British Expatriate Network

Ive just been reading on the BBC website about the long winded saga which is the building of the new national stadium at Wembley!!

http//news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/2273008.stm

The latest story is about the price of Wembley now.

Apparently, its going to cost now over 750 million quid to built this new stadium, thats on a par with the Millenium Dome!

I'm a firm believer myself that the stadium should have been built in Birmingham. Where it would be easily accessible for all traffic and situated in the middle of the country.

What do you all out there think about the Wembley fiasco?

Is it an expensive embaressment or a long winded soap opera?

Do you think that the we have to have our national stadium in London or do you think that London, is the right and proper place for our national stadium?

all the best
Alan smile

I have always believed it should have been built somewhere near the NEC in Birmingham, so that both northerners and southerners had equal access to it.

I've been to Wembley twice and it can be a bloody nightmare getting in and out of that London industrial estate location, whereas I've never had any problems going to the NEC.

Trouble is, the F.A. are not very forward thinking and probably resent having to travel more than 30 miles from Lancaster Gate.

True, Wembley is a nightmare to get to, but is steeped in history and tradition...
My feeling is that there's no need for a national stadium. Far better to have the England home matches at club grounds around the country, that way you can ensure that less popular games are still sold out by having them at smaller venues, and give everyone in the country a chance to see England play for a reasonable price.
If there must be a national stadium in London, why don't they just put a pitch inside the bloody dome!!!!
I read somwhere that the latest wembley capacity is only going to be 68000, come on, that's barely a club ground anyway!!!

Wembley was a nice day out though for end of season stuff - I'd much rather have gone there for play-offs than say Villa Park or Elland Road!

It's going to be approx 92,000 capacity and they should build in Maidstone, that way the Stones could ground share.

Of course the National Stadium should be built in Wembley . WHERE ELSE ??????

Of course the National Stadium should be built in Wembley . WHERE ELSE ??????

Birmingham. Heart of England. Easy Access.

National Stadium should be built in a city with a great football heritage. Liverpool for example smile

Actually, what about Sheffield or Preston? These cities have early claims to fame - or give it to a city the needs the tourism, not bloody London.

How about Birmingham?
and just calling it New Wembley? :wink:
(borrowed from 'deadly' Doug Ellis!! :grin: )

:lol:

Surely if it were in Brum it'd be called "Wumblay"?

Seriously, there is plenty of land on which to build the stadium, car parking and amenities near the NEC -there is a major train line with a station designed to cope with large volumes of people, there is a major domestic and international airport next door and plentiful hotels to suit all budgets in the vicinity, plus easy motorway access, and it's much more central in England than London. Insanity not to, really.

What keeps it in London? Tradition? Well traditionally people don't move abroad. Good job for us that traditions fade. wink

You're funny monster but yay to you for putting the serious part so succinctly.

Birmingham makes sense - no where else does (not even Maidstone).

Yeah, ... but it's still Birmingham.

and....?