Looking at the comments of West Ham fans doesn't make me LOL. It shows many of them are victims of an almighty stitch up and are proper fans. They seem to have sussed out that this was nothing to do with what was best for them. I always enjoyed going to Upton Park. I viewed it as a proper ground. West Ham didn't need to move. I'd like to see something happen which means thet Gold, Sullivan and Brady can'tmake a profit out of this act of selfish vandalism and in my view corruption.
Looking at the comments of West Ham fans doesn't make me LOL. It shows many of them are victims of an almighty stitch up and are proper fans. They seem to have sussed out that this was nothing to do with what was best for them. I always enjoyed going to Upton Park. I viewed it as a proper ground. West Ham didn't need to move. I'd like to see something happen which means thet Gold, Sullivan and Brady can'tmake a profit out of this act of selfish vandalism and in my view corruption.
I am a bit less inclined to be sympathetic, Muttley. Where was their organised resistance to the move? This, remember, is the only club in London with no Supporters Trust. The Spurs people told us there is a supporter group which tried to resist, and discreetly asked if they wanted to talk to the Coalition. They were too scared to even meet us. They had suffered bullying and intimidation from both the club and other fans. I am sure a lot of them are decent fans, but they could have fought harder and behaved with more class.
It's ironic that a ground that was at one time being used because the Valley was abandoned and derelict will soon be gone forever and the Valley is still going strong.
Looking at the comments of West Ham fans doesn't make me LOL. It shows many of them are victims of an almighty stitch up and are proper fans. They seem to have sussed out that this was nothing to do with what was best for them. I always enjoyed going to Upton Park. I viewed it as a proper ground. West Ham didn't need to move. I'd like to see something happen which means thet Gold, Sullivan and Brady can'tmake a profit out of this act of selfish vandalism and in my view corruption.
I am a bit less inclined to be sympathetic, Muttley. Where was their organised resistance to the move? This, remember, is the only club in London with no Supporters Trust. The Spurs people told us there is a supporter group which tried to resist, and discreetly asked if they wanted to talk to the Coalition. They were too scared to even meet us. They had suffered bullying and intimidation from both the club and other fans. I am sure a lot of them are decent fans, but they could have fought harder and behaved with more class.
But fans are fans - that's all they want to be - not revolutionaries. We have been pushed into our own personal fight and they need pushing, but there always comes a point.
Looking at the comments of West Ham fans doesn't make me LOL. It shows many of them are victims of an almighty stitch up and are proper fans. They seem to have sussed out that this was nothing to do with what was best for them. I always enjoyed going to Upton Park. I viewed it as a proper ground. West Ham didn't need to move. I'd like to see something happen which means thet Gold, Sullivan and Brady can'tmake a profit out of this act of selfish vandalism and in my view corruption.
I am a bit less inclined to be sympathetic, Muttley. Where was their organised resistance to the move? This, remember, is the only club in London with no Supporters Trust. The Spurs people told us there is a supporter group which tried to resist, and discreetly asked if they wanted to talk to the Coalition. They were too scared to even meet us. They had suffered bullying and intimidation from both the club and other fans. I am sure a lot of them are decent fans, but they could have fought harder and behaved with more class.
But fans are fans - that's all they want to be - not revolutionaries. We have been pushed into our own personal fight and they need pushing, but there always comes a point.
Sorry, I disagree. You yourself, you are not "just a fan", who turns up for 90 minutes, and does not think beyond what happened, are you, because you support the protests, if I recall.
In all cases, there are activist fans who lead movements. The Valley Party first meeting was attended by 9 people, as I never tire of saying. And there were on the other hand, "fans" who never wanted to leave Selhurst. It's a spectrum, always. West Ham just don't seem to be well equipped at the top end, and especially well equipped with sheep.
That's strangely heartbreaking to see, and I haven't even been to the Boleyn. It always looked like a proper ground though, one with a bit of character and actually rooted in the community it belonged too.
I'm not sure why landing in Heathrow from Dublin necessitated lapping around East London, but I had a beautiful view yesterday - including Elephant and Castle, Southwark and most of The Thames as we came back.. I was on the wrong side for The Valley sadly! One thing I did see was The OS.. and as impressive as it is, it's hardly a replacement.
Which one says West Ham more:
The one which the club has been located at since 1905, 9 years after it was formed - and only 4 after it got it's present name? The one that tips its hat gently to local history, and celebrates the areas links with Anne Boleyn via both it's name, and the characteristic castle features? The one that is purpose built, branded thoroughly and quintessentially West Ham?
Or
The one that's. The one that celebrates a legacy that belongs not to West Ham, nor football in general. The one that was built for an entirely different class of competition and sport? The one that is now synonymous with "Balls up and a middle finger to the tax payer"?
All this "London Stadium" bollocks is a joke, and if I was a West Ham fan I would be absolutely seething. They've lost so much out of this, and whilst we can direct our anger at the club, I genuinely do despair at the mindset that allowed the destruction an iconic part of London's footballing heritage and part of West Ham's legacy. Whilst some of their fans were lapping it up and showing off, they didn't quite deserve the karma they've now received.
I must say though, as sympathetic as I am to the West Ham fans, I'm also a bit concerned at their seeming apathy. Whenever the age old topic of "Would you leave SE7?" crops up on here there there seems to be a large (and passionate) view of "F$#k anyone who takes away our Valley.". Maybe we're just a bit unique, and perhaps we have a different perspective due to our own struggles?
As for the real topic; state aid and tax payer subsidised real estate for a competitive private business in an industry with incredible financial rewards? Absolutely mind boggling negotiations and decision making.
It's ironic that a ground that was at one time being used because the Valley was abandoned and derelict will soon be gone forever and the Valley is still going strong.
Ground moves happen, the difference here (unlike virtually every other move) is that West Ham left the Boleyn for something far worse as a football stadium.
The Boleyn was perfect for their needs, the West Stand was packed with boxes and lounges and if they really wanted to they could have expanded the Chicken Run side
Well it looks like E20 are going to get a bit more cash in their coffers next summer as Guns n Roses are going to be playing there.
Beat they got a cheap deal cos that @PragueAddick spilled the beans on Wet Spam's rent.
:-) Actually I cannot recall who told me this but it is was someone in the biz, who said that E20 will get sod all for concerts like this. Most of the money goes to the promoter. You are just renting out a shed.
Well it looks like E20 are going to get a bit more cash in their coffers next summer as Guns n Roses are going to be playing there.
Beat they got a cheap deal cos that @PragueAddick spilled the beans on Wet Spam's rent.
:-) Actually I cannot recall who told me this but it is was someone in the biz, who said that E20 will get sod all for concerts like this. Most of the money goes to the promoter. You are just renting out a shed.
Ah, that's interesting. At £100 per ticket, someone is making a pot load of money.
Went tonight as my friend's dad is a Burnley fan (didn't actually end up sitting in the away end as we used some Hammer season ticket holders seats that he knows). It's terrible as a football ground. Everything about it doesn't add up. I can't see them making it any sort of fortress at all and I'd feel pretty empty if we left the valley to go somewhere like that.
Which actually makes the decision to award it to them and for the taxpayer to fund the bulk of it a pretty bad decision all round really
Went tonight as my friend's dad is a Burnley fan (didn't actually end up sitting in the away end as we used some Hammer season ticket holders seats that he knows). It's terrible as a football ground. Everything about it doesn't add up. I can't see them making it any sort of fortress at all and I'd feel pretty empty if we left the valley to go somewhere like that.
Which actually makes the decision to award it to them and for the taxpayer to fund the bulk of it a pretty bad decision all round really
That is one of the terrible things about life - I mean the punishment was deserved, but somebody who has ripped off the taxpayer for more money is lauded and made a baroness!
I read today that there's the possibility of an MLB Series between The Red Sox and The Yankees being played at the stadium in 2018. Would the stadium be a good fit for baseball? There'll certainly be plenty of demand for tickets to this.
I read today that there's the possibility of an MLB Series between The Red Sox and The Yankees being played at the stadium in 2018. Would the stadium be a good fit for baseball? There'll certainly be plenty of demand for tickets to this.
The front row would be ok, the seats at the back would be grim. Baseball ground tend to be fairly enclosed, this is Yankee Stadium.
Interesting. As a Red Sox fan I'd definitely be getting a ticket for that. They had opening day in Australia a couple of years back, not sure where but it was one of the cricket grounds and that worked fine so would assume the OS would be okay as well.
I've noticed that a lot of commentators are calling it the 'London stadium', if there was to be any kind of legacy from the Olympics I would expect it to be called the 'Olympic Stadium'. Even with naming rights I would expect the 'Tesco Olympic Stadium' for example.
I've noticed that a lot of commentators are calling it the 'London stadium', if there was to be any kind of legacy from the Olympics I would expect it to be called the 'Olympic Stadium'. Even with naming rights I would expect the 'Tesco Olympic Stadium' for example.
Or the TOS for short ? I wonder what the team that played there would then be nicknamed ?
Comments
I know of a certain Belgian "visionary" who might take that sort of comment as the germ of an idea....
http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/upton_park_demolition_stand_reduced_to_rubble_1_4801594
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/1881181/west-hams-old-upton-park-ground-beginning-to-resemble-building-site-as-the-bulldozers-move-in/
In all cases, there are activist fans who lead movements. The Valley Party first meeting was attended by 9 people, as I never tire of saying. And there were on the other hand, "fans" who never wanted to leave Selhurst. It's a spectrum, always. West Ham just don't seem to be well equipped at the top end, and especially well equipped with sheep.
I'm not sure why landing in Heathrow from Dublin necessitated lapping around East London, but I had a beautiful view yesterday - including Elephant and Castle, Southwark and most of The Thames as we came back.. I was on the wrong side for The Valley sadly! One thing I did see was The OS.. and as impressive as it is, it's hardly a replacement.
Which one says West Ham more:
The one which the club has been located at since 1905, 9 years after it was formed - and only 4 after it got it's present name? The one that tips its hat gently to local history, and celebrates the areas links with Anne Boleyn via both it's name, and the characteristic castle features? The one that is purpose built, branded thoroughly and quintessentially West Ham?
Or
The one that's. The one that celebrates a legacy that belongs not to West Ham, nor football in general. The one that was built for an entirely different class of competition and sport? The one that is now synonymous with "Balls up and a middle finger to the tax payer"?
All this "London Stadium" bollocks is a joke, and if I was a West Ham fan I would be absolutely seething. They've lost so much out of this, and whilst we can direct our anger at the club, I genuinely do despair at the mindset that allowed the destruction an iconic part of London's footballing heritage and part of West Ham's legacy. Whilst some of their fans were lapping it up and showing off, they didn't quite deserve the karma they've now received.
I must say though, as sympathetic as I am to the West Ham fans, I'm also a bit concerned at their seeming apathy. Whenever the age old topic of "Would you leave SE7?" crops up on here there there seems to be a large (and passionate) view of "F$#k anyone who takes away our Valley.". Maybe we're just a bit unique, and perhaps we have a different perspective due to our own struggles?
As for the real topic; state aid and tax payer subsidised real estate for a competitive private business in an industry with incredible financial rewards? Absolutely mind boggling negotiations and decision making.
The Boleyn was perfect for their needs, the West Stand was packed with boxes and lounges and if they really wanted to they could have expanded the Chicken Run side
Which actually makes the decision to award it to them and for the taxpayer to fund the bulk of it a pretty bad decision all round really
Another ground ticked off the list at least
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/5923.aspx