I got some very good news this week. West Ham are out of the running for the Olympic Stadium! I’m sure a lot of you reading this feel the same way I do – that it was a wasted venture to begin with.
I don’t think there is actually anything wrong with Upton Park – sure, it could do with a bit of tarting up here and there, maybe an extension to the East Stand, but I love it. It’s our home and moving to a place where it would be questionable that you even got a good view of the pitch when sat in row A doesn’t seem like a logical move.
Part of the appeal of going to Upton Park for me is the great atmosphere – a special feeling and buzz that is created by being so close to the players and the action. Imagine how small Freddie Sears would look from Row Z in Stratford?! It wouldn’t be worth going.
Instead of looking to the Olympic Stadium, I think the Two Davids should concentrate on improving the Boleyn Ground. With some relatively minor improvements, more fans could enjoy match days without losing the whole thing that makes it so special in the first place.
Without spending any money on a new stadium and extending Upton Park, it would hopefully mean that ticket prices would stay the same, or even drop slightly, in the long term. I know that my Dad was only going to give the Olympic Stadium one chance, and if he didn’t like it he said he’d never go to see West Ham at home again. This is a man who’s been going to Upton Park for 40 years. It would be stupid for the Two Davids not to listen to the fans and see that they want to stay at Upton Park.
Going to watch West Ham at home is like joining a community for the day – there’s a closeness that couldn’t be replicated at a bigger stadium like Stratford, especially with a running track separating the fans and the players. Upton Park is buzzing with atmosphere come Saturday, with fans and players alike enjoying its history.
Let’s keep it that way.
Thanks for a good article which i agree completely.Imagine 30000 specators in a stadium built for 60000! half empty.Absolutely stupid.I,ve been going to Umpton park for 50 years and have decided to give the new stadium only one chance or never watch westham home again.
The OS will still go to West Ham but just on a long term rental. This whole announcement was just a means to get spurs and orient’s lawsuits off the radar.
Something to think about is that the bus garage is due to close, maybe a road can be put there instead, allowing the east stand to swallow priory road,,,,it wil never happen, but it’s logical (but governments councils and football owners don’t work on logic)
The Boleyn has never been the same since the new west stand was built. atmosphere is no where near as good! Your nowhere near as close to the pitch as you use to be, which made the ground very intimidating for away teams. we rarely lost at home especially under lights! Its time to move on, whether it OS or any new purpose built stadium. (hammer for 47years)