Emirates Stadium
Arsenal have started considering plans to expand the Emirates Stadium
Arsenal are exploring options to expand the Emirates Stadium as they attempt to keep up with their Premier League rivals.
Manchester United unveiled glittering plans for a £2bn super stadium earlier this week that will replace Old Trafford. The project, which will be the biggest stadium in the UK, has already been given the green light as part of a major regeneration of the area.
And Newcastle followed suit with plans to move away from St James’ Park to a stunning 65,000-capacity arena as the club’s Saudi owners continue their attempts to establish the Magpies at the top table.
Arsenal are now mulling over their options as they attempt to not get left behind. According to Mail Online, the Gunners are considering a number of expansion options to their current Emirates Stadium home.
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Talks are at an early stage, with a number of potential options being considered. The cost and the length of the project are the main factors being discussed by Arsenal chiefs, while the impact on the surrounding area is also a major factor.
Islington Council would likely have to grant approval to any project, while Transport for London would also have a major say. Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke has already discussed the prospect of an expansion.
Speaking last summer, he said: “The internal conversations are starting to occur about (the stadium). It is not an easy renovation, but we see the possibilities of what's there.”
Meanwhile an architect has already given an insight into what a potential expansion project could look like. Speaking to The i paper in December, Nick Tyrer said: "It’s efficient, everything fits together like a nice puzzle.
Emirates Stadium
Arsenal have been at the Emirates since 2006 ( Image: Getty Images)
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“It’s impressive what they were able to do on that tight site, but the problem with a puzzle that fits nicely together is as soon as you want to make big changes to it, it’s difficult.
"One of the big challenges is there’s an elegant roof that is supported in I think eight places. The whole roof sits on those eight points and if you want to do any kind of expansion you need to remove the structure that’s blocking you, but the only way you can do that is taking the roof off and putting a new wider roof on.
“If it does involve removing and replacing that, say it’s a new roof, you’re building a new roof of an 80,000-capacity stadium. You’re talking about the realm of a new project, a new stadium from that perspective."
Arsenal moved to the Emirates Stadium in 2006, with the move from Highbury costing the club a total of £390m. It was the second-biggest stadium in the Premier League at that time but has since slipped to fifth in the list.
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