Arsenal[1] are reportedly considering a Real Madrid-style expansion of the Emirates stadium in an attempt to boost their revenues.
The Emirates was the Premier League[2]‘s second-biggest stadium behind only Old Trafford when it opened in 2006 with a capacity of 60,704.
In the two decades since it has slipped behind Liverpool[3]‘s iconic stadium Anfield, West Ham[4]‘s home at the London Stadium and the Tottenham[5] Hotspur Stadium.
Daily Mail Sport reported last November that the Emirates can be expanded in a multitude of ways, but each route comes with its own complications[6].
This includes altering seating, lowering the Emirates pitch, renovating individual stands, or replacing the roof and adding an additional tier of seats.
According to the Telegraph[7], Arsenal officials are assessing options to make the stands steeper in an attempt to boost the capacity to over 70,000, which would make the Emirates the biggest club stadium in London.
Arsenal are reportedly considering a Real Madrid-style expansion of the Emirates stadium
The Emirates currently has a capacity of 60,704, but Arsenal are keen to boost it further
The options being assessed by the club are limited to expansions within the ground, with the outer bowl expected to remain similar in appearance.
According to the report, Arsenal have studied Real Madrid’s expansion of the Santiago Bernabeu as inspiration for their own plans.
The Spanish stadium underwent a £860m renovation over a five-year period to modernise the club’s historic home.
Around 4,000 seats were added to the stadium, taking the capacity up to 83,186, while a 360-degree screen, retractable roof and retractable pitch to host non-football events.
Real Madrid revealed earlier this year that their matchday revenues have doubled to €248m (£215m) following the completion of the renovations, serving to highlight the huge riches available to Arsenal should they complete their own stadium changes.
Arsenal would be seeking a similar rise, with the club’s matchday revenue for the 2023-24 season having been £131.7m.
This marked an increase from £102.6m the previous season, which had been attributed to their return to Champions League football.
A renovation of the Emirates could reportedly lead Arsenal to having to temporarily relocate to a new home while construction gets underway.
According to the Telegraph, Wembley, situated in north west London, would be a potential option for the Gunners while work took place.
Arsenal have reportedly studied Real Madrid’s recent renovation of the Santiago Bernabeu
Real Madrid announced they had doubled their matchday revenues following the renovation
Arsenal could reportedly been forced to relocate to Wembley should renovations take place
Arch-rivals Tottenham had played at Wembley from the start of the 2017 season to late in the 2018-19 campaign as the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was built on the site of White Hart Lane.
Similarly Real Madrid and Barcelona, who have been renovating the Nou Camp, were forced to relocate temporarily during work on their respective stadiums.
Real Madrid had spent a season playing at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium during the early part of the renovation – however matches had been taking placed behind closed doors at the time due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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EXCLUSIVE Expanding the Emirates and huge transfer spending: How Arsenal’s new board will supercharge the club
Daily Mail Sport revealed last month that Arsenal’s plans to expand the Emirates had stepped up[8] with the appointment of new non-executive board member Otto Maly.
Maly is president and director of special projects at Kroenke Holdings and also chairs Maly Commercial Realty.
He played a central role in building SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles — a state-of-the-art, 100,000-capacity venue that cost more than £4bn to build and hosts Stan Kroenke’s Rams — as the legal officer overseeing its ownership and operations.
Earlier this year, he was also chosen by Kroenke to lead a £7.5bn redevelopment of a 100-acre site in Los Angeles, which will include a new HQ for the Rams, apartments, retail outlets and entertainment spaces.
References
- ^ Arsenal (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Premier League (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Liverpool (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ West Ham (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Tottenham (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ the Emirates can be expanded in a multitude of ways, but each route comes with its own complications (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ the Telegraph (www.telegraph.co.uk)
- ^ Daily Mail Sport revealed last month that Arsenal’s plans to expand the Emirates had stepped up (www.dailymail.co.uk)