|
|
 |
| |
|
First kick-off at new stadium
|
Arsenal directors face builders’
team to mark Ashburton Grove topping-out
|
First teams to meet at the new stadium
Manager Arsene Wenger inside the new stadium
Councillor Bridget Fox at the topping-out
|
ARSENAL’S new stadium hosted its first match on Monday,
but there was no sign of stars Thierry Henry or Robin van Persie
Instead, club directors took on a team from contractor Sir Robert
McAlpine to mark the topping-out ceremony at the stadium in Ashburton
Grove, Holloway.
Football club vice-chairman David Dein and directors Ken Friar,
Keith Edelman and Danny Fiszman, plus executives from stadium sponsor
Emirates, lined up against the Sir Robert McAlpine team.
Site construction workers and 150 guests, including Lib Dem councillor
Bridget Fox and Town Hall chief executive Helen Bailey, looked on.
The first real game at the 60,000-capacity stadium is due to be
staged a year from now, at the beginning of the 2006-7 season.
The topping out ceremony marked the completion of the £300
million stadium’s highest point – the 40-metre-high roof.
A giant banner was also released from the roof above the East Stand.
For the traditional topping-out ceremony, the bough of anevergreen
tree was nailed to the stadium and the works manager celebrated
the last section of concrete being laid with a swig of beer.
Mr Fiszman said: “Today’s event signifies a key moment
in both the construction of Emirates Stadium and the future of Arsenal
Football Club.”
Sir Robert McAlpine project director Rolv Kristiansen added: “We
are extremely pleased with the progress that has been made to date.
By completing the lifts of the roof structurerecently, which was
just one of the many feats we have achieved in the project, we have
now reached the highest point in construction.
“We are looking forward to completing the construction.”
The club has had an “overwhelming response” from supporters
for tickets at the new stadium.
Top-price season tickets, available under the Club Level scheme,
will cost £4,750.
All 150 executive boxes have now been sold or allocated. |
|
|
