England: Controversy over new fan zone outside Wembley

26.11.2024 10:27 source: StadiumDB.com; author: Paulina Skóra

Wembley Stadium has applied for a license to establish a fan zone at Arena Square for up to 3,000 people during event days, featuring temporary food and drink stalls, a stage, and a large screen.

Ticket holders only

Arena Square is already covered under a general license issued to Wembley Park Limited, which includes Wembley Park Boulevard, Arena Square, Events Pad, and Market Square. The new license, however, would be exclusively operated by Wembley National Stadium Limited (WNSL) to support events at the stadium.

If approved by Brent Council, the fan zone would serve visiting supporters and operate similarly to the existing East Village square, which is a gathering point for England fans. According to the plans, access would be restricted to ticket holders for events at Wembley Stadium. The zone would close no later than 30 minutes before the event starts—alcohol sales would stop an hour earlier—and would not reopen after the event begins.

Wembley Stadium connected by EE © Thorsten Weidinger

Pushback from nearby arena management

Arena Square is located directly outside the main entrance to OVO Wembley Arena. Representatives of the venue have raised concerns about potential negative impacts on their operations. They have requested further assurances from WNSL, citing public safety and crime risks if stadium and arena events overlap.

Currently, Arena Square serves as a queuing area for arena attendees and as an exit space after events. A formal objection filed on behalf of OVO Wembley Arena suggests WNSL has agreed to relocate the fan zone in case of event clashes but notes there is no written confirmation of such an arrangement.

Additionally, there is some ambiguity regarding the type of events the fan zone would support. Operators of OVO Wembley Arena stated in a written objection that they believe the application pertains exclusively to football-related activities. However, WNSL's original submission mentions that the fan zone could also support other stadium events, such as NFL games, other sports fixtures, and music concerts. Brent Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee will review the proposal during a meeting on December 11.