Wembley Stadium - The Definitive Review!

[funster]

So boys and girls, for the greater good, I missed Robbo scoring yesterday to get a sneak peek inside Wembley. Its taken me a while, but I've finally gotten 'round to posting this report on (drumroll please)....... THE NEW WEMBLEY!

Hard to believe, but it was 2002 when the old stadium got demolished. The years in between have given the historic old site some bad media coverage..... over time, over budget, construction company bankrupt, steel girders falling down..... so it was with a mixture of apprehension and excitement that I got my hands on one of the complimentary tickets issued for yesterday's Community Day (one of two events that has to be held at the New Wembley before it gets its safety certificate).

Getting to the New Wembley isn't going to be any easier by my reckoning. Sure, Wembley Park station has been tarted up, but the bus and rail network, as well as the local roads remain fundamentally the same. Getting there yesterday by a Joe Baxi was OK. The worst traffic was actually a number of miles away from the stadium. Roads in the immediate vicinity were actually pretty free flowing. However, I suspect that has a lot to do with the fact that there were probably (in my estimation) only about 30k people there yesterday. I would expect it to be gridlock on big matchdays!

The approaches to the New Wembley are pretty much the same as those for the old stadium. As you walk down from Wembley Park station the view is now of the dominating arch rather than the Twin Towers. The arch is dead impressive. Absolutely huge and visible from miles around. On the few times I've flown into and out of Heathrow the structure itself completely dwarfs anything else for miles around. It was lit up yesteday, but the real effect of the illumination is best seen after dark. No photos to entice you there I'm afraid!

Approaching the stadium itself there's the feeling that its within an outer cordon, almost as though you've got the outside world, and then the New Wembley within its own grounds. The feeling is a little eerie since the stadium seems slightly detached from its surroundings. However, given what the surroundings generally are, that's not necessarily a bad thing! Great stadium, but can't get away from the slightly ropey location.

Getting into the New Wembley needs you to know which gates to use - alphabetically marked and pretty easy to locate. The vast majority of supporters will enter from the level raised above the lower floor. That's reserved for Club Wembley attendees. Not entirely sure what they are, but I suspect its to do with people who've bought one of the Club level seats for x number of years.

Pedestrian traffic around the entrances should be free-flowing since the passageways outside the stadium are plenty spacious. Yesterday's crowd really didn't pose any problems with overcrowding. The turnstiles are, well, they're turnstiles! No funny barcode readers like there are at places like the Madejski or Craven Cottage. Having found them to be a hit and miss at times that may not be a bad thing. Of course, that could be something that is yet to be added.

Once inside the stadium the contrast to the original Wembley is stark. This is a brand spanking new stadium after all. Glass walls allow in plenty of light and keep out the worst of the elements in the passageways, while elevators and lifts transport you between the five - yes, five! - levels. I'm not sure the elevators are a great idea, but for those with mobility issues these (along with the lifts) will prove a real benefit. For most I expect the stairs could be faster.

The passageways within the stadium are amply supplied with food and drink outlets, as well as the obligatory souvenier stores. They did a roaring trade yesterday with numerous people who probably don't go to mass gatherings at footie stadiums happily handing over £3 for a programme and (what I thought) were silly amounts of money for food. £4.20 for a hot dog! You have go to be joking. Beer was available and I expect it will be during matchdays - subject to the usual restrictions.

My seat in level five will probably end up being one of the cheaper ones so I only got to experience the amenities on this level. However, when leaving the New Wembley later I did find that the bars on level two were somewhat more plush. Proper stand-up bars with leather seats no less! None of them were open yesterday though, so no reviews of the champagne that may be on offer on Cup Final day!

Wandering into the seating areas themselves my first impression was - bloody hell, this is steep! Now, I was almost at the very top of the stadium so hardly surprising and it is very reminiscent of the Millenium Stadium in that regard. The view is fantastic. No two ways about it. No silly supporting structures to block the view, and even the shorter fan should get a good view due to the steepness of the the banking.

The seats themselves were a shade disappointing. Wide enough and with plenty of legroom, but nothing to really advance on the comfort level of the seat itself. I'm picking there I think as for the standard game of footie we're hardly going to be bothered, but it would've been nice to see something more comfortable than the bog standard plastic number. The Club levels and boxes I'm pretty sure have nicely padded seats! Hilariously, with (at my estimation) 50k+ seats vacant I was treated to seeing two groups of people arguing over who had the tickets for a particular set of seats. Even a steward waded in! Come on boys and girls..... not like its a sell-out!

Moving to matters nearer the pitch there's plenty of space pitchside and the funny rope frames that prevented pitch invaders at the original Wembley are back again. The pitch itself looked decidedly iffy yesterday. Cut up very badly with the charity games that were played so it had better be relaid before things get going in earnest!

Other features of note - well, I didn't see a Royal Box with steps so I guess presentations will be somewhat different. At each end of the stadium is a giant screen. Looks very small compared to the ones at WHL, but I expect that's because the New Wembley is on a different scale!

In terms of actual football yesterday there were three charity games. I only stuck around for two. You'll all no doubt have seen that Mark Bright now holds the accolade of first goalscorer. That first game was painfully slow. When you're used to seeing the Premiership every week you really, really notice the difference! Simon Jordan flattered to deceive by burying a decent volley in the first game, then playing pretty poorly for the rest of the afternoon. John Barnes got a look-in late in the game, but couldn't stop his side slipping to a 2-0 defeat.

The second game was a higher tempo affair with Tim Lovejoy leading out the Soccer AM team. I have my fingers crossed that the Chelsea strikeforce take him as role model as his shooting was way off the mark! I managed to capture John Aldridge just after hitting the ball to net for the Soccer AM team, and Luther Blisset poking in a second to sandwich another Bright strike for the reds.

And with the end of that second game, I decided to take my leave. Getting out of the stadium itself was trickier than I'd expected! But at least I fumbled upon the rather plush surroundings in level two. Oh yes, and I visited the conveniences. Most notable aspect, the supersonic speed (and noise) of the hand drying machines!

Wandering away from Wembley I decided to chance my arm with public transport. Topping up the old Oyster card took ages at Wembley Park. This is going to be chaos on matchdays, I have no doubt. After then waiting forty-five minutes for a bus, I gave up and walked! I gather buses will be diverted on matchdays so it will be a pain getting there and away. The biggest criticism of siting the new national stadium at Wembley will continue to be a huge problem I think. Getting there and away will be a pain for almost everybody.

But let's not dwell on that. Yesterday was a decent day out. The New Wembley is very impressive. I can imagine with a full house the atmosphere will be incredible. Next week's U21 game is a sellout. Bet they'll never play in front of that many again! When the Cup Final comes to the New Wembley it will an incredible place to be I think. The stadium itself is just a stadium. Its what happens inside and the memories that will be written in the history for years to come that will make this a true sporting landmark again.

[ Added: 2007-03-19, 00:24 ]
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[RiverWire]

Great report mate and some great pictures , we'll have to get them in the album later :10:

So after a day out and then getting home to see that Robbo nearly beat pat jennings at the longest goal completition it must have been a cracking day !..

I didnt enjoy the match as much as i should due to a murdering hang ova (not good at all) but none the less it was still good, pitty we couldn't get the live feed working :3:

Wembely does look amazing and i would probably do anything for Spurs to lift the first trophy there , so COME ON YOU SPURS

Funster: Are you going tonight mate ?

[MadSue]

The inside looks as amazing as the outside!

I remember going to a concert at Wembley Arena just over a year ago and thinking it looked amazing then.

And the Wembley Park station then couldn't cope with the amount of people (but hopefully that was because it wasn't completely finished then)

[funster]

Funster: Are you going tonight mate ?

I am indeed. Weather looks dicey - snow/rain/hail/wind! Bear with me as the match report will be late tomorrow. I have a full day of work that's just gonna be nuts so won't get a chance to post till I get home tomorrow night probably.

[RiverWire]

I am indeed. Weather looks dicey - snow/rain/hail/wind! Bear with me as the match report will be late tomorrow. I have a full day of work that's just gonna be nuts so won't get a chance to post till I get home tomorrow night probably.

No prob's mate i might put a temporary one up which you can just delete when you ready :10:

[spurs151276]

:10:

[spurslady]

Its looks pretty cool went to old wembley once in 1992 to see Micheal Jackson :5:

[lennon25]

Wembly is fantastic my dad has season tickets there and i have been to every game so far. creates some great atmosphere even though some rubbish supporters have been there i.e. chelsea and man u! cant wait to see tottenham play there as i will be def able to go but only if they get there in the next 10 years which they better!!! i would post some pics but not sure how to do it yet

[grimsby yidds]

been to all the england games there , its awesome, well worth the 350 mile round trip back to grimsby,

no doubt that before to long the cockerel will be crowing from the top of the arch as we continue to pick up silverware there as we did at the old one

[barrys1975]

It was a great day out to meet fellow spurs fans. I left Hartlepool on Saturday night at 6pm to travel to New Maiden, Kingston Upon Thames, Arrived at 1.20am Sunday morning.Sleeped on my auties settee, got to Wembley at 1.20pm then after the match traveled back up north, stopping a few times for black coffee, finally got in my bed just before 2am, ready for work at 7am. WHAT A AMAZING WEEKEND :1: :10:

[turkey_tot_ahmet]

bıg stadıum bıg match.....wembley oooooooooooo yesss TOTTENHAM 2 CHELSEA 1 CHAMPION CARLING CUP SPURSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[lh01482]

Wow, brilliant review. I love Wembley =)

[deano1992]

I am going to the carling cup final 2009 and i am really looking forward to it......

I have a spare tickets if anyone is interested in buying it off me....

If you want to buy the ticket off me email me at deanryanlittle@hotmail.co.uk
Let me know your offer and your name and ill reply to you as soon as i can..

[dave hill]

Years ago you could park you car right next to the stadium on cup final day's, it took you a couple of hours to get out, but that didn't matter cos spurs usually won!
I personally was bought up with terracing, and think that the atmosphere was better, and when you win at wembley, there is no better feeling in the world, a feeling all spurs fans will be able to enjoy on march 1st!

[Toddenham]

I went a little while ago to see England v Kazakhstan (a great day out). The stadium is absolutley immense! couldn't believe how big it was!