Case study Wembley Stadium

Bison produced the vast quantities of precast concrete specified for the £17 million contract for the new national stadium at Wembley.

In 1998, following a pitch process, the company was selected by Wembley National Stadium Ltd to fulfil the concrete requirements for the building of the new stadium.

The project famously came under intense public media and political scrutiny, but Bison’s manufacturing facilities successfully produced the vast quantities of precast concrete specified within the planned time-scale.

Casting commenced in May 2003 and continued until 2005, with all elements delivered to budget and on time. The 90,000-capacity stadium required over 90,600m² of 200mm and 150mm deep hollowcore flooring and over 13,000m³ of precast concrete to form 54 kilometres of terracing, ancillary steps, walls and stair flights.

Bison’s Project Manager, who was heavily involved in the project throughout, commented: “This was an extremely challenging project, which was ultimately a great success from the Bison team’s perspective, as we were able to supply the elements required effectively and on time utilising the skills and cooperation of all departments and key external suppliers.

“Wembley has been an amazing experience for us all, involving major civil engineering works with an immense building job underneath. It is only when people step inside this vast sporting arena that they will actually realise the magnitude of the project and the very uniqueness of the outstanding national facility that it provides.”