Arsenal visitor guide (Emirates Stadium, Arsenal FC, Gunners), England

Following 90+ years at historic Highbury, Arsenal have moved a short distance to an ultra-modern home. The new Arsenal stadium cost £390m to build and opened in 2006. It has been named the Emirates Stadium in a ten-year sponsorship deal. Unlike many other new grounds the club have not built accommodation onsite, and although there are many local hotels nearby there is no unique Emirates Stadium hotel.

With a capacity of 60,432, the stadium is probably unique in being a four-tiered structure. The lower tier is large and shallow, set well back from the playing surface. The second, "Club" tier, has seating, executive boxes at the rear and slightly overhangs the lower tier. The third tier is eight rows deep and fits entirely under the large fourth tier. This fourth tier is semi-circular, surmounted by an impressive roof that incorporates perspex panels to allow more light to get to the pitch.

Daily tours of the stadium, including a visit to the Club Museum, are available, dependent on the fixture schedule. Tours can be booked by calling 0207-704-4504.

Entry to the ground is gained by "smart ticket", involving a ticket-reading machine. Inside, spacious concourses offer various food outlets. Food and drink is expensive, but there is a good range on offer, including pizza, fish and chips, pie, mash and gravy, roasted vegetable and cauliflower pie, minced beef and onion pie, Balti pie, along with cheeseburgers and hot dogs. Alcohol is available, in the form of John Smiths bitter or Fosters lager.

Home fans occupy the upper tier of the South Stand, the North, East and West Stands. Away fans are housed in the lower tier of the South East corner of the stadium. Visiting supporters who wish to stay in one of the hotels near Emirates Stadium have plenty of choice close by.

Tickets And Prices

Home/Away supporters

Supporters should visit their club website for prices, availability and any booking restrictions that apply.

Football Tourism

Arsenal offer a limited number of tickets through Thomas Cook Sport where tickets are available as part of a Matchbreaks package that also includes hotel accommodation, a stadium tour and a visit to the Arsenal museum. These are split into three categories (A, B and C) and are vastly overpriced. Match breaks are offered in a way that will be of maximum cost to the customer and the minimum price for a category C game is £120 per person based on two sharing, breaks at this price, however, are at a minimum however and the cost is likely to be at least £160 per person, again based on two sharing. This over the odds price can only be achieved by charging 100% over the odds for the hotel!

Ticket Prices

Ticket prices vary from £48 –£94 for selected big matches and cost £33 – £66 for other Premier League and Champions League games.

Getting To The Emirates Stadium

By Road

A residents' parking scheme operates. Use of public transport to reach the ground is strongly recommended. Otherwise, parking some way out of London and catching the tube is easiest.

By Rail / Tube

Fans should take the tube to the Arsenal station on the Piccadilly line, leaving just a few minutes walk to the stadium. Other tube stations within walking distance of the stadium are Finsbury Park, and Highbury & Islington on the Victoria Line. Alternatively, a train from Kings Cross to Finsbury Park leaves a 10-15 minute walk to the stadium. Tube stations are often closed after games, due to large crowds, so the mainline train to Kings Cross is probably the best option for those staying at a Central London hotel.

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