Short answers, pulled from the story.
Demolition of the old stadium officially began on the 30th of September 2002 with Twin Towers dismantled that December. Initial plans targeted completion by 2003 but financial disputes caused years of delays.
Engineers from Mott MacDonald designed the building services while architects Foster + Partners and HOK Sport shaped the overall form. Australian firm Multiplex managed construction at a cost of £798 million in 2007.
The first official match at the new stadium occurred on the 24th of March 2007 between England U21s and Italy U21s with 56,700 spectators attending. Giampaolo Pazzini scored the first goal in a FIFA-sanctioned match just 28 seconds into that game.
The stadium hosted UEFA Champions League finals in 2011, 2013, and 2024 while also staging Olympic football matches during London 2012. Eight games took place during UEFA Euro 2020 including the final and semi-finals watched by crowds of up to 87,192.
Coldplay holds the record for most performances with 22 shows spanning multiple tours from 2009 through 2025. Taylor Swift broke records by scheduling six shows in 2024 surpassing Michael Jackson's previous multi-night record.