So we all awoke on Tuesday morn with the news that the original agreement between West Ham United and the Olympic Park Legacy committee had been torn asunder. Instead of the security of the 125 year lease, the club would now have to rent the stadium on a seasonal basis.
So without the guarantee of a long term lease what exactly would be the point in leaving Upton Park? I ask you would the government be ok with the club doing a bit of redecorating? Could we put in those classy claret seats with West Ham United written in blue and white without so much as a raised eyebrow from our new landlords?
The decision announced on Tuesday in my humble opinion just means it’s no longer worth our while to move to the Olympic Stadium. I was all for the move before the announcement; I felt it was a great way for the club to finally compete at the top table of English football. The added revenue taken on match days would only have been bettered by Old Trafford and the Emirates.
Having a brand spanking new 60,000 capacity stadium in the capital also would’ve made West Ham a very attractive proposition for potential investors; I guarantee if Man City were still at Maine Road Sheik Mansour and his billions certainly wouldn’t have rocked up in the blue half of Manchester.
What really worries me is the following…we agree to take up the tenancy at the Olympic Stadium and of course sell off our beloved Upton Park. Then a few years down the line we all of a sudden have to leave the Olympic Stadium due to some sort of technicality or unforeseen circumstance and then that’s it; the club is homeless. Scrounging around for a place to stay, begging the FA if we could squat at Wembley.
Due to this somewhat shocking announcement the only option for many Hammers fans is to now stay at the club’s spiritual home of Upton Park; the gallows humour of Green Street, the champion’s statue on Barking Road. And redevelop the East stand which would take the capacity of our famous old ground to around 43,000 I don’t know the fact and figures of how much added revenue would be brought in with an extra 8000 or so but surely now this is the only viable option to prevent the worst case scenario…a homeless West Ham United.
Looks like fortune has evaded us yet again…whether it’s Barry Hearn, Daniel Levy or the ex Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe the tyranny and hypocrisy of others always seems to be projected onto our great club.
Thanks for a briliant article.30k fans into a 60k stadium would be stupid.MESSAGE to the board room,
STAY AT UMPTON PARK.
With the better rail links etc we would get closer to the 60k at the OS. Upton Park is a pig to get to and from and with a 5 year old who loves to go it restricts me to a handful of games a year as by the time we get out and attempt the tube it’s a late late night. I would get to the OS stadium in 30 mins and away as quick as you like. Season ticket for both of us if we move. And this was all done to shut spurs up and we will get the option to buy it in 2018 after the next set of games as it will be a burden on the taxpayer. I have been going to Upton Park for 30 odd years and will be as gutted as anyone if we move but in order to progress we need this.