Arsenal fans have expressed concern that this Sunday's Premier League victory parade will omit a cherished 96-year tradition: the trophy lift. The parade, scheduled for May 31 at 2pm, will feature a 9km route through Islington, but plans for players to hoist the trophy at Islington Town Hall or The Armoury outside the Emirates Stadium have been scrapped.
Safety Concerns Override Tradition
According to the Arsenal Supporters Trust (AST), the decision stems from safety risks posed by the immense crowd expected. The AST, which met virtually with club officials on May 26, estimates at least 500,000 attendees—far exceeding the 100,000 fans who gathered at the Emirates on May 19 when Arsenal clinched the title.
The AST tweeted: "Arsenal and the police expect a minimum of 500,000 people at the event. The proposed parade route will be much longer than the 2014 route, expected to be 9km on Sunday." They added that there is "no advantage to crowding into one area" and urged fans to spread along the entire route.
Fan Reaction
While some fans expressed disappointment, many understood the rationale. One supporter wrote: "Those shocked about them not doing a trophy lift or speeches need to realise how busy & big 500k to 1m people is, if even drop of that were to all be in the same area (especially in 30+ degrees) safety becomes uncontrollable. It’s an annoying decision, but the right one."
The parade is expected to last up to two hours. Arsenal will also face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on May 30, potentially adding another trophy to celebrate.
