As the formal bidding process for moving into the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 games begins, West Ham United look like the front runners. There have been around 150 expressions of interest, but some of these are undoubtedly not very serious and bidders now have six weeks in which to finalise their plans. Spurs have expressed an interest, but this is thought to be primarily a tactical manoeuvre to exert leverage on Haringey Council in relation to their plans to develop White Hart Lane.
As the formal bidding process for moving into the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 games begins, West Ham United look like the front runners. There have been around 150 expressions of interest, but some of these are undoubtedly not very serious and bidders now have six weeks in which to finalise their plans. Spurs have expressed an interest, but this is thought to be primarily a tactical manoeuvre to exert leverage on Haringey Council in relation to their plans to develop White Hart Lane.
West Ham would reduce the capacity from 80,000 to 60,000 which is a relatively straightforward process given that the seats are on runners. The seats furthest from the pitch behind the goals would be taken out and replaced by giant video screens. They would also increase the roof cover from just a third of the stadium to all of it to give fans protection against the weather. The need to maintain an athletics track has been seen as an obstacle, but West Ham plan to cover this with astro turf. Of itself this does nothing more than improve the aesthetics, but the stadium has been well designed and the sight lines are better than at Wembley.
The club plan to meet with representatives from Melbourne Cricket Ground, a similarly adaptable (if even larger) venue which is used for Australian rules games. They have been holding talks with UK Athletics, Saracens rugby club and Essex County Cricket club. Newham Council are also backing the bid. One of its benefits would be that West Ham moving out of Upton Park would open the door to a much-needed wider regeneration of the surrounding area.
Not all the Hammers fans are keen on the idea and there are still question marks about whether West Ham could afford the cost which would be in the region of £125m. However, it is difficult to see a more viable bid being submitted.