For the past four decades, Thorn, a Zumtobel Group brand, has been lighting partner to Wembley Stadium connected by EE. In the most recent highlight of this long-term partnership, the specialist for outdoor and sports stadium lighting has now supplied the lighting solution for the Wembley Arch, a 133-metre high landmark structure that is visible across London. Thorn aspires to be the number one supplier of sports and stadium lighting and recently underlined that aim by concluding a Business Partner agreement with Wembley Stadium.

“Thorn can build on decades of experience in stadium lighting and we are particularly proud of being lighting partner to the legendary Wembley stadium ever since 1970. This expertise puts Thorn among the leading players in sports stadium lighting and will be expanding this position at international level. In the German-speaking markets in particular we see great growth potential for Thorn and we will be leveraging this potential through our new cross-brand sales approach,” says Zumtobel Group CEO Ulrich Schumacher.

Thorn, a Zumtobel Group brand, has been lighting partner to Wembley Stadium connected by EE. (Zumtobel/LEDinside)

Almost 41,000 luminaires installed 
Thorn has been lighting up the Empire Stadium – as Wembley was known at the time – since the 1970s. And when the new Wembley Stadium was opened in 2007, Thorn was the lighting partner responsible for its illumination. Almost 41,000 luminaires are installed at Wembley, the vast majority of them from Thorn. With the new lighting solution for the eye-catching Wembley Arch, which made its public debut on Tuesday evening, the stadium’s landmark structure now also appears in a whole new light. The specially developed LED lighting solution means that the arch can be lit up in the full spectrum of colours and with countless lighting scenarios.

Roger Maslin, Wembley National Stadium Ltd Managing Director, explains: “We can now use the arch to make big, bold and entertaining statements which can be seen right across London. With so many lighting scenes the possibilities are fantastic. From the St. George’s Cross and team colours to highlight goals for big games, to solid and moving colours for event lighting, to the corporate colours of our sponsor EE and charity partners. The lighting is transformational and exciting.”

The Wembley Arch – an iconic structure 
Standing 133m tall with a span of 315m and a diameter of 7.4m, the arch is the longest single-span roof structure in the world. It is so big that the London Eye could fit beneath it. When lit on a clear evening, the arch can be seen from 20 kilometres away. To facilitate installation, Thorn coordinated and designed a custom bracket to allow the existing fixings to be used. At the core of the lighting solution are the lighting controls that enable maximum use to be made of the rich and varied possibilities offered by the LED lighting system.