Entertainment
Wembley Stadium hosts college football game paired with new crowd-safety measures
Organized by Brian Dubiski in memory of his daughter, the London game draws 60,000 fans.
The short version
- Wembley Stadium staged the Union Jack Classic between the Kansas Jayhawks and Arizona State Sun Devils before an estimated 60,000 spectators.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- Organizer Brian Dubiski arranged the match in memory of his daughter Madison, who died in the 2021 Astroworld crowd crush.[The Guardian]
- Dubiski introduced the Showstop Procedure crowd-safety framework, which Wembley Stadium implemented in December 2025.[The Guardian]
- Union Jack Classic holds a multi-year deal with Wembley Stadium for future games over the next three years, with a possible fourth-year extension.[BBC News · The Guardian]
Key facts
- The inaugural Union Jack Classic matched the Kansas Jayhawks against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Wembley Stadium.[BBC News]
- The game drew roughly 60,000 attendees, including approximately 15,000 traveling supporters from the United States.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- Organizer Brian Dubiski staged the event in honor of his daughter Madison, who died alongside nine others in a 2021 crowd crush at a Travis Scott concert in Houston.[The Guardian]
- Dubiski established the Showstop Procedure, a certified crowd-safety training program approved by the International Institute of Risk & Safety Management.[The Guardian]
- Wembley Stadium adopted Dubiski's crowd-safety protocols in December 2025 and agreed to a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- The fixture marked the second college football game ever held in the United Kingdom, following a 1988 matchup at Crystal Palace.[BBC News]
What remains uncertain
- A fourth year under the Wembley Stadium contract remains conditional on the success of the Union Jack Classic games.[The Guardian]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.