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— CH. 1 · CONCRETE ARCHES AND STEEL —

Wembley Arena

~4 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
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  • Work on the Empire Pool began in November 1933. The building opened to the public on the 25th of July 1934. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony. Sir Owen Williams designed the structure without hiring a traditional architect. He created a unique frame using three hinged arches that spanned 70 meters. This concrete span was the largest of its kind anywhere in the world at that time. The design avoided internal pillars by having cantilevers meet in the middle. High quality concrete allowed the building to age better than many modern structures. Fifteen massive concrete buttresses supported the sides of the arena. Glazed window lights lined the tops of the ends with increasing height from edges to center.

  • The venue hosted swimming events during the 1948 Summer Olympics. It also held Olympic boxing, diving, and water polo competitions that same year. In 1940, the Empire Pool served as a billet for several hundred Gibraltarian evacuees. These people left Gibraltar because the fortress faced heavy Axis attack threats. The pool itself measured 60 meters long and 25 meters wide. A removable deck converted the space into an ice skating rink. Ice hockey arrived at the venue in October 1934. The facility remained active through the war years despite its original purpose as a sports complex.

  • Audiences of 10,000 viewed acts like the Beatles during the mid-1960s NME Poll Winners Concerts. Roger Moore presented one award to the band on stage. Led Zeppelin played a special two-night Electric Magic concert during their 1971 Winter Tour. Steve Hardcastle designed the poster for that event which sold for 30p on the night. That poster now fetches over £500 at auction. Pink Floyd performed there on their 1974 British Winter tour and again in 1977. Roxy Music played two nights on 17 and the 18th of October 1975. The Grateful Dead released recordings from shows held on 7, the 8th of April 1972. David Cassidy sold out six performances in one weekend during his first Great Britain tour in 1973.

  • The arena closed for fourteen months starting in February 2005. A refurbishment project cost £35 million to complete. Events moved to a temporary 10,000-seat venue called Wembley Arena Pavilion during construction. The new arena opened to the public on the 2nd of April 2006 with a Depeche Mode concert. The temporary pavilion later became the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre in December 2006. AEG Facilities signed a 15-year contract to operate the venue in September 2013. ASM Global inherited the arena following its formation on the 1st of October 2019. Legends Global has operated the venue since December 2025 after acquiring ASM Global. Energy company SSE plc bought naming rights for 10 years starting the 1st of June 2014. It is now known as OVO Arena Wembley since early 2022.

  • From 1936 to 1939, the Skol 6-Day cycle race was held there annually. An indoor velodrome of 166 meters assembled from sections each September. Top riders like Eddy Merckx and Peter Post competed in London. The Wembley Lions and Monarchs used the venue regularly during the 1940s. NHL preseason games featured Chicago Blackhawks versus Montreal Canadiens in 1992. The boxing World Championship bout between Alan Minter and Marvin Hagler took place in 1980. Mixed martial arts events included BAMMA 6 in May 2011. Professional wrestling shows ran from Joint Promotions through WWE TakeOver: London. The Horse of the Year Show ran from 1959 to 2002. Two NBA basketball exhibition matches occurred on the 1st of October 1993 featuring Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic.

  • A Square of Fame area opened in front of the arena upon its 2006 reopening. Madonna received the first plaque on the 1st of August 2006 with her name imprinted in bronze. Cliff Richard added his handprints on the 9th of November 2006. Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi unveiled a Status Quo plaque on the 16th of December 2006. Kylie Minogue included her handprints on the 9th of January 2007. Stephen Hendry added his handprints on the 21st of January 2007 as a seven-time World Snooker Champion. Dolly Parton unveiled her plaque on the 25th of March 2007 during her UK tour finale. Bryan Adams presented his plaque on the 10th of May 2007 before his 25th appearance at the venue. Westlife members Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, and Mark Feehily all had casts made of their hands in 2008. Alice Cooper became the only solo artist to headline each of the past five consecutive decades by 2012.

Common questions

When did the Empire Pool open to the public?

The building opened to the public on the 25th of July 1934. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony.

Who designed the structure without hiring a traditional architect?

Sir Owen Williams designed the structure using three hinged arches that spanned 70 meters. This concrete span was the largest of its kind anywhere in the world at that time.

What events were hosted during the 1948 Summer Olympics?

The venue hosted swimming events and Olympic boxing, diving, and water polo competitions that same year. The pool itself measured 60 meters long and 25 meters wide.

When did the arena close for refurbishment and reopen?

The arena closed for fourteen months starting in February 2005. The new arena opened to the public on the 2nd of April 2006 with a Depeche Mode concert.

Which artists received plaques on the Square of Fame area after 2006?

Madonna received the first plaque on the 1st of August 2006 with her name imprinted in bronze. Cliff Richard added his handprints on the 9th of November 2006 and Kylie Minogue included her handprints on the 9th of January 2007.

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All sources

68 references cited across the entry

  1. 1webSSE Arena Address
  2. 2webWembley Arena announces name changeEmily Carter — 15 February 2022
  3. 3webThe SSE Arena Experience - The SSE Arena, WembleyThe SSE Arena Wembley
  4. 4bookA History of WembleyGeoffrey Hewlett — Brent Library Service — 1979
  5. 5webThe Empire Pool, Wembley – Hurst Peirce + Malcolm
  6. 6bookThe Lion Roars at WembleyDonald R. Knight et al. — 1984
  7. 7webWembley Arena - Designing Buildings Wiki
  8. 8bookWembley Arena 1934–2004 The First Seventy YearsWembley Arena — 2004
  9. 9bookWhole Lotta Led ZeppelinJon Bream — Voyageur Press — 2008
  10. 10bookLed Zeppelin: A CelebrationDave Lewis — Omnibus Press — 10 April 2012
  11. 11webLed Zeppelin
  12. 12webWembley Empire Pool – November 20, 1971 / London21 September 2007
  13. 13webWembley Arena Pavilion opensLee Baldock — 1 March 2005
  14. 14webWembley music venue doors to open20 February 2005
  15. 15webArena Structure's supply new venue in MaltaChris Henry — 9 January 2007
  16. 16webAEG Facilities to run Wembley Arena2 September 2013
  17. 17newsWembley Arena to be renamedMark Sweney — 10 April 2014
  18. 18webGrateful Dead Venues: Empire Pool
  19. 19bookThe Grateful Dead ReaderD. Dodd et al. — Oxford University Press — 2000
  20. 20bookThe Grateful Dead FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Greatest Jam Band in HistoryT. Sclafani — Backbeat Books — 2013
  21. 21webDownfall of the daydream idol David Cassidy23 August 2013
  22. 22webDavid Cassidy - Weekend At Wembley23 March 1973
  23. 23webChampions Indeed: Queen Arrive At Wembley In 1978 MilestonePaul Sexton — 11 May 2020
  24. 24webQueen in talks about final tour with Adam Lambert in 2023Paul Travers — 21 November 2022
  25. 25webΣτο Wembley του Λονδίνουoperator — 1992-06-26
  26. 26webThe Cavafy Project
  27. 27webSearch for setlists: Tina Turner wembley arena setlist.fm
  28. 28webSearch for setlists: cliff richard wembley arena setlist.fm
  29. 29webSearch for setlists: status quo wembley arena setlist.fm
  30. 30webSearch for setlists: westlife wembley arena setlist.fm
  31. 31webPearl Jam set new Wembley record19 June 2007
  32. 32newsNepalese folk-rock band Nepathya to headline Wembley ArenaOwen Amos — 2 August 2013
  33. 33webNightwish, gig review: The show stuck rigidly to the established formula21 December 2015
  34. 34web6 things we learned at Babymetal's Wembley arena show4 April 2016
  35. 35webBabymetal break 2 UK records5 April 2016
  36. 36magazineMTV EMAs 2017 Recap: Shawn Mendes, Ed Sheeran & Camila Cabello Triumph as Eminem Makes Live Comeback12 November 2017
  37. 37web'Bohemian Rhapsody' to World Premiere at London's Wembley Arena10 September 2018
  38. 38webAndy C makes history as all-night-long event at Wembley sells out
  39. 39webJoker Xue at the SSE Arena, Wembley 10 Mar 20192019-03-10
  40. 40webLondon: Thousands Pack Wembley Arena For Siyum HaShas Videos & Photos7 January 2020
  41. 41webDanny Dyer hints at shocks for The Wall viewers as show returns for series twoGrace Henry — 2 October 2020
  42. 42web'The Wall': Danny Dyer Game Show Poised To Shift Production From Poland To UK Amid CoronavirusJake Kanter — 22 May 2020
  43. 43webAll Time Low Setlist at OVO Arena Wembley, London
  44. 44webHow 8 nerds playing 'Dungeons & Dragons' on Twitch sold out an arenaCheryl Teh — 8 October 2023
  45. 45webCritical Role on breaking their world for artOliver Harrop — 2023-11-10
  46. 46webJoker Xue2023-11-19
  47. 47webIU at OVO Arena Wembley: A Theatrical Musical FeastView of the Arts — 2024-06-23
  48. 48webOhe Ok Rock live at Wembley Arena: A landmark night for Japanese rock with a special appearance by Ed SheeranCharles Shepherd — 2024-10-13
  49. 50webIan Chan To Bring Tears In My Sight Solo Concert Tour To London's OVO Arena Wembley In March - StereoboardLaura Johnson
  50. 51webAurora Confirms OVO Arena Wembley Show As Part Of What Happened To The Earth? Part 5 European TourLaura Johnson — 6 June 2024
  51. 52webBINI Announce OVO Arena Wembley London Show As Part Of 2025 BINIverse World Tour17 May 2025
  52. 53webBowling For Soup on X: "And now for some good news.... 13 Dec, 2025 - Bowling For Soup - Wembley Arena!! Holy crap!! This is a literal dream come true!24 Jan 2025
  53. 54inline1948 Summer Olympic official report. pp. 43, 49.
  54. 55webprofile
  55. 56web1936 Wembley
  56. 57webNHL overseas history
  57. 58newsKSI calls out former UFC star, David Haye opponent, and Jake Paul after stopping FaZe TemperChristopher Walker — 14 January 2023
  58. 59webRenan Barao v Michael McDonald announced for UFC title fight at Wembley Arena | UFC News6 December 2012
  59. 60webW Tracks
  60. 61newsDarts West champion beaten10 June 1948
  61. 62newsSporting fixtures1 January 2007
  62. 63webEU LCS heads to London's Wembley Arena!
  63. 64web2015 World Championship venues
  64. 65webFACEIT to Host Next CS:GO Major in London Sept 20-23Dustin Steiner — 22 February 2018
  65. 66webTNA Impact Wrestling To Be Taped For Television Live At Wembley Arena6 January 2012
  66. 67webTNA News: TNA announces first international TV taping scheduled for this month6 January 2012
  67. 68webWembley Arena
  68. 69webWembley Arena – Americana Hotel London UK - Last Minute Bookings – Special Offers – London Events – Regents Park – Dorset Square