Arsenal Considering £500m Emirates Stadium Redevelopment With Potential Temporary Move to Wembley

Arsenal FC is reportedly exploring a major redevelopment of the Emirates Stadium that could expand its capacity and transform it into a state-of-the-art, digital-first venue, a move seen as essential to the club’s long-term growth amid growing financial and infrastructural pressures.

According to emerging reports, the project - which is still in early conceptual stages - is estimated to cost around £500 million. Plans under consideration include increasing seating capacity from approximately 60,000 to 70,000 and upgrading facilities to create a multi-functional, technology-driven environment.

No formal planning application has yet been submitted as the club continues to assess feasibility, cost, and logistics, while also preparing to navigate complex legal and regulatory requirements.

To facilitate redevelopment, Arsenal is reportedly considering a temporary relocation to Wembley Stadium for home fixtures, a move that would allow major construction works to proceed without disrupting match schedules.

Planning and Timeline

Securing planning approval for a project of this magnitude could take up to five years, reflecting the scale and complexity of redeveloping a 17-acre site in North London’s densely populated Islington area. The Emirates Stadium, which opened in 2006 at a cost of £390 million, was itself the result of more than two years of construction and nearly a decade of planning.

With residential zones and railway lines surrounding the stadium, any redevelopment would require intricate planning and extensive community consultation.

Why the Move Matters

Arsenal’s potential stadium overhaul mirrors trends across European football, where modernised, multi-use stadiums have become key revenue drivers. Real Madrid’s revamped Bernabéu, for example, generated £210 million in matchday income last year, double the previous figure, underscoring the financial impact of modern infrastructure.

Matchday revenue was also the fastest-growing income stream among the top 20 clubs in Deloitte’s latest Football Money League, highlighting the growing importance of stadium-generated earnings in football’s evolving financial ecosystem.

In an era defined by tighter financial regulations, investments in stadium infrastructure are strategically significant. Notably, stadium development projects are exempt from the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, giving clubs greater flexibility to fund large-scale construction without breaching spending limits.