London’s victory last week in the battle to stage the 2017 World Athletic Championships at the Olympic stadium has cemented legacy plans for the venue and puts West Ham United in pole position to bid again for the anchor tenancy.
London’s victory last week in the battle to stage the 2017 World Athletic Championships at the Olympic stadium has cemented legacy plans for the venue and puts West Ham United in pole position to bid again for the anchor tenancy.
Sports minister Hugh Robertson made clear his views stating, ‘I think the West Ham-Newham bid last time round was a good bid, and I very much hope they will bid next time round.’ But he added, ‘Any football club knows they will have to work around the [athletics] track.’ Defeat in the championships bid would have piled on the pressure to scrap the promise to retain the track after the Olympics.
West Ham have made it clear that they are willing to take up residence in a stadium that included a track despite the distance of many seats from the pitch and the lack of an immediate connection with the players. If I was a West Ham fan (and my father supported them at the famous first final at Wembley) I would have my reservations about that. Perhaps the club should consider pay in the slot binoculars of the kind placed on the back of remote seats in theatres.
The new tender, due to be published in the next few weeks, will differ from the old one in that the stadium will remain in public ownership. After 2012 the number of seats will be reduced from 80,000 to 60,000.
The Mayor of London’s office have made it clear that they would also like to see a rugby club in the venue. A spot of egg chasing always does wonders for the pitch.