Multiplex: Wembley Stadium won't hold major event until next June

SYDNEY, Australia (AP): Hours after it was revealed that Multiplex will miss another deadline in the construction of London's new Wembley Stadium, the Australian building firm said it did not expect the venue to host a major event for almost 12 months.

Stadium owner Wembley National Stadium Ltd. (WNSL) on Monday said the September deadline for completion of the redevelopment could not be met and blamed Multiplex for the delays.

Mutliplex responded Tuesday by saying that the works were "substantially complete'' but the 90,000-seat, 757-million-pound (US$1.4 billion; euro1.1 billion) venue would not be ready to host a major sports event until WNSL had staged a series of test events to obtain the required approvals.

"The analysis has been reviewed with an expert in the operation of major stadia and indicates that it is unlikely that the stadium will be able to hold a test event for 90,000 spectators before June 2007,'' Multiplex said in a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange.

"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 there were some critical works and procedures that were the responsibility of WNSL that either had not started or were not completed.

The company said it had advised WNSL that it was entitled to extensions of time on the project to October 2007 and would take legal action to ensure it.

The problem-plagued stadium construction had been initially expected to be completed before last season's FA Cup final, but a new timetable set September as the completion date.

Mutliplex is incurring financial penalties for every day it fails to meet the original construction deadline.

Wembley Stadium looks ready for a soccer game, with the pitch laid and the goalposts erected. However builders still have to finish the roof, fix the drainage network and install seats and safety systems.

Wembley has been plagued by problems since it was decided eight years ago to demolish the old stadium and build a new one. It had originally been scheduled to be finished by late 2005.

Source: Malaysia Star