Wembley Stadium: A History of Wembley
Wembley Stadium remains as one of the world's most renowned sporting and cultural venues. A truly hallowed turf.
Hosting an exciting array of Premier League and International fixtures as well as some of the most popular music acts, it provides a wonderful haven for avid football fans and concert goers alike.
With a 90,000 seat capacity, it creates an atmosphere unlike any in the world with an experience truly worth savouring.
Wembley: The Heart of English Football
The original Wembley Stadium, first opened to the public in April 1923, was a football stadium annually hosting numerous popular matches including: the FA Cup final, the League Cup and the Challenge Cup.
Widely recognised as the home and heart of football, Wembley Stadium was a venue well prized amongst football supporters.
The first football fixture held at Wembley was the 1923 FA Cup Final of Bolton Wanderers vs West Ham United, commonly known as the White Horse Final. Fans flooded to the venue and exceeded the 127,000 capacity with crowds overflowing into the pitch. It ended in a 2-0 victory for Bolton Wanderers.
1966 saw Wembley Stadium as the leading venue for the FIFA World Cup. Nine matches were hosted there including the phenomenal final which saw England take a 4-2 victory against West Germany.
Without a doubt, football history has and continues to be made at Wembley.
Music at Wembley Stadium
Alongside this, the venue hosted noteworthy music events including the historic Live Aid charity concert in 1985. This day featured legendary such acts as Queen, Elton John and David Bowie gracing the hallowed stage.
Notable acts who played at the original Wembley Stadium included: Celine Dion, Madonna, Tina Turner, The Rolling Stones, Cliff Richards and Michael Jackson who performed a record-breaking fifteen times at Wembley.
Jackson’s 1988 Bad World tour saw a great 504,000 people attend his seven sold out concert dates and the star received a special award from Wembley Stadium officials for attaining this record.
Making Room for New: Wembley Stadium
Known for its distinctive Twin Towers, which later became a nickname and trademark for the original Wembley Stadium. This historic venue held a place in the hearts of numerous Wembley fans. Indeed, the 2003 demolition of the stadium upset many, however, the old had to make way for the new.
Opened in 2007 on the grounds of the old stadium, the new Wembley stadium is likewise a popular destination for major events in England. It is the largest stadium in the UK and second largest in the whole of Europe.
Given the fact that the new Wembley Stadium has only been open for just over a decade, the new Wembley only has a brief history. However, the Wembley stadium that we witness today is only the most recent chapter in the story of “Wembley”.
Club Wembley members and fans are sure to see an increase in the prime events held at the stadium. With more history in the making each year.
What to Expect from Wembley Stadium?
A new year sees a new chapter for Wembley Stadium with more first-class events set to be held at the venue in 2018.
Tottenham Hotspur will play various home fixtures at Wembley whilst they await the grand opening of their Spurs New Stadium.
Heavy weight superstar Anthony Joshua will return in September 2018 to challenge Russian contender Alexander Povetkin in what is sure to be an intense battle. The champ will defend his WBA Super, IBF, WBO and IBO Heavyweight World titles at the site that saw him defeat Wladimir Klitschko in April 2017.
NFL takes its international trip to Wembley with NFL London commencing in October. The exhilarating sport will see the likes of Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars and more head to Wembley Stadium for a serious NFL challenge.
England will face USA and Croatia in mid-November following the teams successful World Cup 2018 campaign that saw them finish fourth. Southgate’s team will have certainly improved in form and so these exciting fixtures are not to be missed.
Indulge in luxurious Wembley Hospitality
Visitors can add that extra VIP treatment to their trip to Wembley Stadium with the many superb hospitality packages available. Combining premium seats, luxury fine dining and an unforgettable atmosphere.
With Compare Hospitality, you are able to compare the best Wembley hospitality deals for a range of events and find the perfect hospitality package that suits all of your needs. Get ready for your trip to Wembley Stadium today!