£800m bid for Wembley

[Adam R]

Not sure the nation has an affinity to the stadium so selling wouldnt cause a national outcry on an emotional scale.

But having spent millions of taxpayers money to build it to now sell would need full transparency on where the funds are re-used.

The purchase price seems a bit low as well given that in todays money the ground cost in excess of £1bn.

This will show where the FA's priorities lay.

 

[Martyn]

You have got to ask the question, why haven't the FA, invested a large amount in grassroots football before now.

 

[andyr1963]

What's iconic about it?

The arch gives it an immediately recognisable structure. I don't know of another similar stadium design.

 

[Clarke B]

What's iconic about it?

What you mean apart from being the 2nd largest stadium in Europe and having a bloody massive arch ? Design wise it's the most superior stadium in the UK. Part of the problem of the atmosphere is down to the amount of tourists (England games) and the part timer jester hat/facepaint glory hunter (Playoff games + Cup finals), plus the expense of it all - although not out of the world compared to other London experiences.

 

[bringonthemilkman]

The FA have been milking fans for money for the last 11 years. Have you seen prices for FA Cup Final? £ 145 !!
Wembley used to be special but now with semi finals there and Arsenal and Spurs having used it for home games it’s just another ground in London.
Even then the FA are only making enough to pay the interest on what it cost to build. Let England go on Tour OldTrafford, St James Park (once they have finished the away end) WHL, London Stadium, .... plenty to choose from.
Sell it with the guarantee that money will go to grass roots projects

 

[Lundan Cabbie]

By the time they pay off the debt still owed, how much will be left for grass roots projects?

 

[Brussels Bureaucrat]

By the time they pay off the debt still owed, how much will be left for grass roots projects?

Exactly. Does anyone know how much is still owed?

I'm not entirely against the idea of selling Wembley though - for one thing it'll be nice to have more meaningful England games outside London again, and perhaps the reintroduction of FA Cup semi-finals at club grounds.