In 2002 I worked for a computer database company, Who were a business client of Robert McAlpine, My job was uploading the Emirates stadium build plans onto the database so the company could view the plans online when needed, So as an Arsenal supporter I got to see how the new ground looked way before anyone else knew apart from the club and the builders!
+victor martins Nope lol I had the physical plans in my hands too! but I was 17 at the time, I was more happy knowing what the stadium was going to look like instead of leaking the plans
I think that is a bit of a disservice to the engineering capability available pre financial crisis. The only thing a project of this caliber was lacking would be a will to get it done. In this respect the effectiveness of the whole performance of task was exceptional top to bottom. Clearly one or the best football engineering projects of any era. As a comparison the new Wembley was near contempory to this effort. I think Arsenal got more for their money in terms of quality and project management despite the smaller capacity everything Arsenal got was maximised for site.
Dude technology and engineering capabilities were really good in the mid 2000’s lol. It’s not like it’s the 1970-80’s lol. Look at the stadiums Japan and Korea built during the 90’s to host the 2002 World Cup. Same for Germany 2006 and Wembley all built around the same time. Fundamentally stadiums haven’t changed much in over 20 years.
@@summerrr1 ye it's comical, wasn't it a carbon-copy of a stadium in Portugal as well. Also only a 60,000 capacity. Spur's stadium has pushed the boundaries more now.
Excellent documentary. I understand gooners heckling at Wenger and Gazidis to spend. In fact I'm one of them, but you've got to stop and admire the enormity of the project and the planning involved to build such a fantastic stadium. The part that blew me away was the repositioning and continual operation of the recycling plant while building the stadium. To add to the challenge, those two massive bridges had to be built on site which caused spacing problems for other construction. Amazing!
I never got to see a match at Highbury being from the US but having visited the ground in its current form, you can just feel the history and passion there. It was and still is what Arsenal should be. Even with never seen a match there Highbury"ll always be my desktop background and always gonna miss the marble halls
As an engineer and a gooner til I die, I lift my glass to the fans, footballers, the then management, owners of the club, for realising this massive project in time and within the budget. God I ❤ Arsenal Football Club
I’m probably gonna be the first one to say this, but I’m a Tottenham fan and I worked on the emirates project lol. Putting all rivalries aside, I had a lot of admiration for how well arsenal as a club had done, in order to successfully carry out a massive project that met the demands and expectations of how big the club’s ambitions were on the pitch.
The great Ken Friar long time director was very instrumental in the success of this magnificent project ...he richly deserved the naming of the bridge "The Ken Friar bridge "He has been an amazing servant to the club
My grandparents were very good friends of kens parents inthe 1940's.my grandparents use to be allowed to walk through the highbury stadium as a shortcut to arsenal underground ,to shelter in the war when air raid was in progress.good luck ken in retirement ,you was a great servant to the club.
I'm a Chelsea fan, and I've got to say that The Emirates has one of the best vibes of any other stadium I've been to. It's an amazing looking stadium, with an amazing atmosphere.
The only thing I don't like about this stadium is the name... Every stadium has a special name except for ours(and etihad) like.. Old Trafford, Stamford bridge, villa park, white Hart lane. I hope we change the name when the contract runs down with emirates.
+yomama sushi Our Stadium is actually called 'Ashburton Grove' but due to naming rights we have the Emirates. Unless it renews we will rename our stadium,
I know how Arsenal feel, back in 2005 I had it bad trying to organise and build flat pack ikea furniture in my front room, I had to make sure I was building it around my work schedule and I had to move the sofa and coffee table around, plus I had to think about my 2 pugs running around the construction work I was doing, so yeah me and Arsenal had the same stress and headache, actually if anything I had it slightly worse than them lol
Emirates is a great stadium, but there's just something about older stadiums that will always be in our hearts. For me maine road (our old ground) will always be my home
+Tom Smith you're saying "our hearts" and "our old stadium" almost like you are an Arsenal fan. Like when I'm commenting on a Sunderland video, lets say about their Stadium, I don't say "our stadium" when I talk about The stadium of light, but I say "their/your Stadium". When I'm talking about St James Park I use "our" because I support them
Rolf Paulsen No.. I said Emirates is a great stadium, then said about older stadiums in general, not just Arsenal. And I said FOR ME Maine Road will always be in my heart. Maine Road is Manchester City's old ground if you're too young to remember that, no idea why you think that had ANYTHING to do with Arsenal, but okay..
Aussie Arsenal fan. Went on a tour of the stadium a month ago. Disappointed, very tired looking stadium, scruffy, faded seats, stains, everywhere, rubbish lying around outside. It's only 16 years old, a great construction that has not been maintained.
I went to Emirates for the Newcastle game a couple weeks ago. I thought the atmosphere was rubbish from Arsenal fans despite them scoring 3 but all us Newcastle fans focused on Pardew for full 90 mins. The stadium was terrific, beautiful and modern but I feel they have completely removed the atmosphere from all but 1 of the blocks.
83 Smith this is the thing that annoys me the most about the Emirates, all other top stadiums in the league have stands that are all close to the pitch and at the Emirates there’s such a big gap behind each goal. I was thinking that they could just make the pitch a bit longer in order to make the stands feel closer but maybe it’s not as simple as that.
I would love to see David Dein back at the Arsenal I believe Wenger is a better manager with David there with him lets be fair David Dein is Arsenal through And Through I love the man and remember he bought Arsene Wenger to Arsenal in the first place so he should be there with him now Why did they ever let him Leave and who did should be shown the door thank you I have been a supporter for 75 years
not bad considering we had a 390million debt in 2006 now with the sales of old highbury apartments 8 years on we have paid 290 million back so debt stands around 100 mil. in 5 years times were be debt free .
I am quite impressed with the project management and resolution of problems. 1. Can't rebuild parts of current ground due to listed building status and high income housing. 2. Fans attached to location. 3. Finances prohibative due to required sustained success on the football pitch, manager personal guarentee to remain for multiple years before loans would be granted, replacement bank required, expensive London real estate to find. 4. Moving existing industry to a new site. 5. Small workspace. Had to build equipment on site to complete the roof. 6. Infastructure commitment to build bridges. 7. Build housing on the site ot the old stadium. 8. Get the building complete earlier to to fixture fulfillment requirement.
I agree, but I can't say the same thing about the atmosphere. I've been to the Emirates a few times and the only noise was coming from the away end, other than that, you can hear a pin drop.
Much of that is because the club has stagnated, fast forward today now that Arsene Wenger has announced he is leaving and the atmosphere have been brilliant.
John Ewen nowadays clients squeeze contractors so yards that they rely on compensation events happening to make a profit. It’s not good for the majority of projects. Sometimes the relation ship is good and deals can be done via handshake - depends on the confidence of the PM and contractor and the number of people involved.
I hope Liverpool don't ever get a new stadium i prefer the old stadiums! In my opinion all grounds should be built in between roads and streets instead of a modern park with massive cars parks etc. Made up Anfield still is, only a 15 min walk to the ground.
I agree. Anfield staying as it is and being extension built is a good way to go. newer stadium have failed to develop the atmosphere or for the team to gel together in a big arena. Emirates is very nice but never will be highbury. The Olympic stadia will never be upton park, Man city will never be main road etc...Spurs are developing though they are building like Dortmund and have a flat stand, this should be better for atmosphere, Arsenal did not built or factor that in, they never do.
I like the main stand i had doubts about not filling, the only thing i hate aba it is the hospitality boxes and the tunnel, with the boxes they are not selling out as well as them yanks wanted, since they are not selling they are not willing to expand Annie road because of the boxes it's pathetic, the annie road will only be standard seats as well there is no possible way to put boxes in,i can't stand them FSG out for me. And for the tunnel it's not our traditional walk up stairs short corridor. The main thing is no matter what happens will always keep the Anfield and the kop old fashioned which is what i like.
They should lower the pitch and fit 2 or 3 more rows at the front, the gaps are far too large for a modern stadium. Plus the 2 gaps at the corners on the upper tier that don't have scoreboards hanging should be filled in with seats. Both would get the capacity up by a few thousand, improve it, and crucially be bigger than Spurs' new ground.
yea they will have to build a new roof completely, make seats smaller or less space and if they were to expand the would have to develop the tube stations
Kevin Melia Fool, Manchester is in a rural area where land is abundant, obviously it's easier and cheaper to build or expand a stadium of 70,000 in a rural area compared to London which is so compact with very little space available for a large stadium