Emirates Stadium and 60,000 seats anchored for Arsenal fans with Rawlplug!

Emirates Stadium is one of the most advanced football stadiums in England and has been the home of Arsenal FC since 2006. The construction of this impressive venue, the fourth-largest football stadium in the country, was supported by Rawlplug anchoring solutions.

With a seating capacity of 60,704, Emirates Stadium is surpassed only by Wembley Stadium (90,000 seats), Old Trafford (around 74,000 seats), and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (62,850 seats).

Interesting fact! The UK has larger sports venues designed for other disciplines. One example is Twickenham Stadium in London, the primary rugby union venue, which boasts a capacity of approximately 82,000 seats.

The history of Emirates Stadium

Before securing its title sponsor, the stadium project was known as Ashburton Grove, named after its location. After a sponsorship agreement was signed with Emirates Airlines, the venue officially became Emirates Stadium.

The idea of moving Arsenal to a new stadium dates back to the late 1990s. In 1997, the club began searching for a suitable site, and in 2000, the Ashburton area was selected for development.

The investor behind this remarkable project was Arsenal Holdings plc, with an estimated construction cost of approximately £390 million. Emirates Airlines became the main stadium sponsor, signing an initial £42 million, 15-year deal in 2004, later extended until 2028.

Construction process and Rawlplug’s role

Construction of Emirates Stadium began in February 2004 and was completed in 2006. The main contractor was Sir Robert McAlpine, while the architectural design was created by the renowned firm HOK Sport (now Populous).

• Demolition of existing industrial buildings in Ashburton Grove – a crucial step in preparing the site for the stadium.

The first phase of demolition was completed in March 2004, followed by the completion of the western, eastern, and northern stands in May 2004.

• Installation of advanced glazing, water, and electrical systems.

The stadium topped out in August 2005, with external glazing and utilities completed by December 2005.

• Construction of high-capacity stands, where Rawlplug solutions were used – specifically, R-DCL M10 internally threaded wedge anchors with a flange, ensuring the secure anchoring of 60,000 seats.

The first seat in the new stadium was ceremoniously installed on March 13, 2006, by Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby. The upper tier (26,646 seats) and lower tier (24,425 seats) make up the standard seating areas, while an additional 7,139 seats are located within the two underground levels that house various stadium facilities.

Emirates Stadium was officially opened by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on October 26, 2006.

The name of the facility may be a registered trademark of third parties and is not the property of Rawlplug’s publisher.