Emirates Stadium

Arsenal reduces the number of extra concerts it plans to hold at Emirates following pressure from angry residents

Aimee Brannen Tuesday, February 12, 2013
3:08 PM

Arsenal has reduced the number of extra concerts it is proposing to hold at the Emirates each year following a backlash from concerned residents.

At present the club in Hornsey Road, Holloway, is able to hold three concerts a year but had planned to apply for permission to stage a further six gigs from 2014.

The proposals were met with widespread disapproval and Arsenal has now submitted an application to Islington Council for a licence to hold an extra three music events a year – bringing it up to a total of six.

Cllr John Gilbert, a Lib Dem member for Highbury East ward, was contacted by numerous residents with concerns over the impact the additional noise and crowds would have on the surrounding area when news of the initial plans broke.

Speaking about the amended proposals, he said: “They are still doubling the number of concerts they are holding already and it’s still going to be a big increase in disruption for residents living near the stadium.

“There was a lot of talk when they [Arsenal] were going to put in the application for nine concerts about the benefits for the community coming out of the proposal. I haven’t seen the full application yet as it’s still being checked by council officers, but I’m going to be very interested to look at what these benefits are.”

“The club is asking people to suffer double he disruption for concerts, so I want to see what Arsenal is giving back to the community in return,” he added.

The application, which would allow a maximum of six concerts a year, was submitted on Friday after the club held two public meetings and received written responses from 160 residents, both for and against the extra concerts.

Arsenal communications director Mark Gonnella said: “We have listened to the views of local people and as a result have reduced the number of additional concerts we want to stage at Emirates Stadium. We will also be introducing new measures to ensure that any inconvenience is kept to the absolute minimum.”

Muse and Green Day are scheduled to perform at Emirates Stadium this summer.