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West Ham are the ONLY option for the Olympic Stadium this side of a bulldozer

By Martin Samuel

PUBLISHED: 23:36, 24 March 2013 | UPDATED: 23:36, 24 March 2013

Buildings are like people. Without care, they get sick. You wouldn’t recognise London’s Olympic Stadium now. It is brand new but, in its own way, derelict. After September 9, when the Paralympics ended, the folk from LOCOG moved through like a retreating Soviet army. Everything of use or worth that wasn’t nailed down, and some things that were, disappeared. Carpet tiles, wallpaper, lights. A recent visitor said one of the offices still had a plant in the corner, but it was dead.

Yet the electric remains on, security men still patrol, and the rates and overheads need to be met, as always. The seats, which are filthy and have a nasty film developing on them, will need to be thoroughly cleaned before the IAAF Diamond League visit in July.
Use it or knock it down: The Olympic Stadium is an unnecessary drain on resources in its current guise

Unused stadiums are expensive. The new Wembley Stadium was not constructed using any of the material from its predecessor, because that was reduced to rubble in 2003. By then, it had lain empty for three years, at a cost of £2million per month in staff, lost revenue, plus the steady drain of keeping teams of lawyers and architects on retainers for re-launch day. To refurbish the old stadium after just three years empty would have cost £200m.

So there is the alternative. We can keep the Olympic Stadium as it is, rotting from the inside with costs rising exponentially, or we can move on. All the bleating about the tenancy of West Ham United ignores one simple fact. In the last year, any man with a plan could have bid for the Olympic Stadium. You, me, UK Athletics, Leyton Orient, Simon Cowell — the entire country could have had a crack at getting it working again. And at the end of that process, a Premier League football club was still the only viable game in town.

Now ignore the carping and think what would have happened had West Ham walked away. What would be the future? A Formula One track for a race that doesn’t exist? The location of a university that nobody has heard of? Home to a football club that fills, on average, 3,867 seats? West Ham were the only option this side of a bulldozer.

It was considered better value to knock down the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield than let it continue as a declining sports facility. The Olympic Stadium could have eventually gone the same way.

Who owns it now? You do. For another 99 years at least. It doesn’t belong to West Ham, any more than a council tenant owns his flat.

The stadium is public property and the football club will rent. Others will join. Individual concert promoters, the organisers of the Rugby World Cup.

West Ham are only anchor tenants. So you haven’t been stiffed, ripped off or deprived of legacy. Those left to sweep up after a very expensive mistake made the best of it.
Stark reality: The Olympic Stadium could be used and decked out in claret and blue (above) or the bulldozers could move in

Lord Coe, Ken Livingstone and Tessa Jowell were the architects of this 80,000-capacity cock-up, and are lucky the rebound is not greater. Their refusal to even entertain a post-Olympic football option was so pig-headed that David Bernstein, who as the chairman of Manchester City and later of Wembley Stadium Limited, had overseen two huge and recent arena projects, did not receive a single call to seek his advice or experience. Football was to play no part in the Olympic legacy. Realism had no chance against well-honed prejudices.

Remove West Ham this morning and what would the nation actually own? An unlovely concrete bowl, minus a roof, in a part of London that gentrification forgot.

A non-starter as a winter venue, unappealing even in the English summer, it would now sit empty at vast maintenance cost, becoming more obsolete with each passing year.

So whatever deal West Ham are getting, it is better than plan B.

That is why Karren Brady, who masterminded the project for the club, could afford to drive a hard bargain. The only option was to find new life and West Ham stood for life. Four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire, sang The Beatles — and one giant financial black chasm wherever an Olympic stadium rises without a post-Games anchor tenant. The Bird’s Nest in Beijing is now a Segway race track.

So forget this falsehood that the people owned a thriving stadium. The Olympics ended six months ago. The country was left with an empty, unused, relic off an A12 flyover, which would in time have served only as a reminder of another opportunity lost by our sporting and political leaders.

They are the guilty parties here. West Ham merely cleaned up their mess.

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Thanks Tone good read , just a shame that the idiots in the pre planning stages did not think about life after the olympics ,it could of saved millions .

Yeah Good read that Tony, I wish a few mates of mine n FB could read that. But tis too long an they wouldn't bother. Not sure I'd blame Lord Coe in all this, he put on a great Olympics, I feel others are more too blame for not just designing it better from day 1.

Admin wrote:Thanks Tone good read , just a shame that the idiots in the pre planning stages did not think about life after the olympics ,it could of saved millions .

Indeed. Our OS was designed from the jump as a replacement for our baseball stadium, and when you look at the results now, it functions as a true baseball stadium with all the amenities. It was really rather well done.

The only good of this now is that future Olympic organizers will look at the Beijing and London Olympic venues as a reminder to plan for more than those two-plus weeks.

"The Bird’s Nest in Beijing is now a Segway race track." - almost unbelievable

Tony P wrote:

Now ignore the carping and think what would have happened had West Ham walked away. What would be the future? A Formula One track for a race that doesn’t exist? The location of a university that nobody has heard of? Home to a football club that fills, on average, 3,867 seats? West Ham were the only option this side of a bulldozer.

Good read

Barry Hearn was on TV the other night complaining that West Ham only get crowds of 30,000+ 4 or 5 times a year. What planet is he on? Tosser.

Hernia must be a glutton for abuse , he is so stupid it is almost larfable in fact lets all larf at Hernia

It's about time someone in the press spoke out for the club. We are getting bombed with a media onslaught of lies & half truths. It's Carlos Tevez all over again with less effort going in to establishing facts.

I listened to Elms & their sport presenter on Radio London discuss it the other day. They were just saying stuff that they could have found on a Barry Hearn website. No attempt at objectiveness at all.

It will be a football ground with a running track, WHU are a yo-yo club (we've been out of the top flight about 8 years in the last 55 years - hardly yo-yo, in which case that makes chelsea yo-yo too).

WHU only get crowds of 20 000 outside the PL.

All pub talk.

But for all this they fail to answer the fundamental question. What would they have happen to the stadium?

Football is the only sport in the capital that has any sort of chance of making it work & out of all the clubs who could take over WHU are best placed. If Tottenham had been given it in preference to us then we could just use the Hearn argument as it applies far more in that case than in WHU-Orient, & their fans were far less enthusiastic than we are.

WHU are not stupid enough to think it's going to be a walk in the park, but I don't think they are totally against it either. A group of diehards who won't move at any cost, a group who see the positives of a move & a big group of fans in the middle who are open to persuasion.

It's a risk but if the club do it right, with all the factors like fanbase, transport links, highlighting legends & history, exploited to the full then it could make the club the biggest in London. And I think the other London clubs are shitting themselves that it could happen.

JK they are going to be creeping out of the woodwork now with their jealous statements just point them in the direction of the video I uploaded .
West Ham being the main tenants was the only option for the stadium otherwise it would ended up like the one in Beijing , a playground for them stupid bikes , yipee

The difference is with the Bird Nest in Beijing (Been twice) the amount of Chinese tourists which pay for tours around it is incredible....The Olympic park is almost full every day, after a tour there they then go for a swim at the Water Cube which they have converted into a water park......The Chinese thought a lot of things through even if they did turf people out of their homes......I have also heard music coming from the stadium as well so I guess it holds concerts as well.
In fact they are still selling Beijing 2008 merchandise by the bucket load out there as the Chinese simply can't get enough of it! That's the advantage of having the Olympics with a large population, if 10% of the population took a tour of the Birds nest at some point in their lives the Chinese government would make £19.5 BILLION!!!!!!! Now call that a white Elephant!!! even if only 1% of the population that took the tour would still make £1.95 BILLION!!!!
We could never aspire to that, we just don't have the passion like the Asians do that and teh fact we really can't be bothered!

Who would have thought planning permission could be so exciting


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Bloody hell Suz , that will be for a rainy day

How it will all look:

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Looking good looking good

Better than I expected. Perhaps too much for the seats to be painted claret and blue, though.

Cant wait to have a season ticket in the SIR Bobby Moore stand.

Q&A part two



West Ham United would like to thank the hundreds of supporters who have taken the time to email the club's [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] address with questions about the exciting move to Stratford.
The Board have answered some of the most common questions below. Please keep your questions coming in and we will answer another selection next week.

Will there be improved catering facilities at the Olympic Stadium?

Absolutely. The catering facilities on offer in and around the Olympic Stadium will be world-class.
We have looked at many of the other top stadia both around the UK and internationally including those you may be familiar with such as Wembley and the Emirates. Our intended offer will at least match, if not exceed the best in the market.
Many of the frustrations our supporters experience at the Boleyn Ground such as the limited choices on offer are as a direct result of the infrastructure restrictions in a stadium of this age.
This is not the case with a modern state-of-the-art stadium that is being designed with all of the knowledge and experience required to understand and meet ever-expanding modern day supporter needs.
The catering outlets and kiosks in the transformed UEFA Category 4 stadium will be brought onto the podium to form part of the main stadium as you would expect from a world-class arena.
The new stadium also enables a 'Club Level offer' for supporters and their families who still wish to enjoy a more traditional matchday experience but require access to a lounge, hot food and drinks.

What will happen to the ashes at the Memorial Garden at the front of the Boleyn Ground?

The club has been mindful of this consideration throughout this process and can assure all supporters that we will treat this situation with the upmost sensitivity and respect deserved by our departed supporters who are resting or remembered in the Memorial Garden.
We believe any action must be in line with the wishes of the families involved. There is no comprehensive list which details those who are rested so we'll be reaching out to the families we are not yet already in dialogue with asking them to get in touch.
We are in full consultation with the club's chaplain Reverend Alan Bolding regarding this matter.

What will happen to the commemorative bricks?

We will take supporters' personalised messages over to the Olympic Stadium with us but because many of the existing bricks are showing signs of wear and tear it's likely messages will be transcribed again. We appreciate their sentiment and for many fans, they've been given as gifts to friends and family, and therefore we're keen to find a new home for them in Stratford.
What progress has been made with the supporter survey?
Following last week's appointment of independent research organisation YouGov, they have now exclusively revealed details West Ham United's supporter poll.
The poll will offer fans the unique opportunity to have their say on the move to the world-class UEFA category 4 (the highest category of football stadium) Olympic Stadium in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Vice Chairman, Karren Brady has actively encouraged all supporters to take part and make sure they do not waste the once in a lifetime opportunity to have their say on what is set to be the biggest decision to be made by the club in the last 100 years.
The poll will enable the club to fully understand supporters' feelings and opinions towards the move so we can respond accordingly.
YouGov are currently programming the survey to ensure that every eligible supporter can be contacted and verified and that the questions enable West Ham fans to express their opinions on every aspect of the move.

Will international supporters be given the chance to participate in the survey?

Supporters living abroad who are on the club's database who fit the criteria of either holding a high level relationship with the club or match attendance will also be offered the opportunity to have their say when the survey is released.
Would the club consider opening a West Ham museum at the Olympic Stadium?
Although there are no plans as yet to open a West Ham United museum within the stadium, all of the club's memorabilia and trophies will be coming with us and will be displayed for all to enjoy with the pride and reverence they deserve.

When does the lease begin?

West Ham will relocate to the Olympic Stadium in time for the start of the 2016-17 season, but we will not move until we are satisfied that the stadium is ready for football and for us to host our first match. There are extensive redevelopment works to be completed so that the stadium is able to host major footballing events. We have worked hard to agree a specification for the works and we will ensure they are implemented before we relocate.
Will the move create potential opportunities for local construction firms?
West Ham United will look to appoint a fit out contractor with strong knowledge of West Ham United to ensure that all areas suitably reflect the club's heritage and history.
All major contracts will be led by the Stadium SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle). We advise companies to make direct contact with the SPV when appropriate as the club will not be responsible for appointing construction companies to carry out the main conversion work.
Will there be parking facilities for supporters on a matchday?
There will be ample parking opportunities for those supporters who wish to drive to the stadium on a matchday and there are still potential partnerships to be explored with the likes of Westfield.
However one of the core benefits of the move is that the venue is one of the most well-connected stadiums in Europe so there will be lots of easy alternative ways to travel on public transport to the ground on a matchday.
This was one of the key aspects that attracted the club to the stadium, as it will ensure easy access - within minutes in many cases - from our core catchment areas throughout Essex and east London.
It is already serviced by the second best connected station in London and nine lines across London's Overground and tube network, with Crossrail set to be added by 2017.

Will any more pictures be released?

Yes and we will look forward to sharing artist's impressions and further technical drawings from the architects as and when they are received.

BBC Sport


West Ham: 85% of fans support Olympic Stadium move in club poll

West Ham's relocation from Upton Park to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford has been backed by 85% of fans in a poll of supporters. Nearly 12,000 Hammers fans took part in the survey conducted by independent pollsters SMG YouGov.

Club vice-chairman Karren Brady said: "We must now engage further with the fans who've requested more information. It is fantastic to know that the consensus among our supporters is that they are behind the move."

Only 5% of the 11,858 respondents - which covered bond and season ticket holders, academy members and matchday ticket holders - were against West Ham leaving Upton Park under any circumstances while 10% said they would consider backing the move but required more information. The survey asked fans to agree with one of six statements, only one of which was against the plan, which will see the Hammers play games at the Olympic Stadium from August 2016. West Ham's capacity at home games will rise from about 35,000 to 54,000 as a result.

Frank Saez, managing director of the pollsters, said the response showed "the passion" fans feel about the move.

"The number of respondents is six times larger than typical survey sizes used for robust research analysis," he said.

Under conversion plans, the roof will be extended and the seating capacity reduced from 80,000, with a retractable system allowing the venue to be converted from an athletics arena to football stadium within days. Seats will slide over the running track to bring West Ham fans closer to the action.

The London Legacy Development Corporation will begin work on the roof in the autumn and officials hope it will be ready for the autumn of 2015 - in time for the Rugby World Cup. After that the stadium will close again to reconfigure the stadium's lower seating bowl and re-open in time for West Ham to start playing their games therefore the 2016-17 season.

West Ham supporters' poll

•Fans were asked to agree with one of six statements
•Support move as better fan experience - 12%
•Support move as will provide resources to improve squad and club - 51%
•Support move, will grow level of support - 6%
•Support move, trust club directors 16%
•Consider support but need more information - 10%
•Against the move under any circumstances - 5%

I see the worm Hearn is still trying to get an oral hearing against the move, and the cheeky scumbag is also still putting forward that we should ground share with them! He should be in the nuthouse if he thinks GaS will even have him in the same room

mottinghammer wrote:I see the worm Hearn is still trying to get an oral hearing against the move, and the cheeky scumbag is also still putting forward that we should ground share with them! He should be in the nuthouse if he thinks GaS will even have him in the same room

I'm sure there will be a place for Hearn at the Olympic Stadium. All those toilets won't clean themselves.

his head is too big to get round the U bend