London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has cautioned Arsenal that they will face numerous 'obstacles' in their bid to expand the Emirates Stadium. Reports suggest the club is exploring plans to increase capacity beyond 70,000 as part of a £500 million project, which would make it the capital's largest ground after Wembley.
The Emirates currently holds 60,700 spectators and opened in July 2006. The expansion would likely be welcomed by fans, with the club's season ticket waiting list estimated at around 100,000. Temporary relocation to Wembley during construction, similar to Tottenham Hotspur's arrangement, has been mooted.
Speaking at Wembley to announce a £6 million investment in his Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) in partnership with London United—a union of community foundations from all 17 London professional football clubs—Khan expressed enthusiasm for the concept but issued a warning. 'At the moment, bearing in mind Arsenal's league position, they are walking on water,' he told football.london. 'There are clearly obstacles in relation to the local council and local residents.'
Khan noted that increased capacity would bring additional revenue and allow more ordinary fans to attend matches. He added that other clubs, including Liverpool, Everton, and Manchester United, are also considering expansions. If Arsenal succeeds, the stadium would become the Premier League's second largest after Old Trafford, which may soon be replaced.
The project has not yet reached the planning permission stage, which could take around five years. The estimated cost of £500 million would provide a significant financial boost amid tighter Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
