday, 1 December. The Fireside Chat, attended by about 50 people, was part of The Famous CFC, Chelsea’s flagship international fan engagement event.

For the latest updates on exclusive offers from Ascott's partnership with Chelsea, including the upcoming editions of The Famous CFC, please visit https://www.discoverasr.com/en/ascott-chelseafc^[9].

https://www.discoverasr.com/en^[10]https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ascott-limited/^[11]

Hashtag: #TheAscottLimited #AscottStarRewards #DiscoverASR #StayRewarded

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

References

1. ^{^} Media OutReach Newswire (www.media-outreach.com)
2. ^{^} lyf Funan Singapore (www.discoverasr.com)
3. ^{^} The Robertson House by The Crest Collection (www.discoverasr.com)
4. ^{^} Ascott Orchard Singapore (www.discoverasr.com)
5. ^{^} Ascott Star Rewards (www.discoverasr.com)
6. ^{^} Stamford Bridge Hotel London (www.discoverasr.com)
7. ^{^} lyf (www.discoverasr.com)
8. ^{^} Chandu (www.discoverasr.com)
9. ^{^} https://www.discoverasr.com/en/ascott-chelseafc (www.discoverasr.com)
10. ^{^} https://www.discoverasr.com/en (www.discoverasr.com)
11. ^{^} https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ascott-limited/ (www.linkedin.com)