West Ham Utd are currently considering their options for the Olympic stadium before the 23rd March cut off for tendering proposals, the Hammers future lies in the balance.
The argument for the stadium is simple and clear. The Olympic stadium would give West Ham the capacity to match most top teams in Europe whilst attracting big money sponsors and corporate clients in their droves not to mention the hefty sale price of the current Boleyn site, although the thought of watching the game from what appears to be close to around 2 miles from the pitch doesn’t fill Hammers fans hearts with joy.
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The Olympic stadium seems to be the only realistic option to wipe out the 100 million pound debt that currently hangs over the club unless they receive the backing of a rich Russian or Sheik Prince which seems extremely unlikely at this point in time.
The argument for staying at the Boleyn is a more complex issue. The ground and surrounding area would struggle to cope with any more than its current capacity.
Sponsors are not exactly queuing up for a chance to imprint on the famous claret and blue and we are certainly not up there with teams in Europe at the moment (unless you count the mighty Cardiff in Wales as Europe).
However the case to stay at Upton Park has a powerful side that cannot be ignored, the emotional attachment to the club by its fans, players and alike is as strong as any business plan.
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I personally have a slightly twisted view on the whole issue and I would like to share this with you. The Boleyn Ground as I knew it died in 1995 when the north bank was demolished, something has been missing since that day. I’m not sure if it’s the noise, the passion or just the need to move about a bit to keep warm but seats have taken something from our game that can never be replaced.
So what’s the point in staying at the Boleyn? Last time I attended a game you could hear a mobile going off twenty seats away!
You may not agree with this next solution but it’s the only one that I can imagine I would be happy with. Redevelop the current East stand and the ageing Bobby Moore stand and replace them with safe standing Kop like structures. This would I’m sure bring the atmosphere back the Upton Park as well as boosting our capacity to match Europe’s best. As soon as we achieve this, we can lead the way in Europe by bringing the beautiful game back to the people and away from the prawn sandwich brigade.
Many of you may think I’m a crack pot that lives in the past but the only experience I can think of that comes close to that atmosphere of years ago is attending an away match where, correct me if I’m wrong, the fans choose to stand for most of the game choosing only to sit down to read the programme at half time, sound familiar?
West Ham Utd owner David Gold recently tweeted he would be in favour of safe standing areas at the Boleyn Ground or the Olympic stadium. In Germany safe standing is becoming common place, it incorporates handrails with fold down seats to comply with Uefa guidelines on all seater stadia but creates an atmosphere that’s second to none.
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If we choose this option Upton park would be rocking again! Just imagine, you can feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as bubbles reverberates around the ground, not when prompted by the nice man over the tannoy.
I may be living in the past but I have a feeling that our beautiful game is still in there somewhere, perhaps if we strip the game back to its roots you will find the passion that used to run through its veins, we just have to find out how to rediscover it.
while I dont want to go to the OS, you have contradicted yourself, you said the local area cannot cope with extended capacity in one sentence and then said bring in safe standing and extend the capacity!! ????
If there is a way to stay at UP i would back it 100%, but I cant see it myself.
the ‘ageing’ Bobby Moore Stand??
I sit in the BML and we have all stood for every game this season, not sure I’ve noticed much of an improvement in the atmosphere though!
i live in Dublin and try to get to 3 or 4 games a season,with the wife,the son,the wife and kids,the lads or on me tod,i dont care who i go with but for the last few yrs i’ve got to tell ya mate its a rip off, im gutted,was over for the Palace game with my son (27yr old),last wk and the highlight of the wkend was to be the game but the few pints before and after the game with my fellow Hammers was a much better buzz,.,BMLii!! we were just beside you in the Eaststand and i was gutted when nobody knew anything about the 6th min COYI
There is a difference between standing in the BML and a safe standing area. In the BML – you stand in front of your allocated seat. In a safe standing area – like minded individuals and friends will gather in one area.
Problem is were all getting old. I was a south bank boy in the day and we had loads of different songs and quite a few comedians. In other words there’s to many old hits like me and not enough eigthteen to twenty year olds in the ground to constantly sing and keep an intimidating atmosphere going. The old days ain’t coming back any time soon, standing or not standing.COYI!!!!
Safe standing is an interesting idea, wherever we end up – though at the OS we’d have enough room for safe lying. My sun lounger is packed and ready to go.
You start off by saying a move to the OS is the only way we’ll clear our massive debt, then you finish up with a plan to develop half the Boleyn ground. You’ve missed out the middle bit about where that money would come from.
couldn’t agree more that Upton Park died the day the north Bank went
Never ever been the same since
Would love to stay for all that but it doesn’t make sense financially
ok so we can potentially go to 45-48000
Where does the 30m plus that costs come from?
More debts on a club already 90m in debt?
or do we expect GS to just stump it up even tho there not likely to be any return on it for them?
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