Arsenal’s 80,000 Emirates Stadium expansion ‘could be blocked’
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed Arsenal will find it “very tough” to expand the Emirates Stadium to a capacity of 80,000.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed the stadium’s location and transport difficulties could block the project.
According to Bloomberg (15 November), Arsenal are considering expanding their stadium from a capacity of 60,704 to 80,000.
In an interview with ESPN (30 July), club co-chair Josh Kroenke revealed initial “internal conversations” have taken place about upgrading the stadium.
Arsenal have around 100,000 fans on the waiting list for a season ticket – a figure which has sky-rocketed with their recent success in the Premier League.
Tottenham opened their 62,850-seat stadium in 2019 and have London’s largest club ground, a title previously held by the Gunners when they moved into the Emirates Stadium in 2006.
Arsenal will find it ‘very tough’ to complete stadium expansion, says Wyness
Speaking on a potential Arsenal expansion, Wyness told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “It’s going to be very tough to do.
“The Emirates is already very tightly-bound with housing surrounding it. You’ve then got to look at the transport options for another 20,000 fans, that won’t be easy.
“Spurs have proven it’s incredibly difficult, Aston Villa are looking at a similar problem.
“There’ll be a lot of inquiry on the planning side.
“I don’t know if Arsenal have acquired any land around the stadium and could move things on. Things can be done, but to go to 80,000 would be a serious challenge.”
In other news, Arsenal’s response to Real Madrid interest in William Saliba revealed.
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