The sun was shining. Like it generally does on FA Cup final day.
And there was the mandatory Coldstream brass band, singing of 'Abide With Me' and formal introductions between both teams and some formal looking people. We had the flags and flamethrowers, banners and balloons.
But this is where it felt like the traditions came to a shuddering halt. Crystal Palace did their best to contribute to the trademark of the occasions, arriving at Wembley all suited and booted.
Which is how it should be. Showing the oldest competition in club football the respect it deserves. As for Manchester City, they arrived in more casual attire. Yet that's the thing with the FA Cup.
It has lost the reverence it once had. The final used to be the last game of the season. The big finale after the league campaigns had finished.
Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix (centre left) and Eberechi Eze (centre right) celebrate after winning the FA Cup
Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix (centre left) and Eberechi Eze (centre right) celebrate after winning the FA Cup (Image: PA)
A clash with a full week's build-up, to gain maximum attention and sharpen the focus of the footballing neutral. Those shots of the teams leaving their hotels, then being followed by a helicopter on the bus to the stadium. Those crap team songs written just for the final - and sung horrendously.
It used to feel like a national obsession. Those hours leading up to kick-off, between breakfast and lunch, were taken over by one sporting event. But these days it feels like just another game.
Kicking off at 4.30pm, no doubt to keep broadcasters happy, at the expense of making sure one set of fans made it back to Manchester close to midnight.
One crammed into a weekend of league action, 24 hours after Manchester United had lost (again), this time at Chelsea, and Aston Villa had beaten Tottenham to boost their hopes of Champions League qualification.
Don't miss a thing with football updates!
Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news? Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star Football email newsletter!
From the latest transfer news to breaking stories, get it all in your email inbox.
How do you sign up?
It only takes a matter of seconds.
Simply click on this link, then provide your email address and that's it, job done. You'll receive an email with all of the top football stories.
You can also sign up for our sport email, Off the Ball, for all the latest darts, boxing, snooker, F1 stories and more, right here
Two results most people in the media room were talking about before kick off. Not the fact Palace were on the cusp of winning the first trophy in their history, leaving City potless this season. Or City winning something to salvage a modicum of respect from an otherwise embarrassing campaign.
The date of the FA Cup final should be sacred. It should have remained that stand alone event of that particular weekend. And don't get me started on VAR, which somehow deemed Dean Henderson hadn't denied a clear scoring opportunity when handling the ball outside his penalty area.
I recently asked Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim what would mean more to him personally, winning the Europa League trophy or securing a place in the Champions League. He chose the Champions League.
Omar Marmoush missed a penalty after baffling being given it by Erling Haaland
Omar Marmoush missed a penalty after baffling being given it by Erling Haaland (Image: The FA via Getty Images)
Which could explain why, in the build up to this game, Pep Guardiola revealed his frustration at failing to get next week's crucial league game with Bournemouth pushed back 24 hours.
He sounded like a manager more concerned with beating Bournemouth to boost his side's league position, than beating Palace to win more silverware. But then along came Palace to save the day.
To remind English football just why the FA Cup should remain cherished and appreciated. It's doubtful the fact Palace had qualified for the Europa League once the final whistle went had even entered the heads of Oliver Glasner's players.
All they wanted to do was celebrate creating history. By being the first Palace team to ever win a major trophy. And climb those steps to get their hands on the cup.
The look on all their faces left no doubts as to what it meant to them. And it felt like it was much, much more than what it would have meant to City, had the result been the opposite.
When Henderson saved Omar Marmoush's first half penalty, one Palace fan burst into tears. Palace are 12th in the league, but now in Europe. So where's the outrage?
There shouldn't be any. Because winning the FA Cup should come with big rewards. The only outrage is how this showpiece game no longer seems to command the respect it deserves.