It’s been a long time coming; dividing opinions among politicians, football clubs and fans. West Ham United have finally been named as the anchor tenants of the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. The Hammers will move into their new home in August 2016, after the venue will have undergone between £150-£190m of investment and alteration.
The main concern for fans was the fact that they would be so far from the pitch. That concern was not allayed by attendance at the Games last summer, or when watching from their sofas – it did appear to be a fair way back from the action.
However, the arguments for moving have been strong and as a fan, I must say that a move is clearly the way forward should it be economically viable. West Ham chairmen, Davids’ Gold and Sullivan, along with Chief Executive Karren Brady, have made extremely convincing cases for jumping ship from Upton Park.
Along with retractable seating to ensure that fans can enjoy the best views possible while keeping the track, a seemingly sincere pledge to lower the cost of attending games will be the telling factor for unimpressed followers.
Along with retractable seating to ensure that fans can enjoy the best views possible while keeping the track, a seemingly sincere pledge to lower the cost of attending games will be the telling factor for unimpressed followers.
The Boleyn Ground has been the club’s home since 1904, allowing local businesses in what is an otherwise deprived area to stay afloat. Although the on-pitch exploits haven’t been enormously fruitful at any point, it has nonetheless given East Londoners a sense of identity and community rarely seen with other top clubs.
So why do I think that a move is the right way to go? I’d say it comes down to a few things:
(1) Any other prospective move is not even close to being on the cards. The financial condition of the club,though quite visibly more stable since the current administration have stepped in, is far from that enjoyed by the cash-rich big boys (we all know who they are). This means staying and developing the Boleyn, which has its limits both legally (planning permissions etc.) and when it comes to money.
(2) Accommodating demand from fans.It’s not exactly splashed across the papers, but the waiting list for season tickets has always been congested. An almost two-fold increase in capacity would mean that young adult fans with some disposable income can buy theirs and become the next generation of die-hards.
(3) Higher attendances =lower-cost football.It’s been a key lure for a move to the Olympic Stadium, but the increased capacity from 35,016 to 54,000 fans would mean significantly lower ticket prices. The challenge for the owners will be delivering on this promise
(4) A boost to the club’sprofile.The move will bring us into the top-five attended clubs in the Premier League (should we remain there for the foreseeable future). A modern, all-purpose facility is also what the club badly needs if it is to keep up with its London neighbours, as well being able to facilitate regular European football - should those glorious days ever come! It’s all well making space for the fans, but providing something to cheer about comes with the territory.
(5) Provides a realistic hope of avoiding a ‘White Elephant’. To look at it from a practical point-of-view,the last thing anybody wants is a fantastic venue laying waste. The O2 Arena proved to be the saviour of the Millennium Dome, but only after 6 years of it decaying on the riverside. Allowing West Ham to move in, paying £2m a year for the privilege, makes perfect sense.
A predictable wave of criticism and opposition will continue to fall over the move– former sports Minister Richard Caborn has already added to the protests. The diplomat in me empathises with clubs like Leyton Orient, who will inevitably suffer the effects of reasonably priced Premier League action on a couple of miles down the road. That said – who knows whether either of us will be in the same position come-2016?
Not to be misunderstood – the heart often pushes me towards wanting the club to stay put, but I think the change is crucial. Now under the control of business-savvy multi-millionaires and already attracting established players, the club will (hopefully) continue to grow and flourish from bottom to top.
Forever living in the past should be replaced with looking positively to the future. What better way to encourage that than by upgrading its headquarters?
Forever living in the past should be replaced with looking positively to the future. What better way to encourage that than by upgrading its headquarters?
