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Made a last minute decision to go to watch West Ham v Chelsea yesterday. Some thoughts on the set up there.
Access is very easy. 10 minute walk from Stratford station. You can clearly tell it’s a purpose built big event stadium. Security is on the outer perimeter and once in you can walk round the whole stadium freely. Literally dozens of food and drink outlets, pretty expensive but marginally cheaper (6.48 v 7.10 for a pint for example) once you scan your ticket to go inside the ground. Even more refreshments inside. More variety indoors too. Burgers are expensive at about £12, with meal deals putting that up to about £18! Found a chicken Balti pie for just over a fiver though which was nice.
You have to save your ticket to your apple wallet or print at home, they didn’t accept showing the pdf on your phone.
Huge stadium, I was in the upper tier and you are a long way from the pitch.
Given there was 60k in attendance, the atmosphere and noise was akin to PR with 14k in attendance. So many day trippers (yes, I know I was one) but my whole area was a sea of late turners up, leave their seat 10 mins before half time, come back 10 minutes into the second half and leave at about 75 minutes. Oh, and for the half and half scarf haters, get your counselling booked in now! The place was a sea of them, with vendors all along the approach to the stadium selling their Chinese wares.
The game itself was poor. Chelsea looked sharp on the counter but WHU were woeful I thought. No shape on attack and once Summerville went off, very little going forward. Antonio looked disinterested. Back line was poorly disciplined, think we may have some joy there. They really struggled against width and pace.
Post game, they’ve really got this sorted. Thousands heading in the same direction were herded thoroughly barriers that were not previously there and amazingly put into place during the game. Bottle necks at the station were avoided by holding the advancing masses with stop/go signs and lines of stewards. Felt like cattle but it did work effectively. Entrance to Westfields was blocked off to force everyone around the perimeter.
All in all, a very ‘corporate sport’ day. Well organised but no real passion from fans or players. Give me PR any day of the week.
Oh, and £65 for a ‘cheap’ ticket directly from WHU.
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London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 18:40 - Sep 22 with 7244 views
To add, away fans are marshalled away in the wrong direction for Stratford station or Westfield car parks. Those I have spoken to say to takes 30-40 minutes to get to Stratford Station post-match, and an hour to reach a car parked in the shopping centre (plus up to another hour to exit). Trains are exceptionally busy post-match towards Chelmsford; bear in mind they will already be pretty full out of Liverpool St. It might make sense to go back to Liv St to get on at the start of the journey.
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London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 20:37 - Sep 22 with 6751 views
London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 20:37 - Sep 22 by textbackup
I’ve paid £32 for my seat direct from WHU. Post match are there pubs nearby you spotted?
Not a single pub on the way back to the station. You would have to double back at some point (probably only possible after you’ve been let free in the station) and go back into Westfields for the Bat and Ball, or some other generic bar. It is very much set up for get in, spend your money and b*ugger off home!!.
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London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 21:13 - Sep 22 with 6545 views
I went a few years ago to see Saracens vs Harlequins (billed as a Sarries home fixture). Compared to Twickenham, where I've been for internationals, sevens, Baabaas & one Premiership final, it was utterly lacking in the sort of partisan atmosphere I expected. Sort of Rugby in a library, but with loudspeaker cheerleading and background chattering. Not sure I'd go there again. Wet Spam are welcome to it.
A big part of that football club died with Upton Park. That was proper, and while I’ve got no time for West Ham it’s sad to see old grounds like that replaced with soulless boll0cks.
Edit: appreciate that was a long time ago now, but still saddens me.
[Post edited 22 Sep 2024 21:16]
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London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 23:20 - Sep 22 with 6091 views
London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 21:16 - Sep 22 by _clive_baker_
A big part of that football club died with Upton Park. That was proper, and while I’ve got no time for West Ham it’s sad to see old grounds like that replaced with soulless boll0cks.
Edit: appreciate that was a long time ago now, but still saddens me.
[Post edited 22 Sep 2024 21:16]
Very much in agreement, although I've not visited (and never will!) their new stadium, Upton Park was something else, especially under the floodlights. I'm lucky enough to remember a couple of visits in the 60s, both non Town games, but one was the last game of the 67 season when Man Utd won 6-1 to clinch the old 1st division and what a distant memory that is!!
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London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 06:18 - Sep 23 with 5813 views
Having been there for Super Saturday in 2012 and felt the atmosphere when Mo and Jess both won, have never been back as nothing could possibly compare.
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London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 07:06 - Sep 23 with 5734 views
Someone who went there recently for the athletics, and took ages getting back to Stratford, was told that it was quicker to go to Stratford International and get the DLR (one stop) to Stratford, but I obviously can't vouch for that, and maybe the marshalling of away fans would affect that.
EDIT: looking at the West Ham guide to away fans, maybe it is Pudding Mill Lane (close to the away end and one stop from Stratford on the DLR) that they meant, as they couldn't remember the name of the station, so I assumed it was Stratford International.
And if you're heading in the opposite direction, as I will be, you can get the DLR to Canary Wharf from Pudding Mill Lane.
[Post edited 25 Sep 2024 8:53]
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London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 09:53 - Sep 23 with 5430 views
Been there a few times to watch football. Great Olympic stadium but not a football stadium. View is shocking both top tier (too far away) and bottom tier (very shallow rake) To be fair to West Ham fans, they have improved the atmosphere but Upton Park it isn't. That used to be a great away day, this is just a plastic experience, with rip-off prices for crap food and drink. Most West Ham fans I know begrudgingly accepted the need to move but they yearn for the Boleyn and I don't really blame them. The walk of shame through the half and half scarves sums up the Prem but if you really want a taste of modern football wait until you hear the DJ pumping out West Ham Are Massive before the game. What started as a funny ironic chant is now taken seriously by a chavvy set of supporters who all sound and dress the same. The real shame is West Ham is a proper club with a proper history and with a set of fans who were witty, original and intimidating. I love being in the Prem but if we stay in it, I really hope we keep our identity.
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London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 10:24 - Sep 23 with 5314 views
London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 21:16 - Sep 22 by _clive_baker_
A big part of that football club died with Upton Park. That was proper, and while I’ve got no time for West Ham it’s sad to see old grounds like that replaced with soulless boll0cks.
Edit: appreciate that was a long time ago now, but still saddens me.
[Post edited 22 Sep 2024 21:16]
The Boleyn was a great stadium. Even though last time I saw us there they weren't serving booze in the away end. What the fack is that all about. But yes, proper ground and always a cracking atmosphere. I had neither love nor a gripe with the Hammers until they sold their soul and moved to the London Stadium. Cue Nerdy to tell us ITFC is no different. And to be fair, I will agree if/when we move from PR.
London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 07:06 - Sep 23 by DJR
Someone who went there recently for the athletics, and took ages getting back to Stratford, was told that it was quicker to go to Stratford International and get the DLR (one stop) to Stratford, but I obviously can't vouch for that, and maybe the marshalling of away fans would affect that.
EDIT: looking at the West Ham guide to away fans, maybe it is Pudding Mill Lane (close to the away end and one stop from Stratford on the DLR) that they meant, as they couldn't remember the name of the station, so I assumed it was Stratford International.
And if you're heading in the opposite direction, as I will be, you can get the DLR to Canary Wharf from Pudding Mill Lane.
[Post edited 25 Sep 2024 8:53]
I work at Westfield and for pre-match drinks I'd recommend a walk across the Olympic Park to Hackney Wick, or you can take the overground from Stratford Station and is one stop away. There are a number of canal side bars and pubs which are all good.
They'll be full of West Ham, but probably a better atmosphere than the bars in the Westfield shopping centre.
In the shopping centre there is a craft beer place, called Tap East which is also worth seeking out (nearest the exit to Stratford International Station)
When getting out, if wanting to go back to Stratford Station for the train back to Ipswich, it might be quicker to walk to Hackney Wick and get the overground from there back to Stratford Station.
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London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 21:04 - Sep 24 with 4080 views
Agreed, terrible football stadium. They should have had the foresight that it'd be used for football as well as athletics, just like the French designed Stade de France to serve both. As a stadium geek, love how the SdF lower tier was built on rollers and foldable at the top. All they had to do to convert from footyrugby into the centrepiece of the Olympics 2024 athletics was fold-down the top part of the lower tier and slide the lower tier partially under the top one. Can see it in action here:
Genius. And built 13 years prior to the London Stadium, so the tech had long existed. For footy, they simply slide the lower tier back out, and fold the top part back up to join with the upper tier. There are no atmosphere-destroying gaps, neither between the front of the stands and the pitch, nor between the two tiers (as is the case at the two LS end stands). London 2012 legacy planning was all hype.
[Post edited 24 Sep 2024 21:23]
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London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 21:16 - Sep 24 with 4029 views
London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 20:37 - Sep 22 by textbackup
I’ve paid £32 for my seat direct from WHU. Post match are there pubs nearby you spotted?
Crate Brewery is close to the stadium. Serves craft beer and good pizza. Quick walk to Stratford, also close to Hackney Wick station for travel alternative.
I’ve been there when Baseball was on, heaving but friendly.
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London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 23:51 - Sep 24 with 3853 views
London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 19:04 - Sep 22 by ITFC_Forever
Sounds very similar set up to when we went to see the Foo Fighters in June, try to funnel everyone away from the shopping centre.
I think its anything with "large" events held in the Olympic Park, as theyve done the same whenever Ive been to the velodrome for races, and thats alot further away from Westfield than the stadium is, and about 1/10th of the volume of people at that.
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London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 12:58 - Sep 25 with 3500 views
London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 15:42 - Sep 24 by heavyweight
Just perjured myself and declared I was a WHU supporter to get a couple of tickets for next week.
How many "neutral" supporters are there likely to be there? Presumably it is relatively OK as long as I control myself when Delap runs amok ?
I know of 6 in the home end, myself included…
It’s about being respectful isn’t it, id not like a West Ham fan standing up cheering next to me (at PR) but I’d be absolutely fine if one sat next to me and quietly watched the game (whatever the result)
London Stadium (WHU) - some observations on 12:58 - Sep 25 by textbackup
I know of 6 in the home end, myself included…
It’s about being respectful isn’t it, id not like a West Ham fan standing up cheering next to me (at PR) but I’d be absolutely fine if one sat next to me and quietly watched the game (whatever the result)
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