https://x.com/business/status/1857454002226569602?s=46&t=eJpgg6uHWRsStnASv-OePg
Problem is by the time weāve built it, weāll be back to scrapping for top 4 and wonāt be able to sell out 60,000 again, let alone 80,000 
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Non starter. Cunty council restrict us to 60k
That isnāt set in stone. New application, new council. Picadilly line upgrade in 2025ā¦
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Sounds positive 
Wasnāt expansion built into the original design for the Emirates?
There is nothing stopping Arsenal applying to expand the stadiumā¦as @shamrockgooner saidā¦
Thats always been the theory but thereās never been anything official on it.
The original capacity was set because Islington Council and TfL refused to fund the improvements needed at Arsenal and Holloway Road tube stations.
The planned improvements to the Piccadilly Line relates to new signalling and the introduction of new trains (with air con at last) which will mean a more frequent service can run and that the capacity of each train is slightly increased too.
However, the big sticking point is Holloway Road tube station because the access to the platforms is by lifts and there are no plans to build an escalator because of the cost of this work at a reasonably underused station (outside match days).
Iām not saying a new application wouldnāt be successful but Iām skeptical that, minus a huge contribution from Arsenal so that Holloway Road, Drayton Park and Arsenal tube can be rebuilt, weāll see an 80,000 capacity any time soon.
I seem to recall the stadiumās design allows for an increase to 78,000 without taking the roof off or having to build additional staircases/access points.
The thing is its 18 years later and holloway road being closed around the match hasnāt really been an issue.
They keep the stadium active a bit after matches. The overground has improved too.
I think i could make a compelling case for an increase never mind what a transport expert could say in support of it. And thats before you even factor in the money side of things 20k extra people coming in 25/30 times a year would bring.
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Islington Council gets a lot of flak from residents because typically what Arsenal want, Arsenal get. I doubt planning permission would face any serious obstacles.
When we built the Emirates we were supposed to pay for Holloway Road to be expanded into a viable station to handle match day traffic. Never happened. Maybe Arsenal would have to do that this time.
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NIMBYism
The original capacity that was agreed doesnāt mean Arsenal canāt apply to expand the stadium and as @shamrockgooner says, things have moved on. Iām not actually sure that Holloway Road station helps with managing the flows of supporters. At the moment there is a good split between those going to Highbury and Islington station and those going to Arsenal or Finsbury Park to get the Piccadilly Line. Having walked many times to Finsbury Park to get the train, when you get back to Arsenal, the train is pretty much full. As such, Iām not sure that opening up Holloway Road helps, as much of the capacity on the train is already taken up, and the walk to Finsbury Park helps to reduce the pressure on the stations.
In terms of expanding the stadium, I knew one of the Architects who worked on the plans and recall him saying that it was designed to allow an increase in capacity in the future.
They can apply. They will make a good case that thereās no need for infrastructure changes to public transport.
Two things that may help Arsenal.
Back in 2004 Finsbury Park National Rail station used to only really cater for passengers heading north from the capital, now itās served by Thameslink it means that many passengers who used to head to some of the terminals south of the Thames, now donāt have to use the tube.
Secondly Highbury & Islington used to have a relatively infrequent and unreliable train service. Since 2004 the Victoria Line runs more regularly and since then the London Overground network was born with new, longer, more frequent trains that circumnavigate the centre of London. Again, reducing the amount of fans using the tube.
That it all seems to work fine on matchdays, suggests thereās some redundancy in the system and that these days, simply keeping Holloway Road tube station closed is fine. Maybe TfL wonāt expect the club to dip its hand in its pocket. Having an Arsenal supporting mayor and Prime Minister could help too.
Sorry to geek-out there.
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Build a new stadium, again?!
Not a chance
I like the idea of a wave-effect roof with an additional tier for the East and West Stands. Safe-standing doesnāt usually save much space but maybe smaller seats/safe standing on the lower tiers behind the goals could add capacity.
If weāre going the whole hog, how about a roof so it can always be summer at the Emirates?
Depends how ambitious the kroenkes are. They built that new super stadium in the states, with all the latest mod cons. The Ems is still a beautiful stadium but does feel dated compared to others built in recent years, which is mad considering it was only built 20 years ago.
Our stadium is fine. Itās not dated.
All we need to do is see if we can increase the capacity.