West Ham set to play away from London Stadium amid Keir Starmer backing
West Ham moved to the London Stadium in 2016, but some supporters are still struggling to adapt.
Hammers fans are still quick to tell you how the new stadium doesn’t compare to Upton Park.
Many bemoan the lack of atmosphere in a stadium which feels ‘soulless’ compared to the old Boleyn Ground.
And these critics may soon have more bad news to fuel their discontent.
West Ham may have to leave London Stadium in 2029
The Hammers could be booted out of The London Stadium in 2029 if London wins its bid to host the World Athletics Championships.
London is one of several cities bidding to host the prestigious event, and West Ham’s home will likely be a key venue if it wins.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is among those backing the bid.
The problem for West Ham is that the event overlaps with the English football season.
According to The Express (23 July), it means they may have to find another stadium to play their home games near the start of the 2029-2030 season.
The host of the 2029 event will be announced by World Athletics next year.
The London Stadium remains an athletics stadium at heart
The London Stadium was built specifically to host the 2012 Olympics, an event that is still fondly remembered by many Brits.
West Ham moved in a few years later, but this stadium remains a home for athletics at its core.
The running track around the stadium remains a bugbear for Hammers fans. Although retractable seating was added, the stands are still far from the pitch. This leads to a detached viewing experience and makes it harder to build an intense and intimidating atmosphere.
The acoustics and wide layout make it difficult for chants and crowd energy to build effectively. The continued presence of a running track serves as a constant reminder that this stadium was not built for football.
| London Stadium Statistics | |
| Home of: | West Ham United, UK Athletics |
| First game: | 4 August, 2016 |
| Official capacity (football): | 62,500 |
David Sullivan and the board are constantly dealing with financial issues related to the stadium. On top of that, the stadium’s owners are haggling over the cost of hosting West Ham women’s games. A further annoyance to many people at the club.
Now, there’s the prospect of being booted out so that the stadium can host an athletics event.
Pundits have suggested that the poor atmosphere stems from West Ham’s poor performances at home. Sadly, the problems stem way beyond that.
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