Every sports enthusiast in the world fantasises about visiting Wembley Stadium, one of the best known sports stadiums in Europe. This beautiful northwest London arena hosts some of the biggest sports teams in the world and has a long history spanning back almost 100 years. Guests of London City Suites Hotels can easily reach this astounding architectural marvel in just under an hour via the Metropolitan and Jubilee Lines.
But before you visit, why not get to know a little more about one of England’s most important sporting arenas? This blog will explore some little known facts and must visit landmarks in and around Wembley Arena. From its on-site player physio reminiscent of the high quality spa at the Montcalm to the museum and tours of the area, here’s everything you need to know about Wembley Stadium.
Wembley Stadium – What, Where And When?
With an audience capacity that can reach up to 90,000 people, Wembley Stadium is one of the biggest in the UK and is the second largest in Europe behind Barcelona. Opened in 2007 on the site of the previous incarnation of the stadium, Wembley is the home turf stadium for the English football team and also hosts the final of the FA Cup every year. Including a 134 metre high arch nicknamed the “Wembley Arch”, the stadium also hosts a range of other notable national football finals and competitions.
Architecture Of Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium is probably most famous for its huge archway, welcoming in spectators at the front of the stadium. This is just one of several unique attributes that the stadium’s architects Populous and Foster + Partners added to modernise the regeneration. On top of its stunning arch, Wembley also has a 40,000 square metre movable cover in case of rain, more than 2 and a half thousand toilets and a circumference of 1 kilometre. It’s no wonder then, that when it was constructed, Wembley cost contractors a whopping £1 billion!
Wembley Stadium Version One
As mentioned above, Wembley Stadium’s 2007 incarnation was not the first of its kind. Indeed, the stadium dates back to 1923 when its maximum capacity was 100,000! Bear in mind though, that was when football stadiums permitted standing tickets. The original Wembley Stadium was built not only for football but for greyhound racing too. However, the stadium was first known to the public as the British Empire Stadium due to the fact that it was originally built for an exhibition that showcased the power of the British Empire. Opened by King George V, the Empire stadium eventually became known as Wembley Stadium after a change of ownership.
Wembley Hosted The Last Men’s World Cup That England Won
One of the most famous football matches to be held in Wembley Stadium was their match against West Germany in 1966. Beating the Germans 4-2, it was one of the proudest moments in footballing history and made a star out of Bobby Charlton, considered one of the best football players of all time. That being said, Bobby Charlton didn’t actually score a goal in that game!
Music At Wembley Stadium
It’s not just football that Wembley Stadium is known for. Guests of the Montcalm Hotel Chiswell Street with an interest in music might know that the famous, jam packed Live Aid Concert was held at the old Wembley Stadium in 1985. The lineup included Elton John, Queen, David Bowie and U2 and has gone down as infamous for its backstage antics. On top of this, the new Wembley Stadium has hosted a wealth of contemporary musicians including Muse, Robbie Williams and the Stone Roses among many others. 2023 at Wembley has confirmed a set of dates for a new Harry Styles tour.
It’s Not Just Football At Wembley
If football’s not your thing, then never fear. Wembley Stadium hosts a great many sports matches and finals, including Rugby League and Union games, boxing matches and even NFL American Football tours. The latter is part of the NFL International Series, in which the NFL London Games has become an annual staple since 2017.
Wembley’s Legendary First Game
Wembley Stadium was not the bastion of ordered and controlled epics that it is today. Indeed, its first match in 1923 saw 300,000 spectators storm the stadium to watch Bolton vs West Ham. This is because back then, the football matches at Wembley were free to attend and the owners massively underestimated how many people would turn up for the premiership match. As police moved in to control the crowd, one riding a white horse led to the nickname for the riot – the White Horse Final.
The Science Of Wembley Stadium
The Wembley roar has become famous for its stunning atmosphere, but when creating the new Wembley Stadium, architects and audio scientists found it difficult to recreate the same acoustics. Using computer models and recordings of the Wembley Roar, the new Wembley designers recreated the acoustics and also utilised the fact that there were no restricted views in the stadium to enhance the visual element. The design team made sure that the stands were tiered so that wherever you’re seated, you’ll feel like you’re right there on the pitch.
Wembley Stadium Tours
Taking place between 10am and 3pm, Wembley Stadium Tours are available for individuals and groups and gives visitors a chance to explore the history and legends behind the stunning stadium. Whether you’re a football fan or not, the tour’s immersive walk through the press rooms, dressing rooms and stands of the meticulously designed arena will no doubt pique the interest of any and all. On top of this, the tour gives you the option of a variety of languages for an audio tour, or you can take an English speaking guided tour.
Wembley Stadium Museum
As part of the Wembley Stadium Tour, visitors will be granted access to the Wembley Stadium Museum, which pays tributes to the many matches and live events that have taken place at the new and old stadium.
