Wembley Arena
The London landmark where New Japan's global dreams took flight.
Wembley Arena (originally the Empire Pool, currently known as OVO Arena Wembley for sponsorship reasons) is an indoor arena next to Wembley Stadium in Wembley, Greater London, England. The 12,500-seat facility is Greater London's second-largest indoor arena after the O2 Arena, and the ninth-largest in the United Kingdom. The building was designed by the engineer Sir Owen Williams, without the employment of an architect. Work on the Empire Pool began in November 1933, and it was opened on 25 July 1934 by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester.
- Location
- London, United Kingdom
- Role
- International Tour Venue
- Era of Use
- 1980s World Tours
- Surface
- Standard Wrestling Ring
- Status
- Historic Touring Site
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The source does not describe any New Japan Pro Wrestling events, performances, or tours at Wembley Arena. It does not mention NJPW, wrestling, or any specific atmosphere, crowds, or cross-cultural clashes related to professional wrestling. The source covers the arena's history, architecture, renovations, and musical acts, but contains no information about NJPW's international ambitions or events held there.
In Their Own Story
The source provides no details about any wrestling events, matches, or wrestlers at Wembley Arena. It does not describe any moments involving New Japan Pro Wrestling, the ring, or the experience of performing there. The source is entirely focused on the arena's construction, naming history, and musical performances.
Reader's Guide
Wembley Arena is a 12,500-seat indoor arena in Wembley, Greater London. It was built as the Empire Pool for the 1934 British Empire Games and hosted swimming events for the 1948 Summer Olympics. The modern arena is now used as a venue for music, comedy, family entertainment and sport. The building was designed by Sir Owen Williams with a reinforced concrete frame of three hinged arches spanning 240 feet (73 m), which was the largest concrete span of any similar structure in the world at that time. The source does not mention any wrestling events or NJPW use of the venue.
Did You Know?
- The building was originally called the Empire Pool and was built for the 1934 British Empire Games, where it held swimming events.
- The pool was last used for the 1948 Summer Olympics.
- The building was designed by engineer Sir Owen Williams without an architect, using cantilevers meeting in the middle to avoid internal pillars.
- In October 1976, the Empire Pool was awarded Grade II Listed status for its special architectural interest and technological innovation.
- The venue was renamed OVO Arena Wembley in early 2022 after SSE plc's naming rights ended.