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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Simon Collings

Arsenal fans send message over Emirates Stadium expansion with one clear demand

Home sweet home: Arsenal opened the Emirates Stadium back in the summer of 2006 - (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust (AST) have urged the club to consult fans over any firm plans to expand the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke revealed in an interview with ESPN last year that “internal conversations” were taking place regarding the redevelopment of the Emirates, and those discussions have continued.

Among the options on the table is a potential expansion of the Emirates - though, as Kroenke admitted, it is “not an easy renovation”.

The Gunners are yet to decide if they will press ahead with any work as they look through their options.

The possibility of Arsenal games being played at Wembley Stadium while construction takes place has been mooted, with Tottenham having previously done so when they built their current ground.

The AST support Arsenal’s decision to review the options available to them, but also stressed the need for fans to be consulted.

The Trust also want the club to ensure that general admission seating is not reduced as part of the redevelopment.

Read more: Why Arsenal stadium move is essential amid Wembley concern

In a post on X, the AST wrote: “It is right that Arsenal are reviewing all their options.

“Every week there is huge demand to watch the team play. They should ensure they consult with fans on any firm plans.

“We would remind the club of its important role as a community institution and stress that any changes to the stadium layout must ensure no loss of space allocated for general admission ticket prices.”

In the modern era of financial regulations, the money a club can generate from its own ground is becoming increasingly important - not least because any work on a stadium is excluded from the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability calculations.

Standard Sport reported earlier this year how Arsenal had studied Real Madrid’s redevelopment of their Santiago Bernabeu home as they consider options for the Emirates.

Tottenham provide another example of a club maximising its ground’s potential. Spurs have been granted permission to host up to 30 major non-football events a year at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

They have also extended their partnership with the NFL through to the 2029-30 season, while the F1 Drive karting experience, opened in February 2024, attracted 20,000 visitors in its first year.

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