Arsenal to host three concert fixtures a year at Emirates

ARSENAL'S Emirates Stadium will be used for three all-day concerts a year following the success of two Bruce Springsteen gigs in May.

It makes the 65,000-capacity stadium a key competitor to Wembley, which can hold up to 90,000.

However Islington council has only agreed to the application under tough licensing conditions.

The rules say:

● Noise limits must not be exceeded.

● Concerts must finish by 10.30pm.

● A noise complaint line will operate during the concerts which residents can call if they have concerns. Arsenal must also draw up a "noise management plan" before each concert, to be agreed with councillor Stefan Kasprzyk, who chaired the licensing committee.

Mr Kasprzyk said: "We're very concerned to protect our residents from noise and nuisance.

"Arsenal worked closely with the council to minimise any disturbance from this year's Bruce Springsteen concerts and now have a chance to show they can responsibly hold concerts in the future. If conditions are broken then the licence can be brought back to the committee for review by anyone who feels they have legitimate cause."

When the Springsteen concerts were announced there was a wave of opposition but a 75 decibel volume limit and 10.30pm curfew meant many residents later dropped their objections. The council received 76 noise complaints during the two concerts and 18 letters of complaint after the events.

A spokesman for Arsenal said: "The variation of premises licence which Arsenal has applied for specifically relates to potential future music concerts at Emirates Stadium the conditions under which the concerts were run in May will not be changed at all."