A mural of an athlete carrying an Olympic torch to mark the 1948 Games is one of the works hidden by advertsThe artworks, depicting major events related to the arena, were created when the approach to the north-west London ground was pedestrianised ahead of Euro 1996.
In 2013 Brent Council agreed a lease with developers Quintain for advertisements to be put on top of the mosaics.The council's cabinet voted unanimously to continue the agreement, which is expected to generate at least £400,000 for the local authority over four years. The covered scenes depict a torch-carrying athlete with the Olympic flag, marking the 1948 Olympics; the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team, who played in Wembley Arena; and Michael Jackson's record-breaking stadium concerts in the 1980s.Adverts have covered the tile murals under the Bobby Moore Bridge and along Olympic Way, as seen during a 2014 NFL matchHe gave a presentation at the council’s cabinet meeting emphasising the importance of "valuing heritage assets".
However, he said he felt the officers' report had been "one-sided" and claimed a proper vote had not taken place.One of the works depicts Michael Jackson - who played a series of record-breaking concerts at Wembley"Cabinet then considered the report after which the leader of the council, who was chairing the meeting, moved the recommendations and cabinet unanimously agreed in favour of Option B, allowing the advertising.