arsenal standings: Safe-standing plans at the Emirates — capacity, expansion and what fans can expect
Arsenal have confirmed licensed safe standing will be introduced at the Emirates Stadium, beginning with the lower tier of the Clock End next season. The move follows long-running supporter campaigns for a return of regulated standing areas and comes alongside continued debate over ticket pricing and stadium development.
How the safe-standing rollout will work
The club will install 6, 850 licensed standing berths in the lower tier of the Clock End for the initial phase. That area is being chosen in part to manage the obligation to offer standing to both home and away fans: the Clock End’s ticketing profile makes it a practical starting point. Supporters buying seats in the licensed area will be made aware they are purchasing a standing-area ticket, and the majority of those tickets are sold on a match-by-match basis.
In the season following the Clock End changes, safe standing will be extended to the North Bank lower, where many season-ticket holders are based. The club will offer season-ticket holders options to relocate if they prefer not to sit in a standing-enabled section. By the 2027–28 season, licensed standing capacity across home and away sections is expected to reach roughly 13, 500.
Strict technical and safety criteria govern licensed standing: each supporter must have a dedicated seat/space, seats in licensed areas cannot be fixed permanently upright or down, and fans must be able to sit or stand. Line of sight and viewing standards for other spectators, including disabled supporters, must be preserved.
Capacity, atmosphere and expansion implications
Crucially for the club and supporters, the introduction of safe standing will not change the Emirates’ official capacity, which remains at 60, 704. That outcome was significant given earlier concern that segregation or structural changes required for standing areas might force a net reduction in places. The club says those fears have been allayed and the conversion can be achieved without trimming overall capacity.
Supporters’ groups have hailed the decision as a victory after more than a decade of campaigning. The expectation is that licensed standing will enhance matchday atmosphere, particularly in areas that already have an informal standing culture. Club officials have highlighted that many fans in the North Bank already stand during games, so formalising that practice is largely a regulatory and safety upgrade rather than a cultural shift.
On the question of stadium expansion, the club continues to explore options but has no immediate plans for development. Introducing safe standing has not accelerated or ruled out future expansion work; it simply preserves the current capacity while delivering a different matchday experience within the existing bowl.
Context: cost-of-attendance and supporter reaction
The announcement comes amid a separate stir over season-ticket pricing. The club has increased season-ticket prices for a fifth consecutive year, a move the supporters’ trust described as "disappointed". The increases are framed internally as part of a drive toward financial sustainability, but they have renewed debate about the balance between rising revenues and affordability for match-going fans.
Supporter organizations view safe standing as a tangible, positive change for matchday life, yet some remain critical of parallel ticket-price decisions. The introduction of licensed standing will be watched closely in its early months: officials will monitor crowd management, sightlines, stewarding and how the new arrangements affect both atmosphere and accessibility for disabled supporters.
For now, fans preparing for next season can expect clearer choices at the Emirates: licensed standing in specified areas, the option to buy standing-area tickets on a match-by-match basis, and a staged rollout that aims to preserve capacity while delivering safer, regulated standing for those who want it.
