Ashburton Grove Stadium

Justin-the-Gooner · Post by **Justin-the-Gooner** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:29 pm

Iam a bit late with this thread but anyway. But before I get misunderstood I feel we have a great stadium and it is perfect because it is world class.

Also I would like to say the outside is very Arsenal with crests everywhere etc.

But who feels the inside is not very Arsenal.

Firstly the arc for seats. Why not go up and up to fit more seats which probably is a stupid point.

But my main point is this. When it opened it looked like a national stadium. Now the banners saying arsenal.com etc have improved things. But why is there not writing going across the stands, etc?

P.S I know this is a stupid thread and I hope you realize how bored I was writing it.

Wayno · Post by **Wayno** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:43 am

I think we have a fantastic stadium and admittedly, during our first season there it did seem a little strange but this should be expected from a new building. Move into a new house and try telling me it feels like home immediately, I think not.

Highbury was full of history and many of us can think back to many great moments and memories from days gone by. The Grove doesn't yet have that same bond with the fans and it is going to take a good number of seasons before it really feels like our home. I doubt I will ever view it as fondly as I did Highbury, but I am sure a few good European nights and a title win or two will help.

There will be many new generations of fans who will only know the Grove experience and hopefully they will grow up loving the place as much as many of us loved Highbury.

stearmaster · Post by **stearmaster** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:52 am

Wayno wrote: There will be many new generations of fans who will only know the Grove experience and hopefully they will grow up loving the place as much as many of us loved Highbury.

And still love and have highbury in there hearts, im only 21 and my earliest memory of highbury was arsenal v barnsly we won something like 7-0 cant remember what season it was and cant be arsed with googling it this early in the morning, will put up later tho, and my last memory *match day experience* was arsenal v boro in the 7-0 thrashing, so my earlyist ans latest memories will stay with me for years to come.

Then that emotioanl day in may, arsenal v wigan 7-05-2006, our l;ast ever game, and was watching on the tele as that last goal at highbury from TH14 went in, then he kissed the turf *think it was that 1* but thats the 1 that sticks in my mind also.

the first game at the grove i went to was the zagreb game in the CL qualifyers, another day that will always stick in my mind as was my first ever visit to the grove.

Goodbye to Highbury and *raise your glasses* *to the grove* and *to the future* of

ARSENAL, ARSENAL FC, WE'RE BY FAR THE GREATEST TEAM, THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.

Post by **REB** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:02 am

ashburtan grove now feels like home ,, last season it was still too new and a bit boring with the decor etc,,
thof will allways be missed and i hav some great memoriesfrom there ,from my first game in 1980thru to the last season,, made 8 trips the last season but not the wigan game

but we all knew we had to move on and the club did great job,,
wouldnt it hav been great to have a proper end thou.. like liverpool are planing

rather then the way it is now

Goonanana · Post by **Goonanana** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:12 am

Tmie for a sad geek moment - the curvs in the upper tier were specially designed to allow light and air to reach the pitch, if it was noe level the pitch wouldn't get the resources it needs and would be a shit heap like old trafford, nistead its a lush green highburyesque carpet

Galasso · Post by **Galasso** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:20 am

I don't find the the Emirates stadium inspiring at all. I don't like it.

Just another hollow bowl.

donaldo · Post by **donaldo** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:06 pm

When the new stadium was first build there were stories that the stadium capacity could be raised to 80,000 one day.Is this true? Because at the moment we could easily sell out 80,000 every game.

Post by **REB** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:21 pm

i think we are stuck on the 60000 because that was the plan all a long,, we cold fill an 80000 stadium but maybe not all the time but i do believe that the plans were for the 60000 with no increase,
have no proof of that its just something i remember reading when the grove was been constructed

Justin-the-Gooner · Post by **Justin-the-Gooner** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:27 pm

Galasso wrote:I don't find the the Emirates stadium inspiring at all. I don't like it.

Just another hollow bowl.

Thats a bit harsh. It will feel like home eventually IMO.

26may1989 · Post by **26may1989** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:31 pm

I like it at Ashburton, and the feeling's getting better all the time. There has been a really good atmosphere at several games this year already.

The only things that really irritate are all pretty obvious: the shallow gradiant of the two goal ends (which makes for some bad views), the long queues for food and drink (I just don't bother getting any), the inadequate transport links and the club level gaps until about 10 minutes into any given half.

But, having gone to Highbury for 26 years, I have to disagree about our old place. It was great, a classic stadium etc, and at a special game there could be a real buzz, but the atmosphere often wasn't that great there either (esp in the rebuilt North Bank - christ, it was boring there - thank god I became a Clock Ender when the old North Bank was demolished!). Face it, we're just a reserved bunch of fans, even with Red Action.

Post by **REB** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:32 pm

i love going there and it feels like home this seson for me,, last year maybe not

we all miss highbury but it was a bit run down and i love walking up to the grove and seeing the big crests and the clock ( still not working

)

and the atmosphere has come on this season a lot so maybe more and more gooners are feeling settled now

Justin-the-Gooner · Post by **Justin-the-Gooner** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:42 pm

Not a bad atmosphere we now have maybe better then Highbury even though with an extra 23000 it can be expected.

daz10_uk · Post by **daz10_uk** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 2:23 pm

I think a lack of historical moments at the stadium at the moment doesnt help. I think it is a superb stadium in every way and in 20-30 years time we will have championships won, champions league won (i pray) and the whole history thing will make it more "Arsenal"

Ben-gooner14 · Post by **Ben-gooner14** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:40 pm

I agree i will be one of the fans that will only know the experience of the grove. Highbury historic and memorable but i've been to the grove and love it there and will go on to love it more.

U.F.G Anfield '89 · Post by **U.F.G Anfield '89** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:45 pm

Ben-gooner14 wrote:I agree i will be one of the fans that will only know the experience of the grove. Highbury historic and memorable but i've been to the grove and love it there and will go on to love it more.

i wonder if there are any alive who have been to Plumstead as well as Highbury and The Grove, I doubt it, but would be nice!