Having already written about two of London’s “big three” venues – Wembley Stadium and The O2 – it’s time to complete the set with a review of the smaller OVO Arena Wembley.
Located just across from the Stadium, the Arena is much more modest in size and comparable to The O2. For major international acts it’s usually a case of Arena vs O2, while Wembley Stadium is reserved for only the very top tier of performers.
The venue was originally called Wembley Arena, but like many venues it regularly changes name with sponsorship deals. Its current sponsor is OVO Energy, a UK energy company. Back when it was the SSE Arena, I once redeemed IHG points for concert tickets; nowadays the sponsorship has switched to Accor. This time, I redeemed Accor points for a Jimmy O Yang comedy show: just 4,500 points for two tickets, an excellent deal!
The Arena is right opposite the Stadium, and it only took me five minutes to stroll there from home. Most guests enter through the main doors, but if you hold any American Express card you can use a separate fast-track lane. Be aware though: just like the Stadium, the Arena enforces a strict bag policy and backpacks generally aren’t allowed.
As a “VIP guest,” I entered through a side entrance next to the Hilton. It looked the part, just missing a red carpet.
Accor’s VIP tickets usually include access to the Heroes Lounge, a rather small, dimly lit space. The one advantage is that it’s right next to the floor with a window overlooking the stage.
But on this occasion we were “upgraded” to the Coors Lounge.
After getting my wristband checked, I went upstairs to find what looked more like a nightclub. The décor wasn’t fancy, but it was spacious.
Before the show started it was packed, nearly every seat taken, but once the lights dimmed the lounge emptied out.
Each guest received one food voucher and three drink vouchers.
Drinks were generous, but the food portion was tiny – no way you’d be full from that. After the show I ended up grabbing a kebab to finish the night.
Accessing the main floor from the lounge meant going downstairs, which wasn’t the most convenient if you wanted to go back and forth. The general concourse also had food stands (including pizza and other stuff), and I believe the vouchers worked there too – probably a better option than the lounge snacks.
The All Terrace VIP section was clearly marked, though I still wandered around like an idiot before finding it, since the seat numbers didn’t map neatly.
There are only eight seats in total, meaning Accor releases just four pairs of tickets per event.
The seats themselves were excellent: close to the stage with a clear view, much better than the Virgin or Marriott boxes at The O2.
In front of each row was a small table, and staff regularly came by to check if you wanted to order anything, so there was no need to rush through all your vouchers before the performance started.
Here’s the view during the show:
The seats were great, though of course this isn’t a private box like at The O2, so you don’t get quite the same level of flexibility.
Compared with The O2’s VIP experience, Wembley Arena’s version feels quite different and each has its strengths. The main downside with Accor’s partnership is that they only release tickets for a limited number of shows. That said, the pricing is fantastic, and because Accor points are less common than Marriott or Virgin, the tickets are usually easier to snag.
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