Five Ways in Which the Emirates Stadium Has Transformed Arsenal’s Fortunes
The Emirates Stadium has become synonymous with Arsenal Football Club in the past 17 years. It has been the club’s home ground since the 2006/07 campaign, hosting every home game since. The curtain was officially raised on August 19th, with Aston Villa’s Swedish centre-back Olof Mellberg netting the first goal at the 60,000-capacity arena in a game that eventually finished 1-1.
In the almost two decades since the stadium’s construction, The Gunners have had their fair share of both highs and lows. The most recently finished campaign however was perhaps the club’s most successful since they left their long-term home, Highbury. Mikel Arteta’s young gunners led the eventual winners Manchester City most of the way in the Premier League title race, eventually finishing as runners-up and securing a return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time since the days of Arsene Wenger.
Their impressive season has resulted in an increased amount of finances entering the club, and they have already begun splashing the cash. West Ham United captain Declan Rice has arrived for a whopping £105m, the most money ever spent on an English player. They have also forked out some £65m on former Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen man Kai Havertz. And the club’s increased spending power may not end there.
That’s because Arsenal’s three-year deal with a prominent sports betting website expires this September. The deal previously provided the club with some extra funds in their coffers, as well as providing fans with access to popular casino games akin to the online pokies at Jor Fortune and other market/leading websites. Once the Gunners find a new betting partner, you can expect to see further spending.
From its stunning design to its state-of-the-art facilities, the Emirates has been integral to Arsenal’s success in the past decade and more. This article explores five ways in which the Emirates Stadium has transformed the club’s fortunes.
Financial Stability
With the help of the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal now has the necessary financial security. Prior to the construction of the stadium, the club’s home ground was Highbury, a stadium which hosted some 22,000 less spectators than the club’s current home in Ashburton Grove. The revenue generated by the club was significantly impacted by the modest size and restricted seating of the stadium.
Arsenal had a larger capacity for home games after the Emirates was built, which resulted in more revenue sources. A naming rights opportunity was also available for the stadium, which Arsenal took advantage of by partnering with Emirates Airline. The relationship contributes significantly to the club’s annual funding.
Attraction For Top Players
Soccer players from all around the world want to play at the Emirates Stadium because of its grandeur and elegance. Arsenal is one of the largest clubs in world football, and the Emirates is a vital part of luring elite players to the club. Players want to be associated with successful clubs. When negotiating contracts with players, the club’s executives also stress the stadium as a selling point, emphasizing the possibility of playing at one of the best stadiums in the world.
Improved Fan Experience
To give Arsenal supporters a better matchday experience was one of the stadium’s main objectives. Fans of all ages can enjoy the stadium because of the seating configuration, cutting-edge amenities, and fan zone. The Emirates has served as a backdrop for several creative and entertaining ways that the club’s officials have attempted to develop for fans to interact with the team.
Increased Revenue Streams
Through a variety of financial streams, the Emirates Stadium has brought in a sizable sum for Arsenal. One instance is the stadium’s naming rights agreement with Emirates, but the stadium has also provided the team with other options. The enhanced corporate amenities at the stadium have been a major selling factor for companies wishing to sponsor the team. Further boosting the club’s revenue streams is the stadium’s adaptable design, which enables it to be used for a variety of non-sporting occasions like concerts, corporate events, and even weddings.
Leaving a Legacy
Finally, the Emirates has left a significant legacy for Arsenal Football Club, just. The club embarked on a herculean task when they decided to build the new stadium and its construction impacted every aspect of the club from its finances to its identity. Much credit must be placed on the shoulders of former boss Arsene Wenger, who managed to consistently lead the club to top four finishes with a vastly reduced budget. But with the stadium’s completion, Arsenal had a new home and the opportunity to redefine itself as a modern club.
Conclusion
In numerous respects, the Emirates Stadium has changed Arsenal’s fortunes. The stadium has contributed significantly to Arsenal’s success in recent years, whether it is by ensuring financial stability or by enhancing the fan experience. The stadium has expanded the club’s cash streams, attracted elite players, and left a legacy that has characterized Arsenal as a contemporary soccer team. The Emirates Stadium is, in essence, a success story that is still developing. The Emirates Stadium will be essential in determining Arsenal’s future given the major developments that are planned.
Strange article – we were winning titles just before the stadium change, and we haven’t won since. You can absolutely argue that we had plenty of dry patches over the many years at Highbury, but the stadium move is a common reason cited to explain why we declined under wenger. Since the stadium move, our fortunes saw us go from winners to also-rans.
The idea was always to take us up a level as a club – to bring in more money, yes (objective achieved), but also bring more success, and the latter hasn’t happened yet. It actually helped make the football team worse for well over a decade – that’s what we’ve been told at least!
Maybe we’ll see an improvement now, but until that happens, I struggle to see any significant benefit except for the money men…
I will say though, given the popularity of the club, I shudder to think what the ticket prices would be now if the stadium capacity was reduced by half, and how many “ordinary fans” would actually be able to attend games, if we were still at Highbury.
Even with today’s revenues,the sp*ds will have to pay for their stadium for a good while.that is despite using their bowl for American football, music concerts….. even now,it still negatively impacts their transfers .the fact that we did it when TV revenues, prizes money… were much lower shows what a feat it was /is.