A new Wembley fanzone has been planned, with the Wembley National Stadium Limited (WNSL) submitting plans for a 3,000 person installation in Arena Square.
The Wembley fanzonez are an essential part of the matchday experience for fans that travel to the capital. The new plans would see a fanzine on the Arena Square land, with a row of temporary food and drink stalls, a stage, and a big screen. The planned area sits just outside the Wembley Arena, a stone's throw from Wembley Stadium.
Fanzone plans submitted
WNSL has submitted plans to Brent Council, and the decision will be heard in December. While the WNSL has a licence for Arena Square—which also includes Wembley Park Boulevard, Events Pad, and Market Square—the new licence would operate in place of the existing one to help support stadium events.
If given the green light, the plans would see the new fanzine serve ‘away' fans and operate similarly to the current ‘home' fan one in the East Village square. Unlike the East Village one, however, this new fanzone will only be available for fans with a ticket. Plans also revealed that the venue will close at least 30 minutes before matches at the stadium start. Alcohol sales will stop one hour before but will not reopen afterwards.
New Wembley fanzone causing controversy
AEG Facilities Limited, who own the OVO Wembley Arena, however, is looking to seek clarification after having raised concerns about any potential impact it could have on public safety and crime. The concern from the group is mainly centred around the issue of conflicting events at Wembley Arena and the stadium on the same day. The current fanzone plans, according to AEG, would place the fanzone area directly in the path of fans queuing to enter the Wembley Arena. However, they confirmed that WNSL had assured them that if events were to clash, they would move the away fanzone. That said, AEG had not confirmed “nothing in writing” from the WNSL.
AEG's lawyers stated, “The application premises are directly outside the front of the OVO Wembley Arena. This is a space that our clients have been using for the past 6+ years and is essential for the safe running of the Arena.” which checks out with what seems to be the core issue: safety on the part of visitors to the Arena. They went on to add: “Our client wishes to make it clear at the outset that whilst they have no objection to licensable activities being provided in the space proposed, they have genuine concerns about how the operation of the proposed premises will promote the licensing objectives. There is currently a lack of detail and transparency, which makes it difficult for our clients to comment further on the application.”
Application hearing set
The Arena group has also highlighted concerns that the application for planning does not clearly state which events the fanzone will cover. AEG has implied the licence is for “football only events and activities.” However, when checking the original application, the WNSL said the site; “may also be used to support other stadium events, including NFL and other sporting games, as well as music concerts.” This is crucial because Wembley can host 54 major events a year under its licence for the stadium area. If a potential fanzone could be deployed at all of these events, it would no doubt clash with Arena events. However, the WNSL may also just be covering themselves for future non-football events, with Boxpark not utilized at every event.
At the time, the Football Association (FA) has not commented on the situation. The application is set to be heard in a meeting on December 11, where the application will be approved or declined.