The Emirates Stadium is the second largest Premier league stadium after Old Trafford (Manchester United) and the third largest stadium in London after Wembley and Twickenham. A visit to the Arsenal Stadium, home of the Gunners, allows you to go behind the scenes of one of the main clubs in the English Premier League.
This legendary club, which has more than 100 million fans around the world and thirteen league titles in England, is the third most successful club in the country after Liverpool FC and Manchester United.
Presentation of the Arsenal team stadium
Arsenal was founded in 1886 as Dial Square FC by a group of workers employed at the Dial Square workshop (an arms factory in Woolwich, south-east London). A few months after its creation, the club was renamed Royal Arsenal then Woolwich Arsenal when he turned professional.
In 1913, when the club finished last in the standings and relegated to the second division, Woolwich Arsenal moved from south-east London to Highbury, in the north of the city. The new stadium was inaugurated on September 6, 1913 with a Division 2 match between Arsenal and Leicester Fosse where 30 spectators could be seated.
With its notoriety and always winning more matches, Arsenal supporters are more and more numerous. Thus the Highbury stadium becomes too cramped. It cannot be renovated and enlarged because of the hostility of the neighborhood and the classification as historical monuments of two Art Deco facades bearing the symbols of the Gunners. Highbury was then abandoned and the stadium was partially converted into luxury accommodation belonging to the club.
Arsenal's last official match at Highbury is on 7 May 2006 against the Wigan Athletic side. A match won 4-2 by Arsenal and marked by a hat-trick from Thierry Henry, which brings the history of the stadium to a beautiful end!
In February 2004, construction began on the new stadium on the site of the former Ashburton Grove industrial park, a few hundred meters from Highbury. And in October 2004, following the signing of a contract between the club and the Emirates airline, the stadium was named Emirates Stadium. The UAE airline will also finance a few years later the cable car crossing both banks of the Thames which also bears the name of Emirates Air Line cable car.
The Emirates Stadium with a seating capacity of 60 is officially opened by Prince Philippe, Duke of Edinburgh on Thursday October 355, 26. With its 2006 meters long and 105 wide, the Emirates becomes the most wide of the Premier League and considered a real gem in terms of architecture and technology.
Highlights of the Emirates Stadium visit
Presidential Box or Directors Box
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Renovated in 2013, the decoration of the presidential box is inspired by the finest hotels in London and offers a spectacular view of the stadium. It is in this opulent room that the directors of the club receive their guests and their business partners on match days.
It is also in this space that the invincibles trophy is displayed, which commemorates the 49 successive victories of the club between May 2003 and October 2004.
Diamond Club
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Upstairs is the VIP Diamond Club grandstand, a meeting place for heads of state, show biz stars and football legends who meet in the chic stadium restaurant overseen by two-star chef Raymond Blanc.
At the souvenir entrance to the old stadium is an exact 1/2 scale replica of the famous Highbury clock in keeping with the Art Deco style decoration of the place.
Access is restricted to guests and access requires an advance of £ 25 in addition to an annual subscription of the same amount. Seating includes private lodges, restaurant and bar access, valet parking and security guard.
The player tunnel
The tunnel connects the players' changing rooms to the pitch. The photos represent the players of the current team, life size.
The changing rooms of the Arsenal team
The Arsenal locker rooms are at the forefront of sports science where every element has been designed for the well-being of the players and to promote group cohesion. Indeed with its horseshoe shape, this ergonomics promotes team communication; the red cushions stimulate the blood circulation of the players and the lighting designed in the spirit of feng shui harmonizes the surrounding energy.
Field
After visiting the locker rooms and crossing the famous tunnel, you will enter the stadium like the players. The opportunity to admire one of the most beautiful turf in world football and to take a seat on the sidelines.
A staff member is on hand to give you all the characteristics of the stadium which measures 105 meters long by 68m wide. You will learn that Emirates Stadium's lawn, which is meticulously maintained throughout the year, is renowned as being the best in the world, with a plant cover rate of 98%.
But also that it is provided with a computer-controlled drainage system and that thermostats placed 10cm below the playing surface make it possible to maintain a constant temperature of 9 ° C!
Finally, 600 artificial lighting units provide the advantages of natural light allowing the grass to grow in winter.
Press conference room
It is in this room, which can accommodate up to 200 journalists, that the coach reviews the match. You can sit in his place and imagine yourself in front of the media!
The Arsenal Club Museum
The museum presents the history of the Arsenal Football Club from its beginnings in 1886 to the present day. Most of the items on display in the museum were donated by former players. Among the best known: the gloves worn by goalkeeper Jens Lehmann during all games of the 2003/2004 Invincibles season, the shoes of Michael Thomas from the 1989 final at Anfield, and the jersey Charlie George wore for the final of the FA Cup in 1971.
The museum also features a collection of jerseys, medals and trophies from former Arsenal captain Joe Mercer.
Don't forget your certificate!
At the end of the visit, do not forget to enter your name, first name and email address at the automatic terminals to have your certificate edited, which will be given to you free of charge.
The Arsenal Armory: the souvenir shop
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The club's souvenir shop presents a wide choice of merchandising products with of course the essential jerseys that can be flocked on site, clothing for men and women, decorative items, school items and many more ...
If you want to know all the products or place an order, I invite you to visit the official shop website where you will have to find your happiness 😉
Practical information for visiting the Emirates Stadium
- Visits do not take place on match days
- Duration of the visit approximately 1h30
- Audio guide in French included in the price
- Visit adapted for people with disabilities
Book the Arsenal FC stadium tour
The stadium is not open to visitors on match days. Therefore, do not hesitate to consult the tourist office website which indicates the days when there are no visits.
To benefit from the best rate and pay in euros, you can book your visit on the tourist office website or GETYOURGUIDE
This attraction included with the London Pass, London Explorer Pass and theIventure London Attractions Pass.
The stadium tour is free for children less than 5 years old.
Book on Visit Britain Book on GETYOURGUIDE
How to get tickets to see Arsenal play at home?
If you want to see the Gunners at work, you can book your seats on these trusted sites, namely:
- British Tourist Board
- Expedia
- StubHub which is the world's largest platform. This resale site owned by Ebay is a safe way to buy and sell tickets.
All the practical information concerning the placement in stands and the method of collecting tickets, are available in the article " Where can I buy tickets to watch Arsenal play? »
What are the opening hours of the Arsenal stadium?
Monday Friday : 10:00 a.m. - 17:00 p.m. (last admission 16:00 p.m.)
Saturday : 09:30 a.m. - 18:00 p.m. (last admission 17:00 p.m.)
Sunday : 10:00 a.m. - 16:00 p.m. (last admission 15:00 p.m.)
Closed on December 25
Where is Emirates Stadium located?
Address : Hornsey Rd, London N7 7AJ
Metro
bus
