Emirates Stadium, officially named Arsenal Stadium, is a football stadium located in Holloway, London, England. It is primarily used for football matches, hosting the home games of English club Arsenal, its owner.
Opened on 22 July 2006 with a friendly match between Arsenal and Ajax, it replaced the original Highbury Stadium, which had 38,419 seats. The seating capacity of the new stadium is currently set at 60,704. The stadium was designed by Populous (formerly HOK Sport) and Buro Happold and had a construction cost of £390 million.
A UEFA category four stadium and one of the biggest stadiums by capacity in England, Emirates Stadium hosted the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final. It is recognised for its stunning architectural design and is known for its unique 'bowl' shape and the four masts that stand tall at each corner of the stadium. By its fifteenth birthday, Emirates Stadium had welcomed more than 60 million spectators. The stadium has also been used for music concerts and other sporting events, including Rugby and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
While the previous Emirates stadium was also officially named 'Arsenal Stadium', both the old and the new stadia are invariably referred to by their unofficial name, Emirates Stadium. Emirates is the name of the sponsor of the stadium, which is located in the area of North London known as Holloway.
This unofficial name caught on soon after the original stadium's construction; the people of London used to simply call it The Emirates. Therefore, the stadium's common name became 'Emirates Stadium'. This naming convention is common in modern football, with companies often sponsoring the names of the stadiums. Unlike the Estádio da Luz, the name Emirates does not have a direct translation or connection to a geographical location or landmark. However, it has become synonymous with Arsenal Football Club, and is a globally recognised football venue.
The transition from the old stadium, Highbury, to the new Emirates Stadium marked a significant period in Arsenal's history. Highbury, with its traditional and historic charm, was beloved by fans, but the need for a larger, more modern stadium was apparent as football evolved into a global spectacle. Thus, the Emirates Stadium was built with a seating capacity of over 60,000, making it one of the largest football stadiums in the United Kingdom.
The Emirates Stadium officially opened in July 2006, with a friendly match between Arsenal and Ajax Amsterdam. The stadium's design is characterized by its sweeping curves and stunning architecture, a far cry from the more traditional design of Highbury. The Emirates Stadium is not only a sporting venue, but also a significant commercial and entertainment hub, hosting concerts and other major events, in addition to football matches.
The stadium's name, 'Emirates Stadium', was part of a comprehensive sponsorship deal with Emirates Airlines. The deal included not only naming rights to the stadium, but also a shirt sponsorship. Despite initial resistance from some fans to the commercial naming of their beloved club's new home, the name 'Emirates Stadium' has since become accepted and even embraced by the Arsenal community.
An appropriate location with good connectivity and ample space for potential expansion was found in the Al Garhoud area, near Dubai International Airport. As it was located at the intersection of Al Garhoud and Deira, the new stadium was initially known as 'Emirates Stadium of Al Garhoud'.
From the outset, the club's aim was to possess both the stadium and the surrounding lands, although a lease was initially taken on the municipal lands, with a final purchase taking place only in 1988. The plans for the sports complex were drawn up as early as the late 1970s by Abdullah Al Futtaim, a former player for the club.
Under the leadership of the club's president, Majid Al Futtaim, the associates faced an increased fee to support the construction costs of the new stadium, made significant donations, and some even volunteered their time on the construction site during holidays or weekends. There was even a 'steel campaign', whereby large quantities of steel were donated to the club.
Work officially began on 12 March 1983. Less than three years later, and at a cost of 28,037,683 Dirhams, on 2 December 1986 (a national holiday), a 50,000-capacity crowd filled the stadium for the inaugural match against rivals Al Ahli Club.
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