Millennium and Wembley Stadiums Compared

I’m not comparing anything, but their use for football, as I’ve experienced both in the last few days.

I’d say Wembley is very Jaguar, whereas the much less expediently-built stadium in Cardiff is more Audi, with more concrete and wood and less marble.

On the other hand, the sight lines in Cardiff, may even be better to those at Wembley. You also seem to closer to the action.  I wonder, if this is because it is a much squarer stadium than Wembley. Only an architect with experience of sports grounds would know.

Food in both stadia is the usual gluten-rich junk, but then as the Millennium Stadium is in the centre of Cardiff, anybody who like me is choosy with his food will eat off-stadium. That is not really an option at Wembley, so I always eat before I leave home or in the centre of London.

The Millennium Stadium does lose on access to the trains, whereas Wembley has improved greatly in the last ten years.  I believe Cardiff Central station is being rebuilt, so hopefully, better access will come. But a nearly three hour wait for a train to London is unacceptable, even if First Great Western were their usual helpful self, even handing out bottled water.

Food At Wembley Tonight

Breakfast on BBC Radio 5 Live was talking about the overpriced snacks at the stadium. Here’s a letter I sent in.

It’s not only over-priced, but as a coeliac, there’s nothing there that is gluten-free. So the last time I went I starved. Scunthorpe is much better!

I suppose UEFA have got to  raise the money to fund their lifestyle someway.  So they’re not as much a disgrace as FIFA, but give them time, to either sort themselves out or learn.

The Wembley Pitch

We get rather blase at Ipswich, as our pitch is often voted one of the best in the country.

I would have thought that the pitch at Newcastle would not be of a good standard, as the pitch is surrounded by high stands and Newcastle weather is not as good as that in London or Ipswich.

The Pitch at St. James' Park

This picture was taken around four o’oclock and you can see that it is mainly in shadow.  Surely, this isn’t good for grass!

Now I didn’t even walk on the pitch, but from my lofty place in the sky, it looked to be in good condition and the players didn’t seem to slip at all.

So if they can get it right in the more difficult circumstances at Newcastle, why can’t they get it right at Wembley?