Post by Taxigirl on May 12, 2005 7:59:06 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4538109.stm
By John Sinnott
The Football Association has held talks with the Millennium Stadium on staging the 2006 FA Cup Final if Wembley Stadium's redevelopment is delayed.
The Millennium Stadium initiated the talks with the FA, which remains confident that Wembley will host next year's FA Cup Final on 13 May.
But Wembley chief executive Michael Cunnah said if the stadium was late "it would not be the end of the world".
He added: "Whenever Wembley is delivered we will be delighted."
And Cunnah, chief of Wembley National Stadium Limited, stated that he remains confident Wembley will be completed on time.
"Multiplex (the building contractors) tell us that everything is on schedule.
"The main thing is that we are building a magnificent stadium for an agreed price.
"Our monitors are in place, of course, but the real people we rely on are Multiplex."
A Millennium Stadium spokesman told BBC Sport: "We approached the FA saying we would be keen to host the 2006 final.
"We're a preferred option for them, but they're confident on Wembley."
The Millennium Stadium will host the 2005 FA Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester United on 21 May, after hosting the previous four finals.
"We are all aware, as regards 13 May 2006, if Wembley is not ready then the Millennium Stadium is first in line," said a Millennium Stadium spokesman.
"For us it's a commercial judgment as to how long we can keep that date open.
"If somebody came to us next week asking to use the Millennium Stadium we would have to take a serious look at that offer."
Between January and May 2006, Wembley Stadium must obtain an operating licence from Brent Council in order to stage next year's FA Cup Final.
"We are working towards staging the 2006 FA Cup Final. That hasn't changed. That's always been our plan." said a WNSL spokesperson.
"We don't envisage any problem gaining the operating licence," the spokesperson added.
Before May 2006, WNSL plans to hold four "ramp-up" events to test the stadium's safety, organisational and power systems.
The new Wembley - which will cost £757m and seat 90,000 - will be the largest stadium in the world in which all the seats are covered.
It will have a retractable roof covering the seating areas - but not the pitch - which can be opened to allow sun, wind and rain on to the turf when events are not being staged.
By John Sinnott
The Football Association has held talks with the Millennium Stadium on staging the 2006 FA Cup Final if Wembley Stadium's redevelopment is delayed.
The Millennium Stadium initiated the talks with the FA, which remains confident that Wembley will host next year's FA Cup Final on 13 May.
But Wembley chief executive Michael Cunnah said if the stadium was late "it would not be the end of the world".
He added: "Whenever Wembley is delivered we will be delighted."
And Cunnah, chief of Wembley National Stadium Limited, stated that he remains confident Wembley will be completed on time.
"Multiplex (the building contractors) tell us that everything is on schedule.
"The main thing is that we are building a magnificent stadium for an agreed price.
"Our monitors are in place, of course, but the real people we rely on are Multiplex."
A Millennium Stadium spokesman told BBC Sport: "We approached the FA saying we would be keen to host the 2006 final.
"We're a preferred option for them, but they're confident on Wembley."
The Millennium Stadium will host the 2005 FA Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester United on 21 May, after hosting the previous four finals.
"We are all aware, as regards 13 May 2006, if Wembley is not ready then the Millennium Stadium is first in line," said a Millennium Stadium spokesman.
"For us it's a commercial judgment as to how long we can keep that date open.
"If somebody came to us next week asking to use the Millennium Stadium we would have to take a serious look at that offer."
Between January and May 2006, Wembley Stadium must obtain an operating licence from Brent Council in order to stage next year's FA Cup Final.
"We are working towards staging the 2006 FA Cup Final. That hasn't changed. That's always been our plan." said a WNSL spokesperson.
"We don't envisage any problem gaining the operating licence," the spokesperson added.
Before May 2006, WNSL plans to hold four "ramp-up" events to test the stadium's safety, organisational and power systems.
The new Wembley - which will cost £757m and seat 90,000 - will be the largest stadium in the world in which all the seats are covered.
It will have a retractable roof covering the seating areas - but not the pitch - which can be opened to allow sun, wind and rain on to the turf when events are not being staged.