Magazine - Wembley Stadium in England

By Rob Jenkins in World Stadiums on 2nd Mar 2010 20:10

Ask any Englishman and they will tell you Wembley is the best stadium in the world; the home of world football, the church for the England national team and the holy grail for every footballer.

Wembley is only a new stadium opening in 2007 after four years of construction, costing a massive £798 million to build. The stadium was designed by architects Foster and Partners and Populous, and was built by an Australian company from Perth Brookfield Multiplex. Brookfield are known in Australia for building Federation Square in Melbourne and Central Park Tower in Perth amongst others.

Wembley is an all-seater stadium and based around a bowl design with a capacity of 90,000.

New Wembley's reputation will continue to grow around the world with the Champions League final to be played there in 2011 and of course the Olympics in 2012 which will showcase it to an even larger world wide audience. The stadium is home to the England national team's home games and all the major finals and play offs for the National Football leagues.

Wembley is the largest stadium in the world to feature total undercover seating, protected from the elements by a sliding roof. Like many new modern stadiums it can also be adapted as an athletic stadium by erecting a temporary platform over the lowest tier of seating, this reduces its capacity to just 60,000.

Wembley is famous for it's circular arch which is 7metres in diameter and spans over 315metres span. It also rises and impressive 133metres making it visible from around London. Its impressive height means the famous London eye could roll around underneath it if for some reason that ever needed to happen! The arch also supports all the weight of the north roof and 60% of the weight of the retractable roof on the southern side. The roof weighs 6,350 tonne

The impressive archway is the world's longest unsupported roof structure. It also boasts the most toilets of any stadium in the world 2,618! The stadium  features two giant screens roughly each the size of 600 television sets.

The New Wembley replaced the original Wembley Stadium, known as the Empire Stadium. Old Wembley was famous for its twin white towers at its entrance and its 39 steps taken to reach the Royal Box. One of the world's great and historic stadiums, it's a shame it no longer stands. No doubt the new Wembley will also take its rightful place in history.

Wembley Stadium Facts:
Location: London, England
Built: 2007
Capacity: 90,000 all seats
Dimensions: 105m x 68m when set for Football
Main Tenants: England National Football Team
Cost: £800 million

Read more articles in World Stadiums, by Rob Jenkins or from March 2010.