With over one-and-a-half million annual visitors for a variety of sporting spectacles, plus many more attending concerts and special events, Wembley Stadium is one of the most popular venues in the world. Its iconic arch and retractable roof also make it one of the most recognisable.
Fans enjoy the ‘beautiful game’ at Wembley Stadium © captainsticky, flickr.com
The stadium is located in North West London on the site of the original Wembley, built in 1923. The first FA Cup Final held at the old stadium featured one of the highest ever attendances at a sporting event, with an estimated 240,000 spectators at the game.
The new Wembley has a capacity of 90,000, making it the second biggest stadium in Europe – and, as the home of English football, it was a natural choice to host the finals of the London 2012 Olympic football tournaments. Designed by British architects Foster + Partners, the stadium was completed in 2007, just in time to host the FA Cup Final that year.
Wembley’s 133 metre-tall arch, which spans the northern half of the stadium, dominates the skyline. When lit on a clear evening it can be seen from Canary Wharf – over 13 miles away.
Engineering support arch at Wembley Stadium © swissdave, flickr.com
But the arch is much more than a mere focal point. It supports the 5,000 tonne roof structure, eliminating the need for supporting pillars and ensuring every seat in the house enjoys a great view of the famous pitch. The arch also makes it possible to retract the south roof, letting light and air into the stadium and onto the turf.
The design ensures the stadium is adaptable to a range of sports, as well as major events like concerts and live shows. A temporary platform can be installed to hold athletics events, and the stadium hosted the first American Football league game played outside the US. The high roofline ensures less noise ‘spillage’ from the venue into the local area, whilst de-mountable seating allows the stadium to be adapted for different audiences and uses.
Wembley will be a key venue during the London Olympics and Paralympics, and it’s hoped that it can also play its part if England is selected to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup Finals. Whatever the outcome, the stadium is set to light up London and the world in 2012. Why not link your studies to stadiums using some of the teaching ideas below?
Wembley Stadium by night © shbib, flickr.com
Geography:
Ask your students to choose a spot for a large sports venue in your local area. It needn’t necessarily be a football ground. Where would the ideal location to build a stadium be? What do you need to have to make a great site for a stadium? Examine the effects of large buildings like stadiums on local people and places.
Are there any large venues near your school which could be improved instead? Do environmental factors need to be taken into account when choosing a site? For example, during Wembley’s construction sewers beneath the stadium were damaged and had to be rebuilt. What effect might your students’ designs have on all aspects of the local area?
Design & Technology:
When designing a stadium architects and builders must consider a large number of factors. What is the location and local environment like? Which sports or events might the stadium host? How many people will use it?
Ask your students to draw up plans for their very own stadium and design a plan detailing which materials will be used in each part of the venue. Will they choose to create a distinctive feature like Wembley’s arch? What materials will they need and how will they use them? How will they ensure that the venue performs well and is suitable for its audience?
History/Citizenship:
Wembley is an area with a rich connection to sport and especially football. Some of the heritage of the old stadium has been protected and presented in the new Wembley. Are there any historic sporting venues in your vicinity? If not, why not think about other structures which have been protected or rebuilt in your local area.
Why were these spaces and places seen as important? How effective is a building as an historical source? Think about how sporting venues built in the 1920s and 1930s looked. How are they different to modern-day stadiums? What do people demand, or reject, in these modern designs? Do these changes tell us anything about the wider changes in society?
Additional resources
More resources related to the World Cup and buildings
Read about the roof at Wimbledon
