Key facts
| Address | Wembley, London, England |
| Capacity | 82,000 seats |
| Build Date | 1923 |
| Demolished | 2003 |
| Record Attendance | 126,047 |
Description
It used to be located in Wembley Park, London, the UK, on the same place where the new Wembley Stadium is now.
In 1923, it was constructed as the Empire Stadium on the ground that used to be known as Watkin’s Tower. The construction of the stadium cost 750 thousand pounds. It was specially prepared for the British Empire Exhibition that took place during 1924-1925. It was supposed to be demolished after the Exhibition, but, eventually, it was saved.
Arthur Elvin, an entrepreneur, decided to acquire the stadium for 127 thousand pounds. He met certain complications due to the death of the current owner, but, eventually, managed to purchase it from Wembley Company. The company purchased it back right away, leaving Elvin with shares of the stadium.
In 1963, the stadium was equipped with the electric scoreboard and aluminum roof. It also featured translucent glass. Wembley was mainly known for football matches, because it was a venue for a range of major events, such as the FA Cup Final. Twin Towers became its distinctive feature, and then they were demolished in 2003, lots of people were unhappy with that.
In order to get a trophy, the winners would have to climb over 39 steps up to the Royal box. The stadium was closed in 2000 and demolished in 2003.
FAQ
The original Wembley Stadium was officially opened on April 28, 1923, by King George V.
The stadium was named after its location in Wembley, a suburb in northwest London. It was built on the site of an earlier structure called Wembley Park.
The original capacity of Wembley Stadium was around 127,000 spectators. However, this was later reduced to about 82,000 due to safety regulations and the introduction of seating in previously standing areas.
The most iconic feature of the original Wembley Stadium was its pair of twin towers. These distinctive white towers became a symbol of the stadium and English football in general.
Wembley Stadium hosted numerous significant events, including:
FA Cup Finals;
England international football matches;
the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final;
Live Aid concert in 1985;
various other sporting events and concerts.
The original Wembley Stadium was closed in October 2000 and demolished in 2003 to make way for the construction of the new Wembley Stadium.
While detailed information about the specific seating plan is limited, the stadium did have some notable areas:
the Royal Box, where dignitaries and special guests would sit;
the “home” and “away” ends behind each goal;
the stands along the sides of the pitch.
It’s important to note that for much of its history, large parts of the stadium were terraces (standing areas) rather than seated sections.
