West Ham could face big fixture clashes at the start of the 2017/2018 season when the former Olympic Stadium is pre-booked by UK Athletics for the 2017 World Championships.
Under freedom of information, the stadium owners have been forced to publish a 107 page access agreement that UK Athletics has with them.
Apart from revealing that UK Athletics pay a base payment £35,000 for 45 days use it also defines the exclusive use of the stadium for the 2017 IAAF World Championships
It says the 2017 IAAF World Championships will be held in the Stadium from 5th August 2017 to, and including, 13th August 2017. It specifies what it calls the Championship window in the agreement by saying “Championship Window means the period commencing on 1 July 2017 and ending on 21 August 2017 or such earlier date as the Stadium is no longer required for the 2017 IAAF World, Championships and the 2017 IPC Athletics World Championships, or the relevant set-up and breakdown time required;”West Ham will be forced to ask the Premier league for special permission to play the first two fixtures away at the start of the 2017/2018 season or alternatively ask for postponement of one or both games.
The news also means there can be no pre-season friendly at home like the Juventus game next season or any Europa league qualifying home legs should we qualify for Europe.
Yesterday, we revealed a possible fixture clash for the third qualifying round of the Europa League should Manchester United win the FA Cup.