About Wembley Arena

Wembley Arena, in London, England, hosts sporting events, concerts and comedy nights. It is part of a larger entertainment complex known as Wembley City, which is located near Central London. There are many shops and attractions in the general vicinity. Wembley Arena is the second largest indoor arena in London, with only The O2, in Southeast London, larger.

  1. History

    • Wembley Arena's origins trace back to the 1924 British Empire Exhibition, which the British government held to highlight the countries that were part of the British Empire at that time. Wembley Stadium had recently been built and the exhibition took place at the site where the arena now stands. In 1934, the Empire Pool was constructed on this site across from Wembley Stadium. The arena would go by this name until 1978, when it officially became Wembley Arena. The building housed two large swimming pools and eventually was used for other events, such as concerts and sports. In 2006, the arena was completely refurbished.

    Events

    • The arena hosted sporting events in its early days, from the 1934 Empire Games to the 1948 Olympics. Over time, it became even more well-known as a concert venue. Many famous names, including The Who, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Barbara Streisand, have played at the arena. The building was also home to hockey teams, the Wembley Lions and Wembley Monarchs. It has also hosted boxing matches.

    Arena Square

    • With the refurbishing of Wembley Arena in 2006 came Arena Square. The square is located between Wembley Arena and Wembley Stadium. In 2008, Arena Square held the opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay. The Square of Fame is located there. Currently, there are 11 members of the Square of Fame. This square is meant to emulate the Hollywood Walk of Fame and honor famous people and groups. Madonna was the first member in 2006.

    Wembley Stadium

    • Wembley Stadium is located in Wembley City and across Arena Square from Wembley Arena. The stadium holds 90,000 people and has been used for football as well as other sporting events and concerts. The stadium has been used by the NFL to host regular-season games since 2007. The original stadium was built in 1923 and was reopened in 2007 after being completely rebuilt.

    Building

    • Wembley Arena currently has a capacity of 12,500 as of 2010. Prior to the refurbishing, the capacity of the arena was 12,000. The building was changed so that it faced Wembley Stadium with Arena Square in the center. The interior was also changed to allow for better acoustics, thus making it even more accommodating for live music events. While the arena now faces a different direction, the exterior still maintains the same classic look it did when it first opened in 1934.