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Arsenal eye major Emirates Stadium revamp that could see temporary switch

Arsenal are exploring ambitious plans to expand the Emirates Stadium capacity beyond 70,000, The Sporting News can confirm.

Detailed proposals have been under discussion to overhaul the north London ground, with potential changes to stand gradients and seating layouts that would allow thousands more supporters inside.

While the outer shell of the Emirates would remain largely unchanged, most of the redevelopment would take place within the existing bowl.

Boosting capacity would cement Arsenal’s place as London's biggest club ground, overtaking West Ham's London Stadium (62,500) and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (62,850).

The Emirates currently holds 60,704, placing it fifth in the Premier League behind Spurs, West Ham, Liverpool (61,276) and Manchester City, whose expansion will soon take the Etihad above 60,000.

Club sources have long admitted the Emirates was designed with future growth in mind, with co-chairman Josh Kroenke confirmed last year that feasibility talks were ongoing.

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"The internal conversations are starting to occur," Kroenke told ESPN in July 2024.

"It is not an easy renovation, but we see the possibilities of what is there."

The complexity of the project, affecting almost every part of the ground rather than just a single stand, means it would require a significant financial outlay running into the hundreds of millions.

It would also likely mean a temporary home for Mikel Arteta's side, with Wembley the most obvious option.

An expanded Emirates would not only generate tens of millions in extra matchday revenue but also help ease pressure on the season ticket waiting list, which now exceeds 100,000 names.

The Gunners recently installed a state-of-the-art phone mast at the Emirates to address the long-running issue of poor mobile reception, a frustration highlighted on the final day of the 2023/24 season when fans were unable to follow Manchester City’s score while Arsenal chased the title.

Unlike Tottenham and Chelsea, who have gone down the Wi-Fi route, Arsenal have opted for a direct mobile signal boost, aiming to make matchdays smoother for supporters inside the ground.