Manny Sarpong reports as West Ham United reveals that the allocation of seats in the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Stadium for the 2016/17 season is underway.
The Hammers’ big stadium move is just months away, and majority of fans seem buoyed by this transition.
Gavin Beyer – a lifetime Hammers fan – upon receiving his new seat allocation said: “good move for West Ham. It’s the only way we can move forward to the next level with increased gate receipts, revenue and sponsorship deals. Most West Ham fans are in agreement that it will be sad to leave Upton Park but a great move for the club in the long run.”
The club officials indicated that the process should be fair and transparent to all supporters, with the efficiency to accommodate 40,000 supporters. Seat allocations will be dependent upon 2015/16 Season Ticket Band. “The club’s first priority is to offer every season ticket holder a comparable seat in the new stadium to the one they have for the final season at the Boleyn Ground.”
Additionally, season ticket holders are able to group their seats together with friends and family and have the opportunity to bring with them up to two new season ticket holders.
‘Travelling nightmare’
Another fan, Daniel Austin, added: “for a football club I truly love, this would be the best way forward to compete with the Premier League’s top six. Want to really thank both chairmen, they’ve done an outstanding job since taking over. They have real ambition and have shown their love, a desire to help the club they both support.”
Nevertheless, few fans voiced their concerns about moving to a new stadium in such a busy area. Jordan Hart, a lifelong fan who lives just minutes away from the current Boleyn Ground stadium said: “travelling to the game will become a nightmare as Stratford is already a busy place due to Westfield. It could become very congestive getting there and worse when trying to get home.”
However, most financial experts concur that as a Premier League team it’s a phenomenal move. It gives them a better platform to create a more attractive market for players and investors, as well as globalising a club of West Ham’s history and large fan base. Additionally creating more jobs available and keeping the Olympic legacy alive.
Starting at Band 1 down to Band 4, current season ticket holders are given appointments at the Reservation Centre, a stone’s throw from the Olympic Stadium where the club will play from next year, an opportunity to select the best seats available to them.
As the Independent’s Kiran Moodley wrote: “West Ham is no longer a family club of long-suffering cockneys: it’s a brand ready to take on the world.”