Old or new? Modernised stadiums in the Premier League and whether they’re better

Providing not just the right facilities for the players and for the game to take place, but also for the fans to enjoy the action is an important part of running a football stadium. Or any sports stadium, for that matter. Lots of Premier League clubs are either moving to a new stadium or redeveloping (parts of) their existing one to accommodate more fans and make seeing a game there even more enjoyable.

Despite the improvements, some new stadiums lack the atmosphere the older ones helped to create. Below is a look at some of the new stadiums in the Premier League and whether they’re better or worse than the club’s old one.

Etihad Stadium (Manchester City)

Manchester City played their football at Maine Road from 1922 to 2003 before moving to the Etihad Stadium, which allows them to host 55,000 people seated. There are plans to expand the North Stand, however, and increase the ground’s capacity to 60,000. It’s a highly modern venue, but it can still be quiet. That might be why the owners are striving to improve the stadium as a fan and leisure destination. As well as the extension of the North Stand, the plans include a hotel, a fan zone and various food and drink outlets.

The football betting suggests the defending champions are the favourites to walk away with the league title again this season. They’re battling for the top spot with Liverpool, a familiar tale in the Premier League. It might not go as you expect, however. Teams are getting better all the time and some managers are saying the league will be won by fewer points.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Tottenham Hotspur are another club that have opted for a change of stadium. Their new stadium, which opened in 2019, boasts a capacity of 62,850 and serves as a powerful argument for modernising football stadiums. They’ve tried to optimise the fan experience not only by expanding the seating capacity, but also by bringing the fans closer to the action. In some parts, there’s as little as 4.9 metres between the front row and the touchline.

The move to a new stadium has also allowed the club to consider sustainability, play in a more environmentally conscious stadium and support the local economy. The Tottenham Stadium is powered by 100% renewable energy, operates a zero waste-to-landfill policy and runs a reusable beer cup scheme. The demolishing of part of its former stadium, White Hart Lane, helped to contribute the Northumberland Development Project and assist with much needed generation in the city.

Emirate Stadiums (Arsenal)

Just like Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium, Arsenal’s move from Highbury, where it had played for 93 years, to the state-of-the-art Emirates stadium in 2006 presented a powerful case for modernised football stadiums. The development of the stadium regenerated the local community. The new stadium helped the club to also raise revenue massively — the income from executive boxes and club level alone was equal to the whole revenue from Highbury —and allows them to continue competing at the highest level. The stadium also enables the club to collect more at the gates.

Many have acknowledged the Emirates stadium as one of the finest in the world, but despite all its improvements, fans still have gripes. Although the expansion fits more people into the stadium, they don’t feel as comfortable as when they did at their old stadium. Others, especially away fans, have complained the stadium lacks atmosphere and that there’s more distance between them and the touchline. Away fans have also grumbled the away stands aren’t as welcoming.

London Stadium (West Ham United)

West Ham United moved from the Boleyn Ground to the London Stadium, which hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics, in 2016 and has increased its capacity twice since then. It now holds around 60,000 for football games but accommodates more for some other events.

Just as with the Emirates stadium, fans of West Ham United have commented on the lack of atmosphere in their new stadium… that the stadium divides supporters too much. Many also feel they’re not as close to the action as at the Boleyn Ground… that the players look like mere stick figures to them. Interestingly, some also criticise the location of the ground itself, which places it around 20 minutes away from anything else, contributing to the lack of atmosphere.

More and more stadiums in the Premier League are looking to redevelop their existing stadium or parts of it or move to a new one. Modernisation does present benefits in terms of revenue for the club, but before embarking on any modernisation project, clubs would do well to check the reviews and avoid making the slip-ups that are annoying their fans.