Brady said she had shown scores of supporters on an advisory board, representing a cross-section of the club membership, the detailed plans for the move, the finances underpinning the optimism for a switch from the 35,000-seat Upton Park and the opportunities to grow the club and the area.
She said having West Ham at the 60,000-seat Olympic Stadium would attract an extra million visitors a year to the Olympic Park and bring a global profile to the stadium. Importantly for the supporters, such a move would bring about reduced ticket prices, even though the club’s owners were injecting around £30 million a year to underpin the club’s finances.
“They are persons of substantial wealth,” said Brady of David Sullivan and David Gold, noting that they were personally committed to the club having taken on £100 million of debt – an amount since whittled down to £70 million – and were fully behind the proposed move.
Brady said all of the supporters have had to sign a strict confidentiality clause before hearing the plans but claimed “all of them have agreed with what I have presented, there hasn’t been a single dissenting voice”.
She was slightly frustrated that the plans could not be divulged to the wider fan base until a decision had been taken.
Brady said the club’s Olympic Stadium proposals would work with football in winter and athletics in summer and that the football sight lines would not be an issue.
“We believe this is the best move for our fans and supporters and makes attending matches more affordable. There is a chance to grow revenue and increase financial stability and is the only way for us to move to the next level,” she said.
She said the stadium offered twice the spectator capacity and much greater corporate hospitality options.
West Ham are one of four main bidders for the Olympic Stadium with a decision expected on successful “anchor concessionaires” due at the end of May.
US sports operators and concert promoters could also be involved in the bidding process. It is understood the Mayor of London, whether that be Boris Johnson or Ken Livingstone, will sign off on the successful applicants.
West Ham have permission for any future move from the Premier League but the club had not yet sought permission from the football league.
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