Arsenal plot ‘Real Madrid-style’ stadium expansion to eclipse Tottenham and West Ham – and would ‘move to Wembley’ to pull it off
Arsenal are reportedly considering a Real Madrid-style expansion of the Emirates Stadium to try to boost their revenue.
The Emirates was the second largest stadium in the Premier League behind Old Trafford when it opened in 2006 with a capacity of 60,704.
In the two decades since, it has slipped behind Liverpool’s iconic Anfield stadium, West Ham’s home London Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Daily Mail Sport reported last November that the Emirates can be expanded in several ways, but each route comes with its own complications.
This includes modifying the seats, lowering the height of the Emirates, renovating the individual supports or replacing the roof and adding an extra level of seats.
According to the Telegraph, Arsenal officials are weighing options to make the stands steeper to try to boost capacity to more than 70,000, which would make the Emirates London’s largest club stadium.
Arsenal reportedly considering Real Madrid-style expansion of Emirates Stadium
The Emirates currently have a capacity of 60,704, but Arsenal are keen to strengthen it further
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Options being evaluated by the club are limited to in-ground extensions, 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 has undergone an £860 million renovation over a five-year period to modernize the club’s historic home.
Around 4,000 seats were added to the stadium, bringing capacity up to 83,186, while a 360-degree screen, retractable roof and retractable pitch to accommodate non-football events.
Real Madrid revealed earlier this year that their matchday revenue had doubled to €248m (£215m) following the completion of the renovations, serving to highlight the huge riches available to Arsenal if they make their own stadium changes.
Arsenal are reportedly seeking a similar increase, with the club’s matchday income for the 2023-24 season having been £131.7million.
This marked an increase from £102.6million the previous season, which had been attributed to their return to Champions League football.
An Emirates renovation could lead to Arsenal having to temporarily move to a new home during construction.
According to the Telegraph, Wembley, located in northwest London, is a potential option for the Gunners while work has taken place.
Arsenal reportedly studying Real Madrid’s recent renovation of the Santiago Bernabeu
Real Madrid announced that they had doubled their revenue for the day after the renovation
Arsenal could have been forced to move to Wembley if renovations take place
Arch-Rivals Tottenham had played at Wembley from the start of the 2017 season until the end of the 2018–19 campaign as the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was built on the White Hart Lane site.
Similarly, Real Madrid and Barcelona, who renovated the Nou Camp, were forced to temporarily relocate while work was done on their respective stadiums.
Real Madrid had spent a season playing at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium at the start of the renovation – but matches were held behind closed doors at the time due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Daily Mail Sport revealed last month that Arsenal’s plans to expand at the Emirates had intensified 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 the construction of Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles – a state-of-the-art 100,000 venue that cost more than £4 billion to build and is home to Stan Kroenke’s Rams – as the legal executive overseeing its ownership and operations.
Earlier this year he was also chosen by Kroenke to lead a £7.5 billion redevelopment of a 100-acre site in Los Angeles, which will include a new Rams headquarters, apartments, retail outlets and entertainment spaces.