Arsenal

[Away fan feedback from Jo Pascoe]
“Thank you to Arsenal for providing me with an audio commentary set. It was lovely to get the set brought to me before the match started (that is not always the case at some grounds).”

Hello, I’d just like to say what a fantastic place the Emirates is for an ambulant disabled like myself. For many years I went to see Dundee United and gave it up because of the disgraceful facilities there. I went to the Emirates one time with my nephew and was completely and utterly blown away by the facilities and how friendly everyone was. I became a purple member after that and for the last 3 years I’ve come down from Scotland to watch 5 or 6 games a year.

Great Stadium, but the lift mamagement for disabled supporters is very poor, as usual we come second, clearly the lift attenants ain’t trained, something needs to be done.

Howard, London

I have been to the Emirates many times with Everton and it is one of the better grounds for a disabled away supporter to visit.

Firstly and quiteimportantly for me,the disabled away supporters are satin the away end, so I can easily get toseemy friendsin the concourse prior to the game. Vitally, the view from the raised platform is one of the best from awheelchair area that is locatedat the back row oflowertiers.When fans who are in front of this platform stand up, there is no issues asthe wheelchair users can still see above these standing supporters. The sightlines of the pitch are totallyunobstructed too. Arsenal haveproved thatyou can design a really good raised viewing area from the back ofa stand, certain other clubs need to look at how well this works at the Emirates and replicate this design at their club. You can also get quite a number of wheelchairs and carerson this platform which is great, on Everton’s last visit there in March 2015, there were at least 11 wheelchair supporters in attendance.

The disabled toilet is located near tothe disabled bays and is very spacious and canonly be accessed via a RADAR key.The stewards are helpful and friendly too.

Good experience at Arsenal.

View from the disabled area is good, don’t realise how big the stadium is as disabled area is at the back under the above tier. Not ideal that Carers have to sit behind thewheelchair user. Access to concourse which is good, as not always the case for disabled fans at other stadiums. Disabled toilets located near entrance to the seats.

The Club has also been contacted by Mr Cosgrave, a full response sent to him directly, and positive communication exchanged thereafter. The Club always welcomes feedback, and will be carrying out a review of the lift lobbies for the remaining 3 matches this season with a view to implementing any changes based on our findings.

Poorly trained (or completely dim) lift attendants continue to make the process of getting down to car park level at the end ofa match an unnecessarily frustrating process for disabled supporters on Club level (level 1) – at least that’s been my experience over the last three months in the southwest corner of the ground. After every match the lift car sails by 3, 4, 5 … sometimes as many as 10 times without stopping. I can understand not stopping on the way down if the lift car is full, but please have the intelligence and manners to stop on the way back up!! Getting off Club level is routinely a 20-minute affair, often involving abandoning my father who is a wheelchair user while I have to hunt down a steward to radio through to the lift attendant to ask him/her to stop on our floor. To endure this at the end of every game spoils the enjoyment and shows a lack of respect for disabled supporters.

First visit to the new stadium, as a wheelchair user. First, arrangement of parking within the stadium a bonus, but read the instructions on times to get into the stadium. Finding stadium was easy, and parking free.

Once inside lifts are there to access upper floors and the stewards all pleasant and quite informative. Once into the main concourse which can get a little hectic but this is nothing unusual, food is always expensive as are the drinks.

Into the viewing area, spaces are good and although most fans stand this was not a problem as the view was uninterupted for a change, again the stewards had been excellent. Radar key for toilets if you have not got one ask the nearest steward.

Exiting the stadium is easy as well, but you are held back for the crowds to disperse, be prepared to have an extended journey time as the local roads are horrifically crowded and adds about an hour onto your journey getting back to the M1.

That said the visit to the stadium was excellent, but they still do not give wheelchair supporters the correct numbers of wheelchair spaces for League games that they should.

The view and parking at Arsenal is very good, the ramp up to Arsenals ground is a little on the steep side but once your up it’s fine. Arsenal also have accessible toilets at various places outside the stadium which is very good.

Attending this season’s FA cup third round tie at the Emirates, I had a better experience parking at the ground than the season before as then they had parked the away support over a mile and a half away from the ground. This year on the way out of the ground, I called the lift and was met by a lift with a a couple of Arsenal supporters and a steward. I was told I would not be allowed into the lift due to rival support and that Arsenal fans had priority and that we would have to wait for all Arsenal fans to leave the stadium before I could get into the lift- Appaling!

Following previous comments in the year I want to provide an update.

The DLo team has improved and is now expanded and far more organised.

The seating area has been raised with safety barriers which are of a suitable height. I also understand they maybe made higher again.

The only negative element is the misuse of the lifts. Every week one has to wait while quite obviously ignorant able bodied people use the lift over stairs. The stewards seem to have no “empowerment or courage” to explain the priority for disabled supporters.

Parking is also good at the stadium or in the streets around the ground.

View from away wheelchair platform

The view for disabled away fans in wheelchairs is excellent but not for the carer as they sit behind and the gap is used by stewards/police as a walkthrough.

Parking can be arranged under the stadium with access via lift. Access from outside the stadium is difficult with a long steep ramp.

Accessible toilets are satisfactory.

Catering is expensive and can get very crowded

Stewards very helpful and polite, ample parking although the ramp up to the stadium is a little on the steep side but not too bad.

The view for wheelchair supporters is very good but the carers would have to stand as they can not see from their padded seats behind the wheelchair users. Disabled toilets very near with a RADAR key needed although I presume the stewards will carry one with them. Even had toilets round the outside of the stadium.

If your going to buy a pie, take a straw as you will have to drink it, I got one and it looked as though it had just been defrosted and warmed up in a microwave, it was too soft to pick up but tasted ok.

All in all a very good stadium.

Positives: Best Stadia in the Premier League for wheelchair users and makes Wembley look poor.

Sufficient lifts to hgher levels

Spacious Toilets

Helpful Stewarding

Good range of refreshments – they are pricey as another person commented, however price has nothing to do with being disabled.

Negatives The Disability team at Arsenal make lots of mistakes

The view from raised platform is obstructed during goals and set pieces. During purchase of season ticket it was said this would not happen.

The lifts get misused and the stewards don’t actually challenge. Every game I encounter around 20 apparently able bodied people who use the lift and show no obvious guilt for not offering me to go ahead of them.