Public factice
The party has been postponed for a year. In recent weeks, Wembley has been waking up slowly after stopping sports competitions following the Covid-19 epidemic. Nineteen, like the number of matches that the stadium in north-west London should have hosted between the arrival of the virus and mid-July. And if the lawn is again trampled by local footballers since the end of June, the stands are empty. Like his European counterparts, Wembley rings hollow and must live the sad experience of the closed door. Some cardboard supporters have been placed in the stands to give the impression of a somewhat lively stadium. But we are far from the atmosphere of a Euro final played sold out in front of 90,000 spectators.
Very expensive stadium…
The wait will be long for English fans, but not as much as between 2003 and 2007. At that time, the old stadium, inaugurated in 1923 for the British Empire Exhibition and recognizable by its two white towers in colonial style, was razed . A brand new high-tech arena is emerging from the ground, designed by Norman Foster, a British architect known in France for the Millau viaduct. The New Wembley, overhung by an arch of 133 meters high and 315 meters in diameter, is then the most expensive enclosure ever built (1.2 billion euros, or three times more expensive than the Stade de France) with the second largest accommodation capacity in Europe. Camp Nou, in Barcelona, occupies the first position with a tonnage of almost 100,000 spectators.
Vibrating enclosure
Old or new, Wembley remains “the temple of football in the land of football”. The oldest supporters say that the first final of the English Cup which was played there in 1923 would have welcomed 300,000 spectators. Then the precinct saw England win the final of the World Cup in 1966 and Germany to be crowned at the time of Euro 96. Two events to which must be added the Olympic Games of 1948 and 2012. On the sidelines of the sport, Wembley also vibrated to the sounds of the biggest groups and singers, from Queen to the Rolling Stones, via Madonna or the Pink Floyd. The venue especially hosted the Live Aid 1985, the “concert of the century” in a fourteen hour marathon show bringing together 70 of the greatest artists of the time.
Desecrated temple
Although mythical, Wembley is not immune to criticism. Among Londoners, the 2007 renovation is not always applauded. The place would certainly be more modern but also colder. Some believe that executives in costume now occupy the stands more than the popular families of fervent supporters. Faced with this progressive disenchantment and the financial difficulties, the English Football Federation, owner of the place, had even considered in 2018 to sell it to Shahid Khan for 600 million pounds (664 million euros). The Pakistani-American billionaire had finally withdrawn his offer following opposition from certain political figures and former footballers.
