Search

Having played at Highbury Stadium since 1913, Arsenal Football Club (Arsenal) moved a mere 500 metres to their new Emirates Stadium in 2006. In conforming to a contemporary 'concrete bowl' design, the new stadium lacked architectural distinctiveness. It also lacked the deeply emotional memories made over the years that meant Highbury was seen as 'hallowed turf'. To embed a sense of history and heritage into the new stadium, Arsenal embarked on a process of place-making they described as 'Arsenalisation' which employs design-led graphic heritage within and around the space. Drawing on observation, visual analysis and interdisciplinary literature research, this article focuses on the impact of these interventions in supporters' place-making and place attachment. It discusses the impact of graphic heritage on matchday rituals; the engagement of existing supporters and the initiation of new fans in Arsenal's history; and the use of graphic heritage in re-establishing a local sense of place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a 'spectacular' sporting heritage space Wembley Stadium and its setting have been recently celebrated after a centenary of sport and entertainment since its inauguration in 1923. This paper examines the recent redevelopment and design of Wembley Stadium in Wembley Park to depict how the heritage credentials of the area and the intangible nature of sport as performance are mediated through multiple graphic images and permanent, semi-permanent, and ephemeral graphic interventions. The morphological milieu of Wembley as a heritage place is shown to be the most tangible heritage asset upon which its heritage credentials stand, amongst numerous graphic images and objects that impact how people navigate and understand the visitor experience of Wembley as a contemporary place to visit, work, and live. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]