The first Wembley Stadium, originally known as the Empire Stadium, was opened 28 March 1923 by King George V, in time for the British Empire Exhibition of 1924. The architects were Sir John Simpson and Maxwell Ayrton, and the head engineer Sir Owen Williams.
That stadium was demolished 2002-3. The new stadium, on the same site opened in 2007.
Prior to the Stadium arriving the Wembley Park area had been a sizeable amusement park with facilities for various sports: cricket, football, track running, golf, trotting; and leisure activities: tea pagodas, bandstands, a lake, a variety theatre. Served by the new Wembley Park station, it was officially opened in May 1894, by its instigator Edward Watkin (1819-1901).
Watkins wanted to build a huge tower to rival the Eiffel Tower. This was begun on the site now occupied by the Stadium. The foundations and the first stage were complete when it was opened to the public in 1896. But it failed to draw the crowds; the marshy ground caused it to tilt; Watkins suffered a stroke. It was demolished in 1904 and the Empire Stadium was built on the site.
