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Square of FameMADONNA UNVEILS FIRST HOLLYWOOD STYLE PLAQUE AT WEMBLEY’S SQUARE OF FAME
Madonna has officially opened Arena Square, the new public space at Quintain Estates and Development PLC’s £2.5 billion regeneration of Wembley, with the unveiling of a bronze plaque of her handprints. The plaque will be the first of a strictly limited collection of handprints of global stars which will create a Square of Fame that will act as a major attraction for visitors to London, in the style of the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Hollywood. The unveiling of the plaque coincides with the first of eight nights at Wembley Arena of Madonna’s Confessions Tour, which is taking place at the venue on the 1st, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th 15th and 16th August. On unveiling her handprints at the Square of Fame, Madonna comments: “I’m very excited about my upcoming Wembley shows and am honoured to be the first performer to unveil a plaque at the Square of Fame. I look forward to seeing other artists adding their handprints alongside mine” Nick Shattock, Deputy Chief Executive of Quintain Estates and Development PLC comments: “Wembley is a venue for legends and we wanted to create a Hollywood style feature to honour our most successful performers. Madonna is officially the greatest female star in the world and we are delighted that she is the first of what will only be a few major names, to be celebrated in the Square of Fame. £47 million has transformed Wembley Arena and created the Square of Fame, and Madonna with 5 Grammy’s, 12 UK No 1’s and £200 million of album sales sets the standard.” The Square of Fame, which fronts the transformed Wembley Arena incorporates Europe’s largest interactive fountain, lighting and music experience. The Square of Fame (the size of Leicester Square) sets the scene for Quintain’s transformation of the area with the regeneration of 70 acres of land around the new Wembley Stadium into 8 million sq ft of residential, retail, commercial and leisure space. The scheme will form the largest regeneration project undertaken in London by a single developer and is unique in providing true mixed-use development on an unprecedented scale. The development will see the creation of up to 7,000 new jobs, provide high quality housing, improve facilities for the local community and attract an estimated £150 million per year into the local economy.
On unveiling her handprints at the Square of Fame, Madonna comments: "I'm very excited about my upcoming Wembley shows and am honoured to be the first performer to unveil a plaque at the Square of Fame. I look forward to seeing other artists adding their handprint alongside mine" |
On unveiling his handprints at the Square of Fame, Cliff commented " Bus pass, pipe and slippers? Don't you believe it. The buzz I get from performing to a live audience is just as real and exciting as ever it was - and hopefully I've a few years left in me yet! These concerts around the UK and Ireland are the first Arena tour I've done for years and it's fantastic to think I'll be playing in all to nearly 200,000 people."
Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt join Madonna and Cliff Richard in having their permanent cast of their hands in the Square of Fame. The Status Quo members unveiled their plaque ahead of their performance at the Wembley Arena, as they near the close of their Just Doin' It UK tour in this, their 40th anniversary year. Rossi and Parfitt of Quo said: “We are thrilled to be honoured in this way. We will certainly watch the development of the Square of Fame with interest and will be trying out the other hands for size next time we play the Arena!”
On unveiling her handprints, definitely the smallest to date and probably for some time to come, Kylie commented: "It was an honour to be asked to leave my handprints on Wembley's Square of Fame and it was a thrill to see the final result in bronze!"
Speaking at the casting ceremony, Stephen commented: "I am thrilled to be the first sportsman to leave my handprints on Wembley's Square of Fame and I am determined to get my hands on the Masters title once more."
On unveiling her handprints, Dolly commented: "It is wonderful to be performing here at Wembley and an honour to leave my handprint in the Square of Fame. I never realised just how small my hands are!"
On unveiling his handprints, Bryan commented: "Playing this year at Wembley marks my 25th concert here and I am honoured to leave my handprints in the Square of Fame for posterity!"
When presented with his handprints, Lionel commented: "I am thrilled to be honoured in this way. Wembley has always been a very special place for me and I'm touched to think that a part of me will stay here forever."
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