Historic day for the Hammers
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to confirm that the Olympic Stadium will be
their home from the 2016/17 season
22.03.2013
West Ham United are today celebrating the historic announcement by Mayor of
London Boris Johnson granting them the right to make the Olympic Stadium
their home from the start of the 2016/17 season. As a result of the
announcement, the Hammers have released new images of the innovatively
transformed Stadium so the West Ham supporters can for the first time see
the dynamic proposals that will transform the Stadium, already a prestigious
part of the UK's sporting heritage, into a world-class UEFA category 4,
54,000-seater Stadium fit to host the world's most famous competitions
during the football season.
Having been bound by strict confidentiality agreements imposed upon them,
the club are now set to embark on a detailed, independent supporter
consultation process to help ensure the Stratford stadium matches the high
standards Hammers fans would expect from their new home. Vice-Chairman
Karren Brady said: "I'm delighted that we have been confirmed today as the
anchor concessionaire for the Olympic Stadium. I commend my two Chairmen for
their passion and commitment. I am delighted this has been rewarded now that
their ambition to see the Club they love enjoy a bright future at the
Olympic Stadium has been realised. "It was important to me that we struck a
deal that would stand the test of time that represented the right deal for
West Ham United and our loyal and patient supporters. "The consultation we
have promised them will now begin and we can't wait to work with them to
create a stunning new home that befits the pride, passion and tradition that
the world associates with West Ham United."
Joint-Chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold said: "'It's fantastic for
everyone at West Ham United that at last all the Club's hard work over the
past three years has paid off. Since we came to West Ham in 2010 we have had
a vision to really take the club forward so West Ham United can compete on
the pitch at the highest level. "Today's decision offers us a real platform
to do this and we are fully committed to making it a real success. We
understand the responsibilities that come with calling the nation's iconic
Olympic Stadium, which will be converted into a world-class football
stadium, our new home. It is an honour we will take on with pride.''
West Ham United will shortly launch a Q+A document for supporters, which
details some of the most common questions about the move. The club will be
adding to the document with further questions from fans over the coming
weeks. Supporters can email in questions to
yourosquestions@westhamunited.co.uk
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Olympic Stadium Q+A
WHUFC.com
Your questions answered about West Ham United's impending move to their new
home at the Olympic Stadium
22.03.2013
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has made an historic announcement confirming
that West Ham United have reached an agreement with the London Legacy
Development Corporation (LLDC) granting the club the right to become the
anchor tenant at the iconic Olympic Stadium. Supporters have now seen the
first images of what West Ham's new 54,000-seater UEFA Category 4 status
home will look like when the club moves into it in 2016.
Here, we answer many of the questions you may have about the Hammers'
impending move to their new home.
Why is this a good move for West Ham United Football Club?
• This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move to a worldwide, iconic
Stadium that will offer West Ham the chance to compete with the very best
teams in the country and across Europe.
• The multi-million pound conversion will ensure the Olympic Stadium is
amongst the world's finest football venues and will hold the prestigious
UEFA Category 4 status, without putting a financial burden on the club.
• It's provides an opportunity to improve the club's fortunes on every level
including opening doors to new revenue opportunities.
• New revenue opportunities will help enable further investment in the team
and training facilities so we can achieve our footballing ambitions.
• West Ham will be moving to one of the most well connected stadiums in
Europe. The DLR station at Stratford International is transforming the
station into a key transport hub for Newham
and East London. In addition Stratford is serviced by the Central and
Jubilee lines on the Underground as well as London Overground and the
high-speed rail service from the city.
• The 54,000 capacity could see us listed amongst the top five attended
clubs in the Barclays Premier League and is a fantastic opportunity to
further grow our fan base on a global scale.
Can you tell me more about the the deal between West Ham United and the
LLDC?
• An upfront capital contribution of £15m which along with a share of Naming
rights income will assist with the cost of the overall transformation works.
• An annual rent that delivers an anchor tenant to ensure the stadiums
long-term viability.
• The deal has been structured in a way that secures affordable rent for the
duration of the 99-year tenancy.
• The draft agreement we have signed is still subject to many things,
including planning permission, and for us, our supporter consultation.
• We were happy to confirm that we would make a windfall payment to the LLDC
above an agreed base case in the event we sold the club as we do not plan to
do so. We have no intention of selling the club.
• The OS will never cost the Club more than we can afford and the Chairmen
have personally guaranteed payments to the Stadium if the club can't.
What can you tell me about the Olympic Stadium?
• Retractable seats all around the pitch which will bring our fans closer to
the action whilst the expanded state of the art transparent roof will cover
all seats and harness that globally famous
atmosphere.
• No seats will be further away than Wembley.
• New catering, toilets and concession facilities will improve the overall
match day experience.
• The pitch quality will be second to none with under soil heating, drainage
and the all-new Desso field of play.
• We play all our home games at the Stadium which once converted will have
the look and feel of West Ham's home ground.
• We will provide world-class corporate facilities.
When do West Ham envisage playing their first game at the Olympic Stadium?
• The club intend to kick off their 2016/17 campaign from the Olympic
Stadium with a Bobby Moore Cup friendly fixture.
How will it feel like West Ham's home?
• We hope our supporters will continue to help us determine how to ensure
the Stadium becomes a fitting home for a Club with our rich heritage.
• A number of key aspects including crests, livery, insignia and memorabilia
are named in the agreement as part of the Stadium Specification.
What will happen to the Boleyn Ground and surrounding area following the
move?
• Although details remain confidential for the time being, the move provides
an opportunity to regenerate two areas of east London.
What is the next step for West Ham United supporters?
• We are grateful to our supporters for their loyalty and patience for the
duration of the process so far and we are delighted to finally be able to
share details of our ambitions plans for the Stadium.
• Following extensive feedback from our supporters we have shortlisted three
recognised independent organisations with a view to appointing one to
conduct in-depth consultation.
• We understand that there will be some supporters that still have questions
and that is completely understandable. There will now be open dialogue
between the club and supporters to help them to make informed decisions.
• Supporter's feedback will be used to shape every decision we make
including how the Stadium could become West Ham's home, what would comes
with us to Stratford and how we say a fitting farewell to the Boleyn Ground.
What does the move to the Olympic Stadium mean for the local community?
• We are offering up to 100,000 free tickets per season that will ensure
some of the most deprived children in the country will gain access to elite
sport and drive an increase in sports participation.
• Our award-winning community department will continue to operate multi-
sport, educational and cultural activities to deliver the legacy we have
always promised and to encourage youngsters to lead healthy active
lifestyles.
Will more and affordable tickets be made available to supporters?
• As a Board we have always been committed to offering affordable family
football and the increased capacity opens up many new opportunities to
support this initiative.
• There will be more affordable seats and more entry level pricing but we'll
also be able to offer the more premium products that our current stadium
cannot offer at present.
• We have already gauged the thoughts of many of our season ticket holders
and now the plans are in the public domain we can consult them further on
the likes of a migration policy, price, location and additional benefits.
• The move will ensure the club is more accessible to our existing
supporters, plus will be more attractive to key groups, families and female
supporters in particular, to name a few.
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Sir Geoff Hurst excited at Olympic move
WHUFC.com
Legendary former West Ham United striker can't hide his excitement at
Friday's announcement
22.03.2013
Sir Geoff Hurst has welcomed the news that West Ham United will make the
Olympic Stadium their new home in 2016. The Hammers and England legend was
on hand as Mayor of London Boris Johnson announced that West Ham will be
anchor tenants at the iconic London 2012 venue. Sir Geoff, who won the FA
Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup with the Hammers at Wembley before
returning to the Home of Football in 1966 to fire England to FIFA World Cup
glory, believes the club's new 54,000-capacity home can inspire the club to
a whole new level. He said: "As a fan of the club it's fantastic. I'm
excited and thrilled about coming to the Olympic Stadium "The club has to
move forward, we need a bigger ground, we need better facilities. The
accessibility here at Stratford is second to none. "It's a major step
forward and to use an old expression it's a no brainer. As a fan I
wholeheartedly support it. "It's a similar situation to another ground i
have an affiliation with in north London - Wembley. There were similar
apprehensions there about not taking the Twin Towers down and so on. But
here we are now seeing it how it is today. "It'll happen much the same for
West Ham. It's a magnificent stadium, a UEFA Category 4 stadium, and it's
also going to be used for the community too. "Tradition and history is
important but in life you have to move on. The Premier League is moving on,
our crowds are already in the top half-dozen in the country, and will
increase with the accessibility and a better stadium. "It'll be a new home
and for the younger fans it'll be there for the next 100 years. I thought
the panel today articulated the benefits and brought the positives in
greater detail than I can but as a fan I'm thrilled to bits."
Sir Geoff says a 54,000-capacity venue can only inspire the Hammers players
of the future, and with an eye on the past, he believes a legendary teammate
of his would have been excited at the move too. He said: "Mooro would love
this. He wanted to play in the biggest stadiums, as a player you want to do
that and he'd have loved to see the club forward moving like this. "There's
no reason with the support and history we have that we can push on. It's
about a gradual improvement, what we've achieved in the last two years is
terrific and the fans will play a huge part in continuing to support that.
"Players are going to want to come and play here, a modern and magnificent
stadium. You want to play in the best venues. West Ham will have one of the
best stadiums in the country, if not the world."
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Board welcome Stadium decision
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have spoken positively following news that the club will
move to Stratford in 2016
22.03.2013
West Ham United Joint-Chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold and
Vice-Chairmen Karren Brady have welcomed the decision to name the Hammers as
anchor tennants for the Olympic Stadium. Mayor of London Boris Johnson
confirmed that the club will move into a world-class UEFA category 4,
54,000-seater Stadium for the start of the 2016/17 season, with negotiations
between West Ham and other relevant parties having come to a successful
conclusion. The decision to make the Olympic Stadium West Ham's new home was
confirmed at a press conference held at Forman's Fish Island, the historic
smoked salmon factory which is the closest restaurant to the iconic London
2012 venue.
Joint-Chairman David Sullivan said: "We really feel privileged to be going
into this stadium. We realise how important it is for east London and the
community.
"We've had 13 sell-out games in a row at Upton Park and we desperately need
a bigger stadium to make football affordable for all and we will be
continuing our policies of 'Kids for a Quid' and half-price games for
adults. We want football to be affordable for the ordinary working-class man
and not just the corporate people and that's why we want a bigger stadium.
"With the retractable seats on the running track, it really will feel the
part. The sight-lines are better than Wembley so it will be a smashing
stadium in the end. "I would just like to thank Boris because he and his
people fought us very hard over everything but I think it's ended up being a
great deal for everyone. I know it's a cliché, but I think this is a win-win
situation for London, for the legacy and for West Ham United Football Club.
"Hopefully, in five or six years' time, when we've got the increased revenue
from this stadium, we can be a force to be reckoned with. It's the only way
forward for the club and it's fantastic for everybody. "I would like to
thank Karren, who has done 98 per cent of the work on this. I've just come
in at the end and had a 'Thank you' from Boris but really it has been
Karren's work!"
Joint-Chairman David Gold said: "This is very exciting. I'm absolutely
thrilled at the news that we've signed this deal today - particularly that
it was done while I am still young because I thought this would go on
indefinitely. "It's a new exciting future for West Ham and I think this is a
great deal for London and for the country. I think this will generate jobs
when the stadium is renovated and made fit for purpose and of course there
will be ongoing jobs in the future. "I would just like to take this
opportunity to thank Karren Brady and her team, who have been absolutely
magnificent throughout. They have burnt the midnight oil and without them
this deal wouldn't have been done. "David Sullivan has driven this and
driven us to what is a momentous day for West Ham United Football Club.
"This is the fulfilment of a dream and it's our intention to be at this
football club, and I hate using the 'D' word, until we die. There is every
possibility that we would hand over the ownership of this great football
club to our children. It's very important to us to continue the stewardship
of this club and then pass it on to our children."
Vice-Chairman Karren Brady said: "The first and most-important aspect of
this deal from our point of view was the fact that this was a world-class
football stadium that has the right sight-lines. It is a UEFA Category 4,
which is the highest that you can get and that doesn't only mean that it can
host West Ham matches, but hopefully one day it can host World Cup matches
and other big international tournaments. "Anyone who thinks we got a free
ride, we most certainly haven't. We want to pay our way and accept that we
have to pay our way and the two owners of West Ham have been very clear on
that. We will put in a lump-sum and pay a rent that will cover most of the
running costs and then we will share naming rights and other revenues. "We
accept that the cost of making it a world-class stadium is coming from the
Government. We hope, over 99 years, that we will not only pay back that but
an awful lot more than that. We are there for West Ham and for football and
it will have the look and feel of West Ham's home ground. "The most
important thing is that we have primacy for our fixtures - that is a
requisite for having permission to move from the Premier League and the
Football League, which we have. Secondly, it is, as you can see from the
visuals, important to us that it has the look and feel of a home for West
Ham. "When we are not using the Boleyn Ground, we are using it for other
events and that is what makes it really a powerful venue - the fact that
people are using it does give it that sense of community. We can only use it
for as many matches as we have, and on other days others will use it because
that's the right thing to do. "We have a very close relationship with UK
Athletics. We believe in the legacy for the community and we want to help to
deliver that. "When you come to the stadium for West Ham's opening game of
the 2016/17 season it will look and feel like West Ham's ground and look and
feel like a football stadium."
The club are now set to embark on a detailed, independent supporter
consultation process to help ensure the Stratford stadium matches the high
standards Hammers fans would expect from their new home.
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Mayors welcome Hammers move
WHUFC.com
Boris Johnson and Sir Robin Wales have endorsed West Ham United's switch to
the Olympic Stadium
22.03.2013
West Ham United's move to the Olympic Stadium has been welcomed by Mayor of
London Boris Johnson and Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales alike. The two
politicians have spent months on opposite sides of the negotiating table -
working alongside the club's Board and the London Legacy Development
Corporation (LLDC) - working out a deal that will enable the Hammers to move
into the iconic London 2012 venue in 2016. On Friday, at the historic
Forman's Fish Island smoked salmon factory in the shadow of the Olympic
Stadium, both Mayors spoke glowingly of the club's impending move to
Stratford and their hopes for a positive future on and off the pitch.
Chairman of the LLDC and Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "Welcome to
this great temple of salmon and to the deal they said would never be done.
There were some people, you may remember, who doubted this city's ability to
deliver a famous and successful Olympic Games but they were then confounded
and changed tack. "They then began to doubt about the economic future of
those fantastic venues, above all the stadium that entered the hearts of the
nation in the summer of last year. "Those doubters and cynics pointed, quite
rightly, to the other Olympic Stadia around the world where the buddleia is
sprouting up through the concrete and nothing is running down the track
except tumbleweed. "For that reason, I am delighted to announce that our
fantastic stadium will host community sports, rock concerts, athletics and
all sorts of other sports where the ball is not necessarily spherical. "This
Olympic Stadium will now be the home of a great London football club that
gave this country Bobby Moore, Trevor Brooking and Geoff Hurst - and of
course Alf Garnett as well! "After a massive, long negotiation which went
well into extra-time - my last conversation with David Sullivan was at
10.30pm on Thursday night - I want to pay tribute to both teams for a deal
that I think is great for West Ham, great for London and great for football
and which fully protects the interests of the tax-payer.
"Not only does it mean there will be no more subsidy going into the running
of the stadium, but it will actually yield revenues for London as well. "I
want to particularly thank Kim and Sir Robin and everyone on the West Ham
team - David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady - and I want to pay
tribute to my own team - Dennis Hone and Neil Coleman. "As any viewer of The
Apprentice would expect, it has been a joy and a challenge to negotiate with
Karren! Occasionally, one side would accuse the other of moving the
goalposts, but I'd say 'That's the point' because we're moving the
goalposts, the seats and the roof but we're keeping London's great Olympic
Stadium. "We're going to use it, among other things, as the home of a
hallowed and historic London football club and, with eight out of the eight
Olympic venues now accounted for, we are delivering the most-effective Park
transformation any Olympic city has ever seen and an Olympic legacy of which
I think London and the country can be very proud indeed."
Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales said: "Newham has been committed from the
start of this long process for ensuring a lasting legacy for the Olympic
Stadium, for the benefit of Newham residents, London and the nation as a
whole. "Transforming the East End was a key promise in the Olympic bid and
we, in Newham, now are investing £40m into converting this stadium into a
world-class, multi-use attraction which will give us a 35 per cent stake in
what is the greatest stadium in the world. It will be the beating heart of
the Olympic Park and east London. "Our investment in the stadium will be
returned by a share of revenue and I think Boris is right - we are going to
see some great revenues coming from what is going to be a wonderful stadium.
That will enable us to support residents into jobs in what is an
inspirational place. It will provide tickets to the stadium as rewards for
those who put something back into our community. "It will give local sports
clubs access to our Olympic community track. We might another local sporting
great like Christine Ohuruogu and it will fire the ambition of Newham
children as they cross the same finishing line as their sporting heroes. "We
welcome the decision that West Ham has been chosen because West Ham is a
community club, a Newham club and they share our vision for east London.
They have been that community club in Newham for the last 100 years and this
decision ensures they will remain that for the next 100 years. "Newham
Council has worked long and hard and I would like to pay tribute our Chief
Executive Kim Bromley-Derry and our officers who have worked very hard with
West Ham and the LLDC to bring this difficult deal to a conclusion. "Now
that the deal has been signed, we can provide a century of benefits for
Newham residents - millions of tickets, exclusive community days in the
stadium for local people, the majority of the new jobs going to local
people. "It's been a long time coming, but it's the right decision for
Newham, for London and for the nation - together we are going to transform
this magnificent stadium, achieve its potential and deliver Great Britain's
legacy promise."
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Collison glad to team up with Bale
WHUFC.com
Hammers midfielder Jack Collison hopes Gareth Bale can help inspire Wales to
World Cup double
22.03.2013
Jack Collison may have been cursing Gareth Bale when he smashed in a
stunning winner against the Hammers a little under a month ago, but for the
next five days he is delighted to be able to call the wing wizard a teammate
for the Welsh national team. Collison is part of Chris Coleman's Wales squad
due to face Scotland on Friday night and Croatia on Tuesday in their latest
2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification double header. Bale notched a brace
against Scotland in their last meeting in the autumn as Wales recorded their
only victory of the qualifying process to date. Now Collison, who joins
fellow Hammer James Collins in the squad, is hoping the Tottenham Hotspur
man can maintain his recent form as Wales look to give their World Cup bid a
kick-start. He said: "It's nice that Gareth's in good form going into the
two qualifiers coming up. "Sometimes you've just got to hold your hands up
and say 'what a goal'. It was a great strike against us and he had a few
before that were a bit close. "Then he's done that [score the last minute
goal] and after we played well throughout it was a bit unfortunate to come
away with nothing. "But he's on fire at the moment and long may it continue.
He's got everything and one thing you've got to admire is his love for the
game and how much he looks like he enjoys it when he's out there. "He
obviously loves playing football and he's playing unbelievably at the
moment. He works hard too and is reaping the rewards."
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West Ham get Olympic Stadium after government ups funding
By David Bond
BBC sports editor
West Ham will be anchor tenants for the Olympic Stadium after the government
agreed to put in an extra £25m towards the costs of converting the venue.
The additional money takes the Treasury's contribution to around £60m.
Adapting the stadium could cost between £150m and £190m. But the deal was
secured only after West Ham agreed to increase their own funding of the
project by £5m, to £15m. They will move in from August 2016 and pay around
£2m a year rent. Under conversion plans, the roof will be extended and the
seating capacity reduced from 80,000 to 60,000, with a retractable system
allowing the venue to be converted from an athletics arena to football
stadium within days. Seats will slide over the running track to bring West
Ham fans closer to the action.
The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) will begin work on the roof
in the autumn and officials hope it will be ready for the autumn of 2015 -
in time for the Rugby World Cup. After that the stadium will close again to
reconfigure the stadium's lower seating bowl and re-open in time for West
Ham to start playing their games there in August 2016.
Although West Ham were appointed preferred bidders by the LLDC three months
ago, there were still fears the agreement could collapse over how to finance
the transformation of the stadium. Initially the club had been reluctant to
pay anything, but over time they increased their contribution to £10m and
are now prepared to pay £15m. The rest of the money will be drawn from a
range of sources, including London Mayor Boris Johnson's budget, a £40m loan
from Newham Council and around £20m of borrowings by the LLDC.
To guarantee the 99-year lease, West Ham also had to agree to pay a
proportion of any future sale of the club back to the LLDC. Johnson argued
that the move into the stadium significantly enhanced West Ham's value and
that the public purse should share in any profits generated from a sale by
owners David Gold and David Sullivan.
In response, West Ham have agreed to pay a one-off windfall back to the LLDC
if they sell the club in the next 10 years. West Ham say that is a sign of
Gold and Sullivan's long-term commitment to the club. The deal will be a
huge relief to the mayor and the government, who feared the stadium could
become a major drain on taxpayers.
Breakdown of conversion funding
Government: Around £60m
Loan from Newham Council: £40m
LLDC loan: £20m
West Ham: £15m
As well as £2m-a-year in rent, the club will share catering and hospitality
revenue with LLDC but it is understood West Ham will take all ticket and
merchandising income. Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn is seeking a
judicial review of the decision but the LLDC is confident that will not
stall the process.
Sources insist Hearn is contesting the LLDC's failure to do a joint deal
with the Premier League team and Leyton Orient, rather than the decision to
place West Ham in the stadium. The LLDC and West Ham will now work together
to sell the naming rights for the stadium to a major sponsor. Initial talks
with the International Olympic Committee and the British Olympic Association
have begun on whether they can use the word "Olympic" in any future naming
of the venue. This is thought to be extremely unlikely unless the sponsor of
the stadium is also one of the Olympic movement's big commercial partners.
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West Ham Olympic Stadium move 'a mistake' - Richard Caborn
BBC.co.uk
Former sports minister Richard Caborn has described the deal to make West
Ham anchor tenants of the Olympic Stadium in Stratford as "the biggest
mistake of the London Olympics". West Ham will pay £15m for a 99-year lease
on the £429m venue on which conversion costs could reach £190m. "I do
welcome the fact that the future of the stadium has finally been secured,"
said Caborn. "But we should also realise that the public sector is picking
up the tab."
Premier League club West Ham will move from Upton Park to the Olympic
Stadium from August 2016 and pay around £2m-a-year rent. Under conversion
plans, the roof will be extended and the seating capacity reduced from
80,000 to between 54,000 and 60,000, with a retractable system allowing the
venue to be converted from a football stadium to an athletics arena within
days. Seats will slide over the running track to bring West Ham fans closer
to the action.
After West Ham's contribution, the rest of the funds for the conversion will
be drawn from a range of sources, including Mayor of London Boris Johnson's
budget, a £40m loan from Newham Council and around £20m of borrowings by the
London Legacy Development Corporation.
Caborn suggested the stadium could have been adapted at a fraction of the
cost if it had been built with a post-Games switch to football in mind.
"This is the biggest mistake of the Olympics and lessons should be learned
from this," he added. "West Ham are basically getting a stadium costing more
than £600m for just £15m and a small amount in annual rent. "The mistake was
made in 2006-7 when they [Olympic Board] ruled football out of a retro-fit
design as was done successfully in Manchester with the Commonwealth Games
stadium. "I suggested retractable seating like the Stade de France in Paris
but they insisted it should be a 25,000-seat athletics stadium. "Time and
again mistakes are made with Olympic Stadiums and the lessons should be
learned for any future similar projects."
Johnson defended the public cost of a stadium that will also be used to
stage community and commercial events. "It's a deal they said could never be
done," he said. "This fantastic stadium will not only host community sports,
but rock concerts, athletics like the Diamond League this summer, all sorts
of sports where the ball is not necessarily spherical. "I think when you
look at the deal, the income, which is going to come in from rent,
hospitality and naming rights, will be very, very substantial. "That means
there will be no more subsidy from the taxpayer to keep the whole thing
going."
But Johnson's stance was opposed by Conservatives on the Greater London
Authority, who called for the West Ham deal to be scrapped. "The decision to
give West Ham the Olympic stadium means Londoners and the nation's taxpayers
have been landed with a poor deal," said their spokesman Andrew Boff. "It is
a disgrace that another £25m from the public purse will now be used to prop
up this agreement. "The deal should be scrapped immediately and a
commercially viable alternative explored as a matter of urgency."
West Ham will now start a consultation process with fans over the new
stadium. Two of its stands will be named after former Hammers stars Trevor
Brooking and Bobby Moore to mirror Upton Park. West Ham vice-chairman Karren
Brady said: "It was important to me that we struck a deal that would stand
the test of time and that represented the right deal for West Ham United and
our loyal and patient supporters. "The consultation we have promised them
will now begin and we can't wait to work with them to create a stunning new
home that befits the pride, passion and tradition that the world associates
with West Ham United."
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Gold's relief
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 23rd March 2013
By: Staff Writer
Co-chairman David Gold has spoken of his 'relief' at finally landing the
Olympic Stadium. On an historic day for the club, Gold and partner David
Sullivan were finally handed the keys to the £480million stadium - for what
will be an initial outlay of just £15million. Gold, who was in Stratford
earlier for the press conference to announce the news told
sportsdirectnews.com's Hugh Southon: "I want to pay tribute to our chief
executive Karren Brady and her team for their negotiating skills - and to my
co-chairman, David Sullivan, who has driven the whole thing. "I believe the
London Legacy Development Corporation have done a great deal on behalf of
the taxpayers and thankfully we can all now move on with our lives. "The
project will provide short, medium and long-term work and employment which
in the country's current economic climate has to be a good thing. "I have
been urging the Government to start construction projects because it touches
everything in our country and I'm glad that we are a part of that process.
"This project will also be providing revenue for the Government for a long
time to come so it's a good deal all the way round. I'm delighted that
everything is now in place and we are ready to go. "It is, as I say, a vast
relief."
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Stratford musings
KUMb.com
Filed: Friday, 22nd March 2013
By: Believer
I am one of the many who would be happy to rebuild the Chicken Run and have
a mid-40k capacity Boleyn Ground. It could be more than intimidating - like
it still can be in its current guise. However I am also all for change and
would love a brand new, shiny stadium. A football stadium. Not a stadium
that will be used by rugby, athletics and big American trucks for a
fun-filled, family weekend. The problem lies in the fact that to achieve
either of the above, we need cash. A considerable amount of it. If we listen
to Gold, Sullivan and Brady, we have apparently searched far and wide for
investment. Maybe they are being too greedy; maybe investors don't want a
club stuck in Upton Park in the big, bad East End. We will never know the
truth of that as they will never tell us. We will only find out if we are
going to get investment in the OS once we're actually in there.
We, as fans and season ticket holders, have been whittled down to a chosen
few to represent us all at a couple of Supporter Advisory Board forums and
sworn to secrecy. Said numbers have seen artistic impressions. Question is,
are they the real drawings or just samples of ideas? Again, we will not know
until we make the move.
The BG is now apparently falling apart and needs massive repairs. (despite
three quarters of it only being built relatively recently). Parking around
the ground will soon be a little bit more difficult than picking six aways
on your Saturday coupon.
Coincidence? The board want the Olympic Stadium and they want it bad. They
want it that bad that I would lay money on a brown envelope heading in
Hearn's direction (IMO only, of course).
Now, I have had a thought. Probably a bit 'fairy tale', but here goes. What
if we do get bought out? What if a very rich person - or group of people -
would only buy us in the OS?
What if they take us over and realise that there is massive potential? What
if they decide that it would be worth cashing in on the lease to American
football, rugby, athletics and concerts and recouping their money from the
OS that way ?
What if they decide that with the huge fanbase associated to us, they could
in actual fact build another stadium, fit for football in the Olympic Park?
What if they decide that the Olympic Park could become a massive sporting
area with their multi-purpose OS and their club, West Ham United, stabled in
a 60,000 capacity, state-of-the-art football stadium ?
I believe in hindsight that ever since the Icelandics became involved and it
all went wonky for them that we have been facing this decision. No serious
people wanted to take us over. We were between a rock and a hard place.
G&S came in and put their money where their mouths were. They f*cked up
initially with the management situation but we are back in the Premier
League and heading for mid-table in our first season back.
Yes, they take the plaudits for the good times and blame every man and their
dog for the bad. Tell me who doesn't? It's the way that a lot of successful
businessmen roll. I can live with that.
They have had a vision. One that most likely involves them making a load of
money - but come on, they are no 30-somethings.
Gold is in his mid-seventies, for a start; surely they would not put all of
our history and heritage in the bin so that they and their families can add
an extra £50million to the £300million or so that each will inherit on their
deaths? They must surely have a belief that this is for the long term
benefit of the club?
I have not seen any designs and I will not pre-judge anyone who has who
doesn't like what they have seen. Yes, it will be sad to leave Upton Park
but it was also sad to see the old West Stand and the North bank etc
demolished.
We look at Cockney Hammer's long-running 'good old days' thread on the KUMB
Forum and reminisce. That stadium has gone. It's long gone. The turrets now
at the front look cheap and nasty, but we live with them.
The point I am trying to make is that we support the club. Our kids support
the club and their kids will also (in most cases!) support the club. We need
to have a club to support. G&S seem to think that we wont be able to compete
by staying where we are. Maybe they are right and maybe they aint.
What I do know is that they are successful, self-made multi-millionaires and
I'm not. They didn't get that rich by making silly business decisions. I
truly hope that they haven't made this as a business decision and that they
have done this as supporters of our club.
Time will tell...
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The Olympic Stadium and the fan paradox
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 22nd March 2013
By: Kit Robinson
Well, the announcement of the move to the Olympic Stadium has been made -
and the move is on.
West Ham fans are still very divided in their opinions about the move. Some
see it as the death of the club as we know it, some are pleased that there
is a potential rebirth. Like most other fans I'm going to add my two penneth
worth and I'm sure that many will disagree. Oh and before I get started, I'm
talking about Upton Park as the area, not the Boleyn Ground.
I see there being a few distinct groups of fans with particular viewpoints
but there are not exhaustitive:
Group 1: Fans who want everything to stay the same - stay at Upton Park,
remain a yo-yo team between the top two divisions and settle for very
average football but enjoy and accept the rollercoaster ride. Whilst wishing
for a somewhat fantasy bygone era of Greenwood and the West Ham way and the
Academy.
Group 2: Those who complain, no matter what. They want the average players
to be replaced with better ones but don't want new rich owners to pay for
those players or we become Chelsea. We stay at Upton Park which again will
limit any financial improvement, moan when our Academy players will still be
sold and moan at the manager who can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
They pay good money to watch us but seem to think that means we can compete
financially.
Group 3: Those who are totally into the move to Stratford, a new beginning
and the potential of being financially better off. The idea that we could
become a big club and attract wealthy investors and are hoping that we
become a big club and they are happy to leave Upton Park.
Group 4: Those happy to stay at Upton Park or move to Stratford but realise
the pitfalls and the reality of both.
Before the stadium decision today I was sat in Group 4 and I still am. I'm
sure that there will be those who will never accept Stratford or the
seating, distance from the pitch etc but I don't think it will be that long
before many will accept the Olympic Stadium as ours and see that it is more
of a national monument that we are very lucky to be playing at and call
home.
I will be sad to leave Upton Park, but I do feel as though it has kind of
run its course and is not really fit for purpose any longer. Even if it were
redeveloped it would still be limited in potential and as much as it pains
me to say it, the modern game is about money and the ground's limited status
- ie our status as a club, would see us forever struggle to compete.
In 10 years time we would still be looking at the players with age and
status of the Ricky Lamberts and Carlton Coles of this world, still never
signing a decent player in their prime and still having to sell any decent
Academy players. One or two decent players who will inevitably be sold and
the rest being average.
I feel as though the move to Stratford is a necessary evil of the modern
game.
I don't see us as becoming a big club getting into the Champions League,
buying top players etc but I suppose that potential is now there because of
a greatly improved status. I only see it as a move we have to make to
compete financially just in order to be a Premier League club. Now that's
not the be-all and end-all for me as, in all honesty, most of my favourite
seasons have actually been in the Championship.
We've never really tasted a great deal of success at this club and we do
have a habit of being the nearly men most of the time. I properly got into
supporting the club when witnessing the joy of my father and brother when we
won the 1980 FA Cup Final. That was 33 years ago now.
It has to be said that our lack of success has largely centred around us
being a fairly poor club financially who has occasionally punched above its
weight. That Cup Final being a typical example with us then being an (old)
Division 2 side.
I just feel it's time to move on. We've been very lucky to have the
opportunity of the Olympic Stadium fall literally on our doorstep. It really
isn't far away. I used to walk from Stratford to Upton Park on match days,
so I know. For anyone who lives further away (and I'm even talking about
potential international travel here) transport to Stratford is ten times
better.
We'll soon get used to the pubs in the area and also get used to the fact
that there will be more of a variety of cafes, bars, restaurants and shops
than Upton Park. And there's nothing stopping people still going to the same
places they always went to pre and post match because Stratford is so close.
The decision has been made so I think it's time to embrace it despite
whatever reservations we have or reluctance in leaving Upton Park. Maybe
it's a good idea to talk to Southampton fans who left the Dell, Reading fans
who left Elm Park, Arsenal fans who left Highbury. I'm sure there are pros
and cons for all of them, but I'm pretty sure that all have embraced their
new stadiums after little time.
With us it is more than just the stadium, it is status, and no-one can deny
that the new stadium is already a national icon, a fantastic looking stadium
and it's definitely still in the area we call home.
Had we not moved I'd have been happy to accept our current status at Upton
Park. Happy to accept the financial limitations, the yo-yoing and average
players and results that we have had for, well, as far as back as i recall.
But I must admit that paying out decent money for tickets, travel and all
the extras is getting too much for me.
Without trying to sound too fickle - and I believe I have a right to say
this considering how much I have invested in the club over the past 33 years
- I feel i'm getting very little back for what I've put in over the years.
To me, Stratford has the potential to give me more than Upton Park ever
will, given the state of the game now and the importance of finances.
I wish it wasn't like that, but it is - and I will still watch grass roots
football as well as West Ham to feel that old terrace vibe, even if it is
rarely seen at Upton Park or the Olympic Stadium.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Olympic decision sparks angry backlash
KUMb.com
Filed: Friday, 22nd March 2013
By: Staff Writer
The announcement confirming West Ham United's move to the Olympic Stadium
has provoked a string of angry responses. Orient chairman Barry Hearn, a
long-term opponent of West Ham in Stratford believes that today's
announcement was a case of "jumping the gun", as his proposed judicial
review into the decision was yet to be heard. "We have applied to the High
Court for a judicial review regarding the stadium," said Hearn. "The
decision of the High Court will concern whether the bidding process rules
were followed by LLDC. "We say they weren't, and that we weren't given the
opportunity to enter into the 'teaming' discussions that the bid process
allows. We think this is a fundamental flaw in the bidding process and we're
applying to the High Court for a ruling to sling the whole lot out. They may
have jumped the gun."
Meanwhile the former sports minister, Richard Caborn, claimed that the
decision to allow use of the stadium to West Ham was "the biggest mistake of
the London Olympics". "Lessons should be learned from this," he said. "West
Ham are basically getting a stadium costing more than £600million for just
£15million and a small amount in annual rent. "I do welcome the fact that
the future of the stadium has finally been secured, but we should also
realise that the public sector is picking up the tab. Time and again
mistakes are made with Olympic stadiums and the lessons should be learned
for any future similar projects."
And Andrew Boff - the Conservative Party's Olympic spokesman in the London
Assembly - called the deal "a disgrace", before demanding it be scrapped.
"The decision to give West Ham the Olympic stadium means Londoners and the
nation's taxpayers have been landed with a poor deal," he said. "It is a
disgrace that another £25 million from the public purse will now be used to
prop up this agreement. "The deal should be scrapped immediately and a
commercially viable alternative explored as a matter of urgency. The Mayor
must confirm who will be responsible for paying for the costs of converting
the stadium to be fit for football. Londoners will want to know how much
they will have to cough up, given the vast amounts that the tax payer has
already contributed."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stratford: the key points
KUMb.com
Filed: Friday, 22nd March 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's move to the Olympic Stadium was finally ratified this
morning.
Here's a list of the key points revealed during the press conference...
When Will it Happen?
Although the conversion is due to be complete in time for the 2015 Rugby
World Cup, the club are due to move operations the following year in 2016 in
time for the start of the 2016/17 season. The current 80,000 capacity will
be reduced to circa 54,000.
The Cost of Conversion
Although details of the total costs involved in converting the stadium were
never fully revealed, it is understood that West Ham will provide just
£25million towards the estimated bill of £175million. The rest of the costs
will be payed by Newham Council (£40million loan), the LLDC (around
£20million) and the taxpayer via the Mayor's annual budget.
The Cost of Renting the Stadium
West Ham United will pay £2million rent per annum. However should the club
be sold to new owners, a percentage of any profit from the sale will be paid
to the LLDC. The LLDC also retain the right to cancel the agreement,
although under what circumstances this may happen were not revealed.
UEFA Compliant
The conversion plans will ensure the stadium receives Category 4 status from
UEFA - the highest rank available. Only category 4 stadia are considered for
top-class events such as the Champions League, Europa Cup and international
tournament matches - although no Champions League Final has been held at a
venue with less than 60,000 capacity, effectively ruling the OS out.
No Running Track?
Well, not quite - it's simple being covered by retractable seating. David
Sullivan claimed that the fans in the lower tier would be closer to the
pitch than some fans at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.
Naming Rights
The rights to provide a name for the stadium will be sold. It is unclear who
will benefit financially from this arrangement at present.
Profit Share
West Ham have agreed to share the revenue from the stadium with the
taxpayer. Boris Johnson described the stadium as a "money making machine".
Free Tickets
The club will provide up to 100,000 free tickets per season to local
children in order to fulfil their committment to "affordable family
football". How these will be made available - and to whom - was not
explained.
No More Debt
One condition of moving to Stratford is that the club must clear the
majority of their existing debts (of approximately £80million) as once
having sold the Boleyn Ground, West Ham has no tangible asset to secure any
further loans on. This will mainly be funding with the proceeds from the
sale of the club's Green Street home.
What's To Stop It Happening This Time?
In short, little to nothing - although Orient chiarman Barry Hearn has
confirmed that he intends to continue to seek a judicial review of the
decision to award use of the stadium to West Ham.
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Goodbye, Boleyn Ground
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 22nd March 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's 108-year association with Upton Park is coming to an end
after it was announced that the club have been granted permission to move to
the Olympic Stadium. At a press conference in Startford this morning,
co-Chairman David Gold and David Sullivan - along with Vice Chair Karren
Brady - revealed the historic news that officially ends the club's
century-long association with the Boleyn ground. Brady, who has been driving
the move for the past three years said: "I'm delighted that we have been
confirmed today as the anchor concessionaire for the Olympic Stadium. "I
commend my two Chairmen for their passion and commitment. I am delighted
this has been rewarded now that their ambition to see the Club they love
enjoy a bright future at the Olympic Stadium has been realised. "It was
important to me that we struck a deal that would stand the test of time that
represented the right deal for West Ham United and our loyal and patient
supporters. "The consultation we have promised them will now begin and we
can't wait to work with them to create a stunning new home that befits the
pride, passion and tradition that the world associates with West Ham
United."
Brady's thought's were echoed by the co-chiarman, who said via a statement:
"'It's fantastic for everyone at West Ham United that at last all the Club's
hard work over the past three years has paid off. "Since we came to West
Ham in 2010 we have had a vision to really take the club forward so West Ham
United can compete on the pitch at the highest level. "Today's decision
offers us a real platform to do this and we are fully committed to making it
a real success.
"We understand the responsibilities that come with calling the nation's
iconic Olympic Stadium, which will be converted into a world-class football
stadium, our new home. It is an honour we will take on with pride.''
Meanwhile Mayor of London Boris Johnson added: "This is a truly momentous
milestone for London's spectacular Olympic Stadium ensuring its credible and
sustainable future. "With a series of world class entertainment and sporting
fixtures already in the bag for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this iconic
site is set to be the glittering centrepiece of ambitious regeneration plans
for east London, which will capitalise on the Olympic investment into this
area for the long term benefit of this city."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham confirmed as new tenants for the Olympic Stadium
Last Updated: March 22, 2013 10:18pm
SSN
West Ham have been officially confirmed as new tenants for the Olympic
Stadium after a deal was finally agreed on Friday. The 99-year lease was
announced by the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) along with
details of the revamped stadium. The Stratford venue will be transformed
into a 54,000-seater stadium set to cost £150m, and the Hammers are expected
to move in from August 2016. Negotiations between the LLDC and West Ham have
been long and tortuous since the club was named the preferred bidder in
December, but with an agreement finally reached, West Ham have been given
the right to use the stadium for all their matches under a 99-year deal,
giving the club long-term security. "This is very exciting, I'm thrilled
that we've signed this deal today. There's a new exciting future for West
Ham United FC."
The deal will protect public interest should West Ham's owners sell the club
for a large profit on the back of the move to the stadium, with the LLDC
guaranteed a significant cut. The stadium itself will have retractable
seats, allowing the 2017 World Athletics Championships to take place as
planned. In addition, the deal opens the way for the stadium to be used as a
venue for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The plans for the future of West Ham's
current Upton Park home and the surrounding area remain confidential. West
Ham joint-chairman David Gold said: "This is very exciting, I'm thrilled
that we've signed this deal today. There's a new exciting future for West
Ham United FC. "It will generate jobs when the stadium is renovated, then
jobs for the future ongoing."
Joint-chairman David Sullivan added: "We really feel privileged to be going
into this stadium. We've had 13 sell-out games in a row and we need a bigger
stadium. "We want football to be affordable for the working class man and
that's why we want a bigger stadium. "This is a win-win situation for
London, for the legacy and for West Ham United Football Club."
London mayor Boris Johnson said: "This Olympic Stadium will now be the home
of a great London football club, that gave us Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst.
"The deal is great for West Ham, for London, for football. We're moving the
seats, we're moving the roof but we're keeping London's great Olympic
Stadium."
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady added: "When you come to this stadium at
the start of 2016 it will look and feel like West Ham's ground. It will look
and feel like a football stadium."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady says Olympic Stadium will be world class
Last Updated: March 22, 2013 4:09pm
SSN
Karren Brady is confident that West Ham United will be able to fill their
'world class' new ground after being confirmed as the anchor tenants for the
Olympic Stadium. The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) announced
on Friday morning that a 99-year lease has been agreed, with the revamped
stadium set to have retractable seats. The Hammers are set to move into the
54,000-seater stadium in 2016 and Brady has no doubts that fans will feel
proud to call it their home. "Will it be world class? The answer to that is
yes. It is going to be a UEFA 4 category, which is the highest level of
stadium you can have," she told Sky Sports News. "Will it be world class?
The answer to that is yes. It is going to be a UEFA 4 category, which is the
highest level of stadium you can have." "Will it have retractable seats
bringing the action and the supporters really close together? The answer to
that is yes. "Will it look like West Ham? Will it feel like West Ham? Well,
West Ham have supremacy for all their fixtures. The answer to that is yes.
"And I can exclusively tell you that we have already agreed that we can name
two stands the Bobby Moore Stand and the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand." The
capacity of West Ham's new home will be significantly greater than Upton
Park's 35,000, but Brady is convinced they can pack out the stadium. She
said: "13 of our last matches have been sell-outs, which shows that we do
need a bigger ground. "I think there are a lot of supporters who are
interested in seeing what the Olympic Stadium looks like, from home and
away."
Hearn fight
Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn has vowed to fight Friday's decision as
he believes there has been a 'fundamental flaw' in the bidding process.
Hearn is keen for Orient to share the Olympic Stadium and fears for his
club's future if they are not allowed to do so, but Brady does not think any
fault lies with West Ham. She explained: "We are very close to them already
and we are having sell-out crowds and Barry isn't. We are a Newham-based
club, this is a Newham-based stadium. Leyton Orient is from Waltham Forest.
"Barry Hearn has to do what he thinks is right for Leyton Orient and we
respect that entirely. "The sharing process was not in the hands of West
Ham. It was for the LLDC to carry out that process. It is not really an
issue for West Ham. We complied with the rules of the competition, as did he
and everyone who could bid for it."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lets Tell it How it Actually Is!
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
The majority response of the press and media, to the confirmation of West
Ham's anchor tenancy of the Olympic Stadium, has been one of outrage on
behalf of the beleagued tax payer and over stretched public purse.
Lets take a prime example, Des Kelly's column in the Daily Mail. He argues
with indignation that the club are 'receiving' £630m of real estate for a
mere £15m up front and £2m annual rent. But just what exactly does he mean
by using the word 'receiving.' Actually, we are renting the Stadium on a 99
year lease, not purchasing it. How many tenants actually pay money up front
to help finance works on the structure and fabric of a property, which is an
asset that they do not own? Yet, that is exactly what West Ham have agreed
to do. More than that, they have accepted that income from naming rights,
catering and hospitality will be shared with the public purse. Most
extraordinary of all, is that West Ham, as a privately owned football club,
have also agreed that a % of a sale of the club will also go to that very
same public purse. Has Mr Kelly stopped to consider that that £2m annual
rent amounts to £198m over the full 99 year term or just how much will be
generated from the the other elements, when West Ham make the Stadium a
sporting and commerical success? It would be interesting to see income
projections for those elements of the deal and I am sure that these will be
made available in due course. In the meantime, you can safely assume that
the figures involved will be substantial!
Mr Kelly, then proceeds to argue that West Ham should have just moved in to
a totally unsuitable Stadium and paid for the adaptions themselves!! So, a
tenant moves in and then pays for the full restructuring work on a stadium
that they do not even own! Yeah, right, like that is going to happen! That
is amazing enough, but he then proceeds to trump it by suggesting that, as
an alternative, the proceeds of the sale of Upton Park should be paid direct
to the Treasury! This is a privately owned football club, and its prime
property asset, that we are talking about here. And that club does not have
the right to sell that asset and use it as it sees fit for the benefit of
its business? That is an argument that is both unrealistic and serves only
to play to gallery!
Then we have the City of Sheffield introduced in to the equation.
Apparently, while West Ham are the beneficiaries of a alleged £630m present
from the tax payer, the poor citizens of Sheffield are being deprived of
their Don Valley Stadium! The Don Valley Stadium was a built for a specific
athletics event (THe World Youth Games) and later fell in to dis-use.
Indeed, the Don Valley Stadium is a 25,000 seat arena, which has totally
failed as a stand alone athletics facility. Despite attempting to enlist a
football league football team and Rugby League Team, to boost its financial
viability, those initiatives also failed. Much as Leyton Orient's tenancy of
a c.20,000 seat athletics stadium would also probably have failed, if the OS
had gone in that particular direction. The scale of the failure is reflected
in the fact that Sheffield City Council were subsidizing it annually to the
tune of £700,000. All of these inconvenient facts show why this is an
ill-advised example to draw upon. Because, and this should be underlined,
the fate of the Don Valley Stadium could very well have prefigured that of
an Olympic Stadium without a PL anchor club.
Mr Kelly, then follows up this own goal, with the obligatory, but inaccurate
reference to West Ham's move to Stratford threatening he future of plucky
little lower league club, Leyton Orient! We all know what the true situation
is relating to Orient, so I will not bother restating it here! He then
concludes by commenting on the owners of West Ham Utd, making unnecessary
references to the industry in which they were formerly engaged. At the end
of the day, what has that got to do with anything relating to West Ham
taking up the tenancy of the OS? Absolutely nothing.
But Mr Kelly is not alone, in taking a critical and indignant line in the
national press. While, a lot of the TV coverage has also been heavily biased
in terms of the negative slant it has put upon the deal.
The truth is that former Minister of Sport and Sheffield MP, Richard Caborn,
is right to criticise the original mistakes in not designing football usage
in to the original stadium design. The further investment necessary to
restructure the stadium is a logical outcome of this folly. Mr Caborn does
not like the deal with West Ham, but what is the alternative, to reject it
and create another Don Valley Stadium in Stratford? The truth is that the
bullet must now be biten to give the OS and the Olympic Park the best
possible chance of a successful future. And West Ham's tenancy is integral
to bringing that about. As such, lets accept it, drop the outrage, tell it
like it is and then move on.
As for West Ham Utd, they should emphasize the concessions that they have
made to put this deal in place. Concessions that will prove lucrative to the
fabled public purse. Because this is not a one sided deal, there are
benefits on both sides. And, moreover, it is the best possible option for
both West Ham Utd and the future of the Olympic Park. It is, arguably, the
only viable 'game in town' and the alternative of a 'white elephant' stadium
in a stagnant Olympic Park is too terrible to contemplate. Finally, the
benefits to the communities in East London must be stressed. It is all about
delivering the post-2012 community and sporting legacy, with West Ham Utd
and their strong partnerships leading the way in ensuring that it happens.
What better and more positive response can there ultimately be?
SJ. Chandos.
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Hammers confirm Olympic Stadium switch
The Sun
Published: 22nd March 2013
WEST HAM have confirmed the Olympic Stadium will be their new home from the
start of the 2016/17 season. Retractable seats are to be installed around
the pitch and an expanded roof will be part of a multi-million-pound
transformation of the landmark London 2012 venue. Revealing the Hammers have
agreed a 99-year lease, vice-chairman Karren Brady said: "A capacity of at
least 54,000 seats will see us amongst the top five-attended clubs in the
Premier League.
"In addition, we are moving to one of the best connected stadiums in Europe,
set in its own parkland with world-class facilities. "The move provides an
opportunity to improve our fortunes on every level including opening doors
to new revenue streams."
London Mayor Boris Johnson added: "This is a truly momentous milestone for
London's spectacular Olympic Stadium, ensuring its credible and sustainable
future. "Through this deal with West Ham, we are defying the gloomsters who
predicted this landmark would become a dusty relic. "With a series of
world-class entertainment and sporting fixtures already in the bag for Queen
Elizabeth Olympic Park, this iconic site is set to be the glittering
centrepiece of ambitious regeneration plans for East London."
The plans for the future of West Ham's current Upton Park stadium and the
surrounding area remain confidential for the time being.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We have a world class stadium... now let's build a world class team
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 7 hrs ago
How Hammers struck gold
MAR 2010: West Ham and Newham Council announce a joint move to take over the
Olympic stadium.
OCT 2010: Tottenham join the race but plan to dig up the running track.
FEB 2011: Fourteen members of Olympic Park Legacy Committee vote unanimously
in favour of West Ham.
APR 2011: Spurs challenge the decision, as do nearby Leyton Orient.
JUN 2011: High Court blocks both bids.
JUL 2012: Deadline for bidders to take over the stadium extended.
DEC 2012: West Ham named as the 'preferred bidder'.
MAR 2013: The Hammers are confirmed as future tenants subject to decision on
judicial review and consultation with fans.
DAVID SULLIVAN admits that West Ham must now construct a world-class team
worthy of the Olympic Stadium. Finding £300million to bring the best to
London's East End is going to be tough for a club still riddled with debt. A
Government handout, investment from the local council, a leg up from London
Mayor Boris Johnson and a promise to make football affordable in one of the
poorest areas of the country, clinched the deal for the Hammers to make the
move in 2016. Legal battles and convincing the fans this is the way forward
must still be overcome before they get the keys — but that is easy compared
to persuading and then paying for super-elite players to work in Stratford.
West Ham's ruling duo of Sullivan and David Gold broke the club record by
shelling out £10.75m for winger Matt Jarvis last August. Joint-chairman
Sullivan said: "We realise we have to buy better, spend more money. It's a
gradual process. "But if the king of Saudi Arabia wants to come along we'll
step aside. "Or if another person wants to join us, the three of us will put
the money in. It'll take time to build the team. "Hands on hearts it is very
hard to compete with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, who have
external benefactors. "It is hard to compete with the guy who owns Abu Dhabi
and doesn't pay any tax. It is difficult to compete with Roman Abramovich,
who owns half of Russia. "Manchester United is a very special club. It is
hard to match those three but over time we hope to close the gap. Our
ambition is still to finish third or fourth in the table. "We put £32m in
last year. As David Gold says though 'I have 150 shops not 150 oil wells'.
"I didn't earn £16m last year, so I am now spending my savings."
SUNSPORT columnist Brady speaks of her delight after West Ham confirmed
their move to the Olympic Stadium However, luring the world's top talent to
your club when it lies just six points off the bottom three can be even more
difficult than finding the wonga to bankroll an entirely new team. Top
players do not join average clubs. In contrast, Chelsea splurged £50m on
Fernando Torres. His record since proves what a risk it is even splashing
out on recognised stars. Sullivan added: "If I was running Arsenal, instead
of spending £10m each on three players, I'd spend £30-£40m on one. "Arsene
Wenger doesn't like spending money — it is a fact. For a club of our size we
spend big money. "If we spend £12-14m on a player this summer, in three
years we may spend £30-40m. We have a number of targets but it's about
spending wisely. "Often you need a bit of luck. I'm seeing someone on Monday
funnily enough that if it comes off will be the biggest signing in our
history. We lack goals in the team, we have got to sign a top-class striker.
"West Ham is a community club, you have to remember that. It's not all about
winning with West Ham. "It is about giving back, about getting people in at
affordable prices and playing the right way. "It's a difficult balance but
we hope season by season it'll get better. "But really it's about who spends
most on wages and transfer fees and it is hard to buck that trend for more
than one or two seasons."
Sullivan is upfront about the task ahead. He admitted being 'mad' to buy
into West Ham three years ago when the club had debts of £100m. And he
believes there is no alternative to moving, claiming Upton Park is a
souvenir from yesteryear. The board have also promised a full consultation
with supporters.
And Hammers midfielder Joe Cole insists the club's soul can make the move
with the fans and players. Upton Park is close to supporters' hearts for its
traditional box-like shape and for the memories. But Cole said: "It will
always be West Ham. Loads of teams have changed stadiums over the years and
it is not about where you are but what is in your heart. West Ham have a
rich history and that isn't going anywhere because we are moving a few miles
up the road."
But one man not impressed with yesterday's news was Leyton Orient chairman
Barry Hearn, who fears having West Ham on his doorstep will destroy his
League One club. Hearn said: "I don't know why they are announcing anything
because we have applied to the High Court for a judicial review, so anything
they announce about West Ham has to be subject to the High Court's decision.
"Why they are trying to steamroll this announcement through before the
court's decision is a sign of panic."
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Move over, Jess Ennis! West Ham's Joe Cole desperate to play for them in the
Olympic Stadium
The Mirror
22 Mar 2013 22:30
Joe Cole wants to extend his West Ham career - so he can play from them in
the Olympic Stadium. The England midfielder, who came through the Hammers
youth ranks, moved back to Upton Park in January and has a contract until
2015. West Ham announced on Friday that they will move from Upton Park to a
reconfigured Olympic Stadium for the 2016-17 season. And Cole said: "To be
still here in 2016, and have my family come and watch me in a sold-out
stadium, that would be a very proud moment for me. "I'll be 34 then. I keep
myself fit and want to play as long as I can because I love playing and I'd
like to be playing here."
Cole added: "I think this is a momentous day for the club - one of the
biggest in the club's history. "It gives the club the opportunity to compete
at the top level, with the likes of your Arsenals - clubs that have got
stadiums of this size. "The dream is to one day win the title at a club like
this. I have played abroad and people love living in London and a London
club with this type of stadium will be able to attract players."
And Cole insisted the Hammers tradition will continue in Stratford. "It will
always be West Ham," he said. "Loads of teams have changed stadiums over the
years and it is not about where you are but what is in your heart. "West Ham
have a rich history and that isn't going anywhere because we are moving a
few miles up the road. "It is going be great - the fans will love the
stadium, I am sure."
Hammers co-owner David Sullivan, meanwhile, admitted they now face the
challenge of building a team to fill the stadium's 54,000 seats. The
Hammers co-owner claimed his club will aim for the Champions League with the
help of the extra revenue. Before then, Sullivan promised West Ham would
spend "big money" to produce a side worthy of their new surroundings. But he
insisted the upgrade will not happen overnight. "We realise we have got to
buy better and spend more money, but it is a gradual build-up," he said. "It
is spending your money wisely and often you need a bit of luck. We are
limited to the size of our club, but we spend big money and will continue to
spend big money. "I am trying to sign a player who, if we sign him, will be
the most expensive player the club has ever signed. "I hope we get one this
year and over the years I hope we get more. But it takes time. We have
always said if the king of Saudi Arabia wants to come along we will step
aside. "Hands on our heart, it is very difficult to compete with Chelsea and
Manchester City where they have external benefactors. "Manchester United
are a very special club because of the Munich situation. "It is very hard to
match those three clubs and Arsenal have got the Emirates, so it will take
some time. "But over time, we hope to close that gap. Once we have moved, we
will have more money available. "In five or six years, when we get the
revenue from this stadium, we will be a force to be reckoned with. Our aim
is still to finish third or fourth in the table."
Money from the sale of Upton Park will be used to pay West Ham's £15million
share of the cost of redeveloping the stadium and sorting out the club's
£100m debt. Sullivan said West Ham will "almost certainly" name part of the
ground the Bobby Moore Stand, while they hope Newham Council will move the
statue of their World Cup winners, Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters. "We
will bring all our memorabilia and it will be very much West Ham's home
ground," he said.
But Barry Hearn, owner of nearby League One side Leyton Orient, has said
that he will continue his fight to get the deal ripped up in the High Court.
"The London Legacy Development Corporation have made a massive, massive
mistake," he said. "They are my lawyer's words and not mine, in as far as
they have ignored their own rules."
And former sports minister Richard Caborn called the West Ham deal "the
biggest mistake of the Olympics". "West Ham are basically getting a stadium
costing more than £600m for just £15m and a small amount in annual rent," he
said.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Saturday, March 23
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