Emirates Stadium

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Emirates Stadium Location London, England Broke ground February 2004 Opened July 2006 Owner Arsenal F.C. Operator Arsenal F.C. Surface grass Construction cost £ 390 million GBP Architect HOK Sport Tenants Arsenal F.C. Capacity 60,000 Dimensions 105 m x 68 m

The Emirates Stadium is a soccer stadium in Ashburton Grove, Islington, north London, England and is the current home of Arsenal Football Club. The stadium opened in July 2006, and has an all-seated capacity of 60,000, making it the second largest stadium in the Premier League after Manchester United's Old Trafford, and the third largest sports stadium of any kind in London after Wembley Stadium and Twickenham. It was informally known as Ashburton Grove before a naming rights deal with the airline Emirates was announced in 2004, and that name is still used by some people. The construction project associated with the stadium cost £390 million, but not all of this was for the actual construction of the stadium itself.

[edit] The Stadium

The stadium is a three-tiered bowl with roofing over the stands but not over the pitch. It was designed by HOK Sport (who also designed the Telstra Stadium and the new Wembley Stadium) and the construction was performed by Sir Robert McAlpine. It is located on the site of the former Ashburton Grove industrial estate, several hundred yards from Arsenal's former stadium Highbury.

The upper (27,000) and lower (23,000) tiers of the stadium are "standard seating", while the middle tier known as the "club level" is premium priced seating open to both corporate and private individuals. There are 6,700 seats at this level, which are being sold on multi-year licenses. The cost of club tier seats for 2006–07 ranges from £2,500 to £4,750 per season and covers admission to all home league games and any home games Arsenal play in the UEFA Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup. These were all sold out by May 2006.

Immediately above the club tier there is a ring of 150 boxes of 10, 12 and 15 seats. Box prices start at £65,000 per annum plus VAT, and in this case admission to Champions League and FA Cup games is not included. The most exclusive area in the stadium is known as the "Diamond Club" which costs £25,000 up front plus £25,000 a year. Tickets here include use of a private lounge, a complimentary restaurant and bar, valet parking and concierge service. Members will also have the option of traveling to European away games on the players' airplane.

By taking advantage of the high demand to see them play and relative wealth of their London fanbase, Arsenal expect to make more money per season from their premium seating and corporate boxes than many of the smaller Premiership clubs make in gate receipts from their whole ground.

It will also become the first stadium in England to be equipped with HDTV, after Arsenal signed a deal with Sony.