David Sullivan surely set to accept West Ham defeat after latest £3.6m London Stadium developments
David Sullivan is still facing financial disputes regarding London Stadium.
London Stadium has become a huge issue in E20, and if West Ham were to be relegated, the ground would become even more soulless than it already is.
West Ham’s present annual rent of £4million at London Stadium will be halved should they drop into the Championship.
However, the high court has decided that Sullivan has to pay an additional £3.6m to the landlords of the ground, and the Hammers may decide to take matters further to the Supreme Court.
How much West Ham are set to pay London Stadium landlords
As part of West Ham’s rental agreement with the London Stadium, an ‘anti-embarrassment clause’ required them to pay their landlords a part of any profit they received from selling shares.
The clause has been active after Daniel Kretinsky bought a 27 per cent stake in 2021, which made him the second-largest shareholder in E20 after Sullivan.
West Ham’s landlords informed the club that share transactions within their company meant the London Stadium was owed a significant payment, as the club paid £2.6m, but challenged an additional fee of £3.6m.
- Sullivan joined West Ham in 2010 alongside Karren Brady
- He sanctioned the move from the Boleyn Ground to the London Stadium in 2016, with supporters not keen on leaving Upton Park
- He is no longer wanted at the club due to the team’s regression in recent seasons, with West Ham currently sat 18th in the Premier League
The matter was referred to expert determination, in which London Stadium was successful.
West Ham disagreed and took the case to the High Court, who decided that the determination should be overturned.
The London Stadium appealed that decision and the Court of Appeal has now found it in their favour, which means the Hammers may now take it to the Supreme Court.
Sullivan has been plagued by so many issues regarding the ground, and he has to swallow his pride and admit that the move was a poor decision.
It could ultimately cost the Hammers their Premier League status, and Sullivan has to accept a huge amount of the blame.
Here’s why London Stadium is at the core root of West Ham’s problems
Upton Park was beloved amongst the fanbase, and the ambitious move to the ground that was used for the London 2012 Olympics has destroyed the atmosphere that the Hammers fans had previously built.
Despite experiencing some memorable European nights under David Moyes, the Premier League form has been underwhelming over the last decade, and supporters have finally had enough.
West Ham fans boycotted the matches against Crystal Palace, Newcastle and Brentford in 2025, with growing frustration aimed at Sullivan and Brady.
The toxicity around E20 would reach an all-time high if the Hammers were to be relegated, and it’s fair to say that the Upton Park atmosphere would have left them in a much better place.
Sullivan is now embroiled in financial problems at London Stadium, and it’s safe to say that it has become a sorry state of affairs.
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