Wembley Stadium has been given the green light to host a one-day NFL fan zone this weekend, ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ clash with the Houston Texans.
The fan zone will take over the Green Car Park, off First Way, on Sunday (October 18), running from 9.30am to 9.30pm with live entertainment, food, drinks and competitions for thousands of American football fans.
It is the latest in a series of major events at the national stadium this autumn, which continues to draw huge crowds to north-west London.
Licence approved
Wembley National Stadium Ltd received approval from Brent Council’s Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee after a short debate on Monday (October 12).
The application sought permission for live and recorded music and the sale of alcohol at the event, which has been timed to coincide with the divisional rivalry game between the Jaguars and the Texans.
While the fan zone is an annual event — now in its fourth year, always held in the Green Car Park — a nearby resident initially objected to the plans, citing concerns about the number of attendees, noise and the sale of alcohol.
Most of those concerns were addressed during the application process, though the resident remained opposed to alcohol sales at the event.
Capacity and safety measures
The fan zone’s capacity will be limited to fewer than 3,250 attendees to ensure safety.
Organisers reassured the licensing committee that the event would not be open-air, tight security would be maintained, and noise would be monitored throughout the day.
The Green Car Park fan zone will offer food, drinks, live entertainment and competitions, while other areas across the Wembley Stadium site will be used for amenities such as merchandise.
In response to concerns about alcohol sales potentially causing public nuisance, the organisers said they had liaised with the Met Police regarding the day’s conditions and were “content” with the plans. They also pointed to a public spaces protection order in place around the stadium.
Alcohol rules
During the licensing meeting, one councillor questioned why alcohol was being sold at the event at all.
A representative from Wembley Stadium said a four-drink limit would be implemented, with trained staff enforcing a Challenge 25 policy — meaning anyone who looks under 25 will be asked for proof of age when buying alcohol.
NFL at Wembley
Wembley Stadium has been the spiritual home of the NFL in the UK for nearly two decades, hosting regular-season games since 2007. The Jacksonville Jaguars, in particular, have developed a devoted London following through their annual appearances.
The Jaguars v Texans matchup is an AFC South divisional rivalry, adding extra spice to this weekend’s game. Divisional games carry additional weight in the race for playoff spots, and the Wembley crowd is expected to be in full voice.
Fan zones have become a staple of the NFL’s London games, giving supporters without match tickets a place to soak up the atmosphere. With the event running from morning until night, fans can make a full day of it before and after the game.
Getting there
Wembley Stadium is served by three stations: Wembley Park (Jubilee and Metropolitan lines), Wembley Central (Bakerloo line and London Overground) and Wembley Stadium station (Chiltern Railways).
Fans heading to the fan zone should allow extra time, as the area around the stadium gets extremely busy on NFL game days. The Green Car Park is located off First Way, a short walk from Wembley Park station.
London Streets has been covering the Wembley house fire that put three people in hospital earlier today, as well as major disruption across south London.
