The Duke of Edinburgh will today (26 October) officially open the Emirates Stadium and pay a visit to the council-run adult and community learning centre on the site.
He will be welcomed by Islington Mayor, Jyoti Vaja in a ceremony that celebrates the successful completion of the project and the many benefits it has brought to the borough including the new learning centre.
The Duke starts his visit by meeting council staff at the learning centre, where 14 pensioners will be taking part in a computer-aided 'Royal Quiz' - surfing the internet for answers to royalty-themed questions.
The Duke will go on to meet Arsenal Chairman Peter Hill-Wood, Directors Danny Fiszman and Ken Friar, Arsenal Manager Arsène Wenger, Captain Thierry Henry and the Arsenal first team squad. Council leader James Kempton and Chief Executive Helen Bailey will be presented also.
Cllr James Kempton, Leader of Islington Council said:
"Keeping the club in the borough was always the ambition of thousands of our residents. Today, the Duke of Edinburgh's visit celebrates achieving this through a strong partnership unique in the Premiership and local government.
What could have been just another stadium project has been turned into an international case study on how to bring new life to a largely run down and derelict part of the borough. It's the best deal for Islington - with new jobs, training, homes and sports programmes.
The stadium developments have transformed one of the most deprived parts of the country, will act as a magnet for future inward investment and play a key role in our plans to strengthen Islington's communities."
Arsenal Director Ken Friar stated; "It is a true honour to welcome The Duke of Edinburgh here today to officially open Emirates Stadium and to mark the successful completion of our Club's new home.
The Emirates Stadium project has seen one of the biggest regeneration programmes in Europe and is the result of a unique and very successful partnership between Arsenal Football Club and the London Borough of Islington. We are extremely proud that this project has not only created a new 60,000 seater stadium for our supporters, but also that we have delivered many benefits for the Borough including over 2,500 new homes, 2,600 new jobs, and the construction of a new waste transfer station for the local community."
The overall project, which cost £390 million in total, will create 2,600 new jobs and over 2,500 new homes in Islington.
Notes to Editors:
Contacts: Islington Council Media Team on 020 7527 3224 or Arsenal Communications Department on 0207 704 4010.
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008