Well, the popcorn has settled on the first season at the London
Stadium and according to the club, most season ticket holders have renewed. We
all know about the initial problems, although to some extent the segregation
and stewarding issues have improved. At times the stadium could seem like a
bland soulless bowl when we were getting thrashed at home, though when we beat
Chelsea, Palace and Spurs we all tended to forget where we were and it seemed
like Upton Park again. It’s now being put back into athletics mode after a
series of concerts and we’ve got another 99 years of our lease to try and get
it right. A few questions still on my mind are:
1. RETRACTABLE STANDS
Has a satisfactory new company been found to move the
retractable stands? The previous company went bankrupt and there was talk of it
costing the landlords £8m a year to move the stands.
2. CLOSER TO THE PITCH?
Is there any way of redesigning/recalibrating the
retractable stands so they can come forward a few more feet? That would make
the ground seem more enclosed.
3. HALFWAY LINE SEATS
The biggest distance from the pitch is the seats at the
halfway line. Would it be possible to fit a few more rows of temporary seats
around the halfway line to reduce the bowl effect?
4. HOARDINGS
Would it be possible to rearrange the advertising hoardings
so they were in a square shape? Psychologically that might male the ground feel
more like a traditional stadium.
5. TECHNICAL AREAS
Could the subs and coaches benches be moved close to the
managers’ technical areas so that Slaven looks less isolated?
6. PITCH LEVEL
In the long term is there any prospect of lowering the pitch
and getting some more seats in if the club offered to help pay for this? And is there a problem with toxic waste if this
is done?
7. REFRESHMENTS
With so much TV money coming into football now, how about
knocking £1 off all stadium refreshment prices so the fans feel the club is on their
side?
4 comments:
Retractable stands would be difficult to move even further forward without impacting upon sightlines, and the East Stand wouldn't be able to have the 'kop' infill as if you moved it forward, the back of the infill would obscure the seats in the tier behind. Plus, the gaps between tiers would get bigger + the roof would need to be increased even more.
Digging down would be problematic, time consuming and massively expensive, but probably not impossible, and would of course remove the athletics track. The retention of the track formed the whole basis of the 2nd bid process, the subsequent redesign, is also a commitment as part of the 2012 legacy, and provides the UK with it's only top-class major athletics stadium. Can't see it happening.
Interesting points. You'r right, don't think the digging down would happen unless West Ham eventually managed to buy the whole stadium or the landlords find athletics loses to much money. Any moving forward would increase the gap between upper and lower tiers, but I wonder if it could be done in just the Betway stand or the ends if the East Stand stays as one Kop? Was only imagining a few feet, but it might make some difference. Though as you say, suspect we'e stuck with it as it is.
Nice article. In response to your questions all of the suggestions would not be possible apart from 5,6,7
Thought the club have nothing to do with the catering and it is arranged by the stadium owners so if that is the case no reduction in food and drink will be able to be made.
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