The SSE Arena, Wembley
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| The SSE Arena, Wembley | |
|---|---|
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| Name | The SSE Arena, Wembley |
| Location | Wembley, London |
| Opened | 1934 |
| Architect | Wilfred R. Burns |
| Operator | AEG Presents |
| Capacity | 12,500 |
The SSE Arena, Wembley The SSE Arena, Wembley is a multipurpose indoor arena in Wembley, London. Opened in 1934 as the Empire Pool, it has hosted events ranging from Olympic Games aquatics to pop concerts, ice hockey matches, and political gatherings such as Labour Party conferences. The venue sits adjacent to Wembley Stadium and has been the site of notable performances by artists tied to British pop music, American rock, and global classical music traditions.
History
The arena was constructed for the 1934 British Empire Games and designed to serve the Commonwealth Games movement, linking it to earlier examples like the White City Stadium. During World War II the facility was requisitioned and later returned to sporting use, mirroring postwar repurposing seen at venues such as Madison Square Garden and Royal Albert Hall. In the 1970s and 1980s the arena hosted events aligned with the rise of British rock acts and touring Motown ensembles, paralleling tours by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles' contemporaries, and international stars such as David Bowie and Elton John. Major renovations in the 2000s preceded role as an official venue for the 2012 Summer Olympics and associated cultural programmes; ownership and naming rights evolved through deals involving companies like SSE plc and operators including Live Nation and AEG. The site has been referenced in accounts of British cultural life alongside institutions like Wembley Stadium, Hammersmith Apollo, and Royal Festival Hall.
Architecture and design
The original 1930s design by Wilfred R. Burns reflected interwar modernist tendencies, sharing structural affinities with municipal pools and arenas such as Sheffield Arena and Earls Court Exhibition Centre. Postwar modifications added capacity and technical infrastructure used by touring productions from companies like Cirque du Soleil and orchestras such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The arena’s bowl configuration and acoustic treatments have been compared to those at Barclays Center and Manchester Arena, while recent refurbishments addressed sightlines, rigging points for productions associated with promoters like SFX Entertainment, and heritage considerations akin to restorations at Royal Opera House. External façades relate to the Wembley Park precinct and the Wembley Arch landmark.
Facilities and capacity
The SSE Arena features a flexible capacity, accommodating seated and standing configurations for events by artists such as Adele, Michael Jackson (past tours), and Beyoncé, with a maximum capacity near 12,500, similar to venues like O2 Academy Brixton and Manchester Apollo. Backstage amenities include dressing rooms used by touring productions affiliated with Live Nation UK and technical specifications that support lighting rigs from suppliers who work with festivals like Glastonbury Festival and corporate events hosted by organisations such as BBC. The bowl comprises tiered seating, VIP boxes deployed for awards ceremonies like the BRIT Awards and hospitality for sporting fixtures linked to leagues like the Elite Ice Hockey League.
Events and performances
The arena has hosted a wide range of events: international sporting contests including aquatics tied to the 1934 British Empire Games and ice hockey exhibitions, comedy tours by performers associated with Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and music concerts spanning genres represented by Queen, Madonna, Coldplay, and Kylie Minogue. It has served as a venue for televised specials featuring presenters from BBC One and ITV, boxing cards reminiscent of historic events at Wembley Stadium and wrestling shows promoted by organisations like WWE. The SSE Arena has also been used for political conferences for parties such as Conservative Party and Labour Party, award ceremonies linked to the Mercury Prize, and community events organised by bodies like Brent Council.
Transport and access
Located in the Wembley Park area, the arena is served by the London Underground Metropolitan line and Jubilee line via Wembley Park tube station, and by London Overground and Chiltern Railways services at Wembley Central station and Sudbury & Harrow Road. The site connects to major road routes including the A406 North Circular Road and nearby junctions of the M1 motorway and M25 motorway, with local bus services operated by Transport for London. Pedestrian links to Wembley Stadium and the London Designer Outlet support matchday and event crowd flows; nearby parking and taxi ranks coordinate with operators such as Uber and Arriva London.
Ownership and management
Throughout its history the arena’s ownership and naming rights have shifted among public bodies and private firms, involving stakeholders like Brent Council, SSE plc, and entertainment operators such as AEG Presents and Live Nation. Management has balanced heritage obligations with commercial programming, drawing comparisons to governance models at venues like O2 Arena (London) and Royal Albert Hall, and negotiating contracts with promoters, booking agents, and unions represented by organisations like Equity and Bectu.
Incidents and controversies
The venue has faced controversies typical of major arenas, including disputes over ticketing practices involving outlets such as Ticketmaster, safety concerns discussed after incidents at other UK venues like Manchester Arena bombing (used in sector-wide reviews), and planning debates with Brent Council over redevelopment proposals. Operational incidents have prompted scrutiny from regulators including Health and Safety Executive and prompted procedural changes similar to reforms implemented across venues such as Hammersmith Apollo and Olympia London.
Category:Music venues in London Category:Sports venues in London Category:Buildings and structures in Brent