West Ham unveil £150m plans to transform Olympic Stadium into new 54,000-capacity home after signing deal to move in by 2016
By SIMON PEACH, PRESS ASSOCIATION
West Ham United are today celebrating the historic announcement by Mayor of London Boris Johnson granting them the right to make the Olympic Stadium their home from the start of the 2016/17 season.
The Hammers have released exciting artist's impressions of the new stadium design this morning, with the reported £150million facelift due to be completed in time for the 2016-17 season.
The Olympic Stadium will be transformed into a 54,000-seater venue, with the Hammers now set to embark on a detailed, independent supporter consultation process.
'It's fantastic for everyone at West Ham United that at last all the club's hard work over the past three years has paid off,' joint chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold said.
Vision of the future: What the Olympic Stadium will look like during a match when West Ham take up their tenancy in time for the 2016/17 season
Facelift: West Ham are turning the stadium into a 54,000-capacity football ground
'Since we came to West Ham in 2010 we have had a vision to really take the club forward so West Ham United can compete on the pitch at the highest level.
'Today's decision offers us a real platform to do this and we are fully committed to making it a real success.
'We understand the responsibilities that come with calling the nation's iconic Olympic Stadium, which will be converted into a world-class football stadium, our new home. It is an honour we will take on with pride.'
West Ham will consult their fans before deciding whether to leave their famous Bobby Moore statue at Upton Park or take it with them to their new home.
The club are also entitled to name two of the stands at the stadium, and one will be named after Moore.
London mayor Boris Johnson was at the announcement made near the stadium this morning, along with mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales and LLDC chief executive Dennis Hone.
'This is a truly momentous milestone for London's spectacular Olympic Stadium ensuring its credible and sustainable future,' Johnson, who is also chair of the LLDC, said.
'Through this deal with West Ham United FC, we are defying the gloomsters who predicted this landmark would become a dusty relic.
'With a series of world class entertainment and sporting fixtures already in the bag for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, this iconic site is set to be the glittering centrepiece of ambitious regeneration plans for east London, which will capitalise on the Olympic investment into this area for the long term benefit of this city.'
As expected, it was confirmed that the LLDC will receive a windfall payment should West Ham's owners sell on the back of the move within 10 years.
The stadium itself will have retractable seats all around the pitch, which will allow the 2017 World Athletics Championships to take place as planned. In addition, the deal opens the way for the stadium to be used as a venue for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The plans for the future of West Ham's current Upton Park home and the surrounding area remain confidential for the time being.
Karren Brady, West Ham's vice-chairman, said: 'I’m delighted that we have been confirmed today as the anchor concessionaire for the Olympic Stadium. I commend my two Chairmen for their passion and commitment. I am delighted this has been rewarded now that their ambition to see the Club they love enjoy a bright future at the iconic Olympic Stadium has been realised.
Home from home: The future of West Ham's Boleyn Ground (left, otherwise known as Upton Park) is uncertain as they head for their new ground (right)
Raring to go: (left-right) West Ham's Carlton Cole, Elliot Lee, Joe Cole, Kevin Nolan, Blair Turgott and James Tomkins pose in front of the club's new home
New signing? Mayor of London Boris Johnson joined the West Ham players at the Olympic Stadium on Friday morning - and showed off a personalised club shirt
HOW WEST HAM ARE PAYING £15m FOR A £500m STADIUM
When will they move in? 2016
How long for? They have 99-year concession
Original cost of stadium: £486million
Cost of transforming Olympic Stadium into venue suitable for football:
West Ham: £15m
Newham Council: £40m
Government: £25m (additional support should it be required)
Newham Council: £40m
Government: £25m (additional support should it be required)
How revenues will be earned and shared:
West Ham will pay approximately £2m a year for rent and share naming rights, catering and hospitality revenues.
The club will solely earn money from anything generated directly from the football club, such as ticket sales and merchandise.
'It was important to me that we struck a deal that would stand the test of time that represented the right deal for West Ham United and our loyal and patient supporters.
'The consultation we have promised them will now begin and we can’t wait to work with them to create a stunning new home that befits the pride, passion and tradition that the world associates with West Ham United.'
Leyton Orient owner Barry Hearn has been against West Ham taking over as the sole football club at the stadium and has challenged the decision throughout the process.
The 64-year-old Matchroom Sport chairman told talkSPORT he did not understand the timing of the announcement.
'I don't know why they are announcing anything because we have applied to the High Court for a judicial review of the bidding process, so anything they announce about West Ham has to be subject to the High Court's decision,' he said.
'Why they are trying to steamroll this announcement through today, prior to the court's decision, to me is a sign of panic. I don't know why they are doing it.'
Hearn's main bone of contention is his feeling that a move for West Ham closer to the home of npower League One club Orient will ruin his club.
'We don't think we have been given a fair crack of the whip,' he said. 'We have had no opportunity to discuss ground-sharing with West Ham, which we think is the only logical way out. What harm do we do? We get a chance to survive.'
Former sports minister Richard Caborn is also unhappy with the deal, branding it 'the biggest mistake of the London Olympics'.
Deal done: Johnson with Brady and Sir Robin Wales, Mayor Of Newham (right) at the press conference to announce West Ham's tenancy agreement
Time to say goodbye: The Hammers are set to increase their potential for match-day revenue by leaving the 35,000-capacity Upton Park
We've got a new home! West Ham are currently 14th in the Premier League table - a relatively comfortable six points above the relegation zone
Reaction on Twitter
London Mayor Boris Johnson: An historic day for East London - Future of Olympic Stadium secured with fantastic deal with @whu_official
Deal with West Ham is just the beginning - perfect platform for Olympic legacy. Schools, jobs & growth at heart of regenerated East End.
Carlton Cole: A Historic Day for West Ham United
Carlton Cole: A Historic Day for West Ham United
Caborn said that he welcomed the fact that the future of the stadium was now settled but insisted there has been unnecessary cost to the public purse.
Under the deal announced today, West Ham will pay only £15million for a 99-year lease on a stadium whose conversion costs will be £150million to £190million and whose overall cost could top £630million.
Caborn said: 'This is the biggest mistake of the Olympics and lessons should be learned from this.
'West Ham are basically getting a stadium costing more than £600million for just £15million and a small amount in annual rent [£2million].
'I do welcome the fact that the future of the stadium has finally been secured, but we should also realise that the public sector is picking up the tab.
'The mistake was made in 2006/7 when they [the Olympic Board] ruled football out of a retro-fit design as we has done successfully in Manchester with the Commonwealth Games stadium.
Fireworks: The Olympic Stadium has seen just a few weeks of competitive action, but they were nothing short of spectacular
'I suggested retractable seating like the Stade de France in Paris but they insisted it should be a 25,000-seat athletics stadium.
'Time and again mistakes are made with Olympic Stadiums and the lessons should be learned for any future similar projects.'
Caborn was sports minister at the time the design of the Olympic Stadium was agreed but campaigned unsuccessfully for it to be built with football in mind for the future.
The negotiations between the London Legacy Development Corporation and West Ham have been long and tortuous since the club was named preferred bidders in December, but they have now finally been signed off by the corporation’s legal advisers.
What a summer: The Olympic Stadium in Stratford was the centrepiece for London's glorious Games last year, but has been out of use ever since
Artist's impression: West Ham had previously released this image of how the stadium would look during a match
Under the agreement, West Ham will be given the right to use the stadium for all their matches under the 99-year concession deal.
That will give the club long-term security but they will have no property interest in the stadium.
The deal will protect public interest should West Ham’s owners sell the club for a large profit on the back of the move to the stadium - the LLDC would get a significant cut of any surplus.
Giant leap: Heptathlete Jessica Ennis (above) and shot-putter Robin Womack (below) during the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012
The LLDC will have the rights to the income from other events such as music concerts and there will also be a legacy for athletics, with a number of events for that sport maintained.
The retractable seating should allow the stadium to be changed from a football venue - with seats on the running track - to one suitable for athletics or concerts within eight days and potentially even quicker.
The revamp of the stadium will cost £150million and the Hammers are expected to be there for the start of the 2016-17 season.
P.S. It's not all good news for Hammers fans...
While the Olympic Stadium plans will no doubt thrill the majority of West Ham supporters, it looks like the club's future might not be quite so exciting after all.
Judging by the club's impressions of how the team will look in action at their new home, there's bad news for fans hoping for a few star signings to fill their magnificent ground.
Look closely and West Ham's team for 2016 still appears to contain Carlton Cole and Matt Taylor...
HAMMERS ON THE MOVE... AGAIN
The glamour and fanfare surrounding West Ham’s announcement of their move to the Olympic Stadium is a far cry from the last time the club switched to a new home.
Next year marks a century since the Hammers took up the reins at Upton Park, and back then they certainly didn’t enjoy the government backing that has underpinned their bid to become anchor tenants at Stratford.
Forced to move from the Memorial Grounds at Canning Town, after racking up an overdraft of £770 the previous season and with assets of just £200, West Ham were on the verge of bankruptcy when they enlisted the help of a local brewery to find them a new ground in the summer of 1904.
In the days before chief executives and managing directors, team manager Syd King was handed responsibility for organising the move. It was suggested that he should take a look at Boleyn Castle field, just off Green Street in East London. The land was owned by the Catholic Ecclesiastical Authorities and used by the Boleyn Castle Roman Catholic Reformatory School.
A deal was arranged with the CEA, but the Home Office made it clear that they did not approve of the land being used by West Ham.
King went to see Sir Ernest Gray, an influential Member of Parliament – and possibly even the Boris Johnson of his day.
As King later explained: ‘through his good offices, subject to certain conditions, we were finally allowed to take possession of Boleyn Castle.’
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