Arsenal FC Emirates
Stadium The
Ground
After 93 years of playing
at one of the most historic grounds in the country, Arsenal have
moved a short distance away to their new super modern home. The
stadium was designed by HOK Sport (who also designed Stadium
Australia in Sydney, which was used for the Olympics) and built by
Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd, cost £390m to build. Unlike the new Wembley
Stadium, the new Arsenal Stadium, was built on time and within
budget. It has been named the Emirates Stadium in a ten year
corporate sponsorship deal.
With a capacity of over
60,000 the stadium is huge in comparison to Highbury and is the
largest football ground in London. It is the only stadium that I
know of in this country that is four tiered. The lower tier, is
large and shallow, set well back from the playing surface as a
cinder track surrounds the playing area. A small second tier, which
is called the Club tier, has seating, but is only eight rows
high. Inside it has a number of lounges/restaurants,
earning it the nickname the 'prawn circle'. This Club tier slightly
overhangs the bottom tier.
The third tier is even smaller,
being entirely comprised of executive boxes, some 150 in total and
fits entirely under the large fourth tier. This fourth tier, known as the upper tier, has been
designed in a semi circular fashion and is topped by an impressive
looking roof, that includes a lot of visible white tubular steelwork
and perspex panels to allow more light to get to the pitch. The
roofs though do not follow the semi circular shape of the stands but
in fact run across the top of them and even dip down towards them
giving them a strange look. Two excellent looking large video
screens situated in the North West & South East corners, below
the roof line, complete the stadium. For those that have been to
Benfica's Stadium Of Light in Portugal, then the Emirates is very
similar, both having designed by HOK Sport.
World Cup 2018 -
England
The Emirates has been
selected as one of the host stadiums, as part of England's
bid to host the World Cup Finals in
2018. |