Arsenal
Emirates Stadium
Capacity 60,355
Address Emirates Stadium, Drayton Park, London, N5 1BU
Ticket Prices £35 for the cheapest ticket. Prices vary.
www.arsenal.com
Arsenal moved into the Emirates Stadium in the summer of 2006 after 93 years at their former home, Highbury. The stadium has a capacity of 60,355, but has been designed in such a way that it will be able to be extended to 75,000, if the need arises. The stadium was designed by HOK Sport and built by Sir Robert McAlpine Limited. It took just over 3 years to build, but came within budget.
The stadium is located just around the corner from Highbury and is huge compared to their former home. The stadium has a few unique features like cushioned seats, swipe card entry to the stadium and 2 mega screens at either end of the ground.
I’ve been to the ground quite a few times now and it’s one that always seems to get better everytime I go there. When I first visited the stadium, it was superb, but it lacked a bit of identity. Arsenal seem to have realised that and have began the “Arsenalisation” process where they will try and get the stadium to become “home”. Things that they have implemented include the stand names now being called the North Bank/Clock End etc. The old Clock from Highbury has now been put up inside the stadium.
The Clock End
Getting to Islington
By car
Sat Nav reference: N5 1BU
I wouldn’t really advise going down to the Arsenal by car due to the lack of parking around the stadium. Like many London grounds, there just isn’t a great amount of parking and what parking there is turns out to be costly. If you do drive down then from Stevenage get on to the A1(M) going southbound and continue on it until it becomes the A1 after the junction with the M25.
Follow the A1 right into Holloway and then turn left onto Drayton Park. Follow this road round and the stadium will be on the left hand side.
By train
Getting to the Emirates is easy from Stevenage station and it doesn’t take long. Get on the First Capital Connect train down to Finsbury Park. Once you are at Finsbury Park come out of the station and turn right. Cross the Seven Sisters Road and make your way down St Thomas’ Road, following it down to the end. You will now be facing the old North Bank from when Arsenal used to play at Highbury. Turn right onto Gillespie Road and follow it round to the left onto Drayton Park. The stadium will now be on the right.
