Usually I'm right on board with preferring the traditional grounds that have more character... but I think I prefer the new one. Largely because I hate grounds where the goals are a huge distance from the crowd. There is a lot of annoying bullshit surrounding the new one though, definitely. I do think we get a little silly sometimes over new grounds.. they obviously need time to build up history, and it's tough to compare with a ground with decades of history and memories. But all the same, it does seem like we're going to ultimately have a pretty sterile collection of English stadiums, when so, so many of them appear almost identical. Will eventually be a large collection of different sized bowls of the same design, 10/15/30k and so on..
The new one ain't got any vibe & is full of the prawn sandwich brigade for England games. Maybe what we need in that place is the World Cup or Euro's to really break it in over a month
Well I am one of the few that prefers the new one then. As great as the old one might have been decades ago im only old enough to remember going when it was a decrpit pile of shit. No disrespect as it was still a cracking stadium and in its day it was the best, but we needed a new one and I love it. Ive been a few times and when evryone actually sings the noise is phenominal. The only bad thing in the new one is the amount of corporate tickets put aside. I think the cl final last year saw nearly a third of the capacity? go to corporate c**ts. Its should be all about giving football to the fans and that imo is where the new wembley is light years behind the old. Its pricey too!
only went to the old one once at the play off final and i thought it was a complete shit hole . rather have the new one myself
The old Wembley, before going all-seater, was just something special. I'm lucky enough to have been there for a cup final (Spurs v Coventry in 1987) and it was just a different level to anything else I've been to. I think the new Wembley is better than what the old Wembley became though. A lot of the things people dislike about the new place, such as the corporates, the intrusive music, the whole "plastic" feel to the place, is more about the way it's run that the stadium itself. One thing that isn't in any doubt though - the old Wembley was majestic from the outside. The new one just looks like a conference centre.
Not been to the new Wembley and to be honest I don't want to, looks horrendous, totally summing up the modern day plazzy money obsessed era. Loved the old Wembley, even though it was a bit dumpish. As Erasmus says, before it went all seater the terraces were great, steps were about 2 feet big so you always had a decent view no matter where you were and how tall you were. Went there a good 6/7 times.
The "old" Wembley was better in the following ways ....... 1) Unique look of the place, instantly recognisable, both inside and outside. New Wembley looks like so many other stadia. 2) Tunnel behind the goal, leading to that protracted entrance of the 2 teams. 3) Great atmosphere, with 100,000 fans and huge terraces. 4) 39 steps and the Royal Box, players going upto receive the trophy were always in sight and the ascent didn't take longer than the match had. 5) Didn't have that awful empty ring of seats, when Wembley Members aren't there; nor all the corporate boxes. The "new" Wembley is better in 2 ways ....... 1) The removal of the running track has brought the fan closer to the pitch. 2) The toilet and catering facilities are much improved.
Other than the Arch, I think it looks very similar to many other modern sports stadia around the world
The old Wembley in some areas was shit to view the pitch, sitting behind the goal v Stockport i couldn't see a thing. Seats too close together . mine felt like it was 20 years out of date and YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS, you were made to sit down or be booted out by the stewards.
Ok, name them and you cant say 'without the arch' as thats just like saying 'without the towers' with the old wembley. its a distinguishing feature.
My Dad went to the old Wembley [1996] when we played Darlington, in the Division 3 playoff final. I've said to myself I won't be going to Wembley until Argyle play there. I might be waiting a long time..
Well the old becuase in building it demloshing it and using it the Old wembley stadium never claimed a single human life as far as I know of, however the new wembley during building it a work man was killed building the stadium and no stadium is worth the death of anybody (however good the stadium is)! Patrick O'Sullivan, 54, originally from Cork, Ireland, died when a 303kg scaffolding platform collapsed and fell on him in January 2004 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/firm-fined-over-wembley-stadium-death-1739590.html
Whilst I've never been to either, I preferred the Old Wembley, just for the look of the ground, the towers, and you could sense the atmosphere on the TV. I just don't like the look of the New Wembley.
