(Article submitted by Paul)
Personally, I can't stand the idea of having a running track between the fans and the pitch. I can't think of any top level team that have 'chosen' to have a stadium with a track, let alone in the PL era.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not an old school 'never leave Upton Park' type of fan and definitely agree that we need a new, larger stadium but I think that the OS is a bit of a lazy and convenient option for relocating the club. There seems to be rather a lot of square pegs and round holes...
1) Brady has admitted that the existing OS design is wrong for modern football. Keeping the track would place the fans too far away from the action and the atmosphere generated would be compromised.
2) The conversion costs are ridiculous (circa £100m). Eastlands only cost £30m to convert. I'd rather spend the money on a new purpose build stadium. The Olympic Park site is vast, why not buy up part of the land and build our own, more suitable, stadium. That way the government still get some money back on their Olympic investment and we'd still benefit from the improved transport links.
3) We'd have to share the OS for other events and sports which could potentially damage the condition and development of the playing surface. Apparently that is one of the big problems Wembley are experiencing.
4) Will we really be able to attract 60,000 fans? We already struggle to reach capacity at UP.
Part of the ten point pledge by the new owners when they took over was to listen to the fans on key issues. Will they ask us before committing to such an important project? It looks to me as though we're already committed.
Maybe I'm in a minority but I would expect that other fans have similar concerns. Should we get an action group together to make our feelings known? HATOSS - Hammers Against The Olympic Stadium Switch.
I'm an unashamed old school fan utterly opposed to leaving Upton Park because of tradition. With some imagination, the capacity of the existing ground could be increased.
ReplyDeleteapprently its been tried with previus owners council wont let them apprently
ReplyDeleteif we want to become one of the biggest teams in england then we have to go to the olympic stadium. upton park as much as i love it can only hold 40 thousand at best so if we want to be a top team then we have to go. im all for the move. ps our options are stay at upton park and be a mid table team at best. or go to the olympic stadium and compete with the best. i know wot i want.
ReplyDeletewhat is wrong with some of you hammers fans. we have the chance to become a top club in english football with a lovely 60 thousand stadium and you dont want to leave upton park. why ? are you happy to be fighting relegation every other season because i know im not. we have a chance in a life time to be something special. to make this club great. yes ill be sad to leave upton park but we have to move on to compete with the bigger clubs. or stay at upton park and be competing with the likes of wigan. we cant let this opportunity go. lets do it.
ReplyDelete"Don't get me wrong, I'm not an old school 'never leave Upton Park' type of fan"
ReplyDeleteNo, you're a new-school 'criticise the f*ck out of everything and everyone at Upton Park' type of fan.
HATOSS???
ReplyDeleteAre you mad??? Or just very short-sighted and having a 'fear of success' momment?
The move to Stratford(OS) will be the saving of the club.
To oppose it is shear folly for so many reasons I'm not sure where to start!
Anons - If you read the article, I'm not saying that we should stay at Upton Park at all. In fact, I completely agree that we need to move on to a bigger stadium.
ReplyDeleteMy point is that the OS project is now seen as the ONLY option and it isn't. It's just an opportunity that's fallen in our lap and is a far from perfect solution both in practical and financial terms.
There are other options but the club seem tunnel visioned on pursuing the OS option no matter how many compromises need to be made. What happened to the new owners consulting the fans on key issues?
Some of the anons struggle with the reading bit Paul. Very good at the knee jerk but sounding out letters aint their speciality as a rule.
ReplyDeleteI think some of the posters above could argue with themselves? If they were to READ the article they'd quite clearly appreciate that I'm not against a move at all. I just think that there are other options to consider AS WELL AS the Olympic Stadium.
ReplyDeleteJeez - I can see why you get so defensive now HF. This is hard work! It's only my opinion, I'm not mugging an old lady!
And to think that Darren has the cheek to say that I criticise everything. He's criticising the article and hasn't even read it properly!
Hang on, how did I post my reply befoore you posted your comment Paul? Odd! Maybe I am prescient. Would explain why I am able to predict so many happenings at the Boleyn ahead of others!
ReplyDeleteOh no, you posted earlier about reading! Phew, I was beginning to get a God complex there!
ReplyDeletePaul and where would the money come from to build a new ground - do you know who much it costs?
ReplyDeleteGod complex?
ReplyDeleteNapoleon complex is more fitting as a colloquial term describing your type of inferiority complex which is said to affect some people, especially men, who are short in stature.
The term is also used more generally to describe people who are driven by a perceived handicap to overcompensate in other aspects of their lives.
This term is also known as Napoleon syndrome, Short Man syndrome, Little Man syndrome and Small Man syndrome.
The Napoleon complex is named after French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. The conventional wisdom is that Napoleon overcompensated for his short height by seeking power, war and conquest.
In psychology, the Napoleon complex is regarded as a derogatory social stereotype.
Most fitting don't ya think?
Well personally i would be well up for joining any action group that is going to hold demonstrations against the move
ReplyDeleteI'm against the move to the Olympic stadium, but i agree to a move to a purpose built stadium, because the Olympic stadium will be shared by a number of other agencies, which will loose the feeling of being the home of West Ham, but a purpose built stadium will be far better knowing it will only be used by West Ham also it would be owned by West ham and not rented like the olympic stadium, and when Gold and Sullivan sell upton park they will take their money then sell West Ham leaving us renting a stadium and not owning anything.
ReplyDelete