The Olympic Stadium: Poll IV

[jimcollins65]

I've been against it from the start and I've not changed my stance. This move would be the nail in the coffin for the club as we know it and we'd just be supporting a name that is completely detached from the club it represents. It'd be like the MK Dons getting a massive ground playing in the top league but still calling themselves Wimbledon.

I can see me becoming one of those unattached casual football fans who doesn't really follow a team in a few years the way football is going. I'm really miffed at the whole thing from top to bottom.

I'm afraid this sums up my view perfectly.

[prophet:marginal]

Rugby is not more popular throughout Wales

I know a fair few Welsh people, as it happens, from many walks of life.

The majority I know prefer chasing eggs.

Not a scientific survey, granted, but that's how I understand it.

[Hammer110]

I know a fair few Welsh people, as it happens, from many walks of life.

The majority I know prefer chasing eggs.

Not a scientific survey, granted, but that's how I understand it.

I think living in North Wales for over 25 years married to a Welsh girl and having two Welsh kids might make me a little more quailifed

Unless Wales are playing no one talks about rugby at work, plenty talk about football on a daily basis. At our local club attendances at the football matches are about twice that of the rugby matches.

Talking Point - Football v Rugby (BBC)

Last updated: 09 February 2010
It's often said that rugby's the main game in South Wales and football in North Wales - but what about Mid Wales? And is there such a thing as a national game?

Similarly, home attendance at Welsh regional rugby matches during 2006/07 was between 5, 000 and 10,000, whereas home attendance at Cardiff City FC was 15,000 and Swansea City 12,500. English Premiership attendance 34,000 and Manchester United FC 76,000. Sports Council Wales reported that rugby came ninth in a list of participation sports in Wales, whereas football was third.

The heartland of nationalism, north and west Wales is largely rural, other than some medium size towns on the north Wales coast. They are also areas with the greatest concentration of Welsh language and a very different focus of sport: walking, climbing, mountain biking use and sea-based pursuits. There’s no historic tradition of rugby in these areas and many football fans in north Wales look to the great football clubs of north-west England which are easily accessible.

[Denbighammer]

I would agree with Hammer110. Rugby only becomes important during the 6 Nations and people only get really excited when the 'Grand Slam' becomes a possibility or if they have a good chance of beating England. Football, is generally more popular and when I worked in an office and factory on the N.Wales coast I only ever heard football chat, never (non 6 Nations) rugger.

[paulhs1]

Speaking with zero experience of Wales but I thought the north was more football friendly with all the rugby lovers based in the south

[prophet:marginal]

That's me told...

[sendô]

The Taffs do seem to fill the 2006 FA Cup final venue stadium regularly for 6 nations matches, but seem to struggle for international football matches.

[Yea Why Not]

Paul Spice ‏ @ridgey2003
@ridgey2003 @DavidGoldWHU is it viable to increase capacity to 48,000 and stay " at home ". Will you have the decency to reply ?

11h David Gold ‏ @DavidGoldWHU
@ridgey2003 Paul its not financially viable to increase Upton Park to 48k. plus the police, the council, highways, H&S are all against it.

11h mywhufc ‏ @mywhufc
@DavidGoldWHU @ridgey2003 so what happens if the OPLC won't put in the seating you want, seats no further than they are at Boleyn, u said

10h David Gold ‏ @DavidGoldWHU
@mywhufc @ridgey2003 we stay at Upton Park DG

6h Darren Turner ‏ @whu647580
@DavidGoldWHU @mywhufc @ridgey2003 DG with the current debt,obviously we can't spend 10-20M on increasing East Stand,but in 5 years time?

34m David Gold ‏ @DavidGoldWHU
@whu647580 @mywhufc @ridgey2003 Now that might be a different story DG

[sendô]

Will you have the decency to reply ?

Bit rude, no?

[Pop Robson]

FIFA Football Stadiums Technical Recommendations & Requirements

Multi Purpose Stadiums

To accommodate these different uses, it is important not to change the stadium to an extent that has a negative impact on its primary purpose for football. For example, making the pitch considerably larger for another sport or adding a running track around the field can result in football spectators being much further from the playing field and removed from the action. This reduces their sense of involvement and engagement with the game and diminishes their excitement.

Pressure is often put on stadium developers to increase the field size or to include a running track. Occasionally, such requirements are unavoidable. Unfortunately, this will result in a much less successful facility than a football stadium that is specifically built around the football field’s dimensions.

Various attempts to provide a running track without destroying the stadium’s football ambience have been proposed and built, including retractable seating along the sidelines, an example of which can be found in the Stade de France in Paris. Most are very expensive to build and operate and/or have resulted in compromised sight-lines for one or both sports, even when the rake or angle of the seating has been made as steep as possible.

Perhaps the largest cities of the world, with very large budgets and the objective of hosting the Olympic Games one day, might be capable of satisfying the needs of football and athletics. For most, however, surrounding a football field with a running track in a modern stadium should be avoided.

[the pink palermo]

Edit .

[Yea Why Not]

Will you have the decency to reply ?

Bit rude, no?

It wasn't me I just pulled this conversation off Gold's twitter page

[James P]

Bit rude, no?

Massively. The sense of entitlement of some people!

[Peteod]

It's a resounding No from me, it would be a disaster for the club, the fans and the area.

[hoppo1234]

I was opposed to moving to the Olympic Stadium when I knew the running track was being kept. Upton Park has the 'intimidation' factor for visiting sides as the crowd are within 'touching distance'. The OS will not offer this advantage and the viewing distance from the stands would be like watching the match through the wrong end of a telescope!

Personally speaking, Stratford would be a lot easier for me to get to and from but the whole experience of going to see my team play would be diminished.

The total profit from any additional ventures will not now be going into the club either.

I vote not to move but to develop Upton Park.

[Yea Why Not]

It's a resounding No from me, it would be a disaster for the club, the fans and the area.

As far as first posts go, I don't think I've ever agreed with one more than that

[sendô]

Upton Park has the 'intimidation' factor for visiting sides as the crowd are within 'touching distance'.

I think it's been a few years since there was an intimidating atmosphere at the Boleyn, unless of course you play for West Ham.

[Stepney]

It doesn't really matter what any of us think. They are gona do what they want anyway. Even if 100% of people opposed the idea, they would still do it.

All this poll will achieve is breed hostility among supporters....

[Stepney]

This reminds me of the "Brown out, Tabor in" red card thing! That really worked didn't it?!

When will people realise that we, the supporters, have ABSOLUTELY NO say in the running of our club? Rooney at Manchester United was hated by most throughout his whole possible move to another club, and now he is loved again. Most Man city fans are probably saying they won't accept Tevez back after his antics, but we all know they will soon change their minds and his name will be up in lights again. And if/when we move to Stratford it will be the same thing. Slowly people will warm to the idea (because they have no choice anyway) and this will all be forgotten.

It's like paying council tax... it's a real sh*t c*nt and we think its way more than it should be, but we keep handing over the money regardless!

Whatever happens with this stadium situation we will be forced to accept the outcome because we have no influence whatsoever.

Keep it real.

[Doc H Ball]

This reminds me of the "Brown out, Tabor in" red card thing! That really worked didn't it?!:

Your history is slightly wrong. The 'red card thing' wasn't about Tabor but the fated Bond scheme and about 200 quid in red cards and balloons helped defeat it. Ask Terry if you don't believe me.

Also moving stadium ain't the same as blind player loyalty. If the ground is crap for watching football in, I suspect quite a lot of regulars will just walk away.

Where I agree with you, however, is that the owners don't give a monkey's toss for these opinions. They have decided to relocate us whether it be suitable or not. Not sure about keeping it real, I just don't believe the hype.