Wembley stadium 'not ready for 2007 Cup Final'
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Your support makes all the difference.Wembley stadium is "unlikely" to open for business until at least June next year, builders Multiplex revealed today.
In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange, the firm predicted the stadium would not be finished this year and may not be ready to hold a test event for spectators before June 2007.
The delay would mean next year's FA Cup Final will again be played at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
The stadium was due to open in August 2005 but the Australian construction firm announced a series of delays which forced the Football Association to keep the FA Cup Final in Cardiff and arrange England fixtures at Old Trafford.
Wembley National Stadium Limited (WNSL) stated yesterday it remained confident the rebuilt stadium would be complete by the end of the year, even if Multiplex missed its September deadline.
However, Multiplex said the likely completion date had been pushed back because it said WSNL had not yet started work which it was responsible for.
The statement read: "WNSL is responsible for obtaining approvals from various authorities in order to ensure the stadium is fully operational for events.
"To obtain these approvals a series of test events will be required at the stadium to demonstrate that the integration of the safety and control facilities are working properly such that a 90,000 spectator event can take place.
"Unless and until WNSL hold and successfully complete this series of test events, and obtain the required approvals, Multiplex will be prevented from achieving practical completion."
Multiplex said it consulted an expert in the operation of major stadia who indicated it was unlikely that the stadium will be able to hold a test event before June 2007.
It added it had advised WNSL of its entitlement to extensions of time to October 2007.
The stadium works were "now substantially complete" with the exception of the last remaining seats which will be installed in early September, the statement said.
Work remains to be done on drainage, the roof and building management systems.
WNSL chief executive Michael Cunnah said yesterday that a team of more than 6,200 people were geared up to begin the final stages of training inside the stadium when Multiplex had finished its works.
He said: "At that point we will be able to enter the stadium to start the handover process, begin our final training and carry out limited works which include the installation of radio communications systems, mobile cash machines and national flags.
"These items will be completed at the same time as we prepare for the test events which will precede our first full capacity event."
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