When it launched in 1992, many believed the brand new Premier League would bring more money into English football and help it develop, but surely nobody predicted what would go on to happen.
In 2018, the league is in it’s last year of a record £5.14 billion deal with TV broadcasters, the best players are paid over £100,000 a week and are bought and sold for tens of millions of pounds.
Thanks to the increase in money, clubs have not only been able to compete internationally in the transfer market, but have had the cash to develop their facilities and infrastructure.
One of the Premier League’s main stay clubs, Tottenham Hotspur will move into their new home, built on the grounds of their White Hart Lane stadium this September, which is estimated to have cost them £1billion!
In this article we take a look at what the other 19 clubs’ stadiums looked like in 1992 and compare them to now.
Click below to scroll through the gallery.
Arsenal – Highbury Then
When the Gunners played their first game of the inaugural Premier League season in 1992 at Highbury, fans were greeted to a stadium of three stands and a mural. The North Bank terrace hadn’t been completed in time, so a giant mural was constructed behind the goal, to give fans a taste of what was to come.
Arsenal – Emirates Stadium Now
Thanks to a very successful few years under the management of Arsene Wenger, the Gunners were attracting big names and winning trophies regularly. Because of restrictions from their council, Arsenal were unable to expand their stadium beyond 38,000, so in 2006 they moved to the glorious Emirates Stadium.
The stadium has a capacity of 60,000 and is arguably the nicest in the league, but definitely the most expensive.
Bournemouth – Dean Court Then
In 1992, Bournemouth were nowhere near the Premier League and were competing in the third tier and their Dean Court ground was a typical lower league stadium.
Bournemouth – Vitality Stadium Now
In 2001, the ground was totally transformed with the pitch turning 90 degrees and stands rebuilt. The ground is still only 12,000 capacity, but with sponsorship from Vitality insurance and their side entering their tenth season in the big time, surely an increase is just around the corner?
Brighton And Hove Albion – Goldstone Stadium Then
Like Bournemouth, in 1992 Brighton were in the third division and playing in the Goldstone Stadium, but financial woes were just around the corner. The club were forced to move to athletics venue the Withdean Stadium in 1997 as the fans’ saw their beloved ground sold.
