I am the first to admit that I am a “lapsed” loyal supporter of West Ham United. Up until May 2010 I had two season tickets for Upton Park. That final year, with the threat of bankruptcy then the arrival of David Sullivan and David Gold was tortuous. Whilst the football under Gianfranco Zola was “ok”, I was concerned after the feedback I had received from a couple of Birmingham City fans about the circus that would arrive in town with the new owners (for those with short memories, click here).
Hundreds of thousands of football fans have experienced a matchday at Upton Park. Whilst the surrounding area is one of the most in need of urban regeneration in the country, the presence of a football club (which was a few years ago the 2nd biggest employer in the borough of Newham) brings in significant business. Last year I did a study of pubs in the area on a match day (over the course of three visits). Within a 10 minute walk of the ground I counted 17 pubs/bars, virtually all packed to the rafters prior to the game. I also asked the bar staff what it is like on a non match day..”Quiet” was the consensus. A vast majority of these will suffer massively if West Ham move. Ditto cafes, including the legendary Cassettari’s Cafe and the Pie and Mash shop.
You cannot simply pick these establishments up and put them in the Olympic park. Instead we will have American Diners and chain restaurants. On a recent visit to the Liberty Stadium in Swansea I saw the local “hostelries” for the fans were a Harvester and a Frankie & Benny’s. Hardly renown football brands.
On the opening day of the 2009/10 season against Tottenham Hotspur, tickets were available on the day of the game. A FA Cup 3rd round tie against Arsenal attracted just 25,000. Last season attendances dropped to the lowest level in five years. Whilst the decrease is single digits in terms of percentages, it does demonstrate one simple point. WHY DO WE NEED A 60,000 STADIUM?
Upton Park is more than adequate for West Ham. Let’s take a few aspects and compare:-
Corporate Facilities – Upton Park has ample facilities both in the West Stand where there are two rows of Executive Boxes, plus the single row in the Bobby Moore Stand. In addition there are a number of private lounges for pre and post match hospitality. This is one area the club gets a massive tick in the box from.
Transport – Not the best but still as good as the Olympic Stadium will be. Within a twenty minute walk of the ground there are three tube stations, albeit on the same line. Traffic is snarled up around the ground and the Barking Road, although there is ample street parking within a fifteen minute walk (and it is free!). The public transport congestion could be eased if the overground rail platforms at Upton Park and Plaistow were re-opened. Currently trains on the line from Fenchurch Street simply run fast through the stations which is madness. Access to the Olympic Stadium will be quick from Central London via the High Speed (and High Cost) train line from St Pancreas, but what about from the heartland of West Ham fans – Dagenham, Upminster, Hornchurch, Rainham? Ironically it will be much easier for fans from Charlton’s homelands around Woolwich with the DLR running there in just fifteen minutes. I doubt there will be any provision for match day parking at the Olympic Stadium.
Facilities – West Ham have really worked hard developing Upton Park as a 7 day a week venue. The unique hotel and conference facilities mean the off the pitch revenues are as important to the on the pitch performance. The club were also one of the first to launch a state of the art learning zone for local schools which is used extensively.
The Fans – The current owners have said in the past that moving to the Olympic Stadium will allow them to offer cheap tickets for the fans. With successful commercial backgrounds do we really believe they will slash ticket prices? Bear in mind West Ham are, and have been for seasons, one of the most expensive teams to watch in their respective division. Will they cut the cost of a Championship game by 50% to match other clubs? There is no logic why they will. Also, I would love to know exactly how many fans they asked about the move. As I said earlier, I was a season ticket holder under their reign, and have remained a member. Not once have I been asked for my opinion on the move.
I have spent the last decade travelling around the world watching games in stadiums big and small. I have experienced the lack of atmosphere in half empty (at best) stadiums with athletics tracks that aren’t owned by the club. Heck, ask any Juventus fan about life at the Stadio delle Alpi before it was redeveloped, or a Panathinaikos fan who not only has to travel to the outskirts of Athens to watch a game in the soulless Olympic Stadium, but also has to share with one of their rivals.
Upton Park is West Ham’s home. It doesn’t belong to anyone else. It is ours. It is not ready to be pensioned off to the graveyard of football grounds. The decision today gives us a chance to just make sure we are still planning on moving for the right reasons.