Emirates Stadium
The Emirates Stadium (known as Arsenal Stadium for UEFA competitions) is a football stadium in Holloway, London, England. It has been the home stadium of Arsenal Football Club since its completion in 2006. It has a current seated capacity of 60,704, making it the fifth-largest football stadium in England by capacity.
Ashburton Grove | |
UEFA | |
| Address | Arsenal Football Club Highbury House 75 Drayton Park London, N5 1BU England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°33′24″N 0°6′22″W |
| Public transit | Arsenal Holloway Road Finsbury Park Highbury & Islington Drayton Park |
| Owner | Kroenke Sports & Entertainment |
| Operator | 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 F.C. (2006–present) | |
In 1997, Arsenal explored the possibility of relocating to a new stadium, having been denied planning permission by Islington Council to expand its home stadium, Highbury. After considering various options (including purchasing Wembley Stadium), the club bought an industrial and waste disposal estate in Ashburton Grove in 2000. A year later, they received the council's approval to build a stadium on the site; manager Arsène Wenger described this as the "biggest decision in Arsenal's history" since the board appointed Herbert Chapman in the 1920s. Relocation plans began in 2002, but financial difficulties delayed work until 2004. Emirates was later announced as the main sponsor for the stadium. The entire stadium project was completed in 2006 at a cost of £390 million. The club's former stadium was redeveloped as Highbury Square, an apartment complex.
The stadium has undergone a process of "Arsenalisation" since 2009 with the aim of restoring visible links to Arsenal's history. The stadium has hosted international football fixtures and music concerts.