The SSE Arena, Wembley celebrates busiest year on record

15 January 2019 - Press release

The SSE Arena, Wembley has reported 2018 as its busiest year on record since reopening in 2006, welcoming one million visitors through its legendary doors.
 
157 performances took place at London’s most intimate arena in 2018, getting crowds closer to the action at a host of unforgettable events including the world premiere of the Golden Globe winning film Bohemian Rhapsody, three sold out ‘in the round’ nights for Arcade Fire, the televised final of The X Factor, the biggest independent pro wrestling event in England for 30 years in the form of PROGRESS’ ‘Hello Wembley’, the first ever all-nighter from drum’n’bass legend Andy C, the biggest ever Bollywood event held at the arena from Arijit Singh, an exclusive Smashing Pumpkins show, George Ezra’s biggest headline concert to date and a sold out show for Slayer as part of their historic final world tour.
 
Venue developments in 2018 included the opening of the brand new 200 capacity Empire Bar & Grill and accompanying 50 capacity VIP Empire Lounge, both incorporating a modern twist on an art deco concept into their styling, conjuring up vivid memories of The SSE Arena, Wembley’s rich history and a new venue app was launched with 12,000 downloads to date, allowing customers to beat the queues with dedicated app collection lanes at food and drink outlets. Also, five primary dressing rooms were fully refurbished.
 
SSE continue to be the venue’s naming partner, investing in more rewarding fan experiences throughout the venue including free in-auditorium WiFi, free mobile phone charging points and social activations. For their customers who are members of the SSE Reward program, they also offer exclusive access to ticket presales, a dedicated VIP entrance and customer lounge as well as money-can’t-buy experiences.
 
John Drury, VP and General Manager of The SSE Arena, Wembley, said: “Our reputation as one of the UK’s most iconic concert and events venues rang true in 2018. With a stunning array of events across music, comedy, sport and entertainment, we helped to create memories that will last a lifetime. Any venue is defined by the people who run it and I’m proud that our dedicated team delivered such a strong and varied year. Thanks as well to all the artists, agents, managers, promoters and our partners who have of course been a key part of our success. Our building is 85 years old this year, but constant reinvention and innovation ensure we are ready to hit more heights through 2019 and beyond.”
 
Fans can now vote for their favourite live events held at The SSE Arena, Wembley in 2018 as part of the SSE Live Awards at http://www.ssereward.com/.