Arsenal are exploring ambitious plans to expand the Emirates Stadium beyond its current 60,700 capacity — a redevelopment that could see the club temporarily relocate to Wembley Stadium, according to reports.
The north London club have been assessing ways to modernise and enlarge their home ground for several years, but according to The Telegraph, discussions have now accelerated, with detailed feasibility studies underway. The proposed revamp could take the Emirates’ capacity to over 70,000, returning Arsenal to the top of the list for London’s biggest club stadium — overtaking West Ham’s London Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
While the outer structure of the Emirates is expected to remain largely unchanged, the plans involve altering the internal bowl and the gradient of the stands to add new rows of seating. With this strategy, the team could host more supporters while maintaining the stadium’s recognizable design.
In addition to creating millions of dollars in additional yearly revenue, an expansion of capacity would aid in the reduction of Arsenal’s season ticket waiting list, which currently has over 100,000 names. Those funds would strengthen the club’s position under Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
The redevelopment, however, is expected to be highly complex, potentially affecting every section of the ground. The total cost is believed to be in the region of £500 million, with the project likely requiring Arsenal to vacate the Emirates during construction. Wembley has emerged as the most feasible temporary home, should an agreement be reached with the Football Association.
Arsenal are no strangers to the national stadium, having played six Champions League fixtures there during the 1998/99 and 1999/2000 campaigns. More recently, they have enjoyed success at Wembley, lifting four FA Cups between 2014 and 2020.
Tottenham Hotspur paid £15 million to play at Wembley while building their £1.2 billion stadium, setting a precedent Arsenal may follow.
The Kroenke family, Arsenal’s owners, have significant experience with large-scale stadium projects, most notably the £4.1 billion SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
While no planning application has yet been submitted, Arsenal are aware that approval for a project of this magnitude could take up to five years, and more modest alternatives are also under consideration.
Arsenal moved into the Emirates in 2006, following a decade of planning and £390 million in construction costs.
