Wembley Arena
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.
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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.