Arsenal: High Court of Justice rejects three additional concerts each year at Emirates Stadium

The High Court of Justice of England and Wales on 30/07/2014 rejected the appeal from Arsenal FC (Premier League, ENG) to hold three additional concerts each year in the Emirates Stadium (capacity 60,000).

Currently, Arsenal have the right to host three concerts each year in their stadium. The Gunners had asked the council of Islington, the London (United Kingdom) district that is home to the Emirates, to increase this number to six, arguing that the club was losing potential revenue.

Islington's council on 24/01/2014 followed the advice of planning inspector David Smith, who had reached the conclusion that three additional concerts each year would not provide additional economic benefits to the Islington district nor to the neighbourhood's inhabitants. His conclusion is based on the external downsides, such as noise and degradation of street furniture, caused by spectators. Arsenal then appealed to the High Court of Justice, which upheld the decision of the Islington council on 30/07/2014.

The Gunners' turnover for June-November 2013 was €165.75m (£136m), a 28% increase over one…