Brent Council has formally requested legal powers to impose a new ticket tax and visitor levy on events at Wembley Stadium and Arena, aiming to generate revenue to support local services and community improvements amid rising visitor numbers.
Brent Council is moving forward with plans to introduce a new “ticket tax” and a visitor levy aimed at those attending events at Wembley Stadium and Arena. The initiative seeks to generate additional revenue to fund local improvements and alleviate the pressures brought by the borough’s growing event scene. With headline acts such as Coldplay and Oasis performing this summer, the council is looking to leverage the influx of visitors to ensure the benefits extend beyond the venues and into the community.
Council Leader Cllr Muhammed Butt has formally written to the government, urging it to grant the council the legal powers necessary to impose a “fair and modest discretionary charge” on both overnight hotel stays and event ticket sales. He emphasises the need to work alongside the Greater London Authority and other boroughs to explore the feasibility of these levies. The objective is to support grassroots music and cultural institutions that underpin the wider creative economy, contributing to the cultivation of future talent that will fill stadiums and arenas across the country.
This push reflects concerns among residents who report that they “do not see a proportionate share of the benefits from Wembley’s success.” The council highlights a “critical funding gap” in meeting the costs associated with hosting major events while maintaining local services and quality of life for residents. The increased number of events, while a cause for celebration, also exacerbates challenges such as noise, congestion, waste management, public safety, and environmental enforcement.
Unlike many European counterparts, where tourist taxes are commonly implemented to fund local services, the legal framework in England does not currently allow councils or central government to impose such levies directly. A potential workaround involves establishing an Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID), a model utilised in cities like Manchester and Liverpool, but this requires a business referendum and targets business rate payers rather than visitors. Brent’s request for “further devolution of fiscal powers” represents a broader call for new legislation that would empower local authorities to capture more income generated by tourism and large-scale events.
The council proposes that this locally collected, ring-fenced visitor levy would be a “fair and progressive” means of ensuring that tourism and high-footfall events sustainably contribute to the communities hosting them. Funds raised through this levy would be earmarked for environmental improvements and enhancing public services, addressing the increased strain on local infrastructure caused by the influx of visitors.
Should the government approve these measures, attendees at Wembley could see higher costs for tickets and accommodation, but the council argues this approach makes economic sense for the borough. It aligns with Brent’s broader strategy to reinvest locally generated revenue into community benefit, ensuring residents share in the economic and cultural vitality that major events bring.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.mylondon.news/news/north-london-news/plans-ticket-tax-wembley-stadium-32164988 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.brent.gov.uk/news-in-brent/2025/july/calls-for-visitor-levy-to-boost-benefit-of-big-venues-for-residents – Brent Council is proposing a visitor levy to fund local services impacted by major events at venues like Wembley Stadium. The levy aims to address challenges such as increased noise, congestion, and waste, ensuring that the benefits of these events are shared with residents. The council seeks government approval to implement this discretionary charge on hotel and short-stay accommodations, with funds earmarked for environmental improvements and public services.
- https://www.londonworld.com/news/wembley-stadium-and-arena-fans-could-be-charged-more-under-brent-council-ticket-tax-and-visitor-levy-plan-5248795 – Brent Council plans to introduce a ‘ticket tax’ and ‘visitor levy’ to generate additional funds from events at Wembley Stadium and Arena. The council aims to support grassroots music and cultural institutions by adding a small levy to ticket prices and hotel accommodations. This initiative seeks to address the financial pressures of hosting large events and ensure that local residents benefit from the area’s success.
- https://feeds.bbci.co.uk/news/articles/cy9xyxy2r5xo – Brent Council is considering a new tax on overnight visitors to fund local improvements. The proposed levy would apply to hotel and short-stay accommodations, with funds used to address challenges like noise, congestion, and waste caused by events at Wembley Stadium. The council seeks government approval to implement this discretionary charge, aiming to ensure that the benefits of major events are shared with residents.
- https://www.the-independent.com/travel/news-and-advice/wembley-stadium-tourist-tax-brent-b2786236.html – Brent Council is exploring the introduction of a visitor levy on hotels and short-stay accommodations to fund local services impacted by events at Wembley Stadium. The proposed tax aims to address challenges such as increased noise, congestion, and waste, ensuring that the benefits of major events are shared with residents. The council seeks government approval to implement this discretionary charge, with funds earmarked for environmental improvements and public services.
- https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/new-tourism-tax-proposal-for-wembley-stadium-visitors-what-it-means-for-you/ – Brent Council is considering a new tourist tax for overnight visitors to fund infrastructure upgrades in the area. The proposed levy aims to address challenges like increased noise, congestion, and waste caused by events at Wembley Stadium. Funds raised would be used for environmental improvements and public services, ensuring that the benefits of major events are shared with residents. The council seeks government approval to implement this discretionary charge.
- https://secretldn.com/brent-council-tourist-tax-wembley-hotels/ – Brent Council is proposing a visitor levy on hotels and short-stay accommodations to fund local services impacted by events at Wembley Stadium. The proposed tax aims to address challenges such as increased noise, congestion, and waste, ensuring that the benefits of major events are shared with residents. The council seeks government approval to implement this discretionary charge, with funds earmarked for environmental improvements and public services.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, with the earliest known publication date being 10 July 2025. The report is based on a press release from Brent Council, which typically warrants a high freshness score. However, similar content has appeared across multiple outlets, including low-quality sites and clickbait networks, indicating potential recycling. The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The earliest known publication date is 10 July 2025. ([feeds.bbci.co.uk](https://feeds.bbci.co.uk/news/articles/cy9xyxy2r5xo?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
Direct quotes from Cllr Muhammed Butt appear in earlier material, suggesting potential reuse. The wording of the quotes varies slightly across sources, indicating possible paraphrasing. No online matches were found for some quotes, raising the possibility of original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from reputable organisations, including Brent Council’s official website and BBC News, lending credibility to the information presented.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about the proposed ticket tax and visitor levy align with recent discussions and reports from credible sources. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The tone and language are consistent with official communications from Brent Council.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents recent developments regarding Brent Council’s proposal for a ticket tax and visitor levy at Wembley events. While the information is sourced from reputable organisations, the recycling of content across multiple outlets, including low-quality sites, and the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets raise concerns about originality and potential disinformation. The slight variations in quoted material and the absence of online matches for some quotes suggest a mix of reused and possibly original content.
