By Sean Whetstone
Minutes of the London Stadium Safety Advisory Group recently published reveal that twenty-six Chelsea fans were ejected from home sections during the September home game at the London Stadium, and a further 26 fans were ejected from the home ends in the Manchester United and Ipswich games at the London Stadium.
In those same three home games, just 20 ejections were made of West Ham home supporters, averaging just seven ejections per game. Real attendance of those three games was 169,095 Newham Council reveal so that averages 56,365 per game despite each game being ‘sold out’.
The Chelsea home game had an official attendance of 62,473 while the Manchester United game at the London Stadium had an official attendance of 62,474 while the Ipswich game in Stratford had 62,467 tickets sold.
The official published attendance for those three games combined was 187,414 so the real attendance of 169,095 revealed in these minutes means that 18,319 didn’t turn despite buying a ticket!
Something should be done about Season ticket holders that regularly don’t put their tickets on the ticket exchange or forward them to a friend. The empty seats ruin the atmosphere. The club should either enforce it somehow or at least give those tickets to charity of some sort.
Can’t agree with that mate. They’ve paid their dough and can do what they like. Sorry.
I’m of the opinion that the migration process from the Boleyn should not have been handled by the people who were also involved with Arsenal move from Highbury. The outcome was exactly the same, sterile atmosphere created by flawed policies. This club does have a huge fanbase, however the best seats are in the wrong hands to a certain extent, too many touts and profiteers circumnavigated the system and true diehard supporters missed out.
I’m 68. Born and bred in Humberstone rd E13 half a mile from Upton Park. Ive been West Ham to my bones since before I used to stand up the back of the south bank on a wooden stool with me old dad. And I know one thing, the” customers” as Ms Brady puts it are no longer the same people that I used to mix with back in the day.
In short what’s over Stratford is no longer MY West Ham. Just West Ham Ltd, being followed (not supported) by day trippers.
Fings ain’t what they used to be, John. And don’t start me on the prices.
COYI
The London Stadium is popular with non-WHU fans as getting a seat to watch any of the “big” clubs is easy. The “neutrals” add to the sterile environment and showcase the absence of a fan base sufficient (or sufficiently wealthy) to support our owners’ lofty ambitions.
Better to give tickets away to local, children’s footie clubs.