With the Olympics due to take place in just over 50 (ish) days time there is still a question mark hanging over the legacy of the games – the future use of the Olympic Stadium is still undecided.
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The deadline for Expression of Interests has now been pushed back further and with this in mind Barry Hearn has stated that he would be open to Leyton Orient ground sharing with West Ham – a suggestion that West Ham have quite rightly rebuffed. A West Ham statement said: ‘West Ham United has not held talks with Leyton Orient in respect of ground sharing and nor is it our
intention to do so. We do not wish to comment on recent statements made by Barry Hearn not least because we can’t keep up with his ever-changing position. They continue, however, to provide us with a constant source of amusement.’
The statement also highlighted that the support shown at the recent play-off final gave supporters an idea of what can be achieved at the Olympic stadium.
David Gold also recently stated that WHUFC surveys suggest that more than 50 per cent of fans want to move to the Olympic Stadium and backed up the club’s reasons for moving grounds by saying that clubs that have moved to new stadiums have always been successful and have increased their fanbase.
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I have to agree with Mr Gold on this point and support the move but only with a number of conditions in place. A bigger stadium would lead to better financial investments in terms of sponsorships for the team, larger gate receipts etc. With reduced debts and increased revenue West Ham could build long term stability within the Premiership which most fans would greet with open arms. However all this must not be compromised for a stadium with
bad atmosphere with expensive tickets and poor views.
More importantly any good pubs in Stratford?
What do your think? Do you think we should sacrifice Upton Park for the long terms betterment of the club? Would West Ham change for the better? Give us your thoughts.
Written by Tim Holland
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“More importantly any good pubs in Stratford?”
Is the Pope Catholic ??????
Redeveloping the east stand would fulfil the extra demand for tickets to our games without being over ambitious in terms of attendance every week.
When we eventually get in there, which I have no doubt we will it will make our club. I for one cannot wait it can’t happen soon enough. I went to wembley and the atmosphere was electric and this will be the same in the Olympic stadium. We could have filled wembley on our own. Bring it!!!
I’m still split on this, on the one hand you have our spiritual home with a great atmosphere(most of the time), but once it’s extended, that will be it, there is no room to grow any further, and the really poor transport links, that tube station and the road are dreadful when trying to get to and from the ground,
On the other you have a ground with great transport links, but we wont own it, and a possibility of poor spectator enjoyment, and lets be honest that’s what it is all about, but we really need to see the plans before that can be judged, I do however feel 60k capacity is too high
the big worry is that we could never afford to own our own ground ever again if we move to the OS
I recently attended an athletics meet at the OS. It would have to be completely rebuilt for football. The view for football would be awful. I’m happy for the move, but the stands would need to be much steeper otherwise you can forget about even contemplating it. Also, where do we get the extra 30,000 fans from.
I agree Max Few years ago l went on a Stadium tour and they said we have had plans passed for an extension which would take us up to 42.000 that would be fine and we would keep our ground. Is the OS goes belly up we would be homeless. And l would not be buying a Season ticket. I do not want to sit on a track with binoculars and a brolly
We are not like liverpool in a really old ground with no facilities etc. 3 of the 4 stands we rebuilt in the last 20 years, so only the East stand is small and old. Also, there is no correlation between a bigger stadium and greater success on the pitch. If anything, the bad atmosphere will make it difficult to create a ‘fortress’ like atmosphere for away sides. Redeveloping the East stand would allow for greater ticket revenue, corporate sales with boxes and stuff like in the West Stand. Plus much of the cost of rebuilding could be covered by sponsorship like when Dr Martens sponsored the new West Stand. A more realistic increase in capacity without the astronomical costs of the OS and it’s awful atmosphere. A move away from the Boleyn will be irreversible and one I and others will regret when they realise how bad the atmosphere in the OS is going to be
Great piece – worried about the implications of a move to a big stadium but if our long term future is more secure then we can’t get in the way. Bring on the o/s!
Only one/two clubs in Italy serie A own their own grounds, this is typical throughout all of Europe… It’s a British thing… let’s get over it! Building one stand does not solve the problem..viewing the game is my only real issue. It’s time to move on..move forward..