Wembley Stadium Leads The Way For UK Accessible Stadiums
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2024/05/15 - Updated: 2024/11/17
Publication Type: Informative
Topic: Disability Football Information - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: With the upcoming FA Cup Final and Champions League Final taking place at Wembley, we highlight the stadium's commitment to providing inclusive experiences for all fans. As Wembley Stadium prepares to host football's most anticipated events, including the UEFA Champions League and English FA Cup Final, its commitment to accessibility stands as a testament to its dedication to inclusivity.
Introduction
With some of the biggest events in world football taking place at Wembley Stadium in the next few weeks, ticket experts Seat Compare have decided to take a closer look at how it compares against other UK Stadiums. As Wembley Stadium prepares to host football's most anticipated events, including the UEFA Champions League and English FA Cup Final, its commitment to accessibility stands as a testament to its dedication to inclusivity.
Main Item
Key Findings
- Wembley has 147 accessible toilets within the stadium, making it one of the most accessible in the UK.
- With two dedicated sensory and inclusion rooms, aside from Villa Park, the most in any UK stadium.
- Wembley has 310 Places for Wheelchair Users, each with a personal assistant/companion seat.
- Old Trafford has doubled Wheelchair Spaces now to 278, only Wembley has more.
Ticket Pricing
Accessibility Tickets: (Wheelchair and Easy Access) for the UEFA Champions League final cost £60 / $70 / €75. Prices for the FA Cup Final are also similar prices.
Accessible Toilets: Wembley boasts an impressive 147 accessible toilets for fans. This commitment to accessibility ensures that all fans, regardless of mobility challenges, can enjoy the events without concern.
Sensory and Inclusion Rooms: Wembley offers two dedicated sensory and inclusion rooms at all live events. These spaces provide a sanctuary for fans who may require a reprieve from the sensory stimulation of the stadium environment, ensuring that everyone feels welcome and accommodated.
Wheelchair Accessibility: With 310 places for wheelchair users, each equipped with a personal assistant/companion seat, Wembley leads the pack in providing accessible seating options.
"It is great to put a spotlight on Wembley Stadium's exemplary commitment to accessibility. As we gear up for the FA Cup Final and Champions League Final, it's heartening to see Wembley leading the charge in providing inclusive experiences for all fans. With 147 accessible toilets, two dedicated sensory and inclusion rooms, and 310 places for wheelchair users, Wembley sets a gold standard for stadiums across the UK. These initiatives ensure that every fan, regardless of ability, can enjoy the magic of live football in comfort and safety." - Cian Ferguson from Seat-Compare.com
UK Stadium Accessibility Chart - (Including Wembley, (Portman Road) Ipswich Town & Leicester City (King Power Stadium))
| Stadium | Home Team | Capacity | Wheelchair user spaces | Easy Access | Accessible Toilets | Sensory room | Wheelchair % of Stadium Capacity |
| Wembley Stadium | England National Team | 90,000 | 310 | 310 | 147 | Two | 0.34 |
| Vitality Stadium | AFC Bournemouth | 11,329 | 298 | 15 | N/A | 2.63 | |
| Old Trafford | Manchester United | 74,310 | 278 | 278 | 33 | No Dedicated Room | 0.37 |
| Anfield | Liverpool | 54,000 | 263 | 252 | 34 | Yes | 0.49 |
| London Stadium | West Ham United | 60,000 | 262 | 773 | 49 | Yes | 0.44 |
| Emirates Stadium | Arsenal | 60,161 | 258 | 37 | yes | 0.43 | |
| Etihad Stadium | Manchester City | 55,535 | 255 | 42 | Yes | 0.46 | |
| Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | Tottenham Hotspur | 62,062 | 250 | 500 | 66 | Yes | 0.40 |
| Stamford Bridge | Chelsea | 40,341 | 223 | 356 | 16 | Yes | 0.55 |
| AMEX Stadium | Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. | 30,666 | 221 | 727 | 37 | Yes | 0.72 |
| King Power Stadium | Leicester City | 32,273 | 197 | 550 | 23 | No | 0.61 |
| Goodison Park | Everton | 39,221 | 172 | 161 | 23 | OffSite | 0.44 |
| Turf Moor | Burnley | 21,944 | 153 | 181 | 17 | TBC | 0.70 |
| Molineux Stadium | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 31,700 | 139 | 702 | 26 | Yes | 0.44 |
| Community Stadium | Brentford | 17,250 | 138 | 23 | Yes | 0.80 | |
| Selhurst Park | Crystal Palace | 26,074 | 128 | 289 | 1 | Yes | 0.49 |
| Portman Road | Ipswich Town | 30,311 | 113 | 298 | 14 | No | 0.37 |
| Villa Park | Aston Villa | 42,657 | 105 | 264 | 13 | Two | 0.25 |
| Craven Cottage | Fulham | 24,917 | 103 | 106 | 9 | Yes | 0.41 |
| Bramall Lane | Sheffield United | 31,884 | 77 | 110 | 12 | Yes | 0.24 |
| City Ground | Nottingham Forest | 30,445 | 74 | 8 | No | 0.24 | |
| Kenilworth Road | Luton Town | 10,413 | 28 | 40 | 2 | No | 0.27 |
Seat Compare looked at data from all Premier League stadiums including two of the newly promoted teams for the 2024/2025 season. We analysed data including the following:
- Stadium capacity
- Number of Wheelchair spaces
- Number of Easy Access spaces
- Number of Sensory rooms
- Number of Disabled Toilets
- Number of Wheelchair spaces per capacity (%)
Data was sourced from accessibility statements and pages found from each stadium respective websites as well as accessibility website Level Playing Field.
Related Information
- EURO 2024: Top Football Stadiums with Best Accessibility: Ranking the most accessible stadiums for UEFA EURO 2024 in Germany using the percentrank method based on: wheelchair seating, accessible seating, toilets, parking, and services.
- The Most Accessible UK Premier League Stadiums: Analyzing accessible tickets, number of accessible entrances, lifts, toilets, and wheelchair seats to reveal which Premier League ground is the most accessible.
- Improving Access for Disabled at Sports Stadiums: UK government calling on disabled sports fans to share experiences of viewing live sport at stadiums and sports grounds across Britain.
- Captioning for Deaf and Hearing Impaired at Sports and Entertainment Venues: Coast 2 Coast Captioning launches to offer captioning for deaf and hard-of-hearing at sports and entertainment venues.
Author Credentials: Ian was born and grew up in Australia. Since then, he has traveled and lived in numerous locations and currently resides in Montreal, Canada. Ian is the founder, a writer, and editor in chief for Disabled World. Ian believes in the Social Model of Disability, a belief developed by disabled people in the 1970s. The social model changes the focus away from people's impairments and towards removing barriers that disabled people face daily. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and achievements, check out his bio.