New bid submitted.

[MEM]

Barry Hearn hypocritical c@#t


But Hearn said: "This represents a quantum change in the experience of a punter and frankly it could be the demise of West Ham if they move there. "It's a huge slap in the face to their fans and their history.



Barry Hearn has told talkSPORT ’s that 's move to the Olympic Stadium will ‘kill Leyton Orient’. The Os chairman insists the ' switch to Stratford will have a huge impact on the League One club, with the end result that they will go out of business

Heads you lose or heads we lose. Cant have it both ways Barry Boy:<).

[prophet:marginal]

I can half see his point, as it happens.

Is he not saying that, if we got it, in the short term it would cut too far into his paying crowd, that Leyton Orient would fall by the wayside?

But that, in the mid-term, especially if we have to front-load fund the necessary transition from OS to football ground, the debts we'd accrue would slowly but surely also sink us.

Which prompts this question. We've all identified that it appears that major transitional and structural changes would be necessary for it to be 'football-friendly'. Who's paying for that?

[Posh-Hammer]

Our fans are pitiful.

Always looking to have a go at someone at the club,
often our better players, always the owners.

Success (in both financial and terms) is to be avoided at all costs.

Now I know who has been booing.

Thats well out of order. Pitifull because we don't agree to moving to Stratford? Whats wrong with voicing our opinions? Oh and please change the record about booing, it's all getting a bit boring now. I for one never boo and even though things on the pitch are often very frustrating, I haven't heard anyone who sits near me in the East Stand resort to this either. What are we to be, bound and gagged at all times? Its all about opinions.

[eastsider]

Exactly 110 cant really be bothered to get involved in all this negativity anymore but this is what I have said several times before. We are clearly in the driving seat now and the only show in town that can save the governments face in this fiasco. As you say its basically a mechano set shell with little to no internal infrastructure. We should negotiate a short term plan to get it as suitable as possible for our needs, given the time and financial resource available. Perhaps concentrate on one main stand which would accommodate the majority of our current average gate anyway. And then have a medium to long term plan to take full ownership and transform it stand by stand to a stadium that can be temporarily converted back to athletics if and only if, we have to. Like Stade France where I have been several times and has a great atmosphere.

If we cant get the government to agree to that do that then walk away and leave them with with one mega red face. All they will have as I understand it, with only four bidders, is a couple of ticket agencies wanting it for concerts a couple of time a year and Newham council for schools and other events. None of them are going to cover the running costs let alone payback the build costs.

As for all this crap about our spiritual home, its a **** hole, always has been always will be. At least in the past it was at the centre of our fan base and had a good atmosphere but that is not so now. Think forward (not backward) ten years time when LeArse, Spurs, Chelsea, QPR and Crystal Palace will all have new stadia and we will have good old Upton Park and be well down the pecking order in London in terms of status. As a ten year old one of my my first trips to the Bolyen Ground was the 1966 League Cup Final against West Brom, Do I remember the smells the songs, no. All I remember is the mans coat in front of me because I could not see a ferking thing. From then on do I have fond memories of standing in the cage on the West side of the North bank no, or later on the South bank and even later in the corner of the West Stand and South Bank no. Or even later as a season ticket holder in the Chicken Run, Alpari and back to the Chicken run no. It is and always has been a second class stadium, it is in the wrong place and that situation is only going to get worse over time.

Time to look forward, think bold and move on .............IF and its a BIG IF as 110 says ........we can persuade the government that we will only move in on our terms with a stadium fit for us , that we can work towards owning and fully converting to our needs overtime.

And say what you like about the two Dave's and Brady .......can't think of anyone better to argue our case, negotiate hard and get the best deal for everyone attached to our wonderful club .[/quote]


Agree with this 100%
Very similar history and situations as me funny enough exept I first went against Villa in 1967.

Much to much negativity from some, and anybody would think Brady was in overall charge and not just a paid employee, even if she is famous and fairly wealthy....

[Iron-worx]

Barry Hearn hypocritical c@#t
But Hearn said: "This represents a quantum change in the experience of a punter and frankly it could be the demise of if they move there. "It's a huge slap in the face to their fans and their history.
Barry Hearn has told talkSPORT ’s move to the Olympic Stadium will ‘kill Leyton Orient’. The Os chairman insists the ' switch to Stratford will have a huge impact on the League One club, with the end result that they will go out of business
Heads you lose or heads we lose. Cant have it both ways Barry Boy.

He actually said both things in the same interview, implying that it would be both a huge failure that would lead to West Hams demise AND so successful as to put Orient out of business.....

Clearly nobody will listen to a word he says when he spouts completely self inconsistent nonsense like that.

[Hammer110]

Sorry Hammer110 I missed the sarcasm, but I now understand what you meant.
Forgive me if I am wrong but wasn't the actual architect of the soulless bowl quoted on radio as saying that it wouldnt be viable to use as a stadium? If so, can't get any more clearer than the words of the fella who designed it.

No worries.

You are wrong though, the guy who was quoted as saying that is an architect, but not of the stadium in fact he is better known for up market house conversions and renting out desk space to other small businesses in an office building he owns. His involvement in the Olympic site was to write a feasibility study for the Stratford Development Board (or what ever it's called) on hosting the Olympics in Stratford and being the anonymous complainant to Europe over Newham's loan for the conversion of the O/S.

This is the Lead Architect for the O/S http://portfolio.populous.com/people/jo ... hilip.html

And he said in Oct 2011:

"What I would really like to see is a solution where it could be used for fantastic concerts in the summer, athletics and football in the winter, maybe rugby, maybe even some high-profile cricket events.
.................................
"We need to think how it could be used for a number of different events. I really don't see any reason why that can't be done."

[cockney hammer]

I'll go once or twice to see what it's like, I know I probably won't like it so it'll be aways for me hopefully, that's IF we get it though, we might not get it yet mate

i guess you are quite young ryan for me i am proud to say i am stuck in the old days when we had terraces it meant something to be a west ham fan in them days!!!

sadly west ham means very little to me now i remeber the banter was amazing back in the day razor sharp you felt that you belonged to a proper west ham family then.. everyone looked out for each other that just does not happen now..


i can not explain it no disrespect to the yonger hammers but you can not understand it as you missed out on very special days..it gets me in the heart when i do the good old days stuff was it really 30 years ago or more amazing how the game has gone down the toilet since those great times..



ask romford about the old days a man i have so much respect for true hammer they call me a legend for some silly reason legends are romford danny green and my very good friend bob the cap...



i will never ever stop being a hammer that will be in me till my last heart beat i do not know if my boys will keep going or not as i said to them when they came home from the barnsley game it is up to you what you do as they have only just started out following west ham i think charlie (chas) is getting the west ham bug now



once a hammer always a hammer it has been great something i would not swap the world for but it will be time for old ch to ride of into the sunset!!!!

[RyanWHUFC]

i guess you are quite young ryan for me i am proud to say i am stuck in the old days when we had terraces it meant something to be a west ham fan in them days!!!

Yep only 19 mate, wish I could have been about and experienced the old days.

[Pop Robson]

The OPLC "The stadium will become the new national centre for athletics "

[Posh-Hammer]

Thank you for the info Hammer110. At the end of the day I can understand the pro OS fans reasons for wanting to move to some extent, but all the things CH has put above are the very points which make me anti. Wonderfull post CH. It breaks my heart to think of those years all gone now and the thought of leaving the BG. I know people say you can't live in the past, and must go forward, but I am sure there will be many others like us who were priviledged to be part of those golden footballing times who feel the same.

[Diogenes]

I agree with 110, MEM and Eastsider. I’ve been going for over 45 years and as CH says its not anywhere near the same. Great, great days (and nights). I have terrific memories, but that’s what they are – memories. But for me its time to move on.

I support West Ham ‘today’ and will tomorrow wherever they play. Also strangely (some might say stupidly) I trust the board on this one. We can always withdraw our bid if we don’t get what we want, but I think we will.

I also take a somewhat philosophical view in that at least I will be part of the ‘new’ era of West Ham at the very beginning and have a chance of building something special for future generations just like our parents and grand parents did at the BG. If we don’t go and make it that way CH – who will? I think we owe that to past and future generations.

[IronMaiden123]

And anyway I don't know why everyone is throwing their toys out over the bid, the club have declared we wont be going unless it is "converted in to a "world-class" 60,000-seater football ground", so unless the OPLC/Government spend an awful lot of cash it looks like we wont be going anywhere!

This is not possible with the athletics track and facilities in place. Anyone who has any understanding of the practicalities knows it is not possible. The sight distances, the sight lines, the practical limitations on retractable/temporary seating because of the way the stadium is constructed and many other issues mean it can never be a world class football ground. Sullivan, Gold and Brady know it is not possible.

The words "converted in to a "world-class" 60,000-seater football ground" are purely PR. They are empty words. The bid is being made despite knowing all of this.

Do you comprehend? Fans are being taken for a ride.

[geowhu]

" Brady said: "Having spent the last two years dedicated to this project I am privileged to once more be submitting West Ham United’s bid to become the anchor concessionaire of the Olympic Stadium post the 2012 Games. From the outset it has been my firm, unwavering belief that the Stadium can truly become a multi-use destination of which east London and the nation as a whole can be proud. I have never lost sight of our vision to play our part, along with the Stadium's major stakeholders, in ensuring it grows into a global asset, the 'jewel in the crown' of the Park that will be watched by the world.

"Our vision for the Stadium has always been about standing up for the promises made for London back in Singapore in 2005 and what they meant for our future generations. We are honoured to have once more received the support and backing of our friends at UK Athletics. "

Why are " We " Standing up for the Empty Promises made by the Olympic Commitee in 2005 , Whats that got to do with West Ham United ? . No mention of a Vision for the Club and Fans , We seem to be a long way down the Pecking Order in the List of Priorities . I dont give a **** about the Olympic Legacy or UK Athletics , nothing to do with us , I Do give a **** about our Club and i get the Feeling were being Shafted yet Again .

[Hammer110]

This is not possible with the athletics track and facilities in place. Anyone who has any understanding of the practicalities knows it is not possible. The sight distances, the sight lines, the practical limitations on retractable/temporary seating because of the way the stadium is constructed and many other issues mean it can never be a world class ground. Sullivan, Gold and Brady know it is not possible.

The words "converted in to a "world-class" 60,000-seater football ground" are purely PR. They are empty words. The bid is being made despite knowing all of this.

Do you comprehend? Fans are being taken for a ride.

And your qualifications for making such statements, I take it you are a structural engineer/ architect or something of that ilk or is that just your opinion based on....? Far too many people are making sweeping assumptions about what is possible in a field they know little about and being right will be more a case of guesswork then any real knowledge.

As for the bit in bold, why? What point would there be in moving the club to a stadium that they know is totally unsuitable for football and according to many deliberately alienating the majority of fans, the hardcore who are there through thick and thin, sounds like a really crap business model to me.

[Hammer110]

The OPLC "The stadium will become the new national centre for athletics "

Nothing like selective quoting Pop, what was said was;

"The stadium will become the new national centre for athletics and host of the 2017 World Athletics Championships and we remain on course to reopen the stadium as a multi-purpose venue in 2014.

They couldn't very well say "The stadium will become the new national centre for athletics and home to West Ham Football Club" or "The stadium will become the new national centre for athletics and LiveNation events venue" because they don't know who the successful bidders are yet.

[boleyn77]

Our fans are pitiful.

Always looking to have a go at someone at the club,
often our better players, always the owners.

Success (in both financial and football terms) is to be avoided at all costs.

Now I know who has been booing.

So after 4 decades of supporting WHU home & away you accuse me of being pitiful because i am opposed to moving to a rented athletic stadium from a football ground we own.
We don't fill the BG so how will it be a financial success with 30,000 empty seats at Stratford.
Once the novelty wears off the new fans will be back in their armchairs or watching in the pub.

If you want WHU in a half empty souless athletic stadium you are pitiful

[cockney hammer]

I agree with 110, MEM and Eastsider. I’ve been going for over 45 years and as CH says its not anywhere near the same. Great, great days (and nights). I have terrific memories, but that’s what they are – memories. But for me its time to move on.

I support ‘today’ and will tomorrow wherever they play. Also strangely (some might say stupidly) I trust the board on this one. We can always withdraw our bid if we don’t get what we want, but I think we will.

I also take a somewhat philosophical view in that at least I will be part of the ‘new’ era of at the very beginning and have a chance of building something special for future generations just like our parents and grand parents did at the BG. If we don’t go and make it that way CH – who will? I think we owe that to past and future generations.

the future is our children and as i said i have given my kids the option if they want to carry on following west ham united football club in bowl which will have no atmosphere what soever..


i am not going to be a dictator and say you must must follow west ham when they go there as i said it is up to them weather they want to go if i was starting out again as a youngt fan i would have no intrest in the place..


what ever people decide to do good luck to them

[Diogenes]

Fully respect your view CH, but my point is that the ‘atmosphere’ etc is about people rather than place. And, without wishing to blow sugar up your arse, it will be less of of a ‘place’ without people like you if you get my meaning.

Like you, the things I remember most are the characters, camaraderie etc. The BG is just a place that has been enriched by culture, values etc. People give it that. The OS can therefore be whatever people want it to be If we don’t try, it will be a soulless mausoleum through the self fulfilling prophesy rule. That gives me no pleasure. But, I do understand where you are coming from, I have been there, but I think I am through the other side. Hope you will give it a go though as without people like you it will fail.

[Hampshire Hammer]

And your qualifications for making such statements, I take it you are a structural engineer/ architect or something of that ilk or is that just your opinion based on....? Far too many people are making sweeping assumptions about what is possible in a field they know little about and being right will be more a case of guesswork then any real knowledge.

As for the bit in bold, why? What point would there be in moving the club to a stadium that they know is totally unsuitable for and according to many deliberately alienating the majority of fans, the hardcore who are there through thick and thin, sounds like a really crap business model to me.

I am an IT Architect but have friends who are building architects, including one who was involved in the Olympic site and other friends who are structural engineers and quantity surveyers who also worked on the Olympic site. As you can imagine it had been discussed amongst the engineers working on the site and I have specifically asked the question. The general view seems to be that the conversion should have been part of the original specification and it was specifically excluded. Also the stadium can be converted to be suitable for football or rugby but their concerns were cost, surprisingly one of the concerns was crowd flow as they thought the crowd models for the olympics would be very different to football and rugby - or even those leaving a rock gig for example. Funnily enough the solution these guys proposed was removing the top tier and building a new one, as a new roof is required anyway and the current flood lights would need re-siting they felt this could all be done in one. The slope of the lower tier could also be addressed and proper facilities put in. However the back of a fag packet calculations for all this was more than we thought was likely to be the budget, leaving the conclusion that the stadium will have some more corporate boxes built and perhaps some temporary seats at the ends.

Remember there are some things that must have money spent on them, like undersoil heating and a decent pitch base as the current grass area was not built to stage football to the best of my knowledge, and improved corporate boxes and facilities.

[WHURS]

By far the biggest thing the club could do either now or in the new stadium to improve the atmosphere would be to have unallocated seating, allowing like minded people to congregate together, whether they are allowed to do arrive on the day unallocated seating I doubt.

But I would think they could quite easily implement a membership staggered 'check-in' system where season tickets get 3 weeks before the game members 2 and general sale a week before the game to reserve their seat. the site could even have a "friend" or PM system so you can see where others have chosen and message them to arrange the pre game drinks.