Olympic Stadium Latest News and Press

[GideaParkHammer]

Karren Brady: My open letter to London
Karren Brady
14 Feb 2011





Thank you all. A lot has been said and written about the Olympic Stadium debate in the last weeks and months but what has come through loud and clear in a unanimous way is that the capital cares about its future.

The Olympic Stadium is about all of us. It has given Londoners - and the nation as a whole - a golden opportunity to have something permanent that will inspire millions just by its very existence. Fundamentally, this was about the ultimate SOS - Save Our Stadium - and the message was heard in the most sporting way.

The polls showed that people were behind us and that support was crucial to getting our message across.

The conviction with which the Olympic Park Legacy Company made us preferred bidders owes as much to our equal partners in this project, Newham Council. Their chief executive, Kim Bromley-Derry, is someone who I have worked closely with over the past year and I have to say he is a superb ambassador for the public sector. I would happily stand shoulder to shoulder with him in the private sector, too, such is his professionalism.

The mayor, Sir Robin Wales, has always been passionate about a proper legacy and improving the quality of life for east London people.

Within the club, of course, David Sullivan and David Gold have been tremendous and tireless.

This a superb way to end their first year back in charge of West Ham United but it is just one small step on the longer road for success on and off the pitch. They will not rest in pursuit of that goal and none of this would have been possible without their business acumen.

West Ham United and the London Borough of Newham may be seen as the main beneficiaries of the decision by the Olympic Park Legacy Company last Friday but everyone will win as a result of keeping the bulldozers away - including, let's not forget, the loyal supporters of Tottenham Hotspur.

This will be a stadium that will attract people eager to experience the very best in sport, culture and live events.

Whether you are a supporter or player from Arsenal or Accrington, this will be a destination for the nation. Don't forget this will be the only stadium in the UK to have the word Olympic in its name. It was never a story about two proud football clubs against each other, although I am thrilled for our fantastic fans and determined to do them proud.

From our side, it was always about standing up for the promises made for London and what that meant for future generations.

The Olympian ideals are about inclusivity - hence the five rings to represent every major continent of the globe - and this will be a home from home for all. Something will be going on every single day.

Of course, I acknowledge that the OPLC decision rightly has to be ratified by the Mayor of London and Government but I could not let the backing we have received pass without this open letter of thanks at the earliest opportunity. Indeed, as well as thanking the OPLC, I must mention London Mayor Boris Johnson and sports minister Hugh Robertson for recognising the spirit of our campaign to date as part of a fair and even process.

In no particular order, I would also like to thank:

Lord Coe, Lamine Diack and Ed Warner, and all involved with UK Athletics and the IAAF.

Westfield, Live Nation, Essex Cricket, UEL, HS1 Ltd, ExCel, London City Airport, Newham PCT and everyone else who has endorsed our bid.

Lyn Brown, MP for West Ham, Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham, and the dozens of MPs who personally pledged their support.

Barking and Dagenham, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Haringey, Hounslow, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton and Southwark Councils.

The staff of West Ham United and Newham Council for building and backing a superb bid.

Hammers supporters, especially for understanding the club's need to protect its east London roots.

And, of course, the Evening Standard and its readers - along with the capital's other media including BBC London, London Tonight and Sky News - for recognising the importance of the debate to London and presenting the arguments for and against in a fair and even way.

I am sorry for anyone else I have forgotten, especially as we simply could not have done it without every single one of you.

Our capital has had some tough times in recent years but - from west to east and north to south - the spirit has never waned.

London is on the up and, in summer 2012, the world will be watching as the capital stages the best Olympic and Paralympic Games ever.

The legacy will then be entrusted to us. We will not let anyone down.

Thanks again to all.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23923172-karren-brady-my-open-letter-to-london.do

[Persil Tickets]

Made me cringe.

[Up the Junction]

Well at least we (WHUFC) got a brief mention in this one...

[Westbourne Bill]

Well at least we (WHUFC) got a brief mention in this one...

Exactly.

[EvilC]

Well at least we (WHUFC) got a brief mention in this one...

Indeed.

[Albie Beck]

Don't know if this is anywhere else, but Martin Samuel today:

Critics on the wrong track
The 1966 World Cup final. What a lot of rubbish that was. Running track around the pitch, you see. No atmosphere in the stadium at all. Bobby Moore went up to collect the trophy, nobody gave a stuff.
'There's people on the pitch, they think it's all over.' That was why. Most of them couldn't even see the game, it was so far away. They probably thought West Germany had won and had come on for a punch-up.

It is people and players who create atmosphere, not seating plans. I have heard Anfield when the noise has shaken the opposition to the core, and on other occasions half-asleep. The only difference was the performance of the team.

Wembley with a running track seemed all right at Euro 96 - certainly better than it sounded for the 0-0 draw against Montenegro this season, everyone up close and snoring.

Bayern Munich left the Olympic Stadium for a purpose-built football arena, but not before they had won 16 titles with a running track surround between 1972 and 2005. They won just three prior to that.
Lazio's only two titles came at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, as did Roma's, unless you count the one they claimed during war time. Juventus had greater pedigree before the move to the Stadio delle Alpi, but even so five Serie A wins between 1990 and 2006 was no small return.

We know football likes intimacy, but the idea that a running track alone is a turn-off for fans is a by-product of Tottenham Hotspur's doomed spin doctor operation. Rotten football is the biggest passion killer: and that can break out anywhere.Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyu ... -real.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mywhufc]

so they got the stadium for london and the country, they have used save our season, now gone for save our stadium whats next save our souls, save our money, are they expecting us to be playing Accrington soon, and karen thanks for remembering at the bottom to mention the fans. did she think she won a BAFTA last night and this was her speech. Id like to bafta, right over her smug head.

[hammer]

Critics on the wrong track

good article (as usual)

[Yorkshire 'ammer]

Exclusive: Olympic Park architect protests over West Ham Stadium decision

February 15 - The architect who wrote the original masterplan for the London Olympics and Paralympics has written to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, urging him not to approve West Ham's sole use of the Stratford venue after the 2012 Games.

Steve Lawrence has re-iterated his view that West Ham should ground-share with Tottenham Hotspur at a revamped Olympic stadium – with the revenue being used to build an adjacent athletics venue to preserve the legacy issue that has caused such ferocious controversy.

Over 10 years ago, Lawrence was commissioned by Stratford Development Partnership to carry out an alternative feasibility study for the Olympics once it became clear that Wembley would never be a viable location for the Games.

He proposed that any venue in Stratford should, after the Games, be shared by Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United as anchor tenants.

But the idea was rejected because local land-owners were fearful of rowdy fans.

Last Friday (February 11) the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) Board recommended West Ham as the preferred bidder for the sit and within possibly as little as a week's time, the Mayor and two Government departments are expected to rubber-stamp the move.

But Lawrence says it is the wrong solution and has urged Boris Johnson not to let it happen for fear of wasting public money, and to support a ground-share scheme instead.

"It is appalling that the original proposal for a shared use of the Olympic Stadium by Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham with the revenue stream being used
to fund a Centre for UK Athletics has not been considered appropriately," wrote Lawrence who has also complained to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

"I wrote to your predecessor, Ken Livingstone, several times from 2000 on about this, your office has therefore been aware of the proposal for ten years.

"I cannot understand why this proposal has not been considered, it is far and away the most cost effective and in not considering it properly, your office is complicit in wasting vast sums of taxpayers and ratepayers money.

"I hope you will now set aside the OPLC recommendation which is highly flawed and instigate a more accountable analysis of proposals including the possibility of a shared use of the stadium."

Lawrence told insidethegames that West Ham's sole tenancy of a 60,000-capacity football stadium including the running track would come back to haunt those supporting that option, including the club's vice-chair Karren Brady (pictured).

"The debacle over the legacy use of the Olympic Stadium had been caused by Government failure to put in place a coherent and transparent process," he said.

"Also, the idea that the OPLC - a non-elected body - will make a decision involving considerable expense to the taxpayer is unpalatable for most ordinary people.

"It is not appropriate for such a decision to be simply rubber-stamped by DCMS and the Mayor.

"This is a major national political decision with cost implications for ordinary people and it must be made at the highest level of Government by elected members and then only after proper, open and transparent consideration.

"That consideration must include the possibility of West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur sharing the stadium.

"It is, by far, the most cost effective legacy."

http://insidethegames.biz/summer-olympi ... m-decision

[Muddy]

From the West Ham Facebook page.
"West Ham's olympic director Ian Tompkins has revealed today that as it stands the new Stadium will not have claret and blue seating, the retractable seating is only being considered for behind the goals as we speak and that the top tiers behind each goal will be closed off when in 'football mode' due to being so far away, designing is on going (thanks to Kumb.com for this)"

Does anyone know where the original article came from?
This Os is getting worse and worse, i'm really dreading the move now they're only considering seats for behind the goals.
Bad bads gullivan, bad darts.

[Pop Robson]

From the West Ham Facebook page.
"West Ham's olympic director Ian Tompkins has revealed today that as it stands the new Stadium will not have claret and blue seating, the retractable seating is only being considered for behind the goals as we speak and that the top tiers behind each goal will be closed off when in 'football mode' due to being so far away, designing is on going (thanks to Kumb.com for this)"

Does anyone know where the original article came from?
This Os is getting worse and worse, i'm really dreading the move now they're only considering seats for behind the goals.
Bad bads gullivan, bad darts.

Probably from Rebirth's thread about his phone call with Ian Tompkins

Good to see they finally admit it's too far away

Plus Brady admitted on BBC Breakfast that the lower tier wasn't steep enough for football

[61dicksey]

Just watching the Ukraine v Sweden game anf their olympic stadium resembles the distances of our O/S blue area behind goal look enormous .

[dapablo]

Just watching the Ukraine v Sweden game anf their olympic stadium resembles the distances of our O/S blue area behind goal look enormous .

I believe it is oft repeated that we would not inhabit the stadium if we had to keep the set up like that, it will be different or we wont go seems to be the line.

[adie]

so the spin goes if it's not 'fit for football' we will walk away, but the board won't commit themselves publicly to say how it will be fit for football. All we get is 'trust us' bow locks and they ain't very good at keeping their word so all that trust us means absolutely nothing and we will have to put up whatever is forced our way

[the bubble hammer]

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

[the bubble hammer]

Adie, how many times does it have to be said that it can't be discussed publicly until we are announced as preferred tenant due to the confidentiality agreement. As and when that is announced then it will be put to the fans what the clubs proposals are in all areas of the matter. Remember being announced as the preferred tenant isn't the final signing over of the stadium. We then go into more detailed contract discussions and until we sign on that dotted line then both parties can walk away if desired, as has already happened if you remember.

[adie]

we're still expected to trust proven liars

[hadleighhammer]

Within the club, of course, David Sullivan and David Gold have been tremendous and tireless. This a superb way to end their first year back in charge of West Ham

Didn't they see us get relegated in their first full year? Either that's a lie to deflect this fact or she knows **** all about one of her part time jobs.

This will be a stadium that will attract people eager to experience the very best in sport, culture and live events

Whether you are a supporter or player from Arsenal or Accrington, this will be a destination for the nation. Don't forget this will be the only stadium in the UK to have the word Olympic in its name.

Couldn't give less of a ****.

Hammers supporters, especially for understanding the club's need to protect its east London roots.

Just **** off you patronising bint.

[Devils Advocate]

Didn't they see us get relegated in their first full year? Either that's a lie to deflect this fact or she knows **** all about one of her part time jobs.

Read the date of the article in the OP

[eastsider]

[="Devils Advocate"]

Didn't they see us get relegated in their first full year? Either that's a lie to deflect this fact or she knows **** all about one of her part time jobs.

Read the date of the article in the OP




LOL!!