Arsenal are reportedly looking into ways to expand the Emirates Stadium in a bid to keep pace with their Premier League rivals.
This comes as Manchester United recently revealed plans for a dazzling £2billion super stadium to take the place of Old Trafford, with the project set to become the UK's largest stadium and already given the green light as part of a significant area redevelopment.
Newcastle United are also making moves, announcing intentions to leave St James' Park for a spectacular new 65,000-capacity venue, as the club's Saudi owners push to cement their position among football's elite. The Gunners are now weighing up their next steps to ensure they don't fall behind. Mail Online reports that Arsenal are contemplating various expansion possibilities for their current home at the Emirates Stadium.
While discussions are still in the preliminary phase, several potential routes are on the table. The financial outlay and duration of any such project are key considerations for the Arsenal hierarchy, along with the potential effects on the local community, reports the Mirror.
Any expansion would likely require the green light from Islington Council, and Transport for London's input would be crucial. Arsenal co-chairman Josh Kroenke has spoken about the topic of stadium expansion before.
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 shared his vision for what an expansion on the Emirates Stadium might entail. Speaking to The i paper in December, Nick Tyrer said: "It’s efficient, everything fits together like a nice puzzle.
“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's move to the Emirates Stadium back in 2006 was a significant milestone, moving from Highbury at a hefty £390million cost. It was the second-largest Premier League stadium at that time but has since dropped to fifth in the rankings.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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