Emirates Stadium
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| Location |
Holloway London, N5 England |
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| Coordinates | 51°33′18″N 0°6′31″W / 51.55500°N 0.10861°WCoordinates: 51°33′18″N 0°6′31″W / 51.55500°N 0.10861°W |
| Public transit |
 Arsenal
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| Owner | Arsenal Holdings plc |
| Operator | Arsenal Holdings plc |
| Executive suites | 152 |
| Capacity | 60,432 |
| Record attendance | 60,161 (Arsenal vs Manchester United, 3 November 2007) |
| Field size | 105 × 68 metres |
| Surface | Desso GrassMaster |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | February 2004 |
| Opened | 22 July 2006 |
| Construction cost | £390 million |
| Architect | Populous |
| Structural engineer | Buro Happold |
| Services engineer | Buro Happold |
| General contractor | Sir Robert McAlpine |
| Tenants | |
| Arsenal F.C. (2006–present) | |
The Emirates Stadium (known as Ashburton Grove prior to sponsorship, and as Arsenal Stadium for UEFA competitions) is a football stadium in Holloway, London, England, and the home of Arsenal Football Club. With a capacity of over 60,000, it is the third-largest football stadium in England after Wembley and Old Trafford.
In 1997, Arsenal explored the possibility of relocating to a new stadium, having been denied planning permission by Islington Council to expand its home ground of 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 won 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. Relocation began in 2002, but financial difficulties delayed work until February 2004. Emirates Airlines was later announced as the main sponsor for the stadium. The whole stadium project was completed in 2006 at a cost of £390 million. The related Highbury Square development was completed in 2009 for an additional £130 million.
The stadium has undergone a process of "Arsenalisation" since 2009 with the aim of restoring Arsenal's heritage and history. The ground has hosted international fixtures and music concerts.
In response to the Hillsborough disaster of April 1989, an inquiry led by Lord Taylor of Gosforth was launched into crowd safety at sports grounds. Finalised in January 1990, the Taylor Report recommended terraces (standing areas) be replaced by seating. Many football clubs, faced with the requirement of making their grounds all-seater by the start of the 1994–95 season, had sought ways of raising income for converted terraced areas. Arsenal at the end of the 1990–91 season introduced a bond scheme, which offered supporters the right to buy a season ticket at its renovated North Bank stand of Highbury. The board felt this was the only viable option after considering other proposals; they did not want to compromise on their traditions, nor limit manager George Graham's resources. At a price of between £1,000 to £1,500, the 150-year bond was criticised by supporters, who argued it potentially blocked the participation of those less well-off from supporting Arsenal. A campaign directed by the Independent Arsenal Supporters' Association brought relative success as only a third of all bonds were sold.
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