Arsenal ‘explore’ expanding Emirates Stadium and could move to Wembley

English soccer heavyweights consider increasing capacity beyond 70,000 as part of project that may cost UK£500m.

• Arsenal would play games at national stadium while work is done
• Club wants to turn Emirates into ‘multi-functional, digital-first’ venue
• 60,700-seater Emirates is currently fourth-largest stadium in Premier League

Arsenal are reportedly considering expanding Emirates Stadium and may temporarily move to Wembley Stadium while the work is being done.

According to The Telegraph, the overhaul of the Emirates would increase the venue’s capacity from 60,700 to more than 70,000.

Arsenal moved into the Emirates in 2006, which cost UK£390 million (US$523 million) to build. Since then, Liverpool, West Ham United and arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur have either moved to or upgraded stadiums with a larger capacity than the Gunners’ home.

The Emirates is currently the fourth-largest stadium in the Premier League, with Old Trafford holding the top spot at a capacity of 74,200.

Arsenal pocketed UK£137.1 million (US$184 million) in matchday revenue in the 2023/24 season, the second highest in the top flight behind Manchester United.

Options for Arsenal reportedly include changing the gradient of the stands and adapting the seating plan to fit in more fans. The outer bowl, however, would remain similar in appearance as the majority of developments being assessed would come inside the ground.

Additional capacity would purportedly include more corporate as well as standard-priced seating.

Expanding the Emirates would likely necessitate a move to a temporary stadium, with Wembley being the most obvious choice if an agreement can be reached with the Football Association (FA). Spurs reportedly paid UK£15 million (US$20.1 million) to play home matches at the national soccer stadium for almost two years while their new UK£1 billion (US$1.3 billion) ground was being built.

While increasing the capacity of the Emirates would add tens of millions of pounds in annual revenue, and help address a season ticket waiting list in excess of 100,000, The Telegraph points out that Arsenal’s plan is not a simple one, given it would involve adding to almost every part of the stadium and potentially cost around UK£500 million (US$671 million).

Even so, the ambition at Arsenal is to reportedly produce a multi-functional and digital-first stadium that can match world-class venues such as the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Real Madrid’s newly renovated Santiago Bernabeu.

The Telegraph adds that while the stadium project has been quietly worked on for more than a year, Arsenal have not yet reached the stage of seeking planning permissions. The club is also conscious of the various legal and planning hurdles that would have to be overcome, as well as balancing stadium plans with ongoing investments across other areas of the business.

Planning permission for a project of this size could also take as long as five years. As a result, plans with more minor alterations to the Emirates are also reportedly being considered.

Credit: https://www.sportspro.com/news/arsenal-emirates-stadium-expansion-capacity-cost-wembley-october-2025/