Wembley Arena
Wembley Lions (1934-1968) Wembley Monarchs (1934-1950) London Lions (1973-1974)
Wembley Arena is a multi-purpose hall in Wembley, London, England. It is located opposite the Wembley Stadium and was built for the British Empire Games in 1934. The hall originally contained a swimming pool, the basis of which the hall was at first the name Wembley Empire Pool. The pool was last used for the Olympic Games in 1948, today the arena is primarily used for concerts and sporting events. In the past, the stadium also various sports teams were located.
From 2005 to 2006, the Wembley Arena was completely renovated in the course of the construction of the adjacent stadium and finally re-opened with a concert by Depeche Mode on 2 April 2006. 2012 was the Wembley Arena hosted the Summer Olympic Games.
Use
Music
A record crowd turned singer David Cassidy in 1973, when he played six times on his first tour of the UK on a weekend in the sold-out Wembley Arena. The Swedish pop group ABBA in 1979 also played six times in a week in the sold-out hall and The Way Old Friends Do published a recorded at these concerts song on the album Super Trouper. In 1983, The Animals gave a New Year's Eve concert, which was recorded and became, after their separation, published the following year. Pearl Jam on the other hand hold the attendance record for a single event from 12,470 visitors in 2007. The pop band Busted also maintains eleven sold out shows in 2004, another visitor record.
The most frequent appearances in the Arena can record Cliff Richard, who held its 60th concert in the hall in 2008. Whitney Houston has 29 appearances, the most frequently occurring musician, Status Quo is currently (March 2011) 46 shows the music group with the most ideas (as Main Act ).
Sports
In the history of the stadium were numerous sporting events, especially boxing and ice hockey events, held at Wembley Arena. With the Wembley Lions and Wembley Monarchs wore the two ice hockey teams in the 1940s, 50s and 60s regularly play their home games in the arena, the hall also served in the 1973/74 season the London Lions as a home ground. Furthermore, the play-offs of the British Hockey League took place in the arena held annually before the league in 1996 ceased the operation of gambling. In addition, at Wembley various competitions in netball, darts, basketball, indoor soccer, snooker and mixed martial arts have so far been discharged.
Wembley Arena was the venue for the 2012 Olympic Games. Here the competitions in badminton and rhythmic gymnastics were held. There are 6000 seats available. In 2008, speculation emerged, according to which the Wembley Arena could also be the venue of the Olympic basketball tournament preliminaries, thus to be able to save 90 million pounds sterling for the construction of a new arena. These plans were ultimately rejected however.
Other Events
In Wembley Arena also another event take place regularly, such as performances by comedians like Eddie Izzard or Lee Evans, as well as ice shows, such as Holiday on Ice and Disney on Ice.
The World Wrestling Entertainment signed in April 2006 and October 2007 also different programs of their shows RAW and Smackdown in the hall. The guest appearance of the pay- per-view event Insurrextion in the arena was also the last event at all, which was recorded under the old name World Wrestling Federation. In addition, the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling guested in January 2009 at the stadium, scoring a new attendance record for the organization of 8,100 visitors.
Square of Fame
With the opening of the arena in 2006 was a " Square of Fame" configured, are immortalized in bronze plaques on the famous based on the Hollywood Walk of Fame personalities from the history of Wembley Arena with name and signature. The first star was awarded Madonna on 1 August 2006. Followed plaques for Cliff Richard, Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi of Status Quo, Kylie Minogue, Stephen Hendry, Dolly Parton, Bryan Adams, Lionel Richie, Westlife, the Harlem Globetrotters, Melanie Brown and Lee Evans.
→ See also: List of stars on the Square of Fame at Wembley Arena