Arsenal plotting major Emirates stadium expansion to close revenue gap | OneFootball

Arsenal are exploring plans for a major expansion of the Emirates Stadium that could see them temporarily relocate home matches to Wembley.

The club has been developing proposals to increase the capacity of their 60,700-seater ground to over 70,000, which would make it the largest stadium in London once again.

The project is still at an early stage but has gathered momentum this year as the club assesses the financial and logistical implications of such an ambitious rebuild.

Architects have reportedly presented options that include altering the gradient of the stands and reconfiguring seating arrangements to maximise space within the existing structure. Most of the work would take place inside the bowl, keeping the outer design largely intact.

The plan aims to address a waiting list of more than 100,000 season ticket hopefuls and generate tens of millions in additional annual matchday revenue.

Any redevelopment would likely be extensive enough to require Arsenal to play home games elsewhere, with Wembley the most practical short-term option.

The club previously used the national stadium for European fixtures in the late 1990s and enjoyed FA Cup success there during the 2010s.

The Emirates, opened in 2006, was once the benchmark for modern football stadiums in Britain. However, Arsenal have since slipped behind rivals in both attendance and matchday income.

Deloitte estimates that between 2021 and 2024, the Gunners averaged £105m in annual gate receipts — £6m less than Tottenham Hotspur and nearly £20m behind Manchester United.

A capacity increase would help bridge that financial gap, and the club has closely studied Real Madrid’s €1bn (£877m) redevelopment of the Santiago Bernabeu, which doubled the Spanish giants’ matchday income to around £210m.

Arsenal’s goal is to create a multi-functional, digital-first stadium capable of hosting concerts and other major events — areas where Tottenham and Wembley currently dominate.

The Emirates sits on a tight 17-acre site in a residential part of Islington, bordered by key transport lines. Even so, early discussions with architects have been positive about the feasibility of expansion within the current footprint.

Recent planning flexibility from Islington Council could also allow the club to raise the roofline slightly, adding capacity without altering the exterior dramatically.

The Kroenke family, who took full control of Arsenal in 2018, are expected to oversee the project. The owners have significant experience in large-scale construction through ventures such as the $5.5bn SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

While no planning applications have yet been filed, Arsenal officials are reportedly modelling different approaches, with costs potentially reaching £500m.

The project, if approved, would mark the next chapter in Arsenal’s evolution — reaffirming their long-term commitment to both competitiveness and growth, two decades after leaving Highbury for the Emirates.