Seats at New Wembley Will Cost Up to £6,000 Per Year
Demolition work on the famous twin towers, the most recognisable feature of Wembley stadium, started yesterday but the new venue that will take its place is set to be the most expensive sports arena in the world with seats costing up to £6,000 per year and executive boxes up to £200,000.
The Guardian has exclusively obtained the cost of executive boxes and premium seats at the new Wembley and they reveal a stadium where the entire second tier will be devoted to wealthy corporate fans who will be able to watch sport in five-star luxury without ever having to rub shoulders with ordinary supporters.
Special trains for the exclusive use of corporate fans will ferry them to Wembley from central London within nine minutes on a separate rail line that will not be used by regular trains.
Once at the stadium, corporate fans will have separate fast-track entrances and the choice of five-star restaurants, bars and shops that will be located on the second level of the stadium and will be off limits to other fans.
It is the cost of the premium seats and executive boxes, however, that will most shock football fans.
There will be five different categories of premium seats which have to be purchased for a minimum of 10 years. The cheapest premium seat will cost £1,300 per year followed by another category at £1,900 per year.
Other premium seats will cost £2,700 and £5,300 per year, with the most expensive costing £6,100 per year.
All seats guarantee entry to 12 matches at the new Wembley per year including six England internationals and the FA Cup final.
In addition to the yearly payments, firms and individuals buying the premium seats will also have to make a one-off payment to secure them. These payments range in price from £3,900 for the right to buy the cheapest premium seat to £18,300 for the right to buy the most expensive premium seat.
Executive boxes will cost between £60,000 to £200,000 depending on the size and the length of time companies or individuals want to buy them for.
One fifth of the new Wembley stadium is set to be dominated by corporate fans, and there are serious concerns that this could have a negative impact on the atmosphere inside the ground and lead to large sections of empty seating at matches that are not a major attraction.
The Guardian has exclusively obtained the cost of executive boxes and premium seats at the new Wembley and they reveal a stadium where the entire second tier will be devoted to wealthy corporate fans who will be able to watch sport in five-star luxury without ever having to rub shoulders with ordinary supporters.
Special trains for the exclusive use of corporate fans will ferry them to Wembley from central London within nine minutes on a separate rail line that will not be used by regular trains.
Once at the stadium, corporate fans will have separate fast-track entrances and the choice of five-star restaurants, bars and shops that will be located on the second level of the stadium and will be off limits to other fans.
It is the cost of the premium seats and executive boxes, however, that will most shock football fans.
There will be five different categories of premium seats which have to be purchased for a minimum of 10 years. The cheapest premium seat will cost £1,300 per year followed by another category at £1,900 per year.
Other premium seats will cost £2,700 and £5,300 per year, with the most expensive costing £6,100 per year.
All seats guarantee entry to 12 matches at the new Wembley per year including six England internationals and the FA Cup final.
In addition to the yearly payments, firms and individuals buying the premium seats will also have to make a one-off payment to secure them. These payments range in price from £3,900 for the right to buy the cheapest premium seat to £18,300 for the right to buy the most expensive premium seat.
Executive boxes will cost between £60,000 to £200,000 depending on the size and the length of time companies or individuals want to buy them for.
One fifth of the new Wembley stadium is set to be dominated by corporate fans, and there are serious concerns that this could have a negative impact on the atmosphere inside the ground and lead to large sections of empty seating at matches that are not a major attraction.
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