Emirates Stadium facts for kids
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Ashburton Grove
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| Address | Hornsey Road |
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| Location | London, England N7 7AJ |
| Coordinates | 51°33′24″N 0°6′22″W / 51.55667°N 0.10611°W |
| Owner | Kroenke Sports & Entertainment |
| Executive suites | 152 |
| Capacity | 60,704 |
| Record attendance | 60,383 (Arsenal vs Wolverhampton Wanderers, 2 November 2019) |
| Field size | 105 by 68 metres (114.8 yd × 74.4 yd) |
| Surface | GrassMaster |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | February 2004 |
| Opened | 22 July 2006 |
| Construction cost | £390 million (2004) |
| Architect | HOK Sport (Populous since 2009) |
| Structural engineer | BuroHappold |
| Services engineer | BuroHappold |
| General contractor | Sir Robert McAlpine |
| Tenants | |
| Arsenal (2006–present) Arsenal Women (2024–present) |
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The Emirates Stadium is a famous football stadium in Holloway, London, England. It is also known as Arsenal Stadium for UEFA matches. Since 2006, it has been the home ground for Arsenal Football Club. In 2024, Arsenal's women's team also started playing their home games here.
With 60,704 seats, it is one of the biggest football stadiums in England. Arsenal decided to build a new stadium in 1997. Their old stadium, Highbury, was too small and they couldn't make it bigger. After looking at many places, they bought land in Ashburton Grove in 2000.
The club got permission to build the stadium in 2001. Manager Arsène Wenger called this a huge moment for Arsenal. Building started in 2002 but faced money problems until 2004. Emirates airline became the main sponsor. The stadium was finished in 2006 and cost £390 million. Highbury, the old stadium, was turned into apartments.
Fans and sports reporters often call the pitch "the Carpet." This is because of its excellent quality. Since 2009, the stadium has been "Arsenalised." This means adding things to show Arsenal's long history. The stadium also hosts international football games. Sometimes, the Brazil national team plays there when they are in Europe. Big music concerts are held there too.
Contents
History of the Stadium
Why a New Stadium Was Needed
In the 1980s, safety at football stadiums became a big worry. There were problems with fan behavior and terrible accidents. A report called the Taylor Report in 1990 said that all standing areas should be replaced with seats.
Because of this new rule, English football clubs had to make their stadiums all-seated by 1994. Arsenal, like many clubs, found it hard to pay for these changes. They tried a "bond scheme" in 1991. This allowed fans to buy a special ticket for a new stand at Highbury. Many fans were unhappy about the high cost of these bonds.
The changes at Highbury made the stadium much smaller. Its capacity dropped from 57,000 to under 40,000. High ticket prices and fewer seats meant Arsenal needed more money. In 1997, they started looking for a bigger stadium. They wanted to attract more fans and compete with richer clubs. For example, Manchester United made a lot more money after making their stadium, Old Trafford, bigger.
Arsenal first wanted to rebuild Highbury. But local people didn't like the idea. Also, the East Stand of Highbury became a protected building in 1997. This meant it couldn't be changed easily. Arsenal decided a 48,000-seat stadium wasn't big enough anyway. They then tried to buy Wembley Stadium in 1998. But the Football Association said no. Arsenal played some European games at Wembley, which showed them how much money a bigger stadium could make.
Choosing the Location
In 1999, Arsenal looked at building a new stadium in Ashburton Grove. This area was about 450 meters from Highbury. It was mostly a rubbish processing plant and industrial area. Arsenal submitted plans for a 60,000-seat stadium in 2000. The plan also included turning Highbury into flats. It promised 1,800 new jobs and 2,300 new homes. Improvements to local train stations were also part of the plan.
Some local groups were against the new stadium. They worried about more traffic and air pollution. But by 2001, a new poll showed that most local people supported the plan. The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, also backed the project.
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Islington Council approved Arsenal's plans in December 2001. After some delays and legal challenges from local residents, the plans were finally approved in May 2002. More legal challenges followed, but Arsenal won them all. Police also set rules for match days. These included parking limits and road closures to manage crowds.
How the Stadium Was Paid For
Arsenal did not get money from the government to build the stadium. They had to buy the land themselves in an expensive part of London. So, the club found other ways to raise money. They sold some star players, like Nicolas Anelka, Marc Overmars, and Emmanuel Petit. These sales brought in over £50 million. This money helped pay for a new training ground, which opened in 1999.
In 2000, a company called Granada Media Group bought a small part of Arsenal for £47 million. This money was meant for the new stadium. Arsenal also got a big loan of £260 million from a group of banks. But the cost of building the stadium went up by £100 million. So, work on Ashburton Grove was stopped in April 2003.
To get more money, Arsenal offered a new bond scheme to fans in 2003. Fans could buy special tickets for the new stadium. Many supporters were not happy about this. The club also made a new deal with sportswear company Nike for £55 million.
Finally, in February 2004, all the money for the stadium was secured. Later that year, Emirates airline bought the rights to name the stadium. This was a 15-year deal worth £100 million. It also included a 7-year shirt sponsorship. In 2012 and 2023, these deals were extended.
Some fans still call the stadium "Ashburton Grove" or "The Grove." They don't like stadium names being sold to companies. For European matches, the stadium is called "Arsenal Stadium." This is because of UEFA rules about sponsors.
Building and Opening the Stadium
Building work began after Arsenal got all the money. Sir Robert McAlpine was the main builder. The stadium was designed by Populous, a famous architecture company.
The first old buildings were knocked down by March 2004. By May, the foundations for the stands were in place. Two bridges were built over a railway line to connect the stadium to Drayton Park. The main structure of the stadium was finished in August 2005. The first seat was put in by Arsenal player Abou Diaby in March 2006. The pitch was installed, and floodlights and goalposts were ready by June 2006.
To get permission to open, the stadium held three events. First, an open day for shareholders. Then, an open training session for 20,000 club members. The third event was a special match for Dennis Bergkamp against Ajax on July 22, 2006.
The Emirates Stadium was officially opened on October 26, 2006. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh did the honors. His wife, Queen Elizabeth II, couldn't come due to injury. Later, the Queen invited Arsenal's chairman, manager, and team to Buckingham Palace. This was a special honor for the club.
Paying Back the Loans
Arsenal had a big loan of £260 million. They planned to pay it back over 14 years. In 2006, they changed this into a 30-year bond. This reduced the yearly payment to about £20 million. By 2010, the Highbury Square development (the old Highbury stadium) was making money. This helped pay off the stadium debt.
When Arsenal moved to the Emirates, paying back the loans was the top priority. This meant less money for buying new players. Manager Arsène Wenger said this was the hardest time of his life. The club had to qualify for the UEFA Champions League often to make enough money. They also raised ticket prices, which made some fans upset.
Making it Feel Like Home: "Arsenalisation"
In 2009, Arsenal started a project called "Arsenalisation." The goal was to make the stadium feel more like Arsenal's true home. They wanted to show off the club's history everywhere.
One of the first changes was adding white seats in the shape of Arsenal's cannon symbol. A special area called "The Spirit of Highbury" was built outside. It honored every player who played at Highbury. Eight large murals were put on the outside of the stadium. Each mural shows four Arsenal legends linking arms. This makes it look like 32 legends are embracing the stadium.
| Ian Wright | George Armstrong | David Jack | Martin Keown |
| Cliff Bastin | Tony Adams | Liam Brady | Thierry Henry |
| David Seaman | Ted Drake | David Rocastle | Alex James |
| Patrick Vieira | Reg Lewis | Lee Dixon | Joe Mercer |
| Dennis Bergkamp | Bob Wilson | Eddie Hapgood | Charlie George |
| Nigel Winterburn | David Danskin | Kenny Sansom | Jack Kelsey |
| Robert Pires | John Radford | David O'Leary | George Male |
| Ray Parlour | Frank McLintock | Steve Bould | Pat Rice |
Inside the stadium, there are murals showing 12 "greatest moments" in Arsenal's history. These were chosen by fans. Before the 2010–11 season, the seating areas were renamed. They became the East Stand, West Stand, North Bank, and Clock End. A new clock was put above the Clock End, just like at Highbury. In 2011, two bridges near the stadium were named after club directors Ken Friar and Danny Fiszman. For the club's 125th anniversary, statues of Tony Adams, Thierry Henry, and Herbert Chapman were put outside the stadium. A statue of Dennis Bergkamp was added in 2014.
Fans also hang banners and flags around the stadium. A large flag with "49" on it is passed around. This celebrates Arsenal's record of 49 unbeaten league games.
Stadium Design and Features
The Emirates Stadium has four levels of seating. It has a see-through roof over the stands, but not over the pitch. The design makes the stadium look shiny in the sun and glow at night.
The top and bottom levels have regular seats. The middle level, called "Club Level," has more expensive seats. There are 7,139 seats here. Above the Club Level are 150 private boxes. These boxes hold 10, 12, or 15 people. The stadium makes a lot of money from these premium seats.
The stadium's corners are open, and the roof slopes inward. This helps get more air and sunlight to the grass pitch. The stadium was the first in the world to use HDTV streaming. There are two giant screens hanging from the roof in the corners.
The pitch is 105 by 68 meters. It runs north to south, like Highbury's pitch. The players' tunnel and team benches are on the west side. The pitch is known for being very good, earning it the nickname "The Carpet."
Away fans sit in the south-east corner. Their section can be made bigger for important cup games. The stadium has a total of 60,704 seats. There are also plans to add more seats in the future.
The stadium has special facilities for fans with disabilities. These include a guide dog toilet and a disabled supporters' lounge. In 2017, a sensory room was opened for fans. There are 241 wheelchair accessible seats.
The Emirates Stadium also honors Arsenal's past. The club offices are called Highbury House. They hold a statue of Herbert Chapman from the old stadium. Other statues of important club figures are also on display. The famous clock from Highbury's Clock End has a new, larger home at the new Clock End. The Arsenal club museum is located north of the stadium. It has marble statues that used to be at Highbury.
Future Plans
As of 2008, 40,000 people were on the waiting list for Arsenal season tickets. There have also been talks about bringing back "safe standing" areas.
In February 2022, Arsenal announced big plans to improve the stadium. The first changes include new video screens and ticket readers. They will also fix the stadium roof and outside wrap. Future plans include a new sound system and better mobile phone service inside the stadium.
In January 2023, eight new art pieces were added to the outside of the stadium. These artworks celebrate Arsenal's history and spirit.
Other Uses of the Stadium
The Emirates Stadium is not just for football. It also works as a conference centre. In 2008, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met there. The stadium has also been used for TV shows like The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent. In 2016, Celebrity Masterchef filmed an episode there.
The stadium is also a popular music venue. For concerts, it can hold up to 72,000 people. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were the first to play there in 2008. British band Coldplay played three sold-out concerts in 2012. Green Day set a record for concert attendance in 2013. The Killers also played two sold-out shows in 2022.
Stadium Records
It's hard to get exact attendance numbers because Arsenal usually reports tickets sold. In the stadium's first season (2006–07), the average attendance for league games was over 60,000. The highest attendance for an Arsenal match at the Emirates Stadium was 60,383. This was for a game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on November 2, 2019. The lowest attendance was 25,909 for a UEFA Europa League match in December 2017.
Aston Villa player Olof Mellberg scored the first goal in a competitive game at the Emirates. Gilberto Silva scored Arsenal's first goal there. Jay Simpson was the first Arsenal player to score three goals (a hat trick) at the stadium in 2007. Emmanuel Adebayor scored Arsenal's 100th goal there in 2008.
Arsenal's biggest win at the Emirates was 7–0 against Slavia Prague in 2007. Their biggest loss was 5–1 against Bayern Munich in 2017. Robin van Persie has scored the most goals at the Emirates Stadium, with 64.
Getting to the Stadium
Many London Underground stations and bus routes serve the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal station is the closest for the north side. Highbury & Islington station is best for the south side. Holloway Road station is very close but has special entry/exit rules on match days to avoid too many people at once. Drayton Park station is closed on match days.
Driving to the stadium is not recommended. There are strict parking rules around the stadium on match days. Many roads are closed an hour before and after games. This means most fans use public transport. The stadium is very close to the East Coast Main Line railway.
The stadium opens two hours before kick-off. The main club shop, 'The Armoury', is near the West Stand. There are other shops too. Arsenal uses an electronic ticketing system. Club members use their membership cards to get in. Other fans get paper tickets with a special chip inside.
See also
In Spanish: Emirates Stadium para niños
