West Ham insist that fans who have seen their plans for a move to the Olympic Stadium are 100 per cent behind the move. The club consulted a supporters advisory board which they claim represents a cross-section of supporters. Vice-chairman Karren Brady said, ‘Everybody who has seen our vision has voted in favour, even those who write for fanzines and have been very negative.’
West Ham insist that fans who have seen their plans for a move to the Olympic Stadium are 100 per cent behind the move. The club consulted a supporters advisory board which they claim represents a cross-section of supporters. Vice-chairman Karren Brady said, ‘Everybody who has seen our vision has voted in favour, even those who write for fanzines and have been very negative.’
The Hammers are one of four bidders shortlisted to occupy the £431m stadium from 2014 alongside UK Athletics, which has already signed a 99-year lease for the summer months. They have the support of UK Athletics.
Supporters have been concerned about watching their team across a running track, which is a non-negotiable feature after the Government promised to leave an athletics legacy. However, the football club insists that the sightlines work and that the top tiers will be closer to the action that at Wembley, although one might question whether a comparison between a club and a national stadium is a good one.
West Ham Utd claim to have 850,000 registered supporters and enough demand to fill 60,000 seats. The stadium would offer better facilities for corporate hopsitality than Upton Park and the nearby corporate market in Canary Wharf would be targeted. They think that the status of the Olympic Stadium as a ‘piece of history’ will attract new fans. Transport links would certainly be better than at Upton Park.
The football club considers that paying an annual rent to the government under a 99-year lease would secure the club’s long-term future. Tenants would have the chance to bid for naming rights which could be worth about £10m a year. One of the clear attractions is that the sale of Upton Park would enable the club to clear its estimated £70m debt.