Athletics Do Not Need Us

[Sweeney Bod]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/16256407.stm

West Ham have been warned that the Olympic Stadium is not relying on a football club to guarantee a successful legacy after next year's Games.

A new bidding process to find a tenant for the venue begins on Tuesday.

Andrew Altman, chief executive of the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), says his organisation is still keen to do a deal with the Championship side.

But he believes the stadium can cover its running costs even if the Hammers do not secure a new rental deal.

"We welcome football but it's not solely dependent on football," he said.

"There are other combinations of other sports, concerts and activities that can also provide revenue.

I wish we would just say "OK then, see ya"

[gavrosh]

Andrew Altman = Proof positive if needed that the OPLC are bricking it in the face of tough negotiating from West Ham.

[the pink palermo]

I wish we would just say "OK then, see ya"

I suspect that's what we will do .

[Philosophical Dan]

I imagine there's a lot of money to be made by arranging weekly 10,000 metre steeplechase and discus competitions.

[paulhs1]

I think that the board will now look at the deal on the table, weigh up all the pros and cons and then probably announce in January their intention to not pursue with the bid as the stadium (with all the strings attached) now appears to have become financially unviable!

[gavrosh]

Not at all. I reckon they'll wait it out til next March, and land a 'take it or leave it' deal that includes significant share of the stadium naming rights and requirement for the government to pay for retractable fit-out.

[Johnny Byrne's Boots]

Any chance of the Parcel Force plan being resurrected?

The Daves must surely be looking at realistic alternatives now that Seb Coe and his mates will be trousering the income from Stratford.

[paulhs1]

Any chance of the Parcel Force plan being resurrected?

The Daves must surely be looking at realistic alternatives now that Seb Coe and his mates will be trousering the income from Stratford.

Theyre goes the funding for the cheap tickets that we were all promised!!!

[fireman]

We have been warned?

What the **** is that about?

Who are these people trying to kid? The Olympic stadium does need football and the arrogance of these people is astounding.
I just wish we could tell them to poke it and let's see how they get on with monster trucks and American football. Who actually watches that rubbish anyway? The same people who like ice hockey and formula one? Well sorry Seb but there ain't enough of them to sustain a stadium of that size so stop taking us for dickheads and admit that you ****ed up when designing the stadium and you do need a football club to bail you out and prevent you looking the arrogant, incompetent bunch of wally's you and your mates really are!!

[jimcollins65]

The Daves must surely be looking at realistic alternatives now that Seb Coe and his mates will be trousering the income from Stratford.[/quote]
I would imagine they started looking at all the options from the moment they took over but the olympic site obvioulsy ticked more boxes for them. Looking at it from their perspective though what are the alternatives? They have ruled out developing the boleyn and the cost of building a new ground wouldnt appeal to them so unless theres anything else in the pipeline i'd guess they will push on with the os and try and get as many concessions as they can.

[TheAlmightyAmmer]

I think we should end our interest in this it's beyond ridiculous now

[Kitt the car]

I wish we would just say "OK then, see ya"

I suspect that's what we will do .

I hope so.

[hammersk]

Altman is very well aware that the talk (in the media last month) was quoting an annual rental fee of £2m.

When you consider that 60,000 people paying an average of £30 all but covers that cost in one week,
you'll understand that there is considerable concern that they are not going to get the best deal from West Ham.

Altman has no leverage whatsoever but to insist that the cost of providing retractable seating is not an imperative
and therefore is the financial responsibility of the tenant (West Ham).

There will inevitably be some cost sharing in that venture by the public purse.
The extent to which Newham and West Ham remain commercial partners will be evidenced by the amount that the public purse commits to the seating/stadium modification.

[TheAlmightyAmmer]

hammersk, there is one big flaw in your plan. There won't be 60,000 people there paying an average of £30 each

[Romford]

I think that the OPLC saying this announces that they actually DO need us....

[Headtheball]

I don't know why the govt & the OPLC won't just accept that West Ham are the best option for the stadium. It is so obvious as we are the local team, well supported and have potential to become a major attraction involving the local community. They should be reminded of this. Any other option is bound to fail.

[eastsider]

I don't know why the govt & the OPLC won't just accept that West Ham are the best option for the stadium. It is so obvious as we are the local team, well supported and have potential to become a major attraction involving the local community. They should be reminded of this. Any other option is bound to fail.

Spot on!!!

[WHUTerry]

Not at all. I reckon they'll wait it out til next March, and land a 'take it or leave it' deal that includes significant share of the stadium naming rights and requirement for the government to pay for retractable fit-out.

I agree and would be very surprised if we show our hand anytime soon.

[fireman]

Not at all. I reckon they'll wait it out til next March, and land a 'take it or leave it' deal that includes significant share of the stadium naming rights and requirement for the government to pay for retractable fit-out.

I just hope this is the case and that the Daves are prepared to walk if the deal is not exactly what we want. I am sick and tired of us being treated like mugs, whether it be the scum or the OPLC. Since the initial bid was overturned we have been treated like dirt and I only hope the people that run my club aren't as desperate to move to the OS as some people seem to think. I am pro moving but only if the deal is right and not at the cost of the clubs dignity. COYI

[RyanWHUFC]

Just wish we'd turn around and say "ok go and **** yourselves"